Thursday at last - updated


Yes, it's real. I'm here.

Hah! It's a Thursday and I actually have energy enough to do more than putter.

Just finished debugging an issue with my Dymo LabelWriter.

It was actually one of those situational vortex things. I bit the bullet and removed most of my Palm stuff from an accessible drawer on my desk. If the rumors are true, I'll probably be replacing my Palm with a iPod touch in a few months anyway. I'm holding out for a camera and microphone.

So I need a plastic shoe box and I want to label that "Palm pre-WebOS." It's a thermal printer, so the orange actually shows up as light grey. But it never needs ink or toner.



And my Dymo printer doesn't want to print. That's when I find out that there is new, easier to use software. Cutting to the chase, when your Mac puts itself to sleep, waking it doesn't necessarily wake the Dymo printer if it's connected through a hub. I use that label printer on everything. Standard mailing labels are exactly right for three-across file folders. They work on glass herb jars. They work on faux milk crate file boxes that I use in my library. And they work for bookplates and DVD plates. I ended up redesigning the jar labels, the bookplates, and the DVD plates, all of which use some custom graphics. Naturally the new Dymo software won't import versions created for the old software, but it is much easier to use so I won't complain too much.

I've shown the bookplates before, and the DVD plate is just a version of the book plate. Here's the template for the herb jar label. The herb name is in a cute offbeat font called Abbey Road. Obviously I put basic information only on the label.



The graphic on the side doesn't show well in the display, but it looks pretty good on the actual label.

What's the point of all this?

My computers are a part of what I do.

My library is shelves and shelves of those faux milk box file crates I already mentioned. Also stacks. When I want to find something, it is Readerware that tells me where it is. My primary work area has an iMac on the corner of the desk and a Radium keyboard under an oversized music stand and a white board. Above that, a copper eagle guards the (mostly) East.

I'm a technopagan. As much as I prefer to go nude, you try finding pockets for your tools and keys. Overalls work. They're ugly as sin and unfashionable, but they're my usual at home attire these days. My handwriting is terrible, I can't always read it, so of course I need labels. And the last few days I've really been appreciating my AC.

Part of my world is technology and it's stupid to turn my back on it

And if there were implants like I talked about the other day, I'd get some fast.

Computers for me are a way to connect to the data. Take the label I used above. When I put the thing together, I probably spent about a half hour or so deciding what I wanted on the label and then rearranging it so it looked good. That included picking the fonts. But from here on out, I don't need to think about that again. Even when I start using a new herb or mineral, I already know what needs to appear on the label so I know where to start my research.

Einstein didn't remember phone numbers.

When it comes to my contacts I may not remember the specifics, but that is what the computers do. In a year or so, I may not remember the birthweight of an online friend's daughter or the nickname of her younger brother, but MaKai here does. I remember what's important to me, I remember how to look, I remember how to note the information down, and I let the computer keep track.

When I loan out a book, MaKai keeps track of who borrowed it and when. When the book comes back, the bookplate tells me which box to put it in.

These days I do most of my non-esoteric websurfing from a comfortable chair using an iPad. That's easily ninety percent of my online time.That means when I do come to the sanctum, I'm ready to work.

My technology works for me.

Everything from my VitaMix to my breadmaker to my shower massage.

My paganism isn't separate. It's not something enshrined in the past behind a glass door in some museum. It's a living part of me and my world.

And it's going to shape my future.

Posted: Thu - June 3, 2010 at 03:10 PM
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