Here's just a couple of things I obtained over the internet.
1. My job. A company that sent me "thanks for playing" letters 3 times when I submitted my resume by snail mail suddenly found me attractive on monster.com. Go figure.
2. My lovely, charming, intelligent girlfriend who I met on match.com. I probably would never have met her otherwise even though we live in the same geographical location.
One more example: I played a golf match against a 7 handicapper who proceeded to shoot 2 under par. I was wondering what the odds of this happening were and posted a message on usenet. A few hours later I received an email from Dean Knuth, the former head of the USGA handicap committee who is generally regarded as the leading authority on the subject.
Do we NEED the internet? I don't know, but it sure is a useful tool to have around.
I wish researchers would stop giving bad movie plot ideas to hack screenwriters. Now it's just a matter of time before the "Phantom Twin Killer" is playing at the local cineplex.
I do hardware and software support for diesel engine controllers and the windows based software used to program the controllers and extract data from vehicles. Part of my job consists of assisting accident investigators with data extraction and analysis, which is both fun and interesting, but the majority of my time is spent on the phone with diesel engine mechanics, who generally as a group are not computer literate in the least. (I once received a laptop from a user to investigate problem; on the desktop, right under "My Computer" was "Shortcut to My Computer." As an example, I would never think of saying "right-click on My Computer", that's way too advanced. It's more like "Move your mouse until your pointer is pointing at the My Computer symbol on your Main Screen (which is how they invariably refer to the desktop), then click once on the right-hand button of your mouse."
Most of these fellas feel sheepish about their lack of PC savvy, but I always tell them that I would be lost replacing the fuel pump on my car so it's all relative. It's not their fault that all of a sudden they are forced to become tech users when they signed up to be wrench monkeys.
They're always grateful when I can fix their problem in a few minutes after they've been banging their head on the bench for an hour, and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to spend my day helping people. There's way too many Tech Support people who act like they're put out when someone calls for assistance.
I also have Verizon. I live in MI but spend as much time as I can in Key West. Over Easter we rented a boat to do some diving, my cell rang while we were about 5 miles offshore and the call from a friend back home in Ann Arbor was clear as a bell. My girlfriend gets nothing but noise with Cingular in Key West although it's fine at home. I haven't been anywhere in the U.S. where Verizon's coverage is poor.
Sure, me & the robot have a couple of dances, then she talks me into ordering her a bunch of expensive drinks that turn out to be just watered-down 20-weight machine oil. I hate when that happens. "oooh, just a couple of more drinks and I'll let you use the DeWalt cordless on me..."
The last one? Damn! I was hoping they would come out with The Simpranos expansion pack so I could build the pork sausage store and start shaking down the neighbors businesses.
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Here's just a couple of things I obtained over the internet.
1. My job. A company that sent me "thanks for playing" letters 3 times when I submitted my resume by snail mail suddenly found me attractive on monster.com. Go figure.
2. My lovely, charming, intelligent girlfriend who I met on match.com. I probably would never have met her otherwise even though we live in the same geographical location.
One more example: I played a golf match against a 7 handicapper who proceeded to shoot 2 under par. I was wondering what the odds of this happening were and posted a message on usenet. A few hours later I received an email from Dean Knuth, the former head of the USGA handicap committee who is generally regarded as the leading authority on the subject.
Do we NEED the internet? I don't know, but it sure is a useful tool to have around.
Thank god my elderly mother purchased Robot Insurance
Either you are a historian devoted exclusively to the lives of Mongol warlords, a fan of boy bands, or a Microsoft astroturfer.
You forgot Porn Star.
I wish researchers would stop giving bad movie plot ideas to hack screenwriters. Now it's just a matter of time before the "Phantom Twin Killer" is playing at the local cineplex.
I do hardware and software support for diesel engine controllers and the windows based software used to program the controllers and extract data from vehicles. Part of my job consists of assisting accident investigators with data extraction and analysis, which is both fun and interesting, but the majority of my time is spent on the phone with diesel engine mechanics, who generally as a group are not computer literate in the least. (I once received a laptop from a user to investigate problem; on the desktop, right under "My Computer" was "Shortcut to My Computer." As an example, I would never think of saying "right-click on My Computer", that's way too advanced. It's more like "Move your mouse until your pointer is pointing at the My Computer symbol on your Main Screen (which is how they invariably refer to the desktop), then click once on the right-hand button of your mouse." Most of these fellas feel sheepish about their lack of PC savvy, but I always tell them that I would be lost replacing the fuel pump on my car so it's all relative. It's not their fault that all of a sudden they are forced to become tech users when they signed up to be wrench monkeys. They're always grateful when I can fix their problem in a few minutes after they've been banging their head on the bench for an hour, and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to spend my day helping people. There's way too many Tech Support people who act like they're put out when someone calls for assistance.
I also have Verizon. I live in MI but spend as much time as I can in Key West. Over Easter we rented a boat to do some diving, my cell rang while we were about 5 miles offshore and the call from a friend back home in Ann Arbor was clear as a bell. My girlfriend gets nothing but noise with Cingular in Key West although it's fine at home. I haven't been anywhere in the U.S. where Verizon's coverage is poor.
Sure, me & the robot have a couple of dances, then she talks me into ordering her a bunch of expensive drinks that turn out to be just watered-down 20-weight machine oil. I hate when that happens. "oooh, just a couple of more drinks and I'll let you use the DeWalt cordless on me..."
1. Amputee Gymnast 2. Offspring of Dominek Hasek and Donkey Kong. 3. Grinch Performing Root Canal on Mick Jagger. 4. Fuzzy Bunny Foot Cuffs. 5. Oddly Colored Shepard's Pies in Urine Sauce. 6. Invisible Woman Donning Red Brassiere. 7. Flying Amphibious Baker. 8. PBS Logo from Mars. 9. Insignia if Visitors from Planet of Butterfly-men. (and women). 10. Space Wolf. Hope this helps... .
The last one? Damn! I was hoping they would come out with The Simpranos expansion pack so I could build the pork sausage store and start shaking down the neighbors businesses.
"When I was a kid, we had to make our own fun"
"Of course you did: if you don't make it yourself, it's not fun, it's entertainment"