What are you thinking?

There was a time when I thought that the hula hoop was the best invention ever. Then later on it was a certain feminine hygiene product.  Time passed -- it became the disposable diaper or the post-it note that was at the top of my "major discovery" list for a while, and now, I often think that I will be eternally indebted to the individual who invented painters' tape. When I think about inventions during my life time, I am a bit overwhelmed. I find it difficult to decide what is most important. Most seem at least a bit important and many have changed all of our lives -- at least those of us who have moved/been dragged out of the cave, and that covers, I think, almost everyone in the entire world now.  Think about it...  even those who live in the most primitive of conditions are touched by the outside world. There is no escape. In most case scenarios -- our lives are improved -- hope so.  Anyway --

From time to time I have thought about the significance of the fact that many of our grandparents moved from a wood stove to central heating, from horse and buggy to automobiles, and from work horses to tractors. Remember that they were one of the generations who walked up hill both ways.  Then again -- our generation has experienced leaps as great -- and in larger numbers perhaps. Our world is changing so very quickly, and... we find out about new "stuff" in record time -- sometimes even years before the common folk have access to whatever it is. Our world is both smaller and larger at the same time.  

Of course there are a multitude of medical discoveries and a bunch of scientific developments that I know nothing about and wouldn't understand even if I did explore them a bit -- like the whole fiber optic "thing".  I know that these inventions are making our lives better and am thankful for the smart people who figured it all out. But turning to things that are more readily understandable and more frequently utilized brings us to such things as -- personal computers, cell phones, video games, the World Wide Web (does anyone call it that anymore?), and then there is GPS as well as DNA testing, etc. (Lots of letters in our world today; that's for sure.) 

On a more personal level -- I love my garage door opener (especially in bad weather), central air conditioning, and...  I am fond of the TV remote control, Roku, Netflix, and Acorn TV.  I also enjoy the convenience of the ATM machine and cordless tools with interchangeable batteries. I even comprehend, on some level, the importance of bar codes. Now that I think about it, there are a great many "newfangled" things that are changing our lives and in some cases -- becoming necessities. These are things that fulfill needs and wants that we never knew we had before their creation.  Swiffer products and microfiber cleaning cloths are cases in point.  Is your mind spinning with other inventions that have come into your life in a big way? Feel free to share.

Many times I wish that I had thought of that - whatever that is. Seriously -- how did someone know that pet rocks would become such a hit or that Chia pets would last as long as the did? ("Ch-ch-ch-chia!" has been running through my head off and on since the '80's for cryin' out loud.) I don't know about you, but I would like to have an idea that worked out well... that brought fun or, better yet, an idea that helped someone out a bit.  The thing is if I ever had an idea for such an invention, I didn't stay with it long enough for it to come into focus or I remember the idea after someone else had actually brought it to fruition. I guess the place to start might be with what people seem to need help with. Some research is necessary here.  

It is a fast moving and interesting world we live in. At times I wish we could all put on the brakes and slow things down so that people could catch up a little bit. Remember that "game" Would you rather be deaf or blind?  It's a game that made you really think about and appreciate important aspects of your life. Well let's play a variation -- Would you rather have transportation of some sort or access to media?   I am just wondering what you are thinking.  
Call it research.  

  

Unknown Caller...

A couple of weeks ago I had just settled down to an evening of quiet relaxation and mind numbing television when the phone rang, and for some unknown reason -- I actually answered it in spite of Caller ID indicating that it may have been some potential scammer targeting the elders of America -- the Unknown Caller. (Notice I did not use the term elderly in the previous sentence?) Anyway -- since I now know how to use the pause button on my Roku remote, and because I just felt adventurous, I picked the phone off the charger and braved a strong hello. Whoa -- I could actually understand the person calling -- a real person, not just a recording from the IRS calling from their cell phone -- telling me that they were suing me and that I needed to contact them immediately. On the other end of the "line" was a nice woman named Ann, asking me to take a survey. I agreed to do so, basically because she spoke English like a native-born American (possibly from New Jersey or Eastern Pennsylvania), and... I knew I could hang up at any time I wanted.  

It is so lovely to be in total control of your own phone.  (I will never forget the day that I realized, for example, that I didn't have to answer my phone just because it rang. My kids informed me of this -- repeatedly -- until I finally "got it".  Anyway -- this ignoring the ringing phone was a huge step toward a new found freedom - second only to blocking calls from a former college wanting money. Huge.... Since then I marvel at my regained powers... at least phone wise. I sometimes feel that next to Scotch tape, Caller ID and Call Blocking are the best inventions ever. Do want to mention though that I never did become attached to my Answering Machine, Voice Mail or the rudest technology of all time  -- the Caller Waiting option. I always hang up when put on hold...always...except if I am calling the pizza shop.  Some things are worth the wait...but it is still rude.) 

Back to the survey call itself -- for the next few minutes I answered harmless questions of a non-personal variety and then discovered, once again, that I am woefully ignorant about many political issues. That is what happens when you ban all newspapers and TV news shows from your home to keep the bad news out - even if it is only for a few months at a time. I used to think that this ignorance was a bad thing -- a personal weakness. Now?  I don't really care. I ease any residual discomfort and appease any trace of guilt by turning on CNN once in a while...and ... usually I regret this decision. It is uncomfortable, however, to be reminded, as in this survey, that I basically have lost all faith in politicians, and in governmental proceedings...or almost all.  

Anyway -- bet you have taken a survey like this one before yourself in a moment of weakness.  The process got me to thinking about how I could have dealt with this intrusion into my private time.  When Ann asked me if I had a few moments to answer a short list of questions I could have said, "Sure" and then said: " But first, Ann, -- I am curious about a couple of things..." 

• How are you? Are you having a good day? Do you find that most people are nice to you on the phone? Or...?   
• Do you get paid well for doing these surveys?  Do you earn under or over minimum wage? What is minimum wage in your state?  What state is that? In general, how do you feel about your pay on a scale from 1 - 5 with 5 indicating that you are totally satisfied?
• Do you get paid by the number of people you call or by the number of completed surveys? Do they deduct pay when people hang up on you? Are your feelings hurt when people do so?
• What company or political party are you really working for?  Are you sitting in a back room of the White House right now?
• Are you, by any chance, as apathetic as I find myself to be?  Do you care? On a scale from 1 - 5....
• What is your highest level of education? How old are you? Really? You sound younger.
• Do you have other jobs, or is this full time?
• Do you own your own home? 
• Do you live in the city or in the boonies?
• What would you be doing if you were not doing this survey?
• Do you have any idea of what time zone you are calling?  Do you care?
• Are you planning on buying a new car within the next 5 years? If so what make/model do you think it will be? Will you buy it new or used?
• How did you get my phone number? Did you have to pay for it?  
• Have I brightened your day?

The list could go on and on.  I didn't pose any of these questions, but I did manage to make Ann laugh out loud more than once, so it was totally worth my time. Our time together was actually sort of fun. She told me that she had enjoyed speaking with me.  Then, in contrast -- at 9 PM on Memorial Day I received another one of those calls that Caller ID has trouble identifying.  This one was from Windows - yet again - worrying about my computer that must have been communicating its discomfort to them in some miraculous way. Are you laughing yet?  I simply do not know a person who has not received a multitude of these calls from this Windows of an unspecified company.   I hung up.  Wouldn't you think that the person in charge of this particular scam would caution his/her callers to take a day off on the United States' Memorial Day? Seriously.... Perhaps I should have explained this to the person on the other end of my phone, but  -- honestly -- I am not certain she would have understood me. It would have been unkind to turn the tables on her. I know I had trouble understanding one single word she was reading from her script -- other than the Windows part. She was no Ann.  I can't help wonder what country she was calling from and how/if she gets paid? These calls are exhausting. Would you agree? 

The thing is -- what if the next time my Caller ID is clueless there is another nice Ann at the other end of the call?  I could practice my questions and see what happens. I would hate to miss that.  I am thinking that I may answer the phone just in case. I can always hang up. 

Unplugged...

As with many words, "unplugged" has taken on new meaning over time. Let's be clear from the very start -- I am not talking about "pulling the plug".  I am talking about living without all the electronic "advantages" of today's world and a bit about at least becoming more selective in how we spend our time. Certainly electronics are wonderful in many ways -- but....

Recently my cable company was "down" for over twelve hours.  (This, of course, will not be reflected on my next bill. I will quietly pay for their downtime, as all their subscribers do. I pick my battles.) Since I had had the "wisdom" to "bundle", this outage meant:

• No Internet or Wi-Fi
• No land line phone service
• No cable TV or Roku, which translates into no Netflix or Acorn TV among other options...  (I so love Acorn TV.  I watch sometimes until I am thinking in a British accent.)   

Anyway -- it was a pause in the action -- like someone pulled the rug out from underneath me. My life changed temporarily. I consoled myself with the fact that I still had electricity and running water. Since my life suddenly had become much quieter, I began to think back to before we had become so dependent upon all things electronic. Seriously -- I never leave home without my cell phone, let alone drive 500 miles without it. Times have changed and continue to change. I am not always good with this. It takes me time to adjust. I still use road maps. I am a map person.

• Remember when we drove without power steering, air-conditioning or ... snow tires? My goodness -- we even stopped to ask directions in those days. Now my Jeep talks to me, and I can't always figure out how to make it stop. 
• Remember when we could never have imagined computers, laptops or video games? Now you can wear a computer on your wrist even when you are taking a shower. Think for a minute about that! Is there no alone time anymore?  
• Remember when we had no TV?  Now I have one in almost every room in the house, and ... TVs are getting smarter.  Some of the newer ones have cameras in them.  So creepy.

All of this is sometimes just too much. For example, I do not want my Amazon order to be delivered by drone...ever.  Please Note:  I didn't even mention online shopping, email, or social media.  Being plugged in means the list goes on and on -- new things every day with new words to describe them. What's trending?  Do you post or tweet?  Both?   Are you familiar with the CamMe app or Nixie, the flying camera that grabs onto your wrist when not in use? It's exhausting.

Anyway --- once I got over the shock of being unplugged, I rapidly "tuned into the silence."  It was lovely.  The quiet was restful. I could hear the sounds of my home in winter.  I read; I wrote with pencil and paper; I had time to think in peace. It made me feel smarter -- not so much on overload. 

Interesting to consider in relation to all this is that my grandkids have no cable TV in their home. It's not that they are totally "unplugged" -- just more than some.  In addition - their electronic time is limited and monitored. I sometimes think about bribing them to sit down and watch TV quietly if only for a few moments. (Is that shameful?) Most often they make up complicated games, draw chalk "murals" on my basement floor, or check out life in the pasture or the boxes in my cupboards. They play with my grandmother's buttons (like I did) and explore the world around them. They have wonderful imaginations. They think.... You know what my 7-year-old grandson said that he wanted for Christmas? He said that he wanted a golden harp and a Master's Degree. Need I say more? Look what happens when you unplug in even some ways? I'm telling you, I listen when these kids speak.  I don't want to miss one single thing. They are fun and funny. It's a double blessing.  

I have, by the way, uninstalled Candy Crush Saga/Soda (at least temporarily) from all my electronic devices, I continue to add/subtract in my head before I use a calculator, and I am self-monitoring my TV selections.  I am still plugged in - but not as much. Yep - it makes me feel smarter.