When I was growing up we got this really exciting video game that connected to our tv, color of course, it was mom and dad who had black and white. You could actually play ping pong on your tv, with these little paddle lines that went up and down. Next they created this cool game called asteroids, we must have played for at least a half an hour at a time, if mom let us, that is if our homework was done.
Today with my kids, they have 3d video games, online games for the computer where they play with and talk to people from around the world. They play for hours on end, and prefer it to going outside to just play baseball or frisbee or tackle football. It has stunted the current generations social maturity, by isolating them to their rooms, playing with virtual friends, who they never really meet. Is technology of this nature really advancing our society, or harming it. Only time will tell, but I for one, think too much of anything is not good for you.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Greyhound bus disaster
If you ever decide to travel by Greyhound bus system, beware! My daughter set out to take a trip up to Saulte St. Marie this weekend, and it was unsuccessful due to the inefficiencies of the company and outdated system. Apparently when you book a trip online, some tickets may be printed on line, while others cannot for some strange reason. Hers was one of them. The rule is then that you must pick up your ticket at the station you are traveling from. Some stations have automated kiosks, not in her case either.
She was traveling from two stations, and read that you must pick up your tickets from the station you are traveling from. The first station was Southfield and that went fine. The bus took her to Flint, where she had a two hour layover until the next bus would ferry her up north. However the ticketing station is closed on Sundays, and she could not get her ticket. Something, we never expected, but apparently you need to look and make sure they are open when you will be traveling, if you, like my daughter, could not print your tickets online.
We contacted the Southfield station and they said that she could have picked up both tickets in their office. I asked if I could pick up her ticket, and then I would drive it up to Flint so she could be on her way. The answer was yes, if I could get there in 10 minutes, as the man was about to take his lunch from 2 until 3:15. Lunch hours which are not posted on line. He would not wait for me, but I was free to come at 3:15. Her bus was leaving Flint at 3:20, so that obviously would not work. The other option was for her to wait and see if the bus driver would accept her reservation number that she had printed out from on line. She waited and waited and waited with the company of few homeless men who kept harassing her, while they stayed warm in the station. The bus driver said no. So we drove up to Flint and picked her up.
Now comes the refund policy. You must write to their Dallas office and wait for a reply. She wrote a letter that I am sure involved much emotion at this point, and rebooked a trip for the next day. Today is her trip. I can only hope all goes well today, now that we know their rules.
She was traveling from two stations, and read that you must pick up your tickets from the station you are traveling from. The first station was Southfield and that went fine. The bus took her to Flint, where she had a two hour layover until the next bus would ferry her up north. However the ticketing station is closed on Sundays, and she could not get her ticket. Something, we never expected, but apparently you need to look and make sure they are open when you will be traveling, if you, like my daughter, could not print your tickets online.
We contacted the Southfield station and they said that she could have picked up both tickets in their office. I asked if I could pick up her ticket, and then I would drive it up to Flint so she could be on her way. The answer was yes, if I could get there in 10 minutes, as the man was about to take his lunch from 2 until 3:15. Lunch hours which are not posted on line. He would not wait for me, but I was free to come at 3:15. Her bus was leaving Flint at 3:20, so that obviously would not work. The other option was for her to wait and see if the bus driver would accept her reservation number that she had printed out from on line. She waited and waited and waited with the company of few homeless men who kept harassing her, while they stayed warm in the station. The bus driver said no. So we drove up to Flint and picked her up.
Now comes the refund policy. You must write to their Dallas office and wait for a reply. She wrote a letter that I am sure involved much emotion at this point, and rebooked a trip for the next day. Today is her trip. I can only hope all goes well today, now that we know their rules.
Monday, March 7, 2011
How do you experience writing in a digital context?
Writing is a slightly different experience in digital context, as opposed to traditional pen and paper. For one thing you must have access to technology with a connection and power. Print media, you can take with you wherever you go, and do not have to rely on a battery or wifi. These limitations are being narrowed however, as computers have evolved to convenient portable devices such as laptops, I-phones, and pads. Internet connections are being made available on a wider basis all the time, in restaurants and public places.
One advantage the digital has is that you can change the font to a bigger size that is easier to read, important for those of us with challenged eyes. Another advantage to digital writing is the editing capabilities. You can save each version and continue working on them. Spell check also makes it faster to write, as you can just let the words pour forth, and correct later. It makes one wonder, how did they ever get by with pen and paper, or the now unproduced typewriter.
One advantage the digital has is that you can change the font to a bigger size that is easier to read, important for those of us with challenged eyes. Another advantage to digital writing is the editing capabilities. You can save each version and continue working on them. Spell check also makes it faster to write, as you can just let the words pour forth, and correct later. It makes one wonder, how did they ever get by with pen and paper, or the now unproduced typewriter.
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