I know I have been silent for a while (so much for my commitment to blogging–I obviously need another challenge), but that is because Tech Whispering has kept me busy. Thanks to my clients, I am learning all about “known issues” with Outlook 2010 and syncing iPads w/Mac’s mail client. “Known issues” are basically bugs that both Microsoft and Apple know about but have not provided patches to resolve the problem. Instead I have been relying on those wonderfully geeky folks who devise work-arounds and post them on the web. If you are one of those geeky folks, please accept my heartfelt thanks. I could not do much of what I do without you.
I also have a new toy, a 4 shuttle table loom (pictured here). I love how hand weaving allows me the distinction of being a tech-savvy luddite. The current usage of the term luddite is used to describe technophobes. However, the original Luddites were hand-weavers who were opposed to the shift towards mechanization during the industrial revolution.
I haven’t really had a chance to weave much because I have been so busy, but that is ok. I like being busy and I am really enjoying my work. I get a real kick out of not knowing exactly what my day has in store for me. I may think I am heading off to help a client set up a tablet, only to discover that what she really needs help doing is cleaning crap off her iPhone and fixing a perennial issue with her back up system. I also love it when my clients compile a list of technical questions for me. It forces me to stay on top of the ever-changing world of technology. It also helps validate my rationalization for starting Tech Whispering in the first place. I often tell people that I started this business so reading tech blogs would count as “work” and not procrastination.
My clients often apologize to me for the age of their devices. What they obviously don’t know about me is that I can be quite quixotic when it comes to forestalling obsolescence. I just revived an ageing Mac Mini by increasing its RAM. It is now happily running Snow Leopard and has at least a year or 2 left in its functional lifespan.
I have also picked up some work utilizing a skill set I haven’t used in a while, configuring databases and creating (or modifying) reports to track metrics. The world of databases has changed a fair amount since I first started teaching workshops on the theory behind relational databases back in 1996. But it is like riding a bicycle, and without too much effort, my comfort level is rising fairly quickly.