Technical Guffaws and (Heaven Forbid) Cussin’

With my little white Macbook in hand, I sat on the couch this morning and roared with laughter as I read from this site. It dramatically reminded me of the hilarious piece I previously wrote about our computer problems and what I came to refer to as “Jerry and his sweet India girls.” It’s a hoot, I promise.

“On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], ‘Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?’ I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.”
— Charles Babbage (1791-1871)

From Computer Stupidities

The following is a large collection of stories and anecdotes about clueless computer users. It’s a baffling phenomenon that in today’s society an individual, who might in other circumstances be considered smart and wise, can sit down in front of a computer screen and instantly lose every last shred of common sense he ever possessed. Complicate this phenomenon with a case of “computerphobia,” and you end up with tech support personnel having phone conversations that are funny in retrospect but seem like perfectly valid motives for wild machine gun shooting sprees at the time. You will read stories in this file that will convince you that among the human race are human-shaped artichokes futilely attempting to break the highly regarded social convention that vegetables should not operate electronic equipment. And yet, amidst the vast, surging quantities of stupidity are perfectly excusable technological mishaps — but that are amusing nonetheless. After all, even the best of us engages in a little brainless folly every once in a while.

Most of these stories are true. Some happened to me personally. Some happened to friends of mine. Some are considered urban legends, but even most of these are more likely to have happened in some form or another than not. Skeptics look at such stories and doubt their truth. But reason, common sense, and experience tell me that if you sit someone who isn’t computer literate (even a smart someone) down in front of a computer, you’re bound to accrue anecdotes no less outrageous than these. You’d be surprised.

* Tech Support: “Type ‘fix’ with an ‘f’.”
* Customer: “Is that ‘f’ as in ‘fix’?”

* Customer: “How do you spell ‘Internet America’? Is there a space between ‘inter’ and ‘net’?”
* Tech Support: “No space between ‘inter’ and ‘net’. It’s spelled normally.”
* Customer: “Ok. A-M-E-R-I-C-K?”
* Tech Support: “That’s A-M-E-R-I-C-A.”
* Customer: “I-C-K???”
* Tech Support: “‘A’ as in apple”
* Customer: “There’s no ‘K’ in apple!”

* Customer: “I was printing something.”
* Tech Support: “From before you called?”
* Customer: “No, from Word.”

* Tech Support: “Where in the building is your printer located?”
* Customer: “Middle of my desk.”
* Tech Support: “If I have to give someone directions, where do I tell them to go?”
* Customer: “In the middle of my desk where I work.”

I wish you a happy day; free of computer viruses, worms, horses, and from less than savvy people. 🙂

Acclaim for Tucson Radisson

Tucson Radisson Pool, originally uploaded by Shirley Buxton.

As we stepped from our room onto the landing, this was our night view at the Tucson Radisson where we stayed three nights last week. It was a splendid hotel in other ways:

• They supplied seamless internet service at no charge.

In my experience this is unusual for fine hotels. It seems strange, but cheaper lodging places seem more likely to provide free internet service.

Also very neat was a notice on the desk that down in the cafe they had laptops that any guest could use. Had my own so I didn’t need to check that out. It seems they also offer free copy services.

• They served a spectacular breakfast buffet at no charge. (well, no additional charge. I’m sure we paid for it.)

Jerry and I both agree we have never eaten finer breakfasts anywhere. Presented on the bountiful buffet each morning were: eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, toast, quick bread loaves (banana, blueberry, oatmeal) , waffles, french toast, freshly baked muffins, oatmeal, fresh fruit, yogurt, milk, dry cereal, orange juice and outstanding coffee.

• Our room was a two-room suite. The living room area had a couch, chairs, desk, fridge and a microwave.

• Our mattress was a Select Comfort. Down comforter, lush pillows.

• Parking was convenient and free.

• The glass elevators took in the scene pictured here.

• The prices of the rooms were reasonable.

• The grounds were splendid.

Going to Tucson? Try the Radisson on Speedway. It’s a great place.

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My devotional blog is here.