Day Twenty Three - W is for...

The world wide web is a wonderful thing

The photo itself is a bit lacking in imagination, but the functionality is INCREDIBLE.  I would estimate that I look something up on either my computer or my phone an easy 4-5 times per day, sometimes even more!

It sounds cliche, but I really don't know how we made it without the instant gratification of a search engine at our fingertips.  I have a set of encyclopedias that David and I bought when we first got married - we might have busted them out a few times when Holly first started her school career, but I have to admit that the web served as a far greater resource for her from about 4th grade on.

It makes me wonder what amazing thing will exist in 20 years that we will all declare as hard to imagine living without.  That will admittedly be here faster than I might like to admit!

Day Five - E is for...

An EXTENDED desktop is a nice thing in the workplace!

The photo challenge continues and I am on the prowl for something different, unique and of course interesting to make this whole process compelling.  There is a big readership to keep happy, after all!

Today's entry was the creative inspiration of a technology FAIL.  I came out from a meeting to find myself staring at a blank computer screen - both the monitor and my computer on the dock were blank and nothing I did could bring either back to life.

I fancy myself somewhat technology-savvy, so I performed a variety of tests before I diagnosed the issue - my monitor was shot and I needed a new one.  The advantage of working in a smaller office and coordinating a lot of work through the IT team is quick and speedy service, so I trotted on over, made my request and within 10 minutes, voila!  Not only did I have a working monitor and computer once again, the monitor is double the size of the old one!

This brings us to the letter of the day...E.  In addition to having an extended screen, I am very excited too!  I would describe this all as EXCELLENT.

Rocked the Vote

Rewarded with my very own badge, just for voting!

Tuesday was of course election day and I adjusted my schedule a bit to allow myself the time to go place my ballot.  After years of absentee ballots because of travel for work, I really enjoy being able to show up in person to vote.

We have been voting at the same polling place for the last 20 years - Holly actually went to elementary school there for 3 years - so I knew exactly where to go and was in line shortly after the polls opened - I think that I was voter #16 in that location.

We had a good laugh at home prior to my departure, as David and I were sharing information - I helped him with all of the propositions since I did my homework on them, he helped me with the right local offices since he is practically the Mayor in T.O. and then...we cancelled out each others vote for President.

Oh well, I think that our politics at home closely mirror the divide that our whole country is experiencing.  Whether you agree with the selection or not, getting out and exercising your right is always the right thing to do!

Undecillion

I learned about a new number this week, it is called an undecillion. It represents a trillion, trillion, trillion, or 36 zeros. I was going to write that out, but have decided that while a cute pictorial reference, it really will just take up a lot of space, space that I can fill with interesting, thought provoking comments.

Perhaps not. At any rate, this is a short blog today because I have an undecillion things to do.

It's a lot, I am telling you!

The New Frontier

For me, the Hubble telescope repair mission was like the Olympics (for those who remember my obsession last summer); I just couldn't get enough news about it.

From the planning of the spacewalks to the contingency plans for rescue should space debris disable the shuttle, I was completely fascinated and enamored with the entire process, sneaking peaks at updates on the Internet throughout the days.

I do vaguely remember all of the joking and mocking that went on years ago when the Hubble was first launched and had so many technical difficulties. It looked like it was going to be such a bust in terms of taxpayer money and then they got the cameras fixed...suddenly, we had a whole new view of earth, space and the solar system.

Who's laughing now?

iMac Attack

At last. After fighting our Dell PC for the last 6 months, including a 3-week stint without any Internet connection, the Newton's are now with a real computer...the all-new 24" iMac (cue the angels singing).

Bonus to this most excellent acquisition is the fact that my friend, Pastor Craig is a regular techno geek (he makes me look like an idiot in all things technology), is a huge Mac fan and willingly set my new computer up, including the addition of an external hard drive. Gone are the days of me fretting over the potential of lost photos or music, or even documents for that matter. I have actually been challenged to try and run out of memory space between the two new items...I like the thought of having everything sound and secure!

I have been a Windows/PC user for a long time because that is the standard in the workplace. I actually got my computer start on a Macintosh (I think that is what the little box was called in the mid-80's), so firing up the new machine is like coming home. There are features and functions that I never even dreamed that I ever wanted, let alone needed. I am confident that I will soon be wondering how I ever did without it.

Holly is just going to be glad that she can access her email and burn some CDs!!

Creative AND Entertaining

A friend recently sent this video to me and it makes me laugh...plus it has a nice message.

It is also evidence that there are lots and lots of people out in the world with FAR more creativity than I have, so I am relegated to enjoying and sharing with my friends.

Hallelujah!

Wii are Sharing the Joy

Holly unwittingly participated in securing a Wii and Wii Fit to give my parents as their Christmas gift. Those darn things were hard to get AGAIN this year and after repeated trips to a variety of different stores in the area, I put Schnoogs on the task - and she made the magic happen!

She found a store that had one of each left. Thanks to some good security measures, the fine people at Game Stop would not allow Holly to use my credit card for the purchase (funny, because the clerk there knows her from school), so I texted David to run down there after work to pick it up. Success!

When I came home from work later that night, both were very proud of their accomplishments AND thought that the Wii was for us. I can't effectively describe the crestfallen look on BOTH of their faces when my answer was, "No. That is for my parents so they can have the Wii Fit." As giving and loving as Holly is, she still said something to the effect of, "That's just plain inhumane." Not that she begrudges her grandparents the benefits of a Wii, of course.

The debate rages on at the Newton household for the Wii - I am holding back because I know how those two work. With the console and the games will come the demand for a new TV and that is NOT in the budget! To their credit, they did make a statement after seeing the Wii Fit in action that they could do without the new TV...

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Let's see what happens!

Technically, I am Grounded

We all know that I enjoy technology and all that it can do - remember my gleeful posts when I bought my Blackberry, learned how to take photos and post blogs from it? All was moving along very nicely until last week when I attempted to merge my work and personal life technology into one neat little package. The intention was good and made great sense, but now for reasons that I am still trying to figure out, I am frozen out from doing anything but text or answer calls on the Blackberry. Technically speaking, I am grounded!

I have a couple of good photos on the Blackberry that will soon translate into some grand blog entries. I have attempted to send them a few times using different tactics, but it all ends the same way - with a big red X indicating that the transmission has failed. I was on the phone with Sprint for about an hour on Friday trying to figure it out - at that point I had my work e-mail coming in, but no personal mail. By the time the day ended, I was completely frozen out and no one had called me back! It looks like I am going to have to invest some more time later today and use my stern voice until I can get someone that will see this project through.

Holly will tell you that the stern voice is something to be avoided if at all possible!