August 4: Technology Terror, Breakdowns, "Web" Dip

This morning, the cable guy came to our house to install our digital cable box, Internet service, and phone line.  Yes, I have succumbed to bundling.  I'm not a big fan of technology, even though I was a computer science major for many of my undergraduate years.  (I ended up with a math/computer science minor.)  Technology, however, has not been my friend for a good portion of my life.

The Internet is wonderful for some things.  It provides quick research access.  Allows me to not get lost as easily on road trips.  Lets me watch really funny videos of cats.  (Just kidding.)  However, the Internet also enables a lot of behaviors that are quite destructive.  Gambling.  Banking fraud.  Pornography.  It kind of makes sense that such a powerful tool would also be the catalyst for powerfully dangerous activities.

Anyway, allow me to climb down from my soapbox.

So, it was a morning and afternoon of trips to Office Max, Radio Shack, and Best Buy.  After much struggle (and a few tearful breakdowns), I achieved Internet connection.  My DVD player isn't working yet, but I have about 100 more TV channels that I will never watch.  I guess it all evens out.

I do question whether all of today's trips and aggravations were worth it.  Let's see what Charlotte says:

"That's wonderful," said Wilbur.  "How is the plan coming, Charlotte?  Have you got very far with it?  Is it coming along pretty well?"  Wilbur was trembling again, but Charlotte was cool and collected.

"Oh, it's coming all right," she said, lightly.  "The plan is still in its early stages and hasn't completely shaped up yet, but I'm working on it."

There you go.  My technology is coming along all right, even if it's early stages.  Just have to figure out that damn DVD player.

Saint Marty and his big-ass remote control have a date tonight.

Press TV-DVD-AUX-#-@-PAUSE-MENU-DEMAND and then cry