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Stop learning?
Who would ever make such a declaration?
At my first job I was taught to operate, clean and maintain an Ozalid machine. “Learn this and you will always be able to find work for the rest of your life”, they said. Does anyone know what an Ozalid machine is today? Ha!
Then I learned all about Mimeograph machines. Anybody ever hear of that? Ha!
Lessons from Other Galaxies
Today the need to divorce myself from “new” technologies came back about a year ago with the gift of a new cell phone. It is a Samsung Galaxy S4 that was supposed to be top of the line and even transformed itself into an ever-present camera.
“This will be good for the next 10 years,” I thought but it took a year to find a phone number in an emergency.
And in what seems like minutes there is now a Galaxy 5 and I haven’t even learned 4!
Facebooking Translations Gone Where?
I remember not long ago a beloved grandgirl created a FB dictionary for me (to simplify things). It was a listing of the lingo for translations of Facebook messages. Even abbreviations like “I luv u 4 sentimental reasons” seem to have disappeared and I haven’t memorized the list yet. Where have they all gone?
I am for Low Definition TV!
Now Bill has a new HD Flat Screen TV. Does anyone remember Fat Screen TVs?
To get the HD part, we had to update all Direct TV receivers including the one for my old LD (Low Def) version. For those of you who are city dwellers, Direct TV is man’s way of surviving in rural areas where there is no Wifi or other such Gigabite connections. Can you tell I have no idea what I’m talking about?
Low Definition is my own terminology and I intend to stay LD! Nevertheless, “The updated receiver is required,” so it will be waiting in case I change my mind.
Arghhh! The Viewer’s Guide is now too small with reverse white type on a light blue background.
DVD Netflix watching is fouled up too!
I have these written instructions which require a translator:
Turn TV on at remote top right button. Slide top thingy slider thing to far Right & switch to Channel 3. Insert disc.Use second remote for something unidentified. Turn power off at box or at red dot on remote top right. Switch to Channel 4 and slide top slider thingy to far Left. TV should now be on and you should be able to change channels! Ha!
And NO, I don’t want Netflix Steaming or Streaming – just something else to learn!
SNAP AND CHAT
Last month my same technologically savvy grandgirl thought I would enjoy participating in SnapChat. Huh?
I finally guessed that SnapChat is a place to post a picture
that will only last 3 seconds and then disappear.
This would allow some folks to be seen naked but not permanently so.
I am still not sure this is the purpose. It is only a naïve guess.
Mackenzie was so sweet though, and put Snap and Chat on my new/old cell phone. I doubt that she wants to see her Grammy disrobed, so maybe this service is for other more benign or deeply mysterious purposes?
Or maybe she knew I would never figure it out anyway.
She was right because when she left I could not figure it out so I deleted it. At least I hope I deleted it.
Even a little thing like “delete” requires a step by stumble procedure.
Instagram Wireless Communication
I see Instagram all over Twitter too. I understand Twitter I think, but not Instagram which would necessitate detailed instructions.
Instagram may be messaging in Morse Code because we do tend to be going backward in communication skills.
I have no intention of learning Morse Code since Bill already knows it. He was a radio operator in the U.S. Air Force some time after the Civil War ended.
FYI:
In case I am ahead of you in utilizing initials to save time, “FYI” means For Your Information.,
Did you know Twitter is represented across the internet by a little bird on the wing? That at least makes a bit of sense and does not require a graduate degree in social media. 
People Loving People
Other people seem to reside in specialized technological worlds for as long as they can stand to survive there and until they get updated and have to get new instructions.
Somehow love online always seems to thrive.
I think it is because the young have faster thumbs and the rest of them are bendable. I suppose they have no trouble reaching out to potential new heartthrobs in the blog-us-fear.
BUT I QUIT! I don’t want to learn any more. I already met my heartthrob in person in a touchy feely world before Snap Chat and cell phones.
And I want technology to STOP! NOW!
Enough is enough.
So now what?
I was just told that all the YMCA resistance equipment (I have been using for 15 years) is being replaced by new, up-to-date stuff.
“Is it the same, but just newer?” I asked. “Well, no.”
And the trainer went into detail on the new knobs to expect, the new ways of achieving leg lifts, and the fact that they will be hiring people to explain all the new technologies.
Noooooooo!
Virginia Views 
If you start a petition to send to I don’t know who(that’s another problem: how do you ever find a human in charge?), I’ll be overjoyed to sign it!
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You have figured out Twitter? Oh, I bow down to your infinitely superior technological skills. I am on Instagram though, so maybe we’re even, come to think of it? Who knows, I’m sure something new will come along and leave us both in the dust. And, yes, I remember mimeograph machines and that distinctive smell!
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Not familiar with an Ozalid (will have to look that up), but I knew way more than I wanted to about a mimeograph machine! Someone told me about Snapchat the other day —- I’m happy with what I know how to use now. But something tells me we’ll HAVE to learn about all this new-fangled stuff in order to survive!
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Dor, I’m trying to comment on your “Long View” post and can’t get through (the problem’s on my end, this has been happening lately.) Anyway, just wanted to tell you that I think this particular photograph might be favorite one of yours yet!
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Change is not easy! Every time I master something it gets changed. If I buy a product, they quit making it. Oh, well my blog keeps me learning. I remember mimeographs! Great post!
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P.S. Dor, you are way ahead of me as I have not heard of half of this stuff. I still have a flip phone! Cheers!
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Oh how I would love to go back to a flip phone! You are among the pure of heart. 🙂
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Thank you coastalcrone! Sounds like you are definitely a kindred spirit experience the same frustrations. And memeographs? Well, I wouldn’t want to go back to the blue fingers and wavy copy anyway. 🙂
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Modern technology is definitely flawed, but your message has come through clearly and I thank you for saying that! 🙂
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You have a real point there Dianna. There is no escaping the onslaught of new technologies and if we don’t learn something, we will get crushed. I thought we were ahead with the blogging thing didn’t you?
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Yup. I am a Twitter Queen! You can find me @vashopperdor. I look all around for great shopping opportunities, places to go and things to do in Virginia. Great fun! Instagram? I have no clue so yes, we are even. I’m sorry you remember mimeograph machines (because they were a pain) but happy too. We have even more in common.
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I will formulate the petition and save it for when we find human beings in charge! 🙂 Great idea Ronnie.
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Ouch! Too close to home! I have spent the day setting up my new computer. It took me forever to make it look like my old one. They even moved the delete button on the keyboard! I am exhausted and I haven’t transferred my files yet. If you hear screaming tomorrow, that would be me! I remember mimeograph and I also remember the day the very first Xerox copier came into my office. We all stood around awed! We had been typing with 9 carbons.
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I really enjoyed this posts. I guess we have to embrace some new technology if only to communicate with younger family members but it does seem to change faster than it used to. A few months ago Hubby and I were the youngest people at a picnic lunch where everyone else was 60 plus. Everyone was either transferring their record collection to computer or replacing it with music from iTunes, scanning their old photos to external hard drives, reading on their iPads or listening to audio books and streaming programs to their TV’s from the internet. We could just barely keep up!
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You are going to get me in trouble with Mikey! He’s trying to watch the news but I keep laughing over this post and interrupting him LOL. Oh Dor, I think you are doing wonderful in the electronic world, and I’m very proud of you :). Don’t stop now. Keep on learning!! Oh, and you may find this hard to believe, but I think Twitter is dumb :). People post the stupidest things and all those tweets just drain my battery.
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I hear ya … 😉
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I’m with you, Dor. I live in the dark ages and am happy enough. When I house sit for my neighbor, who has cable TV, they explain the 2 remotes and I simply cannot figure them out! I sigh, give up and pull out my book. God help me if Kindle and Nook get their way and they don’t publish books anymore!
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Eliza, I just wish they would slow Progress down a little so we could catch our collective breath and evaluate actual benefits. There is great value in simplicity.
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🙂
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Now Cindy, I’m glad to make you laugh but really. Twitter is good. It is not social media like FB where you connect on a personal level. That’s the level where people post stupid things. It is really a place where you can find things. Just ask me. I am the Twitter Queen! 🙂
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You are mingling with a very savvy crowd!
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Yes, they are all techy people. I met them when we were all volunteering at a community radio station. Most of them were the tech team.
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I remember that Xerox copier day too Kate and all the carbons and whiteout stuff. I guess we have come a long way, but sometimes I think we are pedaling backward. I hope you get your files transferred without too much screaming though. A new computer is always cause for excitement. 🙂
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Even though I appreciate new technology I also find it very frustrating, especially when I have to sort tech problems out myself. Ugh. I totally understand Dor, I seem to find my way around FB, WP and one or two others but have not been near instagram 🙂
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Sorry Dor, but I have to disagree with you on this one :). I much prefer Facebook, but at least I know who everyone is referring to now when they talk about the Twitter Queen :). I’m so proud of you!!
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Great post Dorann. Laughing – when we first got our HD TV three years ago was just before Superbowl and we (duh) didn’t realize that there were separate channels for HD vs regular screening. We watched almost the entire game in regular screening and couldn’t figure out why the game was so blurry. So I finally called Verizon – within 30 seconds (VZ rep must have thought we were nuts) we learned the difference between HD channels and regular. LOL I still laugh about this one ~
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Oh yes, mimeograph machines – that’s how I made my tests for my students way back in the dark ages when I taught. I’m with you Dor! Call me an old fuddy-duddy but I’m saying no to newer and newer technology — when will it all STOP?? I’m hanging onto my dinosaur ways and clinging to my ‘dumb’ cell phone.
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Apt description Cindy – “dinosaur ways.” Still clinging to them but losing my grip. 🙂
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Good one Mary, about watching a game in regular screening when you could have seen it in HD. I wonder if Bill knows about the special HD special channels here….. 🙂
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Actually my “handle” is @vashopperdor. Pride goeth before my fall, but for the time being I’m having fun finding things to buy, places to go, and things to do in Virginia and sharing them via Twitter. It’s actually fun and is an opportunity to highlight favorite places or things I think are really fascinating. 🙂 Luv you anyway Cindy even if you don’t like Twitter. 🙂
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A young person just informed me that instagram is mostly to post pictures and then people can comment on them. A lot like FB maybe but I really don’t want to learn anything else unless forced. 🙂
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Phew! 🙂
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I heard the same thing (always have work) when I learned the PBX phone system. Chuckled at your comment about Bill–sometime after the Civil War. People have been adapting to change for eons, it just seems to come more quickly now.
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🙂
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Resilience is the key Patti. Mine has been lost for decades I think. It was bad enough losing manual typewriters. 🙂
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I think a lot of us crave simplicity. I try to keep my life as simple as is possible. I may be a dinosaur, but I am a happy one!
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I’m with you Eliza! 🙂
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Dora … I feel your pain. This week, I had to learn how to get all my students hooked up to the e-book textbook that we’re using this year in Language Arts (English). I had guidance from a district rep on that one and then I was off and running.
Two days later, our techie gave us a “46 step” program to move our students’ rosters to GradeCam. Left to my own devices, I would have botched that one. Thankfully, a colleague offered to do it for me. She knows what she’s doing and she was working on it in my classroom for 30 minutes – or so it seemed.
Resistance is futile. We have to be tech savvy or we’ll be passed by. 😉
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I love your discovery Judy, that “resistance is futile.” Perhaps I will aim to be a tech savvy granny in the face of an unstoppable onslaught.
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