COMPUTER NONSENSE AND THE RAIN ARRIVED

What time wasters computers are! Today became the day I was inveigled into dealing with the computer glitch that has been outstanding for a month or so. (See recent post)

Restoring, the path I was advised to take, wasn't a problem, except that the system restore disk wouldn't do it, because my current operating system on the hard disk was more up-to-date than what was on the system restore disk!

Bless the second guy I spoke to at the company from whom the machine was purchased many years ago. I had to undertake a manual fix. But to do this, I had to get past a password screen for which, I had never been given a password. Typical...

I'll by-pass the fun and games (not!) of trying passwords that were 'not successful' and 'press enter', uncountable times. The nice man helping me, scoured paperwork for the company's old laptops that he had access to, and I did not. He found two more password possibilities. The second worked. We both breathed a sigh of relief.

Nice man, stayed on the line while we worked out together what the subsequent messages meant, in relation to the original restoration back up partition on the hard disk.

That part of the job done,the machine returned to its original operating image, like when new out of the box. Guess what..... programmes like the anti-virus would not install on the out-of-date operating system. I've now got to get the system up-to-speed with five years worth of updates and patches. At least I was able to set up the internet and email connections. I guess the weekend is spoken for now.

We had a nice weather day today and I did not get out to benefit from it because of the time-consuming computer nonsense. The rain that was forecast has arrived.

THOUGHTS ADDRESSED TO THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM

Dear GPS,

You are the guide for people wandering into the unknown.  Much faith is placed in your ability, the prowess to lead the unwary.  There is such trust that even the simplest of directions, offered by a person,  (rather than an electronic device)   is declined in preference to you.  You  have developed like an extra skin attached to homo sapiens ... "Me and my GPS  will find it, it will get me there".   When have I heard " Me and my partner will find it, we'll get there. "  In truth, I have not.

Why is it that you remain so dominant, ubiquitous,  in the every day traveller's life?  There have been some spectacular accidents caused because of the overarching faith in your directions.  Driving up dead ends is generally no major deal, but how do you reconcile leading someone up a garden path to nowhere, you surely don't expect a driver to drive on through someone's private property as if it were a through road!  Moreover, how do you correct  your mistakes?  I guess you know some of your GPS mates have even taken drivers over the edge.  That is, over the edges of cliffs, river banks and so on, when according to the guiding light, there should have been road.

I don't know who programmes in your information, nor do I know how well-informed or up-to-date it is; neither do I know how your electronic output capacities are quality assured. I am not convinced that a driver looking at you, GPS,  while supposedly observing the road conditions is a really safe activity to be engaged in.  Drivers may also be using audio equipment and hands-free telephones on occasion, to find locations you cannot truly guide them to.   It seems to me, GPS, to be too much reliance on multi-tasking around you and your mates,  while at the wheel of a car.

However, I accept that you are here to stay GPS; that you are imperfect, but  I also accept that there is room for improvement.  Will you rise to the challenge?

Regards,

M