Apropos of Nothing v.11

My DH works in the cell phone industry. I'm a big fan of 'em- everyone, use your phones MORE! ;) Seriously, I like texting (within limits) though I avoid using the abbreviations most of the time. Funny, I've been sending texts for about 10yrs now. Loooove having a touch screen with a real keyboard! I also really appreciate the bluetooth headsets-so much less unwieldy than the old wired ones-talk about looking dorky!!! I also like the other bluetooth features-I use it to upload pictures from my phone to the laptop or vice versa. DH and I even spent an evening out to dinner sending files to each other just to see if we could make it work. I'd upgrade to a smartphone in a nanosecond if I could justify it. DH has a Blackberry and loves it, and I've really enjoyed using it, too. I've even posted to DG from it once or twice, among other things.

I also don't think texts are more intrusive than calls, if handled well. Glance at screen, put phone down. done.

And, here's an article just for Laurie & Pix: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/health/23cases.html

I'm determined to not become curmudgeonly about technology like my mother has. She hates email, PC's, cell phones, the internet. God forbid I send her a picture or a web page address by email. She's trying to make the world adhere to her ideas of how technology should work, and failing miserably, which makes her very stressed and unhappy and I get to hear all about it-regularly. Course, I've always been more of a geek than she's ever been.

Laurie, Tolkien alphabet, impressive! I remember the single phone thing, too, except that in my house I had to sit on the steep steps leading to the basement and snake the phone cord under the stair door. Not comfy.

A friend of ours got in "trouble" with the TSA for forgetting to mention the motherboard and power supply he was taking to fix his mom's PC. They searched everything, gave him the third degree, and then confiscated his toothpaste.

SUSYBELL - HIS TOOTHPASTE? They were just so frustrated and up on adrenelin that they had to do something! That really made me laugh.

And great NYT article, thank you. I hadn't thought of the phones that way, but she is absolutely right: its that 'showing and tell' effect that is so familiar - the number of times I have been handed a phone with some pertinent piece of the story.

Here's a tip about mom's reluctance: I think there may be a touch of generational envy - so much has happened and progressed, and I suspect it makes her feel old, clumsy, and left behind. Rather than try to learn it (and feel really clumsy) one way to deal with it is to be angry at it. Try a different approach: if you precede your email with a quick call "I know you find email a nuisance, but I really wanted you to see this....", it puts value on the effort, and lessens the nuisance/irritant factor. Its an invitation in to a world she doesn't feel at home in. And than she might just say no, use the post. Quite right too, I love the post.

And Pix, absolutely right - right tools, right hands and it is a piece of magic - I absolutely cringe when I see one of my gardeners using wrong tool, right job - result = b*&&ered up tool! Grrrrr, grrrrrr, grrrrrr - and yet there are some really imaginative things you can do with a spade and who would have guessed?!!

The I phone is about as easy as seeing a picture and pushing a button. Each app works simply and it is tough. Batteries last forever and texting is with real words and the rest of the word (last 1/3) is often filled in without you doing it. Capital letters are automatically added, apostrophies, etc.
I like your thinking Laurie with the "envy". I think everyone needs to stay at least somewhat up to date just to keep the brain awake. Technology is a hassel and the brain loves to use its neutrons to overcome hassels. LOL
I have just gotten back from beautiful spring in Alaska.

Gorgeous pic, Sofer. Pat, the picture of your yard and deer/cat is also lovely.

Sofer, very cool how the texting fills in automatically on your phone. I've never had a phone with texting. My cell is quite outdated (large, clunky model from about 2002), but as we don't get service where we live, and thus rarely use it, it doesn't make sense for us to have a better phone. We do need a dif service, however, as we're paying $50 a month for limited calling with a phone we rarely use! The problem is, when I'm traveling. I really like having it. Just need to see if we can find a more reasonable plan.

Susy LOL toothpaste??? That made me laugh out loud!

My father is 94 years old, and absolutely loves email and cell phones. My mother goes along with all of it but it's Dad that really loves it. I get at least one email from him every day and if I wait too long to answer he gets worried and calls to make sure I'm ok. They do carry their cell all the time and it makes them (and me) feel a bit more secure.

Sofer I had an old style cell phone before getting this iphone and texting is so much easier now. There are a few young architects I continue to mentor and I discovered that they can turn an autodesk revit drawing or a sketch into a pdf and I can view it on my phone. Amazing. I'm in love.

Oh I forgot to mention - my father is now on Facebook. My kids think it's hysterical. He communicates with his great grand-children.

My daughter just got me on facebook also. I just contacted some ex-inlaws and that is fun. Need a lesson or two on how to really do things.

Watch out - all kinds of people can find you, like old boyfriends. And that girl you hated in high school. And your first college room mate who borrowed your favorite sweater and then left it in a heap on the floor. And your old professor who wants to know if you ever "made something of yourself."

I too enjoy Facebook and enjoy all of my childhood friends connecting with what they are doing. It is fun to keep in touch. I have connected with 3 old girlfriends and enjoyed their imput. Though I include my wife with all of their communications. She knew all of them anyway. I can with my Iphone get all of the xrays that I need for patients in AK to be diagnosed while I am in Montana or elsewhere in AK.

Laurie, thanks for the tips, I will give them a try. I think you may have nailed her frustrations.

Judi, I wish my mother would do the same. I worry because she's on her own, her health is a bit fragile, and I'm 3 hours away.

Gwen, maybe you need to try a different carrier or switch to a prepaid phone.

For all my liking tech stuff, I just joined FB last month. I'm really enjoying it. I waited this long because I have been very concerned with the privacy issues that FB has had. Even now that I'm on it, I won't play the games and keep my settings almost as tight as I can. I do show my photo, but mainly to cut down friend requests from people looking for other people with the same name as mine-of which there are more than 300. I'm still learning and tweaking, and that's part of the fun.

Willow, as far as FB, just get in there and mess around with it. I don't think there's anything you could do to actually break it. The more you mess with it, the better you'll understand it.

Depending on who your friends are FB can be enjoyable (sharing pictures and news) or mind-numbing (endless 'posts' detailing one's daily life for no apparent purpose). I quickly found the 'hide' button for those folks - not as drastic as unfriending, but keeps them in the background unless and until you want to communicate. It can also become a bit of a free-for-all on hot topics, and does not have near the politeness of DG - I have often seen some very mean spirited posts. Again, I think it all depends on who you establish as your friends.

Susy, my son had a prepaid plan from Radio Shack but I think it had a time limit on it - if he didn't use the hours up and reload by a certain date, he was penalized. Are there other plans that don't do that?

I kind of like the real posts from people. I am not so fond of the big, bulky, endless game posts from other folks. I've hidden most of it.

Wow, I did walk away from here without hitting send or refreshing for awhile-D'oh!!!

Gwen, I've actually never had a prepaid one, but I've seen many recommendations that they can be the way to go if you're only an occasional phone user. It sounds like it could be a good option for you, but I don't know what to recommend. Even the major carriers offer prepaid now, directly, so I think some research would be in order. I think the things to know would be what network you're using and how well it covers where you go, and if you like the phones they offer, as well as how the prepaid rules work. (There are only so many networks-the other brands you hear about are reselling service on the major company networks, so it really is the same coverage) You might also go visit your carrier-it could be your phone is simply not working well these days. There have been many network changes and technology improvements in the phones since 2002.

Technology has provided numerous information portals - all of which have usefulness to varying degrees.
I appreciate convenient/rapid access to information, music mobility (ipod), and the portability factor that cell phones offer. Everything else I can do without. When someone invents a tool that can be programmed to perform some of the less pleasant gardening tasks, I'll be on it like white on rice.
I have not gotten involved with social networking - no time!

Our big family uses FB to communicate some things back and forth, but that's about it. And anything that we want kept just within our group we don't post. Like any technology you have to set limits. I usually forget about it until I get an email from one of the kids telling me to check it.

I'm off to hunt slugs.

I need someone to find my horse who wandered off the farm, my chickens won't lay eggs so..... How do people live in such a small FB world. Anyway I too accept friends and hide all of the gamers. The rest I like to keep up with. Mostly my long lost friends that I have wondered what happened.

Sue, love the article, and it's so true. I get loads of info from clients about how they live, their stressors, their boundaries, etc. through their cellphones. My favorite is one time when a couple showed up and part of their issue (a small part entirely) was the division of labor around the house. When people say their home is a 'mess', I have no idea what they really mean by that since it's so subjective. I've been known to ask people to take photos to show them to me so we'll be on the same page about definitions. When this lady said her house was a mess she whipped out her cellphone and showed me photos. She came prepared! (never mind that her definition of 'mess' was that three pieces of mail were on the counter and two dishes were in the sink. She is obviously not a gardener.) And I am always curious about which ringtones people use and what their voicemail message sounds like.

I don't hate technology at all. Good heavens, I am married to a programmer! That would be very difficult at best. But I do think that with new inventions people have to, in a conscious way, consider what new boundaries should be in place about the use because many of these things are not self-limiting anymore. I just have to choose what I use with care, because otherwise I would be swamped with using things that someone else has defined as 'necessary', even when it's completely extraneous. There are only 24 hours in the day in this dimension we live in. Were I to take advantage of all of the newest and greatest technology and keep up with that, I would have no time to garden or do much of anything else.

Sue, I doubt seriously if your dh has to worry about people using their cellphones less. LOL! I'm pretty sure that they are here to stay! It's the land lines that are in 'danger' of disappearing. I often wonder if it's worth it to have one anymore.

That's what I mean about examining the boundaries about these things, Sofer. I know people who spend hours and hours on those games because they are not in the least self-limiting. You can play them 24 hours a day if you choose to. It's much easier to self limit with gardening! When I've spent too long out there, I physically hurt! LOL! So I know it's time to stop.

Ah Melissa you should be me I only am limited by daylight. I got 3 hours of sleep last night on a red eye from AK and I was so excited to get out in the garden I got up with Karen and raced out in my pajamas. My socks got wet then muddy and I had to go in and get on shorts and boots. I left the garden to cook and then back out till after dark to burn the sticks. I have to say I got too much done but still a lot to do. Tomorrow I get to drive up to Eureka to get my boat and garden large stuff I keep in the barn then spray up there all day to eliminate Spotted Knap weed where I walk up and down a 100 ft high hill spraying the darlings. I only have 8 acres to do with a hand sprayer. LOL This is my hill the buildings at the bottom are the bottom of my parcel.

I am clearing out my hard drive & this picture of Julie cracks me up every time

I started texting mainly to keep in contact with my kids, nieces and nephews letting them know of important family issues and am on facebook for the same reason. And as for grammar, I have found some of the "shortcuts" make the whole texting thing a lot easier. It seems when texting someone, they may respond at their convenience and not be interrupted by persistent phone calls. Cursive writing is not taught as it was when I attended school, much to my husbands' chagrine, and may in time, along with grammar, become a fond memory as letter writing is to most of us today. Technology, I believe is changing the the social fabric of our society, for good or for bad, but that is what technology does. In short, I simply refuse to become an old curmudgeon refusing to adapt to changing times and just trying to keep up the best I can.

Linda :)

I had my land line taken out last year. No one ever called it, and I never used it. And before I got the number 2 years ago it belonged to someone named Larry who never paid child support and was being pursued by a child welfare agency. I would get recorded calls and voicemails intended for him and it drove me nuts.

Sofer, you are a hard working guy!

I find it difficult to hear properly on my cell phone, or to hear people who are on their cell phones. Perhaps this is a phone issue for me? My cell phone is 3 years old and in almost-new shape since I rarely use it. Maybe I should upgrade to something newer and fancier. My son pointed out to me how much I am spending on scattered communication - cell phone, land line, long distance, cable, internet. I guess I should think about a bundled plan.

BH - your coverage is likely to be determined by your carrier rather than your phone. I would investigate plans with different carriers.

Kathy, that's true about the coverage, but phone equipment can also be defective, or a particular phone may not actually have the greatest performance, either.

We haven't had a land line since 2003. I've never missed it.

My mother went to school in her 70's to get a technology certification. At 82, she is on FB and has friends she has made online from all over the world, including some young men in India and Pakistan who call her "grandmother", have improved their English speaking skills from talking with her, have continued their own educations to" improve things in their own countries" - as she has encouraged them to do and who have sent her pictures of their babies as they have married and started families. I think it's great. I have a Blackberry and love it but it is turned off when I am out for shows or at dinner or driving. When it is on, it is on vibrate. It is the main way I stay in touch with my younger son in NC.

That is really awesome, ladyfiresign! :)

Everybody should make the world a better place every day and your mother has done that. You are very fortunate LFS. So has my mom. She always makes everyone love her with her smile and graciousness. This is her in Maui a month ago at 87.

She sure doesn't look 87! And she looks like a very fun person and a fabulous mom! Will we get to meet her in June?

Sofer, your mom looks like one of those ladies whose face has settled into a permanent smile.

Elfin cute. I'm going to Ireland and commune with the anicents when I get to my eighties. Eight years to go.

Ohhhh, 87 and still travelling - good woman - and 82 and still going to school!!!! Yea Team! WW, why wait - why not 'go back again' when you are 80?

My wish when I reach 87 (fortunately 3 decades away!) - to be planning the next season in the garden, and to still have my power wheel barrow going! Just heard that Honda is discontinuing them, and only promise 10 years of supplying parts! YIKES - that will leave me 20 years without it! and I am not sure I can level the land in that amount of time! Now, if I start digging out the back, and shift it to the front one barrow load at a time...

When I reach 87 I will completly be focused on garden and books. Lets see my day will start at 10 am with a walk around the garden (wheel around?), stop and smell each flower, contimplate my life while sitting in the sun. Then in for breakfast of bran and ensure, sit down and write my 5th chapter of my book.........

Sofer, what a marvellous photo of Castro! Fab!

I am having a bad day, stumped by trying to email the following sentence:

"Neither Lisa nor Larry drinks."

But should it be "drink," right?

Or are they a "they" in this sentence?

Oh good, the sun is out, maybe my brain will dry now.

I think it's 'drinks'. One drinks, two drink. Either/or and Neither/nor imply one subject.

My early grammatical rules would tell you that 'they' doesn't apply here. But current usage, I believe, dictates that the word 'they' can and should replace 'he or she' when the gender is unknown.

That still grates on me . . .

I think it's 'drink.'

Gwen, it surely would be drink (Lisa and Larry drink) if we were talking about both of them. But we're only talking about one or the other (Either Lisa OR Larry).