Dependence on advanced technology.
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How could we enjoy again and again throughout his touring history all the magical moments
Mark constructed with his masterfully pure musical creativity without the modern conveniences
we now enjoy? This gets billed as the greatest guitar solo of all time (a snippet of the same
song posted earlier), and Knopfler's smooth emotive genius often brings tears to my eyes for
the sheer joy his memorably beautiful and technically sublime talent evokes in me.
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Hey, there's this thing-a-ma-jig called a translator!!! It's on that new-fangled whatchamacallit... the internet .
#CameronvanWinkle
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Uh... About that landline phone...
They don't maintain a complete network any more, at least in this region. The signal goes about a mile and a half, then hitches a ride on a local AT&T tower.
I found this out last time my AT&T service went down, and the local landline service went down at the same time, so I investigated. Man, I was ticked. I thought I was buying two separate services, not the same service twice. But how was I to know landline was now just another MVNO?
They don't maintain a complete network any more, at least in this region. The signal goes about a mile and a half, then hitches a ride on a local AT&T tower.
I found this out last time my AT&T service went down, and the local landline service went down at the same time, so I investigated. Man, I was ticked. I thought I was buying two separate services, not the same service twice. But how was I to know landline was now just another MVNO?
I think every generation feels the technology they are most familiar with is usually best.
A few years ago, I had an 88-year-old neighbor who was quite fascinating because she always told me, "Don't believe it when people say the Good Old Days were so much better. They weren't." She loved modern conveniences, notably indoor heating and cooling, as she had grown up in a farming community with frigid winters and blistering summers.
I had a grandfather who grew up in a time when he could remember walking home from school and "seeing lights on in the house for the first time," because it was the first time they ever had electricity. He also remembered when his family got their first car, a good old Ford Model T. I've read articles saying people at the time never thought this crazy contraption would replace a "good old reliable horse and buggy." Unless one is Amish, I don't see too many people going back to that.
Not that every modern invention doesn't have it's pitfalls, of course. I've struggled with insomnia for years and have read that it's theorized many sleep disorders have come about with society's ability to harness artificial lighting. But I can't think of anyone who would want to go back to oil lamps and candles. I live near a hospital and when the electricity went out a few weeks ago, I was thinking of all the people who must be grateful for backup generators because of their loved ones being on life-saving electric devices.
I grew up with phones tethered to the wall and had no interest in a cell phone (when I did finally get one, it was a basic flip phone model with no internet or even texting.) But a friend insisted on sending me one and told me, "Once you learn how to use it, you are going to love this." And he patiently, very, VERY patiently, spent literally hours of his time in voice messaging and calls teaching me how to use it.
I think that's probably one of the main hurdles of technology -- the fact that it can be very intimidating and difficult to learn to use. But sometimes you don't understand the payoffs until you see how they apply to your daily life.
I used to carry a paper calendar (to keep track of appointments,) calculator (for figuring out the best prices on everything I bought and conversions when buying fabric for sewing projects,) a small clock (I was never really into watches) everywhere I went. I also always had a GPS (electronic mapping device) in my car because I was often in unfamiliar areas.
All of those things, and so much more, have been replaced with just one little device-- the modern smart phone. As a single woman who does almost everyone alone, I now consider it to be essential to my safety as well. Sure, every piece of technology will occasionally have glitches, but for the most part, I can call for help at any time. I live in an area in which you might have solicited for money in a Walmart parking lot, even if you've parked as close as you can find to the front of the store.
With my phone, not only can I dial 911 immediately if I feel endangered, I can also record (both audio and/or video) the situation if needed as proof.
As for financial matters, I use a credit card because it has better consumer protection. If someone grabs your wallet or purse and runs off with it, your cash is gone. But if I call the credit card company, they will shut down the card immediately and even if the thief has charged up thousands of dollars, there are limits (usually $50) as to how much you are held liable for. In some cases you might not even have to pay the $50. I also use a cash back card and always pay off the balance before it accrues any interest charges, so last year I got an extra $500 back just by making purchases I always have to make anyway.
I usually only go grocery shopping a couple times a month, so I tend to buy a lot at one time and don't feel comfortable carrying larger amounts of cash. I take 2 credit cards (one as a backup, just in case,) and check to make sure they are still with me when I get home.
My account is set up with 2-factor authentication, so every time I login, I need not only a username and password, but an individual numeric code that is unique every time I login and sent only to my phone number. I know there can be security breeches, but at some point, we have to have faith that God will protect us.
If I ever lost my phone, everyone and their mother has a phone these days... I would just go to the nearest place of business and, with a couple calls, could have everything, including my phone itself, locked down on the spot (I also have my phone set to needing a security code to access it each time.)
I also don't like working with cash because I try to get as many proofs of purchase as I can. Whenever possible, I make all my appointments and payments through text or email, so no one can try to say I agreed to a different date or price. With modern tech, I have concrete proof of my appointment times (a doctor's office can't say I missed an appointment and try to charge me, because I have a record of it on my phone.) If I make a payment, I have at least one, usually two tangible receipts (one through the company and onethrough the credit card) so no one can try to change the original price or claim I didn't make a payment because I paid cash and they try to doctor their copy of the receipt.
I know different things work for different people, but this is what I find works for me, and I'm very thankful my friends are willing to keep on teaching me the ropes as tech continuously changes.
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It's funny because that's exactly what smart phone users will say when comparing modern phones to landline phones -- you just can't beat the practicality, convenience, speed, and ease.
A smart phone can show me what the weather will be like in a few hours (do I need a jacket?,) direct me to a discount store I've never been to (GPS mapping,) remind me of my doctor's appointment at 3, keep track of all my receipts, help me calculate which size of laundry detergent is the best deal (calculator,) lets me catch up with my friends while waiting in line (I prefer texting,) and helps me feel safe in an unfamiliar area (I can call 911, record the voice or visuals of anyone who is making me uncomfortable, photograph them, their car, their license plate, etc. and instantly send it to someone else as back-up proof.)
And I'm sure a hundred other things if only I were more tech-savvy...
A smart phone can show me what the weather will be like in a few hours (do I need a jacket?,) direct me to a discount store I've never been to (GPS mapping,) remind me of my doctor's appointment at 3, keep track of all my receipts, help me calculate which size of laundry detergent is the best deal (calculator,) lets me catch up with my friends while waiting in line (I prefer texting,) and helps me feel safe in an unfamiliar area (I can call 911, record the voice or visuals of anyone who is making me uncomfortable, photograph them, their car, their license plate, etc. and instantly send it to someone else as back-up proof.)
And I'm sure a hundred other things if only I were more tech-savvy...
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hold on! land line phones are much less problematic than cel phones. around here, it's terrible. & in many areas of America. the highest quality cel phones have reception, static, wavy, cut-out, & muffling problems. happens very often to everyone. with land line phones, there aren't any issues at all. each has there advantage though. i understand the advantages you listed. highly important for emergency situations.
It depends on what one wants from a phone.
If a person just wants to be able to sit in a chair and talk for a couple hours, a landline phone can fit the bill. And if you're in a dead zone where cell phones don't really work, I can understand why you'd think landlines are the way to go.
But as for my safety and the ability to travel by myself, yes, I am one of those dreaded people who takes her phone everywhere.
I'll gladly take any disadvantages it might have for all the benefits it provides in exchange.And even when I do sit in one spot and talk on the phone for a long time, one of my favorite things about smart phones is that if you're talking about a certain subject, you can both look up more information about it to share, as well as sending family pictures, etc. to explain and discuss, laugh over, etc. right as you're talking.
One of my favorite things about smart phones is being able to "take people with me." If I'm in an interesting place I want to show them, I can snap pictures of what I'm looking at and talk/text/voice message them immediately, while getting their feedback as I go along. Most times I don't have static on my phone, and even if I do, it's worth it to be able to "take them to see" a cool penguin exhibit I'm walking through at an aquarium.
All of my friends are long-distance, so a smart phone has truly been a blessing from God for me when it comes to keeping in touch.
Welcome to the future! Landlines are just land-bound flip-phones these days, at least here in southwest Tennessee. Landline companies don't even bother maintaining their networks any more. They just slap AT&T boxes onto the wires that still exist and call it a day.
Yup. My "landline" phone is just an AT&T phone that I can't carry with me. Man was I pissed when I found out.
Yup. My "landline" phone is just an AT&T phone that I can't carry with me. Man was I pissed when I found out.
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So basically, nowadays even land line phones are really just cell phones, but with cords?
(Remember when "cordless" handheld phones came out for use in the home, and everyone went crazy for them? I remember seeing one guy using one of these as he was driving in his car.)
Even back then, people were dreaming of the convenience of modern smart phones to come.
I understand older people don't want to learn/like new things, but I'm sure they'd enjoy what these phones can do, like instantly seeing pictures of their children and grandchildren in action while they were talking to them on the phone in another town or state.
Shoot, it took forever for me to become a believer myself.