Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Snowy Tuesday




The snow is causing havoc in the area. Actually, there is very little accumulation, but every flake that has fallen is sticking due to extreme cold air and the roads are very slick. Carolyn and her crew went out last night, but were back home within two hours; only three buildings got cleaned. Unless the sun pops out for a little while today, they will not be able to work tonight.

Our friend Mark will be joining us in the "mild" latitudes in a few days. He will be a pilgrim, a stranger in a strange land when he emigrates from Tampa, Florida to mid North Carolina. Welcome to our little piece of winter paradise, Mark. Be sure to bring along your sense of humor.
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I am at the beginning of my big period of procrastination; no taxes were worked on yesterday and there probably will be none attempted today. I keep telling Carolyn I am retired, and she keeps ignoring me. I used to think men were people too, but have come to realize we are sometimes useful and always easily disposed of toys. The times, they are a-changing ... or are they?
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I just read where the long anticipated Google phone is supposed to be introduced to the public today. How long will it be before one huge company controls the way we compute and communicate which in effect will oversee most aspects of our modern lives? I have been wary of Google for some time, and now am beginning to fear them they way I do Microsoft and Apple whose arrogance has belittled them in my eyes. Microsoft seems to be in decline but still very arrogant while Apple is growing larger and even more arrogant. I can see Google displacing both of them and many more companies, good and bad ... for good and bad.
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The house in the photo is very unusual styling for my part of the world; would it be called Mediterranean styling or Spanish styling or something else? Whatever it is I like it.
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7 comments:

Tammy said...

Google let us have a bunch of free stuff to get us hooked and then they will yank the line when all the fishes are on it. Did we really think all those Google maps were going to be free? We are stuck.

I was amazed this past week as I had my nieces for 4 days at the loss of their childhood (ages 11 and 14). For Christmas gifts they received a ton of expensive electronic devices which according to my math cost one or both of their parents (divorced) a total of $600.00 each. No wonder the books and scarves that I got them never got packed. They use their cell phones only for "texting" they both have ipods which were replacements of ones they lost over the summer and a hand-held gaming device which cost over $170.00 and takes photos which you can edit on screen. Oh and the games cost anywhere from 20-50 bucks each. I am trying to be a "with it" auntie but I was frankly sickened at how those electronic companies owned those girls and how many kids like them across this country. I wonder how you top those gifts for next year?

When I mentioned this to their mother I was told "little gifts don't keep them happy any more." Go figure.

Happy Tuesday. Its a cold one here too.

Anonymous said...

Microsoft began the same way by giving away their office suite; now that folk are hooked, it costs $400.

I'm afraid that all kids are going to see is the bad side of technology. My grandson sent me a text msg and I called him back. He asked why I didn't text him back and I told him I don't know how. Kids are going to be overloaded with electronic garbage and never know the meaning of "wait" or "later"; everything has to be "now". All you can do is love them and try to squeeze the truth in between gadgets.

Happy Tuesday to you. It is 18 degrees here.

Maggie said...

18 in the balmy South. I worry about that.
worrying about topping a gift next year.. why in the world? If they don't care for it, and don't send thank yous... they don't ever get another. Not that "they" ever did! The buck stops here. How can we complain about how kids are reacting to technology when we have that over the top commercial attitude? I think technology is great for the younger people and envy them. Just wish I could keep up. Its a global world. Google owns me! Isn't this their blog... free? I am not afraid to see google topping microsoft. And when Google reaches there best before date, there will be 6 more to try for the spot. Its all good. Enjoy!
I have to investigate that gizmo that my cell phone company sent me an ad about... it takes pictures, surfs the net, and oh yeah it does 'phone calls too. Why not? Well I will say that talking is easier than typing.
In that regard check out what IBM and others have done for Stephen Hawking... imagine! technology rocks!
And you, Mr. Anderson, are far more advanced technologically than am I.
there... rant over... sorry if I stepped on toes... I am really a small mild mannered person.

Maggie said...

I don't know what style architecture that is. US Southwest?

Its an excellent photo. Are you using a wide angle for your architecture, or just taking 3 steps back?

I ask because I need to know if getting a wide angle lens is a good idea. :-)))

Tammy said...

I agree with you Maggie about the thank you notes and do blame their parents for not having the courage to say "no". I've never gotten thank you notes from those kids and I'm a stickler for them. Even if they can't write, they can draw a picture. The fear is for next year that this year's game is considered "old version" and off again the parents run to pick up the greatest and latest. What have we created? My kids always hated me becuase I wouldn't let them have a cell phone until they could afford it themselves. Of course I'm certain I made plenty of mistakes too along the way.

There are no real clear answers. I'd like to see children enjoy some of the perks of living a simpler life is all. The creative tap root has a plug on the end of it now.

Peace and warm blankies to all.

Anonymous said...

I can see where technology comes in handy; I would like to have an e-book reader, at least I think I would. Amazon.com, Sony, and Barnes & Noble tell me I should have one. My sore hands and fingers that sometimes cannot even turn the page of a book tell me I should have one, but I know I really do not need one.

As for blog creators, Wordpress is probably a bit better than Google and it is also "free". They both use the word free in a very loose sense, particularly Google. The price is privacy and the way information about us is stored and used. Google caved in to the Chinese government in one of its "crackdowns" on dissidents and the info was used to find, jail and even execute political opponents.

Technology in itself is not the big problem; it is consumer commercialization. Commercialization now depends on knowledge about the targeted consumer, and Google et. al. supply this info for a price.

We are on a "bigger and better" gadget carousel where the number of horses, the number of riders, and the glitter is all that increases; it is becoming very crowded.

I long ago learned to wear my steel toe shoes and hardhat when you are around, Maggie. You keep things interesting and you are a very good teacher via your comments and critiques. :-)

I suppose there are worse things than being a Google junkie. ;-)
Here is CNN's take on the new Google Nexus One phone: http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/tech/2010/01/05/nr.google.nexus.one.phone.cnn.html

As for the pic, it was the first day in a long time with enough sunshine so I could use my slow zoom instead of my fast 50mm. The photo was made at f/11, 32.5mm focal length, 1/250 sec., ISO 100 and I was sitting in the car; it was too cold out for me. :-)

Thanks Maggie and Tammy. You have put me to thinking and now I must blog. For good or bad.

Maggie said...

thanks for the blankets the information and the fun. Yes, lots to think about.
Tammy, I wasn't brave enough to even think I could raise children.
:-}

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