Computers and Technology - Necessary Evil or Broken Down System

Yes, you read the title correctly. When I was a teenager the only students who were allowed on the school computer (yes, there was only one), were the advanced mathematics students. Now, most students have there own computers at home and a laptop or notebook for school. How have computers changed our lives?

A friend once told me when we were older every household would have a computer. I told him, he was nuts. I had a home computer before he did.

At work, this meant if I was typing a charge sheet for a court-martial and an error was made or the Staff Judge Advocate wanted to make a change, I edited the document and printed it in final. Much easier.

We had computerized brakes on trucks in the late 70s early 80s. These were fine if you were on flat road. If you were on hills, not the best solution to the problem, as evidenced by the number of tractor trailers having to be pulled out of the lake.

Then they started having computerized telephone systems. This eliminated someone answering the phones and directing callers. This also eliminated jobs and frustrated people.

Now we see computers everywhere you look. Under the hood of your car, controlling things previously controlled by mechanical devices. Answering phones and directing calls, often times misdirecting the calls because it really cannot replace a person. Doing things never thought possible. Largely because those who know computers realize, they are not meant for the jobs we are trying to make them do.

The girl who cashes you out when you eat out,.t Te computer tells her the amount of the bill and when she types in what has been tendered, it tells her the change to give. This is wonderful! Until something happens and the computer cannot respond. She is left trying, futilely, to make change because no one ever taught her to count the money back to the customer.

My largest grievance, the U.S. Postal Service. Once upon a time, you could call the station, talk to a person and resolve a problem in 3 minutes, complete with pleasantries. No more. The hallmark of customer service has fallen. Two days ago, I went online, did a Click-n-Ship label, set it with our other outgoing mail, and the carrier failed to pick it up. A 12"x12"x8" box weighing under 6 pounds. Being the genius I am, I attempted to call the station manager on the second day to get the situation rectified. No answer. Forced to endure the one thing I abhor the most, I called 1-800-ASK-USPS. It took 20 minutes to get a sentient being on the phone who could not solve my problem; however, I did obtain a better phone number than the one in my cell phone. I called the station manager. My parcel was still sitting on the counter when I left at 5:30 p.m. this evening. Situation, still unresolved. My husband, a U.S.P.S. employee informed me when I do Click-n-Ship I have to click "Schedule a Pick Up" or the carrier won't know to pick it up. A box, labeled, with postage, sitting with other outgoing mail. So much for customer service.

It's time to purchase a new car. My existing one is 17 years old. Being raised on the shores of Lake Superior, and remembering the tractor trailers with the computerized brakes, I like my cars largely manual. In other words, I am the consummate control freak. I want hand crank windows like I have presently. The salespeople don't even remember what these are. I enjoy driving for the sake of driving, I don't want the car telling me how it is going to drive me, because let's be realistic here. I live in Alaska, home of black ice, regular ice, deep water during breakup, and equally large quantities during the rainy season. It doesn't hurt that my favorite pastime during breakup use to be seeing how long I could knock the local radio station out when I splashed "Snorkel man", once I figured out which corner he was on. During this search for a new vehicle, Toyota has had a large scale recall of their vehicles because the computers were malfunctioning. Ford has had the same problem, but people are not talking about them, like they are Toyota.

One of my daughters-in-law also decided she wanted to learn how to drive a manual transmission. Part of her "bucket list". She always thought I was just really anal when I consistently used the emergency brake. After her first lesson, she understood the importance of that all powerful tool. She learned, unlike her automatic, if the manual failed to start and you were on a hill, this was not reason for panic, but for celebration, because what is more fun that "popping the clutch". She also learned you can coast down a hill, enjoy the scenery, conserve gas, and have fun in a manual. Something you cannot do in an automatic. She has to honestly drive my car, pay attention to all the details, and enjoy the ride, unlike her automatic.

After 20 minutes attempting to get a person on the line with the Postal Service, the recalls I have seen on the cars, and the number of people we have put out of work letting computers do the things "people no longer want to do" I feel fairly certain we have doomed ourselves as a people.

Ownership, the government, and big business are sure computers are every bit as competent as humans. Looking at the above examples, I must disagree, as do my friends. In fact, this is so obviously a truism, most of my friends follow me rapidly when I find a company not computer driven. Is there such a place you ask. Absolutely! A couple years ago the hunt was on for a new clock radio for the bedroom. We looked everywhere and were not finding anything we really liked. So, being the cockeyed optimist I am, I place a call to Bose. After all, the most I could do was waste 20 minutes in my attempt to speak to a real person to get real answers. So, I picked up the phone and dialed the toll free number. The call was answered on the second ring, by, of all things, A Person! What a concept! Not only was the young man pleasant, he answered all my questions, many of which were technical and of an engineering nature, but once he had satisfied all of my curiosity and concerns, he asked,did I wish to purchase one. Oh, my goodness, he answered questions, over came objections, and asked for the sale. I was done!

By the way, my cat also loves the Bose Wave sitting on the headboard of our bed. All of this was accomplished without computer assistance.

Many examples of computer use and non-use. Ah, I see you think I am anti-computer. Nothing could be further from the truth; however, I do think computers have their place. Not under the hood of our cars, or taking valuable positions from our able bodied people, but for things like office work, streamlining processes, and doing what they were intended, making our lives easier. Does this mean they should be controlling our vehicles? Absolutely not! We need to scale back our dependence on computers and remember, we have able bodies and working minds that need to be exercised in order to be the best tools they can be. This will solve some of the frustration seen in the world today, give people a sense of purpose, solve some of the employment problems we have, as well as the vehicle reliability and hopefully put the service back into customer service.

Exit Strategy from Iraq and Afghanistan

Reading an editorial this morning I was amused to find the writer pontificating the reason the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor was they felt threatened by us. One problem with their hypothesis, we were not in their country or even remotely close. You see, the United States was still under the Monroe doctrine. This doctrine basically stated, if it didn't happen in our hemisphere, we did not get involved. At the time, the US actually did a remarkably good job of this. We are now fighting a war on two separate fronts consisting of enemies who have been fighting everyone since first recorded history.

These are sad, but true facts. A further sad, but true fact, our senior military leadership cannot divine a good exit strategy from either country. As a retiree from our military services, I have some ideas which I think my brethren in arms can get behind.

First, we get alternative energy on line in this country Immediately. This solves a looming problem, our dependence on foreign oil, and allows us to cut the Middle East loose.

Second, by getting alternative energy on line, we put more of our people back to work and bring the jobs back home.

Third, we adapt a modified Monroe doctrine. The twist, we still trade and do business with everyone except the Middle East. Any of the people from the Middle East studying in our military schools will be sent home immediately after we revoke their visas. If you are attempting to gain entry to this country by commercial airline, you will be detained as soon as you land and sent to Guantanamo Bay. No, it will not be closed, it will remain open to house the detained terrorists. Due process? No problem, they are not American citizens; therefore, civil rights do not extend to them. As long as they have three hots and a cot, clothing, and a roof over their head, we have taken care of them accordingly. Trying to fly one of your jets into our country? No problem, our military folks can always use air to air combat training.

America's dependence on foreign oil? We have the alternative energy on line; therefore, we are no longer supporting the Middle East, nor do we require their oil.

Fourth, car manufacturers bring the fuel efficiency we are capable of out in the 2011 cars and those of us with older model cars modify them to run on gasohol. This puts the farmers back to work planting and harvesting corn as well as many of our folks gainfully employed working the fields or at the distillery making gasohol.

Fifth, pull the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. You're worried about the condition of the country? They've done most of the damage themselves, let them fix their own mess. Our troops have rebuilt plenty only to have them blow things back up.

Both countries have attacked the US. Yes, we should have solved the problem prior to 1991; however, the UN said no. We have had other opportunities; however, the sitting president either didn't see a problem or chose to turn the other cheek. We are not going to make progress in either country, we will never stop the fighting in any of the Middle Eastern countries, and the only solution this airman sees is, let them kill themselves. If they come to this side of the world again, we carry out either shooting them out of the sky or incarcerating them. Cold, yes. Analytical, absolutely. Is it a workable plan? I like to think so. Simplistic? Sometimes those are the best solutions.