Tag Archive for computer

Think You Can Unplug?

Tonight we begin a National Day of Unplugging (March 1 into 2). During this annual event, we’re urged to take an electronic Sabbath, a day of rest from anything that’s plugged into the wall—or into our ears, whether through ear buds or that invisible cord leading from a device into our minds: phones, iPods, computers, tablets, TVs, etc.  The period is sunset to sunset, so it won’t interfere with work for most of us.  Doing this will remind us how dependent we are on electronic devices, how much they control our lives and often take precedence over interacting with other people.  So, slow down your hectic world, and enjoy it more.  Share an uninterrupted dinner with your family, undivided attention at your child’s ball game, more focused listening to what your spouse is saying, more time to read that little one to sleep, a chance to discover what’s going on in the lives around you, the peace of just being.  The plugged-in addiction isn’t easy to de-tox from, but…who knows?  After doing it once you might want to make it a weekly habit.

New Computer? Check this Out

Doing some last-minute shopping for a computer for your college student?  Look for an eco-friendly one that saves money.  Buy one of the new energy-efficient models with a fan that doesn’t run constantly.  If just a moderate number of us did this we’d cut computer energy use in half and save $5.5 billion.

[For more easy, money-saving, Earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000 or your favorite e-book seller and download to your computer or e-book device. Totally free, with no strings attached.]

Stop Being Plugged for a Day

On this National Day of Unplugging (March 3-4) we’re urged to take an electronic Sabbath, a day of rest from anything that’s plugged into the wall—or into our ears, whether through ear buds or that invisible cord leading from a device into our minds: phones, iPods, computers, tablets, TVs, etc.  The period is sunset last night to sunset today, so it won’t interfere with work for most of us.  Doing this will remind us how dependent we are on electronic devices, how much they control our lives and often take precedence over interacting with other people.

So, slow down your hectic world, and enjoy it more.  Share an uninterrupted dinner with your family, undivided attention at your child’s ball game, more focused listening to what your spouse is saying, more time to read that little one to sleep, a chance to discover what’s going on in the lives around you, the peace of just being.  The plugged-in addiction isn’t easy to de-tox from, but…who knows?  After doing it once you might want to make it a weekly habit.  And the Earth will appreciate the energy-savings.

Start now, by turning off the device you’re reading this on.

 

Please Don’t Give Up on Me

Hello, Readers.

I’ve been gone for several days due to a sick–then dead–computer.  I’m back on-line again now.  However, family is coming tomorrow for a 2 week visit (can come only once a year, from New Jersey), so I’ll be a tad busy.

I’ll probably break from the topics I usually cover and go more personal, and probably not every day.  If you’re interested at all in my musings or stories about family, please check in. If not, please come back in two weeks, when I’ll return to my usual oddball assortment of topics.

Thanks.  Jackie

 

Cut That Cord!

Tonight we begin a National Day of Unplugging (March 4-5). During this annual event, we’re urged to take an electronic Sabbath, a day of rest from anything that’s plugged into the wall—or into our ears, whether through ear buds or that invisible cord leading from a device into our minds: phones, iPods, computers, tablets, TVs, etc.  The period is sunset to sunset, so it won’t interfere with work for most of us.  Doing this will remind us how dependent we are on electronic devices, how much they control our lives and often they take precedence over interacting with other people.  So, slow down your hectic world, and enjoy it more.  Share an uninterrupted dinner with your family, undivided attention at your child’s ball game, more focused listening to what your spouse is saying, more time to read that little one to sleep, a chance to discover what’s going on in the lives around you, the peace of just being.  The plugged-in addiction isn’t easy to de-tox from, but…who knows?  After doing it once you might want to make it a weekly habit.

 

 

Windows vs Ford

I’ve been cursing my computer (again) this week.  So when I received this from Linda Younts this morning, I just had to pass it on to you.

At a recent computer expo (COMDEX),Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, “If Ford had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.” In response to Bill’s comments, Ford issued a press release stating

If Ford had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this part):

  1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash………twice a day.
  2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.
  3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.
  4. Occasionally, executing a manoeuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.
  5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive – but would run on only five percent of the roads.
  6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single “This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation” warning light.
  7. The airbag system would ask, “Are you sure?” before deploying.
  8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.
  9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
  10. You’d have to press the “Start” button to engine turn the off.

PS [came as part of Linda’s email] – I’d like to add that when all else fails, you could call “customer service” in some foreign country and be instructed in some foreign language how to fix your car yourself!

Can You Unplug?

Tonight we begin a National Day of Unplugging (March 7-8). During this annual event, we’re urged to take an electronic Sabbath, a day of rest from anything that’s plugged into the wall—or into our ears, whether through ear buds or that invisible cord leading from a device into our minds: phones, iPods, computers, tablets, TVs, etc.  The period is sunset to sunset, so it won’t interfere with work for most of us.  Doing this will remind us how dependent we are on electronic devices, how much they control our lives and often take precedence over interacting with other people.  So, slow down your hectic world, and enjoy it more.  Share an uninterrupted dinner with your family, undivided attention at your child’s ball game, more focused listening to what your spouse is saying, more time to read that little one to sleep, a chance to discover what’s going on in the lives around you, the peace of just being.  The plugged-in addiction isn’t easy to de-tox from, but…who knows?  After doing it once you might want to make it a weekly habit.

 

 

 

 

Computers, Sleep Mode, On/Off–Dangers

The debate continues–“off or on?”  Consider this: by turning off your computer at night you’ll use about 75% fewer kilowatts.  This makes a big difference in an office, where computers use more electricity than all other equipment put together, but it also helps at home.

“I just use sleep mode,” say some people.  “It costs me only about $50 a year more than turning off the computer, and computers don’t like to be turned off and on too often.”

Wrong.  Watch this short video Why You Should Never Leave Your Computer On to see what sleep mode and on/offs mean to your computer.  You can help the Earth AND avoid expenses at the same time!

Leaf 6

[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/ view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. Or download a free copy from your favorite e-tailer.]

 

 

I’m a Bit Muddled

If I don’t make much sense these next few days, forgive me.  My old computer died, forcing me to get a new one.  That meant having to leave my trusted, understandable Vista to go to Windows 8.1, which, at this point, makes little sense to me.  Oh, yes, there are instructions–on line, not in the packing box.  It took me a whole day just to figure out how to set up the computer enough to actually go online!  Now I find that some of my programs and files don’t like 8.1 and are rebelling.  My passwords hate me and are hiding.  And last night it took me almost an hour to figure out how to turn the &^%$*! thing off!

So, I’ll be spending the next week re-installing the programs I need and figuring out how to reconfigure my Comcast email, since 8.1 doesn’t allow POP settings.

Thanks for giving me a shoulder to cry on.  I’ll come up with some entertaining post soon, both for you and for me to stop taking life–and computers–so seriously.