Journal Entries
It's A Wi-Fi World
Posted Mar 9, 2004
I can't believe three weeks has gone by since my "Day One" entry. That was written on the PC at my "office" desk - well, the second bedroom - well, the main bedroom, actually (I sleep in the second bedroom) - shortly after getting broadband. Since then, I've revolutionised my interaction with the internet by bringing my almost-redundant laptop back into the frame and setting it up on the low table next to my comfy TV armchair in the living-room. It's wirelessly connected to the big PC and the internet via an ADSL router/modem.
Then I bought a wireless keyboard and mouse so that I can use the laptop without giving myself a hernia leaning over to the left to reach the laptop's keyboard and mouse. Here I am now, typing merrily away on the keyboard on my lap, the mouse nestling on the arm of my chair like just another TV remote, while lounging back in my recliner, watching News 24 and wondering what to do for dinner.
Today I bought a set of wireless headphones so that I can listen to audio on the laptop without disturbing the neighbours on the other side of the living-room wall. Rachmaninov at full blast. Phwoar. Can't wait for the batteries to reach full charge tomorrow.
I am rapidly becoming - have already become! - Wi-fi Man. An always-on broadband connection, compared to dial-up, is very liberating. No longer needing to worry about whether I'm eating into a 150-hour maximum unmetered usage, I can simply remain connected to the internet world and go surfing, or pop in here, or check my e-mails, whenever the fancy takes me. It's fantastic. Truly 21st-century living.
What a pity it might all come to an end sooner than I'd like. No electricity, no computers or broadband. Like last night - a power cut left me bereft. I wandered aimlessly from room to room, no idea what to do until the power came back on again. It was only 30 minutes, but it felt like much longer.
So how will I cope if power cuts become more frequent - or even permanent? A BBC2 docu-drama tomorrow night will give some idea what might happen if our electricity supply becomes compromised. A few days ago, another documentary on (Channel) Five gave a warning that there will be a day, maybe soon, maybe not so soon, when a super-volcanic eruption will occur somewhere in the world that will plunge the planet into turmoil and maybe even precipitate an ice age. In January, astronomers were, for nine hours, debating whether to call the US President to tell him an asteroid strike upon the Earth was imminent. (It took the observations of an amateur stargazer to set them straight - the asteroid was going to miss by some distance.) The Pentagon recently released a document stating that climate change - with Europe in particular threatened by a sudden, savage and permanent drop in temperature - is a bigger threat to the US and the rest of the world than terrorism. A few days ago, NASA reported that the monitoring of global ocean currents and ice-melt in the northern hemisphere indicates that a fundamental change in climate could occur within the next 20 years. Evidence from past climatic events shows that when such a climate change occurs, it flips suddenly. And lasts for thousands of years.
"... could occur within the next 20 years ..." Could be next month, then. Or next week. Or tomorrow.
I'd better make sure my batteries are always fully charged.
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Latest reply: Mar 9, 2004
Day One
Posted Feb 17, 2004
Blimey, this h2g2 is a complex place, isn't it? Still, I like a challenge.
So what's making my day buzz by today?
Let's see ... must go shopping ... must start the novel ... must remember I've got the washing on ... must listen to those new CDs of Rach 1 and 4 ... there doesn't seem to be much in here about Rachmaninov - hmmm: could be scope for writing a proper Guide Entry. That could be a bit nerve-wracking, though - I've only recently got into classical music and don't know if I know enough about it to sound properly authoritative. Well. Probably worth a shot.
Or "How Broadband Has Changed My Life". Which it has. No more worrying about that limited unmetered time ticking away. Now I can sit for hours, composing entries for this journal without a care in the world.
This could become quite obsessive. Anything but start the novel.
Washing. Don't forget the washing.
I should go and look at the creative writing bit of h2g2. Then get the novel started.
So much to do ...
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Latest reply: Feb 17, 2004
Elidor
Researcher U568131
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