I like to advertise the fact that I don’t watch TV, but there’s a new kind of TV out there, one that may be harder to ignore.   YouTube started out as a video blogging platform, a way for ordinary people to communicate with each other (sort of) face to face.   It’s exploded into a phenomenon that will soon affect all of us, at least those with a high-speed connection.

Recently I mentioned that I’d been watching a series of videos called “Telling It All” by Peter in England.   It’s fascinating because he’s a real person sitting in his living room telling us about his ordinary, and yet extraordinary life.   Ordinary because he achieved a goodly measure of happiness and satisfaction by his own efforts, extraordinary for the same reason.   He is us, if we’re lucky.   The premise of blogging is that we all have something to add to the mix that is our world, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. In other words, we’re individuals just like everybody else.

In the last couple of days, Don and I have seen videos of some of the most incredible guitar playing we’ve ever seen.   Even more than sheer skill and virtuosity, there are some breathtaking innovators, many of them still in their ‘teens or twenties.   Two of our favorites were Andy Mckee and Eric Mongrain.   Until now, a person with extraordinary talent of any kind wasted a huge chunk of their productive life just trying to get onstage.   Now nearly anyone can find an audience, there’s someone in the world who would like to see them.   There are no guarantees, it’s just as risky as ever to quit your day job, but at least you’re ‘out there’, you’ve got a shot.

Google just bought YouTube for $1.65 billion, and there are huge deals in the works with major TV networks .   These people smell advertising bucks and the face of TV is about to change.   But, as soon as it gets boring, folks, there’ll be something new.   Don’t blink.

Lisa Miller

Chris,

Regarding your recent post regarding all the ways you love to hate Vista;

Oh, man could I relate to your exasperation; OK, blowout, to Vista’s tendency to change your view settings.   XP does this too and I figured it out.   I play with images a lot and have the settings where I need them to do what I need to do for each operation.

Every single time I do a Windows Update, A BUNCH OF MY FREAKIN’ SETTINGS ARE CHANGED!   The security updates are necessary, of course. Yesterday I updated and there were 18 critical updates and 16 of them were for security.   Never mind, that’s another rant.   Then (background music; impending doom) I spend the next three days in a boiling dither when almost every operation takes an extra step or two.   Don used to sneak in and update me, but hated so much to hear me grousing he told me I was on my own.   I can’t wait to see what the updates have done to me this time.   The last time, Windows inserted something without my knowledge or permission that warns when I browse on Firefox or try to research anything about Open Source that certain pages have not passed their standards for ’security’, do I really want to continue?   YOU’D BETTER BELIEVE I WANT TO CONTINUE, YOU PIECE OF POO-POO!

Every time Don does a Windows Update, his CD burning software simply doesn’t work, he has to reinstall it.   This time it was just broken, he had to go search for a freeware that will work for him.   This causes him to mutter softly, “This is very annoying…”   That’s his version of being very, very p.o.’d.

I just know when Windows is in there larking around in my computer, it’s trying to do something I don’t want it to.   Last night after the update, Mike Lin’s Startup Monitor caught Microsoft’s Memories Disk Creator trying to write to the registry.   Since I have no interest in this program, I denied it the right to do that.   Then Zone Alarm caught Windows trying to “phone home” to tell on me so I denied them the right to do that.   OK, two down, more to come I bet.   Bring it on.

It’s a mistake to write before my first half-pot of coffee.

Lisa Miller

I got an email from a friend who asked, “Where are you in real space?”.   He was asking where I lived.   I’m 50. People of my generation and older often ask that question when corresponding, or they want to ask and hesitate to cross an invisible line.   They want to be accepted into the Internet community and would prefer to use good netiquette if there are concrete rules about such things.   Fact is, we have a slightly different view of location than our junior ‘net citizens.

When I started to use the computer, I soon realized how much time I was spending and had a feeling of guilt.   What was I doing spending so much time out of my ‘real’ life?   Just fooling around at a computer screen, going anywhere on earth I wanted, learning anything I wanted to learn.   That was almost good enough.   Still there was a question, just out of reach, I wasn’t quite sure what it was.   What was making me feel guilty about spending so much time here?   That was it.   Here.   Is the Internet a real place?

The only thing we ever have that’s truly ours is our time.   If this wasn’t a real place then I didn’t belong here, my time was more valuable than that.   There was one main question to answer.   Over and above our physical needs; food, shelter and the work we have to do to obtain them, in what other worlds do we exist?   Is the intellectual world a real place?   The sciences, art, music, dance, philosophy, etc.; they’re intangible, not essential for survival.   But are they real worlds?   They exist in our intellects, but do they exist?

They do.   We have our lives there.   For many these places are their entire world, where they also make their living.   For some it’s any number of locations we visit to greater or lesser degrees according to our interests.   The Internet, too is a real place because we’re here.

So, I live in Central Texas, and on the Internet.

Lisa Miller

A few weeks ago I became interested in the issue of Internet Neutrality and became concerned enough to spend some time surfing, reading and making up my own mind on the subject.   I wrote the following letter to my state representatives;

…..

Senator Kay Hutchison
Senator John Cornyn
Representative Mike Conaway

I have a sincere and strong interest in protecting the internet from any form of censorship.   Whether it takes the form of financial, political or philosophical manipulation, censorship is inherently wrong and will bite the manipulator in the heel when the manipulated revolt, and they always do.   Always, count on it.   Internet Neutrality and its benefits are incalculable and will be a positive force in the future, just as it’s changed our lives for the better today.

I will vote with my wallet, I will vote with my ballot and I will vote with my website and ezine.

I will vote, count on it.

Lisa Miller
http://www.don-guitar.com

…..

Soon I received form letters filled with vague, soothing platitudes and promises of…something, maybe.   Now I receive frequent emails from one of the politicians named above, informing me of the candidate’s current campaign news.   Yippee!  No, wait, this is Texas. Yeehaw.

Lisa Miller

Really.   I don’t.   When I have the nerve to say this to people, their reaction resembles shock. The information doesn’t seem to register, leaving the listener’s face completely blank.   After reiteration and time to allow the victim to recover, I gently explain that it’s such a massive waste of time that I simply cannot allow theft of my time on such a scale.

I used to watch TV and do what so many people do; complain that there was nothing decent to watch.   Basic cable where I lived offered 47 channels.   After spending 10 minutes fruitlessly looking at the TV guide, usually if there was nothing new on the Cooking Channel I’d turn to an Andy Griffith episode to provide some noise and go wash the dishes.   Unless there was a football game on, in which case that was ‘it’ for the evening.   Don’t even go there.

I’m aware of what’s on, the TV is on most of the day to provide noise and entertainment for my mother-in-law.   On rare occasions, I’ll hear ‘The Dog Whisperer’ on National Geographic TV and go in to watch half an episode.   None of it looks as good as playing in the dirt, cleaning the house, cooking, surfing for links to put in my husband’s and my ezine, reading newsletters, online newspapers and blogs, taking photographs, learning a new skill, writing, etc..   My idea of what constitutes ‘leisure’ activities has changed quite a bit and TV is no part of it.

Are you sitting down?   I hate sports.

Lisa Miller

Today someone made my day.   Someone read what I wrote and cared enough to leave a note.   Therein lies a gotcha.   Do you know how many websites I’ve visited in the last few years and been entertained, annoyed, pleased, taught, instructed and helped and never left a comment?   Uh, oh.

Time for turnabout.   Thing is, though, it’ll be no trouble.   My husband writes and comments on the things he cares about quite often and, not surprisingly, people write back.   He’s met many people this way, including some friends he’s had for years.   For Christmas we gave ourselves a present; we called some of the people he’s corresponded with for a long time, to actually hear the sound of their voices.   It was a lot of fun and it brought us closer to the people we already cared about.

Simple concept, one that your mom told you way back when; in order to have a friend, be a friend.

The logistics of the Internet as it stands today favors freedom of expression.   With some spectacular exceptions, it’s a self-policing society.   You’re free to write, comment, make friends, make enemies, advertise, flame, compliment or slander.   But the whole world is watching, or could be.   It’s in your best interest to be positive, supportive and to teach what you know.   Giving first leads to reward, even if that reward is a just a “gold star”, recognition and appreciation.

Think I’ll try to make someone’s day.

Lisa Miller

Quite some time ago I had several problem dogs, one after the other.   Finally it sank in; it wasn’t the dogs, it was me.   I was insecure, overwhelmed by what seemed to be forces beyond my control.   There were problems with my significant other, circumstances were tenous at best, and my self image was at an all-time low.

However, there was one area in which I had total confidence.   If I had the desire, I had the tenacity to learn anything.   So on December 31, 2002 I bought a computer-in-a-box from the local office supply store and on January 1, 2003 sat down at a keyboard for the first time.   Hours later, the traditional New Year’s pork roast was very, very crispy and the adventure began.   Having a part-time job, I was able to spend hours every day learning to use the computer itself, Windows XP, touch-typing, the Internet and various software programs already on the machine.   Then came my still-favorite image editing program, PaintShop Pro.   The tutorials and user groups helped beyond anything I could have learned in a classroom.   The hours formerly spent watching TV, doing needlework or other leisure activities were concentrated on learning.

Computers and the Internet provided the resources to move into a bigger world.   The positive energy this created in my life changed me.   I was now in control.   After a time, I solved the problems and became myself, free to choose the life I wanted and to go for it.   I put my stuff and my dog in a U-Haul, crossed four state lines and started over.   I am the Big Dog, the one who doesn’t have to fuss and fight and juggle for position in an uncertain world.

The adventure continues…

Lisa Miller

When we’re very young, we have a lot of energy.   Tons of energy to jump into the newest project that catches our fancy, fall in love, take the road less traveled, spit in the face of convention and go our own way.   Physical energy to try a new sport, dig a flower bed, learn a new skill just because we want to.   Just when a little caution may be called for, we don’t have it.

Then, after spending time and energy on the things we get excited about, we suddenly, inexplicably become cautious.   We manage our time to get the most from it, sometimes spending precious time deciding how to spend our time.   Feeling ignorant about a subject, even one that interests us, is uncomfortable and embarrassing.   Experience tells us that learning curves are steep and require our precious time.

Here’s a thought-provoking question; Did we have energy and excitement because we were young or were we young because we had energy and excitement? Pure science has determined that exercise can increase muscle mass at nearly the same rate in people of 20 or 80 years of age, there is virtually no difference in our physiology at any age.   Our brains cannot be any different.   Conclusion?   Being a Newbie is good for you.   That wonderful/awful feeling of starting over has physical and mental benefits.

Currently I’m discovering the joy of spreadsheets, delving a bit into word-processing and learning Linux, just because I want to.   I’m not sure how yet but these may help in a future endeavor; it’s hard to quantify the benefits of learning.   In the middle of March I’ll begin the Texas Master Gardener’s program, sponsored by Texas A&M University.   After 10 weeks of classes and 50 hours of community service, I’ll be a certified Texas Master Gardener.   Who knows where that may lead?   I’m so excited!

Lisa Miller

Tags: newbie, learning curve, enthusiasm