Sunday, May 15, 2011

The Price of High Tech

We just got our computer back after having the newest version of a Malware attack destroy our system. Fortunately, we were able to save all our files (note to you reading this...back up your files weekly!) Unfortunately it cost us $400 for this anonymous hacker's special programming talents. I hope this evil person's hard drive melts like chocolate over a campfire and his children turn out to have the brain power of a donut hole.

I did have our computer upgraded to Windows 7 from Vista. Now I'm getting pop-ups that ask me if I want Internet Explorer to remember this password or "did you know blah blah blah". It's like the old paperclip in WORD that tries to "help" you. I'm glaring at my computer now, talking to it, begging it to quit asking me these questions. If I told you once, I've told you a hundred times...NO.

I also have a flag in the system tray that says "Solve PC Issues: 1 message". Oh no...I'm not falling for that trick mr. hacker person (note use of lower case title to show my distaste). But how do I know it's a hacker thing or a you-better-read-this thing?

Computers and high-tech--they are not for the faint-of-heart, non-tech people, elderly, easily bamboozled by constant alerts, messages and upgrade choices.
Remember when writing a letter--on a piece of paper--in script or neat printing--just required some thought for the proper wording? No one asked if you wanted a pen or pencil, white paper/lined paper/blue paper, note size/letter or legal size. And no one asked if you wanted the big letter-writing computer in the sky to remember all this for you so that some sneaky axis of evil hacker could find a way to steal all your letter-writing codes in order for them to send out poorly written notes to people all over the world asking for money...in your name.

It must be the rain making me grumpy today. And my Garmin 265WT that will no longer show traffic alerts or places that have been in business and the same location for the past 10 years. Ah, but the really cool thing is that when I try to download the updated maps software (which I paid for), it encourages Internet Explorer to "Suddenly Stop Working". Sounds like Union issues to me. Negotiations have come to a standstill. I'd like to negotiate my Garmin into some other realm.

Yes, technology is sure uber lots of fun.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Harley Davidson Motorcycles and the call of the Road

My new motorcycle is a wondrous piece of metal art. Ice Blue. Studs on the saddle bags. Big, comfortable seat for big...well...big rides. Oh, and heated grips. What would life be without warm hands on a cold day for goodness sakes.




I make sure I ride by the local biker bar just so they can see a woman riding a big 'ol HOG. And in a pink jacket no less. Not just any pink though. Cruel pink. Don't mess with me pink. Pink has many personalities.