You can retweet this if you want

Look at that picture above.  Read what old Uncle Albert said.  Think about it a minute.

Ok.  Let's talk.  Well really, I'm going to rant a bit.

I'm disappointed with the smart phone and its use in polite society -- that is, of course, if polite society even exists anymore.  After this week, I'm not so sure.

Just a few days ago, Mark Zuckergerg, the founder of facebook, said, that's total ok to check your phone with dinner guests around.

Um, no Mark it is not.  I am not even going to explain why.  Because you all know why.

It is also not ok to facebook in Sacrament meeting, or to play angry birds in sacrament meeting. Two things I witnessed today in my ward. And if you were wondering, it was adults.  Can we not just leave it alone for 3 hours?  I get it, bringing a device with the scriptures and lessons, and assorted gospel accoutrements is way easier than schlepping all of that in your bag.  But if you can't just leave the "entertainments" alone for a small fraction of your week, maybe you should put on that hair shirt and drag your big old boxy scriptures to church.

Then there was the time, just this past Easter, that we went home to Mesapotamia to see the folks and the family.  (Blogs to come soon on this).   We had a family lunch on Saturday at Uncle Cam's house with all of the extended McKays.   How disappointed was I that everyone sat there with a phone lolling in their hands, like dangling cigarettes in the mouths of a spaghetti western cowboy, waiting, just waiting for a ping or a text, or to check whatever.  We were not having good conversations that way.  The only one I had a meaningful conversation with was Marian.  I'm sure it's because neither of us have a smart phone.  We just talked.    Because of this, I'm not sure I want to drive all the way to Arizona and see my extended family anymore.  Why bother if all we're going to do is sit and text each other across the room?  Perhaps they all need to appreciate the fact that we are together, some of us more often than others, and cherish those times.   I would have liked to have had a nice family chat, which used to be filled with laughter, jokes, funny witticisms and all the answers to the questions of the universe.

I get it, we have technology, we should embrace is and love it (always and forever), but we also need to focus on our human interactions when we have them, because those more important that a status update or a retweet or being the high scorerer in the game of the month.

And with that my rant is over, and you can totally retweet this if you want.

In the last days...

I just wonder, when the anciet prophets saw the last days, our days, and they saw all of us walking around talking on bluetooth headsets, if it looked like we were all talking to ourselves and they thought we were all crazy.

The reason I ask is because I do think people are crazy until I get up close and can see that they are talking on the bluetooth.

Crazy people, it's just CRAZY!

I love technology: portable music

We all know Kip loves technology. He sang a song about it at the end of Napoleon Dynamite (don't hate me because I love this movie)

Sometimes I love technology, and sometimes I don't.

Love the internet, satellite dish, dishwasher and freezer full of ice. I'm sure if I had a DVR, I'd love it too...

Do not love, cell phones. Mostly just cell phones are what I don't like.

However, this is not a post about cellphones. But I will say this though, after I dumped my phone last year in exchange for high-speed internet, I just got a little cheepy pre-paid thing. I never use it really, but I do sometimes. I tried to call The Atomic Dad while driving with it the other day. I could not do both. Seriously, I do not know how ya'll do it.

Anyway.



When I was 11 and in 6th grade I got a WALKMAN! for Christmas! Yes a Walkman! I was C-O-O-L because of it. I have loved portable music ever since!

These days I have this little saddish, MP3 player. I like it, it's simple, I know how it works. I just put all my CDs on the computer and from time to time, I change out the playlist on my little guy.

Well, I've finally discovered how to download music from the internet. And I did the other day.

I was RAD! Yes, I just used the word RAD, because I hear that's what the kids are sayin' these days (again).

I feel like there is a new something I can add to my I Love Technology list. I also have a feeling, that I am going to need to show some serious self-control with this medium.

The Magic Box

In the last month Sweet Baby James has really discovered the magic box of the television. Here to be referred to as "the magic box". I have to admit it's been kind of a relief. I realize those of you with more mothering experience might disagree and might chuckle at my naivete, but for right now it's a good thing.

I'll tell you why. James like to watch Curious George in the morning at 8am. He'll usually stay down there for Sid the Science Kid and Super Why, even though he has no idea what those two shows are about. It just gives me some time to put my face on, or read my email, or fold my clothes by myself.

Before Monday at 4:30pm our friends in Yo Gabba Gabba land came on and it gave me 30 mins in which to cook dinner mostly uninterrupted. You would not believe what a great babysitter DJ LanceRock is...seriously, I wish he did weekends. Now, yesterday I made a horrible, ney TRAGICAL discovery. Nick Jr changed their programing schedule without checking with me. I know RUDE, huh? Consequently the Barf Beat Band was on at 4:30 instead of Yo Gabba Gabba, which is now on at 3pm, which is the same time as Glenn Beck, and that created a problem. Mama needs her Glenn time, and no peace for the cooking of the dinner.

It was bad. We all ended up in time out.



Someone told me that I should just DVR things then. I totally would, that is, if I had a DVR. We're not that up on technology yet. You know us living here in the middle of nowhere, we just got electricity and cheese puffs last week. One thing at a time ok?

I just should buy some videos of the Gabbas, and George and then we can have them whenever we want. Right?

15 mins of Fame!

I would just like to say that after calling my Congressman today and getting laughed at by the dork answering the phone, I tweeted, I facebooked it, then I called the Gleen Beck Radio Program and told the nation about it.

Yes, I got on a nationally syndicated radio show and told my story. If you care it's today's show, the third hour about 35-40 min in.

Joseph recorded it on his MP3 player, if anyone knows how to upload an audio file to blogger or of a program that will do it, then let me know!

This is my 15 mins of fame! I am AWSOME today!

Blog music followup.

FYI....

There is such a thing as blog ettiquite.

There is such a thing as the off button on blog music players, which Tacy uses, thank you.

And no, I should not have to have my speakers off when I visit your blog.

What it boils down to is common courtesy....which I guess, I am guilty of wanting other people to practice.

When He's Happy....

When he is happy, he is really happy. But when James is not happy, he lets us know it! Last night, he decided it would be a fun game to wake mommy and daddy up about every hour. I don't know what his problem was. Finally, about 2:30, I changed his diaper, put a sleeper on him (he'd fallen asleep in a onesie), fed him and then I climbed into the bed in his room to sleep. Apparently, he needed Mama in the room for all to be well. It was ok, exept for the fact that every time I got in and out of bed to fetch him, the crotch in my very old, but very favorite pj bottoms ripped. Now we're talking holy-moley pants!

It's all being consoled by the fact that today we have our high-speed internet up and I am zipping around the internet like a bat out of Carlsbad (if you want to know what that means, you'll have to go to Carlsbad Caverns to find out).

I think I'm going to go watch some Bugarian Pop Idol on Youtube to make me feel better.

Welcome to the 21st Century

Just like in the movies...Frankenstein lives on. In fact I'm coming to you, from him.

Apparently, Windows Vista does not support dial-up, and has massive problems with it, hence the 539 computer crashes of our totally new and spiff computer since Friday morning -- which as you might imagine has not been good for Joseph. To save Joseph the stress we just plugged Frank back in and decided to figure out something else. I luff hugh Frank!

So here is what we are going to do. We have found a "reasonably priced" (and by this I mean, we don't have to sell body parts or our child on ebay) high speed plan thru the phone company, however that means I have to give up my cell phone, which is totally ok, because I was thinking about dumping it anyway for a pre-paid-only-for-emergencies-phone. So for the last few days I've been scouring the internet to find a good pre-paid phone. **Terms and conditions may apply** Can I tell you how sick I am of reading the fine print, mostly because I'm totally blind and have a squirming baby on my lap who does not understand fine print! Arrggge!

But that's not the silly part. All of this came to a head on Monday night, after we'd had the 457th Blue Screen of Death on our new computer. Joseph was mad, and I was really tired because Mondays are turning out to be the aftermath of Church, and frankly I'm a bit Church-sick because of it. Needless to say we both were terribly out of form and both, along with Baby James, had a melt down.

At the time it wasn't pretty, but now it's kinda funny. I was spazing because we have to get high speed internet. I know, look at my huge gnarly problems. Seriously though, it's just that I don't mind the dial up, and it's only $10 a month, and anyway....

So we're finally jumping into the 21st century, about time wouldn't ya think? Technology is supposed to make our life easier, hahahahahahaah! That was funny.

Goodbye Frankenstein

I have an announcement to make. My desk is cleaned and the new computer is up and running on it. Thank you.

I would also like to say that in the process of cleaning off my desk and my filing cabinet (because that's where much of my booklyook had to go), I created more than 4.2 pounds of garbage. Apparently that's the amount of garbage the average American creates every day! It's so nice to be above average. I'm happy to know that I am contributing to global warming...ergh, I mean climate change and the total destruction of the universe, just a bit more!

But here is the kicker. I looked at my old Frankenstein computer next to our new sleek and chic computer and I got a bit nostalgic. Frank is so humble and hard working and has been part of our lives for oh, so, long. Ahhhhh, memories (cue big Broadway music here) all alooooone in the mooooonnnnlight. Ok, I need to stop.

And if you were wondering Joseph was dancing all around the house for the last two days waiting to set up the new computer. He knew he couldn't though. It's his nature to want to stay up and play with a new toy right out of the package. If he took things out of the package Weds night, we would have never seen him again. So he got up extra early this morning, his day off, and started to play.

Anyway, here we are with a new computer and a clean desk, it's mighty swell if you ask me.

Introducing: Frankenstein

So a few weeks ago the old computer that was our "new" computer bit the dust. I was sad as you recall and did a lot of things like, "WAAAAAAAA-ing", please call the Wham-bulance (quick what movie is that from???). Anyway, then I also discussed the fact that Joseph is an Anderson and therefore is pre-disposed to fixing things.

So the old-new-old computer that he pimped out, like the Buick with spinning rims --yo! died a horrible, fiery death on Sunday. Well, not fiery, it just kind of went ker-plop and didn't want to turn back on. It was really anti-climactic really, kind of like walking at BYU's summer commencement and then having to go back and finish the last semester. But, Joseph to the rescue, as always.

After some fiddling, and twiddling, he replaced the hard drive on the old computer, you know, the first one that died, with the hard drive from the new old computer, the second one that died to create....FRANKENSTEIN THE COMPUTER (if you wanted to hum the Phantom of the Opera chords right now you totally could and that would cool, right Marie??). We're just hoping that this one does not die in a few weeks. If that's the case, I've already told him we can just give up, because we've already given it more than the old college try, and we need to resign ourselves that we will have to cave in and buy a new computer with Vista, and succumb to the evilness that is Microsoft. Well, not that we think Microsoft is evil, it's just that Vista is.

Anywhoo.....and now I find out that even Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Nelson have high speed internet, from Princess Dianna. So we are really behind the times. But Joseph did say we could get high speed internet in January if we wanted to, and if I did all the investigating on that.....so I'll add that to the list, right after 1--buy car seat, 2--buy crib, 3--have a baby. I should totally have time for that, right?

Not Dead Yet

It's good to be an Anderson, and I'll tell you why.

Remember that scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail where they say "Bring out your dead!!" (And as an aside here my 15 year old nephew Sam would find it very ironic and point out the irony of quoting this film because I think it's the dumbest film ever). Well the computer is not quite dead....yet.

That is the beauty of being Anderson. The Anderson men have a pre-disposition to fixing broken things and getting the most possible mileage out of their things. So, Saturday our new-old computer, which we inherited from a co-worker a few months back died. Just dropped dead right in the middle of my blog time. I told Joseph and he thought it thru, and then thought about it some more. At first we thought we'd go check out new computers last week. But then he had a better idea...he took all of the old parts of the new-old-very-dead computer and used them to pimp out my old, but very usable computer. So, now it's like I'm driving on the information super high way in an old car with a new paint job and spinning rims....because I'm cool like that, yo.

Really, we're only going to use this computer till the spring, when hopefully, it's safe to buy and use Vista, stupid Microsoft!! So, "I'm not quite dead yet....I'm so happy!!"

RIP Computer

What do you do when the old computer that was your new computer dies? You plug the really old computer back in and hope it works and that you don't get some hidious internet virus. And then you cry because they only sell computers with Vista and you really love XP, but you have no choice -- stupid Microsoft!! But then you really cry because you have to go get a new computer and you were not really planning on that til January. But you're really thankful the computer decided to die when Joseph was home because he is very smart and had things under control in about 2 seconds. Waaaaa!

So how has your day been?

Oops!

Yesterday Joseph had a big "to do" presentation at work, or as I like to call it "the science fair for grown-ups". He's been developing an instrument for the past four years, and let me tell you it's been blood, sweat and tears. So to be invited to this conference was BIG.

The people who put on the conference published a booklet about all of the presenters and sent it out to all who would attend. Joseph says he was very popular with the chemistry crowd. Anyway, he was stand there and he overheard a conversation that went a little like this:

Lab Guy Who is Joseph's Competitor: We bought one of those machines but we only investigated this method for a month before we gave it up.

Other Lab Guy: Ooooopppppssss!

Ya, oops is right. Joseph has basically done the impossible, made something work that was not supposed to work. He is becoming quite popular with the chemistry crowd, but also with people high up in the job eco-system.

Hahahaha, oops on you all of you who doubted him! Nee-ner-nee-ner too! I'm not biased or anything about this at all, am I?

Internet Glurge

You know all of those cute email forwards with fluffy bunnies and pleas for prayers, lost children alerts and promises of instant death if not forwarded to 100 people in 6 seconds? They all drive me crazy, I call them glurge. I think I may have even blogged about this before.....I hate glurge. If you really care that much about me, please call, don't send me an email forward!

Ok let's get a few things clear here too.....family and friends, please stop sending email forwards unless you have verified them at Truth or Fiction and/or Snopes. Can I make myself more clear here? Please check things out before contributing to the glut of glurge on the internet...it makes Al Gore sad (he invented the internet you know) and it causes global warming.

In the last few weeks I have recieved the same email hoax as a forwrad, about boycotting Exxon-Mobil. It's a HOAX people! The next person to send it to me will get the glurge back tenfold.

Let's also get some things clear here....time for an economics lesson....(oh yay!)

The price of oil is based off of supply and demand. When there is too little supply, as there is right now, and too much demand, thank you India and China, prices will be higher. (As an aside, China will out consume the US in oil in 2009). Oil prices are also high because the Saudis, who are the main middle eastern supplier of oil to the US, have pegged the price of oil to the value of the US dollar. It would take too long and be too complicated to explain currency and commidities markets here (although it seriously is one of my favoirte subjects....salivate!!), but the short version is this, as the value of the US dollar falls (thank you Federal Reserve, Ben "The Biggest Ididot Ever" Bernake, chairman of the Fed, Secratary of the Treasury Paulson and US Government), the price of oil will go up. Basically our dollars are worth less so it takes more dollars to pay for the oil. You might have also noticed this in your personal economy, it's called inflation! (cue Imperial Margarine music here). At any rate, the oil companies profits are in line for current market conditions. So a boycott would be senseless.

What would not be sensless is for our lovely government, I really do mean that, to get it's act together on energy policy, currency reforms and oh, I don't know, fiscal responsibility. Just a thought there, just a thought!

So back to my orignal plea...please check those emails before you forward them on, otherwise fluffy bunnies will die, your hair will fall out, no one will love you and your ears will sag. If you don't forward this on to at least 100 people in the next 10 mins you will also sag!

Click, click!

Beefing Up Your Privacy

Ok, you all know about finding your home phone number in the Google-verse. If you didn't already know when you create a blog it's automaticaly public. There are several ways to beef up your blog's privacy levels.

1--In the SETTINGS tab, under the BASIC tab, choose to have your blog unlisted from blogger's listings and searches. Also choose to have your blog unlisted from search enginges. There are several things you can do on this page...so read to the bottom.

2--You can also put a line of code in your HTML of your template. Go the LAYOUT tab and select EDIT HTML. Put this code line: META content='NOINDEX,NOFOLLOW' name='ROBOTS'/ (and add a < and an > on the ends of the code) in the template under the first "head" (also sandwiched with < and > with out the quotes) you see. You will have to re-add this line of code everytime you pick a new layout or template. What it does is it stoppes the spiders from reading your blog and reporting it back to the search engine they crawl for. It really does work.

3--Get a free stat counter from sitemeter.com to see who is on your blog. They are really easy to install and it's nice to see who is on your blog. It will also show you who is googleing you and how they got to your page if you have your blog listed. You can also see what links refer people to your blog and also where people are at, who are looking at your blog.

4--You can also take your blog private. Go to the SETTINGS tab again and select PERMISSIONS. Select 'make my blog" private and then invite your readers. To read a private blog you must have a google account. You can read a private blog for 2 weeks with the intitial invitation, then it expires and you have to re-invite the person. It might be a hassle to have to get a google account, but that's how google does it....they suck you in.

Hey from the Wayback Machine

It's so weird, the ways in which we connect and re-connect with people in the 21st Century.

Two people from the MCC days found me on faceb.ook today. I have not spoken to or heard from these people in 10 years at least. It's funny thing think too, that someone remembers you from the wayback machine.

It's also strange to look at who people have as "friends" on a site like faceb.ook and then you see you have some friends in common and you realize that it's weird that your friends are probably friends with each other.

Then there are the people you see on faceb.ook and you think, "I don't want to be friends with them" not to be mean, but you just are that lazy, or you didn't really like them in the first place. So, sorry to some old roommates, it ain't gonna happen I guess, because I am just that lazy.