By Alison
Since I'm still in the center of the lowest pit in hell that is my deadline, I decided, for today, that I'd just stick a YouTube video in this post and be done with it. I found the perfect YouTube video, too -- Tillman the Skateboarding Dog. Have you seen it? Seriously, this dog is beyond the outer limits of amazing. I want to be reborn as Tillman. A friend sent me the video, and I watched it and laughed out loud and started it again and laughed some more, and I swear, it just made my whole day. I LOVE THIS DOG. So, anyway, I saw the little code for embedding, and I copied and pasted it, thinking, "Oh, this is gonna be so good..." But when I previewed the blog, there was no skateboarding dog video. Just a bunch of gibberish codespeak.
Which leads me to my re-jiggered (and technology free) blog topic: I don't get how to do a lot of stuff. You know, I like to learn, but it seems like every time I get some new, 21st century skill under my belt, there are about 50 more I'm completely in the dark about. At Bouchercon 2006, Lori taught me how to text message, which made me feel pretty damn cool. And then, like a year later, I finally got my myspace up an running. (Of course, I can't figure out how to link it to my web page, or get blurbs for my books on it so they're legible, and I don't have a cool background or a slide show, but we won't talk about any of that...) Then, just few weeks ago, my friend James forced me onto Facebook which I don't understand at all. I have people friending me on it, and dedicating songs to me and writing on my graffiti wall, I haven't the vaguest idea of how to do anything back. It's like going to a party where everyone speaks Swahili, but learning Facebook takes time, especially for a techno-dork like me, and time is the one thing I don't have any of.
Then there are BlackBerrys. I love the idea of a handheld communication device that can do that much for you, but come on. I just learned how to text message. Now I've got to learn how to type entire emails with my thumbs while waiting in line at the ATM? Even MP3 players intimidate me, much as I love the concept.
So I can fully understand and appreciate whatever this thing is that Jeff keeps talking about -- this amazing technological advance that's going to astound and amaze us -- but he can't seem to get up and running. Hey, at least Jeff knows how to embed a damn YouTube video.
Are you guys with me on this technology thing, or am I just too old?
UPDATE:
And once you're past fifty, learning it once is not enough. I thought I understood voice mail on my phone but have forgotten my code to access it. I envy earlier generations who only had to turn a switch on their tv or pick up the receiver on their phone to feel "with it."
Posted by: patti abbott | November 20, 2007 at 06:24 AM
I'm with Patti. I still can't figure out how to get a picture on that fancy TV over the kitchen stove. I don't see how it could possibly work. There's nothing inside but a round, glass plate. Not a single tube or wire. I just use it as a clock. Well, I do until the power goes out and the numbers starts blinking. Then I have to wait for my grandson (he's 5) to come over and reset it.
Posted by: Lee Lofland | November 20, 2007 at 07:32 AM
My biggest tech thingie is setting the DVR - wahoo! I know how to do that now.
I'm impressed you have a myspace account. My teens were going to set up sites for me...and if they don't do it, it won't get done. Because that stuff scares me. Not kidding.
Lee - my dad frequently calls his granddaughters for help with his computer woes :)
Posted by: Lori G. Armstrong | November 20, 2007 at 08:22 AM
Tillman rules.
Posted by: Jeff Shelby | November 20, 2007 at 09:11 AM
No, Jeff. YOU RULE!! (Lesson of the day: When you're lame, try to make friends who are less lame than yourself!) Seriously, watch this dog, and your life will be complete.
Posted by: AlisonGaylin | November 20, 2007 at 09:28 AM
Tillman rocks.
And I have no idea how to text message. And Jeff had to help me embed a video, too.
Posted by: Karen Olson | November 20, 2007 at 09:59 AM
I just recently got a cell phone. It takes pictures and I know how to send them to my email address, which amazes me that you can do that.
And I have a little, lipstick-sized MP3 player that actually records voices. I've used it to record an interview. Wow! It also holds about 50 vinyl records worth of music and I don't need a turntable! It's a miracle!
Slowly, I'm making my way into this new world. Maybe I'll be able to do the Facebook thing sometimg in 2009, after everyone else has moved on to something else.
Baby steps.
Posted by: David Terrenoire | November 20, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Let's see the damn dog do a kickflip. THEN I'll be impressed.
Posted by: JDRhoades | November 20, 2007 at 11:19 AM
God you're jaded, Dusty. Listen to me: The bulldog. Rides. A skateboard!
Posted by: AlisonGaylin | November 20, 2007 at 02:02 PM
Getting old is hell. I have my 8 year old turn on the effing tv because I can't figure out how to do it. I get either picture or sound, but not both simultaneously. Bob went on a month-long speaking tour of Australia a dozen years ago and I screwed up the tv on the first night and had nothing but snow to watch for the remaining 29 days.
Cell phones? I am still trying to figure out the two cans and string concept.
Posted by: Liz Clifford | November 20, 2007 at 09:32 PM
Alison: I'd settle for an Ollie.
Posted by: J.D. Rhoades | November 20, 2007 at 09:48 PM