Technology – A Blessing, A Curse with Lowell Perry, Jr.

This is additional footage from Lowell Perry, Jr.’s closing presentation at the TCSW Conference in Franklin, Tennessee on April 6, 2011. Mr. Perry speaks about the advantages and disadvantages of life with cell phones and mobiles devices. He describes us as being tethered to technology. He also offers some insight on the importance of valuing one-on-one communication and to remember that there are times,  “to put the phone down and acknowledge the person in front of us”. Click here for the video or go to the RussAnthony411 You Tube channel at www.y0utube.com/user/russanthony411 .

Spiritual Technology Advice: Keep Your Oil Lamps Trimmed

( The use of  The Bible passages in this post is to show how wisdom through out the ages has applicability to technology life in 2011. These verses are repeated with respect and reverence).

If you are surfing the Internet for downloads, making a copy of a flash drive file or using wireless in your home or business read this verse from the New Testament and apply it to your use of technology.

Matthew 25: 1-13

1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour”.  (NIV)

Always Be on Guard

Regardless of what your web browser claims, there is no real “safe search” setting. If you want to truly be free of identity theft hackers – pull the plug on the Internet. Even then you may have previously, and unknowing, downloaded a virus or trojan that is hiding in your computer just waiting for the opportunity to strike. For every identity theft program or firewall setting there is a crook somewhere whose sole purpose is to find a weakness in that program or setting. Life lesson: the security companies and the hackers have a shady backroom, cigar-filled, you-scratch-my-back-and-I’ll-scratch-yours, underhanded agreement. They make work for each other. Some times it is obvious. You know, when the warning comes on your screen, ” You have a virus!! Click here for our virus protection program”. They should know, they created the virus too. In the 40’s we called this the Mafia and extortion.  Even the honest security companies know that if they cured “computer cancer” today they would be out of a job tomorrow.   Viruses and worms are good for business.

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil…”

I do not mean to paint the picture that all is lost. There is something that you can do. If you are going to be on the Internet, the time to get a virus protection program is before, not after, a virus is detected. Repeat, the time to get a virus protection program is before, not after, a virus is detected. Sure the cards are stacked against the uninformed Internet user – just don’t be uninformed.

Here are some things you can do:

  • Learn about net security. There are plenty of useful web sites where you can find this information. You can start by making a point to checkout information from your internet provider. Just be sure that you also use other sources by doing a web search. Do not rely on one source for your information.
  • Establish ground rules for children you are using the Internet in your household. Monitor what sites they visit. Talk among others in your household or office about web security.
  • Prevention + pro-activity = protection. Do not got out to buy your oil (virus protection program and knowledge about web security) only to find out that is too late. However, if you suffer damage from such an experience – treat it as a lesson learned. Be better prepared in the future. Talk to other Internet users about what you have learned.

Keep watch because you do not know…. That’s always been good advice.

By the way, admitting that something is hard to do is not a substitute for trying to do it.

Russ

A Tech Diva at Age Two

After reading my post of  4/19/2011 “Ten Year Olds Rule The World”, a friend recounted the story of a two- year old relative who fought against some old technology. Apparently, the young tech diva’s grandmother was taking some pictures of her on a disposal camera. Well the two year old posed and cooperated after being the star of several of her mother’s photos and wanted her grandmother to know that same joy of  granddaughter to enjoy.

Immediately after a few poses the two year old leaned over to get a glance at the back of the disposal camera to see how she looked. She  was shocked and astonished at not seeing a display screen – wondering what kind of game her grandmother was playing. She crossed her arms in defiance. Realizing that her grandmother was using a “play” camera,  she protested and refused more poses. The grandmother’s pleas of, “Really, sweetie, this is a real camera” and “I have to take these to the drug store and get them developed” were only the ramblings of someone obviously out of touch with reality.

The two year old diva’s world is one where here contemporaries know how to Google and look up You Tube videos. It scary what the world will become in the year 2100 when she will only be 91.

Thanks for the story “G”.

Do you have story idea or comment  for Russ Anthony 411? If so, please leave one at the end of this article or email me at russ@russanthony411.com. It can take a few hours for your comments to post, so please check back later after you send it.

By the way, when you realize that all you know is all you know, then you will really begin to learn.

Russ

 

Ten Year Olds Rule The World

Recently my niece showed me how to change my iPhone pass code from using four digits to the more secure alphanumeric mode. Two weeks ago, or so it seemed, I was patiently being the good uncle by explaining to her this fancy new gadget (original iPhone, circa 2007) I bought. “Look here, see the pretty lights?” I told her trying not to overwhelm her with technical jargon and concepts. So imagine my wounded pride a few days ago when she showed some frustration that I couldn’t follow her instructions with the pass code change. “No Uncle Russell! You go to settings…oh here, let me do it!” She used to be so cute. What happened? Was I starting to loose my touch? Here’s what happened: My niece learns and communicates with the world with a perspective starting in the early nineties. In her world everyone gathers information and processes it quickly. She does not know about calling the reference librarian to help with her home work or waiting for the paper to be delivered to get the news – of yesterday.

In the 1980’s  I worked as a retail manager for a well-known electronics retailer. As sales people we wowed customers by explaining how they could record one channel on their video cassette recorder while watching another channel on their television. It was like magic and we felt like kings. I felt like Marlon Brando in “Apocalypse Now”. Remember, “A snail slithers on a razor’s edge”. If you are fifty, like me, or older it is too easy to get comfortable with the technology that we know.

At home my niece has access to 300 channels on TV not three like we did; (well four if you include the public station). She hears about  something interesting and can go to the Internet and interact with that information right away. No reading the encyclopedia with its out of date maps and pictures of deposed world leaders. In her world information changes constantly and she adapts to it as needed.  Her way of thinking is in the present and future. The baby boom generation had it good for a while but “kids today” will one day see the rate of technological progress from the 1960’s to the 1990’s in months not decades.  They will not have the time nor desire to keep doing things the old way, just because it is the old way.

The jobs that have been lost due to technological improvements in manufacturing probably won’t be coming back. The days of working 40 years for a company from high school to retirement,  with employer-provided training along the way, have gone with the wind. The key to being successful in business and in a career is not counting how long you have been coming to work but the value  you possess. Information and education will be the keys to success. Previous jobs that called strictly for manual labor will be manual labor plus.  Digging a ditch plus designing the ditch. Loading trucks plus identifying logistics. Picking up trash plus evaluating costs of trash removal.

So my niece represents the change that is coming and is already here. There is always something new to learn and learning comes natural to her generation. It is not the desire to learn that is so different, it’s the ease as which information can be gathered. My hope is that her generation will not loose the power of discernment and wisdom that can come only with the words, “back in my day we didn’t have these new fangled…” Until then I am going to ask her to show me how I can get Internet service on my laptop by using the signal from my cell phone. If I’m lucky she will sigh with frustration and say, “Oh Uncle Russell, let me do it!”

By the way, it should make you mad or sad,  if  you let someone make you mad or sad.

Russ

Read about “Social Work Technology”

"Been comin' down this road for years. Don't see no harm"

This photo of a horse and buggy is from a story about looking at technology in a different way. See what an old technology has to do with new technology.

On March 11, 2011 in “About Russ Anthony 411“, I spoke briefly about “Social Work Technology”. I am happy to report that I have posted a description about Social Work Technology. You can read about it here or go to the top menu and click on “Social Work Technology”. There will be other articles posted on this topic. I appreciate your comments and feedback.

Creating A Meaningful Life with Lowell Perry, Jr.

Lowell Perry, Jr. gives a very topical and thoughtful delivery in the latest RussAnthony411 video from Anthony-Denmark Communications. “Creating a Beautiful Life with Lowell Perry, Jr.” will cause viewers to reexamine priorities and consider how the world is impacted by the decisions we make. This video is four minutes long. If you would like to see more of his speech please leave a comment at the end of this article, on the website were the video is being shown  or  email me at russ@russanthony411. com. Please click here to view.

 

Link to Russ Anthony 411

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The Evil Left by Long Distance Phone Charges

Next time you are in a crowd or driving down a busy street notice the people who are on the phone. It is funny because a lot of the people who are on their cell phones have someone right beside them or in the car. Yet, the telephone conversation takes precedence over the person next to the phone talker. We were not always so inconsiderate until we could take the phone out of the house.

We can blame the long distance phone call of yesterday. Remember. A family would get a long distance call and all regular activity in the house was put on hold. Let’s be real. If some one from “out of town” was calling, it was costing them  money so you had to answer it.

Remember.

“Auntie, you have a telephone call!”,  you would yell out.

“Tell then to call back, I’m busy cleaning the bath tub!”

“It’s long distance from San Francisco!”

“Long distance!” Then she would hurdle furniture and small children in a scramble to get to the phone – apologizing profusely to the long distance caller when she did.

So the phone call demands our attention – even when Caller ID allows us to see who is calling and there is not a different charge for a local or long distance call. A ringing telephone demands our attention.

“I’m sorry its the bank/mechanic/sitter/dentist office, I have to take this” we say sheepishly.

Or if you’re the one calling, you are chastised for calling at a bad time. “What do you want? I’m in the dentist chair!”

Blame the long distance call for rearranging our priorities. It wasn’t that long ago if  you were walking down the street and heard someone talking to himself, you would think maybe some sort of mental illness. Now it is a status symbol with Blue-tooth technology. “You know, this person on the other end of the line is more important than you are”. That’s what the Blue-tooth phone talker is telling you. In fact all cell phone talkers are giving out that message. Except, the Blue-tooth talker makes a bigger show of it when you mistakenly think they are talking to you. They whisper or point to their device saying, “I’m on the phone, they’re more important than you. How dare you interrupt me?”  

But don’t blame the phone talker, blame the phone company for charging us for long distance. You know it made sense to us: The further you called, the more it cost. Then cell phones started giving “free” long distance. (It wasn’t free. If it was really free you could just make long distance calls and never be charged for anything if you did not call locally).

By the way, if you  foster positive relationships with family and friends during uneventful times, they are more likely to be present during significant occasions in your life.

Russ

 

8 Seconds of Passion

I am an Internet pauper standing at informational intersections. What I see concerns me. I am holding a sign. Instead of, “Will work for food”, my sign reads “Working, please click here. Takes  8 seconds”. Today, our civilization is at a cross roads. Where do we turn? Now that I have found my passion of putting a little more good in the world, I am very much aware of the negative influences shown over the Internet, cable TV and newspaper/magazines. Some of the most popular videos and sites are of people singing about bodily sounds, falling down or entertainment of the mishaps of others. I also enjoy reading and watching the sometimes hilarious posts on the Internet. I am not suggesting that we loose our sense of humor. Far from it. Laughter and watching others laugh is a needed human expression. But for 8 seconds you can make a positive change in the world and it won’t cost any money and very little time: 8 seconds.

The work of this site is my passion. For those of you who have found a career that is your your passion, you know of what I write: the late nights, the fearless in speaking to others about what you are doing and the ease of asking for what will make your endeavor successful. It will be unlike any other site you have seen before. Just read my earlier posts. It is difficult to translate my emotions into words when I speak of what this site will be. Putting a little more good in the world and leaving it a better place will be the outcome of all of my hard work. Today I ask for 8 seconds. For the 8 seconds it takes to click LIKE on the RussAnthony411 Facebook page, you can help put some more good in the world. That is what my site www.RussAnthony411.org seeks to accomplish. It only takes 8 seconds to click LIKE and make a difference. It’s okay, Charley will still be biting his brother’s finger. Thanks.

Online Vote #1

Please click here to watch and my vote on my Anthony – Denmark end logo 1 on You Tube. Thank you.