Boys and their toys

No, unfortunately I didn't realize my dream of owning a vintage Austin Healey or Alfa Romeo.  In my next life maybe, but it doesn't look too promising for this one.  What I did buy, though, was a new camera.

It's still just a point-and-shoot variety, but this one has a 30X optical zoom, 'cause, you know, sometimes a guy just has to zoom in on something 30 times.  :)

For a few years now I've used a simple pocket camera that has served me admirably:

To photograph cars at a car show or similar it's been great, and I'll still use it some, but recently I've wanted a photo of something that was just a bit out of range and I was dead in the water with this one.

I learned long ago that anything with much more than an on/off button is too complex for me.  Consumer Reports and lots of user reviews said this one was easy peasy.  Sold!  And so far the camera has been.  It's setting it up to connect (via Wifi) with my computer, iPad, iPhone, etc that has been a pain. 

The instructions just assume everyone starts out with at least an Associates Degree in Computer Technology.  They really shouldn't let a techie write the how-to instructions for a consumer electronic device....they can't think simple enough.  I finally had to call in my in-house IT guru (K) and she set me up.  Sort of.

Take a picture...press x button...wait for it...it connects to my computer...do this...do that...drag it here...on and on.  Finally, about 8 steps later I was able to produce a picture I could share on my blog.  Jeez, this is gonna take all day to download all my car pics.  

*OMG, what have I done?  Can I take it back?  Where's the box?*

But then, on my iMac, I did something (unknown) and suddenly a pop-up asked, "Do you want to download your pictures directly to iPhoto?"  

ABSO-FRICKIN'-LUTELY I DO!  (Apple to the rescue! :)

Bada Bing....now it works like a champ.  God does indeed look after idiots, drunks, and now the tech challenged, too.  :)

Have a great weekend everyone.  Stay warm.

S

I hope I don't sound too immodest, but I THINK I NAILED IT!

Meanwhile, back at Tea Party Headquarters....

Hear that loud, shrill whistle?  That's the sound of the Tea Party falling at terminal velocity from 60,000 feet, soon to make a bunch of smoking holes in the ground all across America.  Just as I predicted.  :)

The Tea Party's recent fall from grace over their handling of the budget / debt ceiling in Washington happened in the blink of an eye.  From hero to goat....a quick, instant SPLAT!  Americans are practical people who get things done, and are willing to sit down and work together....aka "compromise"....to make things happen.  Case in point:

In the New Jersey gubernatorial race the incumbent (Republican) Chris Christie is quick to point out that, yes, he's a conservative, but is willing to compromise if it will deliver positive results for his state.  Democrats aren't the Devil incarnate, and can in fact be valuable political partners.  And polls suggest he's headed for a BIG win.

In contrast, polls say the Virginia gubernatorial race is going to be a major crash-and-burn exercise for Tea Party (Republican) candidate, Kenneth Cuccinelli II.  He's portrayed as a stiff, extreme ideologue, the exact opposite of what thinking Virginians want.

This to me is very good news.  Exciting news, even.  It might not make for a very interesting blog post....no catastrophes, no blood or guts, no "he said / she said" scandals, but still very good news.  Send all the extremists to the woodshed for a sound whipping, and leave governing to those who can sit down and work together like adults. 

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Now for a 180 degree turn, I must eat some humble pie.  Last week I spoke out against having too much stuff, yet bro and I went out last Friday and bought new phones.  My rather lame (but true) excuse is that Verizon's $100 trade-in offer was about to expire.  "Use it or lose it" they say.

As I use my mobile phone for both home and business purposes (it's the only phone I have) and as my old one was many generations past it's prime, I felt slightly less guilty buying a new one.  

And dang, is it cool!  It can pull up things faster than I can even think about them.  And K says (and she's pretty tech savvy) that the phone's camera is better than any other camera I have, so my little pocket Canon will soon be relegated to a place of honor on my memorabilia shelf.

That's progress, I suppose.

S