Things 7b and 8

Things 7b and 8: I commented on Memory’s blog a couple of days ago and I just commented on one of Melissa’s posts so Thing 7 is complete.

I actually did Thing 8 before I completed Thing 7 only I used Google Reader instead of Bloglines because I already had a Gmail account. I made the mistake of adding feeds from all of my favorite blogs and opened Google Reader this morning to find 457 unread items. I think I’m going to have to do some weeding. :-)

Thing 7a

Thing 7a says to blog about something technology related. It’s hard to choose just one topic, particularly since just about everything nowadays has some kind of technology aspect.

It’s amazing just how thoroughly my life has become driven by technology. My household has three computers (2 laptops and a desktop all linked to my home wi-fi), 4 televisions (with digital cable), 3 cell phones (plus VoIP land line with 2 wireless handsets), 2 video game systems (PS3 and Wii not to mention the 4 Nintendo DS handhelds we got this Christmas) with all the accompanying accoutrements and uncounted various other electronic gadgets and doo-dads from Zunes and iPods to an “atomic” clock and programmable coffee pot.

I pay all my bills online. I read all my news online (mostly from news aggregate sites like Google News although I do listen to NPR in the morning). I listen to all my music via MP3 or Pandora internet radio. I use my credit or debit card for nearly every purchase. I pay at the pump. I watch “on-demand” TV both online and through my digital cable and DVR. I text more than I talk on the phone (not by choice but everyone I know only wants to text anymore). I Gmail, Facebook, MySpace, Digg and, now after completing Things 1-8, I blog and RSS (sometimes all at the same time). I use Excel for my household budget and grocery lists. I even walk the dog listening to podcasts on my combination “smart” phone/MP3 player/digital camera.

Sheesh! But, what’s even more amazing to me is that I’m still not on the forefront of integrating technology into my life. I don’t Twitter. I don’t have a PDA, or an iPhone or a GPS. I don’t play MMORPGs (like World of Warcraft) and I don’t have a Second Life (although I did create an avatar). I don’t access the internet from my cell phone nor do I lug my laptop with me everywhere or frequent “internet cafes.”

And yet, I know people who do all of those things and more I probably don’t even know about. In fact, I’m doing the 23Things because I know I’m not “totally digital” but want to at least be aware of what’s going on. How much more technology can we as human beings take? I’ve read about eyeglasses with “heads up” computer displays, “wired” clothing and even directly connecting electronics to your brain! I love technology, but where do we draw the line?

So far though, I have to admit that all the technology I’ve adopted and adapted to has improved my life significantly and I expect more progress will make my life even better. I may be a “late adopter”, but I eventually get with the program.

Things 5 and 6

Picasa's pretty cool. I've used other photo-sharing websites before but never really got hooked on it. My sister-in-law uses one and sends me links to her albums regularly, but I can't remember the name of it. I have been using Facebook which has similar photo sharing capability, but I only have 2 pictures up so far. For some reason, I'm just not a big picture sharer. And, I would definitely never make my photos "public". I like to decide who to share my memories with.This picture, Heidelberg, made me wistful for a stroll down the hauptstrasse of Heidelberg, Germany. I was homesick while I was stationed over there and now I'm "homesick" to go back. :-D

Things 1 thru 4

Well, this is the completion of Thing 4. Let the conversation begin!

Update - I forgot to talk about the 7 1/2 Habits video. It's a good video with some excellent ideas. The contract is a little much for me. I don't find that they motivate me any more than not signing a contract. But, it does force you to think about your goal in specific and concrete ways which I think most people don't do. I'm glad they included having fun because to me that's the most important. If it's not fun, I won't do it for long.