Computers, Ignorance, Paranoia, Tech Support, and Humor

"Computer Stupidities"
RinkWorks

" 'On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.'
-- Charles Babbage (1791-1871)

"The following is a large collection of stories and anecdotes about clueless computer users. It's a baffling phenomenon that in today's society an individual ... can sit down in front of a computer screen and instantly lose every last shred of common sense he ever possessed. Complicate this phenomenon with a case of 'computerphobia,' ... You will read stories in this file that will convince you that among the human race are human-shaped artichokes futilely attempting to break the highly regarded social convention that vegetables should not operate electronic equipment...."

It's broken down by topics and sub-topics, like

• Systems
  • Piecing It Together
  Mincing Words Operating Systems Icons Hardware Requirements Backups Programming

There's even

• Role Reversal
  • Stupid Tech Support
  Stupid Salesmen

I found one tale, under Emergencies - Paranoia - that reminded me of a call or two I handled during my tech support days:

"I was once using the generic telnet program on the library computers to check my mail on UTM (the local university) with Pine. The computer-inept librarian walked up behind me.
* Her: (shrieking) 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING???'
* Me: 'I'm checking my email--'
* Her: 'It looks like you're breaking into the computer!!'
* Me: 'No really -- I'm checking my mail.'
* Her: 'But that's not HOTMAIL!!'
* Me: 'I don't use hotmail. I use--'
* Her: 'But EVERYONE uses HOTMAIL!!'
* Me: 'No, my account goes through UTM. My email account ends with--'
* Her: 'But that's not what MYYY UTM looks like!!' (apparently referring to the UTM web page)
* Me: 'Yes, I'm telnetting. It's another way of accessing--'
* Her: 'I think you better shut that off. You're breaking into the computer.'
* Me: 'But I--'
* Her: Turn it off. I don't believe that "checking mail" story.' "

Neutron Star Crust: Strong Stuff

"Neutron Star Crust Is Stronger than Steel"
Space.com (May 18, 2009)

"Neutron stars are dead relics that have collapsed into very small, dense spheres with tough crusts. Forces welling from within can crack the crusts during events called star quakes, similar to earthquakes.

"The awesome power of those quakes can blast gamma rays into space, leading scientists to suspect that the stars' crusts must be very hard to break.

"A new study suggests how strong they are: The crust of neutron stars could be 10 billion times stronger than steel, based on an innovative model of elements compressed as tightly as they would be on the surface of a neutron star...."

This article comes under the category of information that's fascinating (to some), and which has very little practical application in our daily lives.

It's also a pretty good overview of conditions near the surface of neutron stars, with links to related articles.

Me? I enjoyed reading about another probe across the frontier of knowledge.

Whacking Great Nests by Patrick Dougherty

"Patrick Dougherty's Incredible Nest Houses"
Somethin Wonderful (January 28, 2009)

"If hobbits didn't live under hills, they might like this homey structure that seems to fit right into its surroundings. It calls forth visions of a simpler world in keeping with nature and is one of sculptor Patrick Dougherty's 150 amazing twig art installations that have sprung up all around the world to the wonderment of passersby since 1982...."


(from Somethin Wonderful, used w/o permission)

That's the first of eight photos, showing Dougherty's sculptures. They're remarkable artworks, giving the impression of being made by some outsized nest-building creature.

I wish this post had identified where these sculptures were, and devoted more text to discussing each: but the photos are nice.