After sitting in front of the screen here for 5 minutes. I gave up on the title. Brain Freeze or something.
From the paper journal, last week:
Temptation is on the way. My son and his wife are coming down to visit for the weekend, and are bringing their brand new Toshiba laptop to show me. Now this does not mean I'm going on the internet. But I will be using a computer. Hmmmm, is it the computer I'm addicted to, or the internet? Very good question! And I don't have an "Official Rules of Disengagement" handbook to consult.... Decisions, decisions.
It has become apparent that many of my impulses to use the internet arise from the desire to "find stuff out". Information that our Mr. Samuelson called "factoids". It's like the ultimate game of Trivial Pursuit, with pictures and music. I have been keeping a running list of the things I WOULD have looked up, had I access to the wonderful world wide web. All these things have come up in our conversations these last few days. Here they are:
What is a Mayhaw? What are some of the writings of Sam Levinson. What are the 7 Laws of Noah? Why do tomatoes crack at the top when they are still growing? When is Brian Wilson's new album coming out? I want to look up Tablet PC information. What do the Masonic symbols of the square and compass mean? What does E Clampus Vitus mean? We want a picture of Vinegar Weed.
Eclectic conversations, what what?
The laptop has arrived. (Along with my son and daughter-in-law)
It is a marvel of technological "It-ness".
From the deep cobalt blue of the matte finished top, to the hypnotic electric blue running lights, it has a definite air of techno gravitas. We stare at it in wonder.
Of course we will not discuss the ever present question in the back of our minds when we see it. The not to be admitted hope that perhaps in its secret humming innards resides the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything.
That's just plain silly.
But we think it anyway.
It is duly plugged in and admired for its large screen and nice wide platform to rest one's lower arms on while typing. It is declared practically perfect in every way. Although to be sure, it is of a size and weight that should I actually TRY to use it on my lap, my legs would fall asleep and simultaneously be cooked to a medium rare by the heat generated by the thing.
We proceed to watch a movie on it. Hmmmmm. I wonder if this is the best use of its talents?
Later on, after the movie (including an intermission for discussion of same) we admire the impressive list of fonts available and I write an imaginary story paragraph, which son proceeds to critique and we edit to our satisfaction. In the process he finds out that the hardest thing to do in writing fiction is name the characters. (It must be a law of Nature).
He tells me the price of our bit of metal and plastic and chip and drives.
I gasp.
I decide to wait for my Tablet PC to become old hat and pick up one at a yard sale, some years hence.
P.S.
We think the Laptop deserves a name. We try several out on the spot, reject them and promise to email each other suggestions. So far we have come up empty handed.
It really IS hard to name things. Even a Cobalt Blue wonder of technology.
Alas, we did go home without the answer to L. the U. and E.
I guess that's one of those questions you just have to figure out on your own.