When I visited Dorcas Smucker a few weeks ago, I learned my cell phone may be older than hers. Mine doesn’t provide ring tone options. It once had an extendable antenna, but that broke off – and it kept working same as before, so I didn’t worry. The “screen” is now a barely-readable visage, but I can find enough direct sunlight somewhere, usually, to make out what it’s telling me. No telemarketing calls come in on it. Please don’t expect me to check your message if you leave me one – I still don’t know how – but I can call you if I’m running late to your baby shower or something.
It seems now, however, my cell phone has gone rogue. One day the 60 or so units I had available on it disappeared. I’d left the phone on overnight in “keys locked” mode (finally learned how to do that), and the next time I grabbed it the numbers read zero. So I spent the requisite 45 minutes talking with a nice man from India who confirmed I’d lost my units but believed me innocent (good customer and all, I guess) and replaced them. Today I turned the phone on and found 100 new units I hadn’t paid for. Sorry, Tracfone! I honestly tried on their web page to rectify the situation, to no avail. Perhaps tomorrow those units will have flitted off somewhere.
Though I don’t use my cell much (obviously), I’d be okay with giving up and purchasing a new phone. I’m not against the latest techno thingies, much. But as someone who drives a ’91 Dodge and uses a 2002 model computer, I’ve grown used to roughing it. In fact, the newer stuff does send a shudder up my backbone when I imagine the future.
We’re all on board about recycling and reusing, right? I’m really good at it, given I live where to do so is easy as gluten-free toast in the morning. But, and though I risk more forays into politics, I’m concerned regarding these cash for clunkers programs. Not that the intention is wrong – getting rid of pollution and over-energy usage would be shiny. What happens, however, when the things going rogue have no longer been made by those who remember eight-track tapes, vacuum tubes, and carburetors? What I mean is, in a world where obsolescence becomes government required rather than planned by greedy industry, we might get stuck inside the machine.
My 1998 van was cool; it took care of me. Then one day the right rear vent wouldn’t open. Come to think of it, you never could open the middle windows, and the front ones were electric. Everything so expensive to fix. We didn’t even pay off the car before I sold it and went back to debt-free driving. I liked the being cared for by technology bit, I really did. But it can begin to give funny feelings…I decided at last I would spend my days and money buying other folks’ cast-offs and using them as long as possible. Affordable living, though not as cushy. Keeping gadgets out of landfills and the junk yard that sprawls just up the road – a good philosophy, no? But one I don’t think we’re priming ourselves for.
Maybe I’ve watched way too many Matrix-type movies. But while everybody texts and ipods and twitters and lets their cars drive them around, I’m just that least bit creeped out, still.
So very with you here.
Me, too! Creeped out just a bit – still. Very relatable post for me, Deanna. Very.
Matrix indeed – ya just wonder sometimes.
My son sent me this concerning the Cash for Clunkers program:
“A vehicle at 15 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 800 gallons a year of gasoline. A vehicle at 25 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 480 gallons a year.
So, getting rid of each average clunker will reduce US gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.
They claim 700,000 vehicles – so that’s 224 million gallons / year
That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil.
5 million barrels of oil is about ¼ of one day’s US consumption.
And, 5 million barrels of oil costs about $350 million dollars at $75/bbl.
So, we all contributed to spending $3 billion to save $350 million.
AND THESE CLOWNS WANT TO RUN OUR HEALTH CARE?”
I mean, REALLY!!
Good post.