We have a new computer now - it's so darn new and high-tech! In fact, it's SO darn new and high-tech, a lot of the old things that we used with the old computer either don't work with it, or we have to work with them in different ways.
J's Palm Pilot can't connect to it because it's a 64-bit operating system (that means it's new and high-tech!) Our camera now has to use a different program to load the pictures, and I had to hunt around to find the proper drivers for the printer. The only hardware we have that still works as advertised, with no changes, is my iPod. I guess Apple is on to something. (Have I already said I think the iPod is one of the greatest inventions of all time?)
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I recently read the book “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” about a boy, William Kamkwamba, in Malawi, who built a windmill to provide power to his home. Most of the book describes his life growing up – his family was farmers, and they had to grow and sell to make a living. In years of drought, they made no money and went hungry for months at a time. They had no other way of making money or getting food.
They could not afford to send him to secondary school, so he had to learn about electricity, windmills, and physics by checking out books from the library. His windmill was made from scraps from the junkyard, and he built it through trial and error, often injuring himself. He had no one to help him, he just had to work on it until it was done.
I talked to M about some of the points of the book, such as how the boy had no tools to use. He made a small screwdriver out of a bicycle spoke. He was able to make holes in plastic by heating a nail attached to a stick, then burning the hole through. He had to round up whatever wire he could. He and his friend had a business repairing radios for the community, which they learned through trial and error. He saw scrap objects and had the imagination to put those objects to good use, instead of walking past them because they were no longer good for their intended purposes.
Read it – it’s a great book. You will appreciate what you have, and at the same time, wish you possessed his resourcefulness.
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On Sunday, I walked by the TV and noticed that one of the World Series games was about to start. Then I realized I had no idea who the teams are that are playing.
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On Sunday, K's soccer team won their first game of the season. Unfortunately, it was also their last game of the season .
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Another Wondermark cartoon. This one featuring a self-doubting camel.
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My company was voted the Coolest Place To Work In Tough Times in the Detroit area. Check the "Over 1000 Employees" section for the name.
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Tomorrow is our annual homeowners association meeting. I used to be the president of the association, and now I just go to the meetings as a civilian and listen to the current president get nitpicked to death. (Actually, they're not that bad.)
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Have a great week!
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