Technology: In the Wash Up

It takes some time for children to get used to the processes of washing clothes, such that over the past months some of their technology has spent some time in the washing machine - connected to the Drive washing powder. Caleb set the ball rolling when his USB key found its way into the machine... when discovered it continued to work perfectly, and continues to do so two or three months on. His efforts have now been surpassed!

Rachel's mobile phone appeared in the ironing pile late last week, having survived the same wash-spin-rinse-spin cycle before an hour or so in the drier. Early signs were not good, as pressed keys brought no response and the screen looking somewhat psychedelic even in its inert state. I finally plugged it into its charger, whereupon it began vibrating - the first signs of life. I consoled Rachel with the thought that she now owned her own personal massager. With perseverance (and heat) I was eventually able to switch the phone on and connect to the network, and even make a call, the phone continuing to vibrate mercilessly. Rachel set off with said phone in her bag yesterday, battery disconnected so that it didn't vibrate in her bag all day. At three this morning, Ev woke me to ask how to turn off the vibration as the noise from her school bag had kept her awake. In the darkness and drowsiness of semi-consciousness I disconnected the battery and went back to sleep.

This morning - after the kids had gone to school - I noticed Rachel had left her phone behind. I reconnected the battery... the phone vibrated again for a few seconds, then stopped! Six days after its journey through the Fisher and Paykel, it is now apparently none the worse for wear, and clean! Isn't technology marvellous!

Celebrations

Another birthday has come and gone, with the outcome that we are now a complete mp3 family! We now all have our own players, able to choose our own music to listen to without annoying others with songs which are not universally appreciated. If we were owners of the name brand player, you would say we were like peas in a pod.... but while it is great to be able to go running and listen to some music or a downloaded radio program, there is a noted downside or two:
* Many conversations begin with the first sentence repeated on more than one occasion as the listener is de-plugged from the player in order to plug into the conversation. This can have a significant dampening effect on spontaneous conversation.
* The place of silence is lost. While an mp3 player does disconnect you from interaction with many things, it still deafens you to the inner thoughts and promptings which can only be heard in the silence. The power of silence to let a thought seep into the deepest parts of being cannot be overstated. We do well to simply "be still" and immerse ourselves in the sounds of life which are around us, and simply listen.
* Download limits are being tested... with everyone wanting their own music, the bandwidth is being stretched. Being shaped back to dialup is a reminder of what we once took for granted as great news!