A Slave to Technology

Think technology makes your life easier? How about convenient?
How about affords you more free time? Improve the quality of your life? Think again.

I find it curious that so may people are wired and connected like never before, and yet no one seems to realize that technology does not set you free. What it does is make you a slave. (Yup, that's what I said. YOU are a slave to technology my friend. Did I mention you may also be obsessed?)

Technology makes you constantly accessible no matter where you are (and call me old fashioned) but there is something to be said for "quiet time" and the mystique of being "unavailable".

Don't get me wrong. I like the convenience of technology, but only when I want it to be convenient. Having your cell phone with you and constantly ringing does not set you free. It makes you a slave.
Feeling the obligation to answer and talk (no matter where you are or what you are doing) does not make your life easier.  (It may also make you rude too. Depending on where you are talking.) And let's talk email.  How many times a day do you have to stop and check your email? Once, twice? I think not.  How about when your home server or host goes down? (If you panic or rant on the inconvenience it is causing and you don't have the time to deal with the "situation" then you are a slave.)  So many people are addicted (and slaves) to their technology devices that now we have laws limiting when and where people can use their technology. It's like common sense (and let's not forget manners) have gone out the window.

I like to play a game in my mind occasionally. It goes like this... 

A terrorist drops an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) bomb and all the technology stops working. Phones, computers, cars. Everything.  And panic ensues. I however remain calm and cool. Know why? Because I am not a slave to technology. I still remember how to write and address a letter. I can communicate with a handwritten note, and I actually do remember life without email. I will survive. (Will you?)

It's just not healthy being connected and wired to be available at a moments notice (for the most inconsequential things). Just as it is not healthy to be on Facebook, or playing games on your iPad for 10 hours at a time. I mean really. Stop being an addicted technology slave. Quit surfing the web, quit playing those games, and stop chatting. Get a life. Go outside. Read a book. (And I don't mean on a Kindle.)

I don't get it. (I'm old and confused.)

In my quest to be relevant and up to date with the latest "social communication tools" I have stumbled on a terrible realization
that why I am on Facebook (with hundreds of my closest friends), and I can tweet (so that the whole world can following me) - I just don't get it.

Don't get me wrong. I love a great "viral" video (YouTube), and I love getting those little gifts on my Facebook page. It is just the constant and nonstop social chatter that has me stopping and scratching my head. Why?

What is it about the technology and the sites that makes people want to tell total strangers what they had for lunch or that they partied so hard they vomited. Now that is certainly something I find interesting! (Please note: written with a sarcastic tone.)

So what is it that drives these people to communicate at such a
personal level? Could it be that the sites are for free? (Well maybe.) Could it be that people need to be heard to believe that their lives are relevant to others? (Possibly.) I have giving this much thought, because I don't get it.

Then late one night (last week) when I was reading an article about marketing strategies written by a "hip, young Stanford grad" I was struck by the realization that I wasn't going to be hip and thirty again. (Yeah, I know it is surprising to you that I was hip once.) There it was. As plain as the anti-wrinkle cream on my face. Damn - I was old! I wasn't hip. I can't stay up late enough to party (let alone drink till I puke), and I don't want anyone to know what I am really up to (because I would be embarrassed.) Wow. Talk about "enlightenment." There was nothing to get.

But....I don't need to get it. I am old and confused!

Saving the Planet - Put your money where your mouth is

I have been called many things - a tree hugger,

an eco-hippie, a recycle-psycho, and (the most

shocking of all) a vegetarian. Over the years

my family and I have tried to live a (somewhat)

eco-friendly existence. As environmental issues

and causes become more mainstream I am

indeed happy to see many people trying to reduce

their carbon footprint.

Reducing my and my family's carbon foot print?

I can get totally into that. (I would like to think my family is

"enlightened".) Unfortunately upon further inspection - our enlightenment

is perhaps a fantasy. As I review my children's habits I find myself repeating the following...

• "Turn off the lights when you leave a room"
• "Why is the heater on and all the windows open?"
• "Why are you playing computer games and with the TV on?"

What a bunch of energy hogs! (Is there an award for such electrical disregard?)

The realization that perhaps we are not so enlightened was quite a

shock. This shock sent my tree-hugging husband on a quest to indeed

offset such activity, try to create some balance, and save the planet.

The solution was to go solar.

Going solar was a great idea, but did we want to commit to the cost?

It meant putting money where our mouth was. (What a quandary.)

Our wallet or making the world a better place?

(DId anyone in the history of the world ever have to make such a choice?)

Well... what we found out was that our anxiety was not warranted. That

going solar is quite affordable these days. There are a number of solar

companies on-line that you can lease or buy from. Of course this is great,

and with utility and government tax incentives it is something every

"earth loving" person should think about. Needless to say we took the plunge.

(I'll keep you posted on if we made a good choice. The company we chose

is Sungevity. The service has been great, and so are our expectations

- http://www.Sungevity.com).

Our solar system arrives next week just in time for Earth Day - April 22, 2010.

And one more thing while I'm on this whole solar, eco-friendly, earth day trip.

Check out the Goldman Environmental Awards. (http://www.goldmanprize.org)

Held in San Francisco yearly this organization has the worlds largest

prize program for grassroots environmental activists from around the world.

The winners are amazing people who have done some amazing things.

They definitely put their money (passion & time) where their mouth is.

I wish I could be like them; however, at this point in time I'll settle for installing

solar, creating balance between my husband and myself against my energy

hogging kids.

The Perfect Family Vacation

In search of the perfect family vacation?

Now is the time to start making those arrangements. But...don't look here. If your family is like our family then you have members each with individualized needs, likes/dislikes, and vastly different ideas on what makes great vacation fun. Why is it then that we give so much thought, time and effort into what would make the perfect vacation for our family, when in actuality it is a myth?

Think about it. Perhaps the goal should be to make yourself happy, because

when you are happy everyone is happy. Or perhaps it is make your kids happy,

because when they are happy then you do not have to hear any complaining

(or at least less complaining). Ultimately taking a vacation is about spending

time and making memories together. I can get into that (but if I have to go

camping one more time I'll scream!) Perhaps it will be then another cruise.

Mom by the pool reading... sunshine... a cool exotic drink... kids off doing

"kid things"... Oh Yes! A cruise it is. A cruise is a perfect family vacation.

What's all this Whining About?

A little background on the Whiner's Club...

In the beginning of the year I extended an invitation to many family and friends to join me in the cathartic process of whining. Quite simply - anyone can join the Whiner's Club, however; you do need to be aware that there are some rules in place for this type of activity.

Whining rules are simple:

1. Anyone is welcome to whine.
2. One is free to whine about anything.
3. Fuming, anger, and ranting are not permitted. (Whining is an art.)
4. No brainstorming or positive ideas are allowed to be shared.
5. Whining is not a solution based activity.
6. No personal attacks on individuals please (thought irreverence is smiled upon.)
7. Constant whining is a bad habit. Pick the time and place carefully.
8. Remember who you whined to, so you do not gain a reputation.
9. Enjoy yourself and do not feel guilty.

If you remember these simple rules and follow some of my suggestions

carefully I think you will find that a good whine every now and then makes

one feel better. I cannot be a responsible accepting adult all the time and

neither should you.

B.

Hey everyone -

Well... I have taken the first step in joining the bloggers of the world. Many of you have expressed an interest in my ramblings and observations, and so here they are finally available for the world to see. More importantly this blog will be an outlet for all those creative whiners of the world.