Technology

I love gadgets!  I've always had a mechanical side to me.  I enjoy figuring out how it works and what it can do for me.

When I first met my husband, we went to a car show in San Francisco where they showcase all the new cars.  This was in 1985, the gadgets in cars were not what they are today but I gravitated to the ones with all the options.  Karl is different, he is highly mechanical, but he feels the less options - the less that can break down (and the less he has to fix).

I didn't always agree with him, but find myself agreeing with him more and more.  We got a new programmable coffee maker when we first finished our remodeled kitchen.  It was so cool, but it broke down within 2 years, it was very expensive and I expected it to last longer.  We got another one and it broke down too.  I got out my old Melita - the kind with filters, you boil water and pour it in.  There isn't anything to go wrong - very simple.  You have to wait for water to boil to have your coffee, but so what.  And, the coffee is really good. 

I can't believe how spoiled we are nowadays.  We want everything now - instantly.  We can't wait or work for anything.  I actually prefer my coffee brewed that way now.  There are still things that can go wrong.  The carafe can break, but it's cheaper to buy one of those than a whole new coffee maker.

I think we are lazy as a society because of technology.  Why should I learn to cook when I can buy prepared food and microwave it?  Why should I learn how to do something when a program or gadget can do it for me.  Why???  Because it makes you a better person, a more interesting person and someone who has substance and skills.  Maybe, someone who is more valuable.

I see it everyday in my business.  The computer program I work with advertises that anyone can do bookkeeping with their software.  Yeah, anyone can enter data.   But is it entered correctly?
When I am asked by a client if they should take a course on the program, I usually answer that they need to take a class in accounting.  The program makes more sense if you know how things should look once your done. 

Our society should "Press the Pause Button" and learn how to do something without the technology.  They should learn the skills it takes to do something with your hands and mind and not let a machine do it for you.  I enjoy learning how gadgets work and how they can make my life easier and technology is not bad.  But, we need to use our minds and not rely on technology for everything we do.