An Industry Based on Waste
One of the things I really dislike about technology is how disposable it is. I put off getting new cell phones and computers until it becomes absolutely necessary. Like right now, a Blackberry would be extremely useful in my life, as would a new MacBook, but I'm purchasing neither until the technology I have is irreparably (sp?) damaged. I pay for a remote back-up of my laptop, awaiting that day.
Now, something just happened that makes me completely crazy. My printer (a Lexmark printer/copier/fax) is about 1.5 years old, and after having been moved from one office space to another, it decided it no longer wanted to properly feed paper. So I call Lexmark Canada, and I get an automated voice that was distinctly French Canadian, but with impeccable English, falsely raising my hopes that I might get to to talk to someone in Canada. After I punch through the menu, I get that familiar clicking sound of my call being passed to a call centre somewhere overseas. I take a deep breath, and go through the usual formalities of complaining about a product. The woman asked me to unload all the paper from the printer, then unload the ink cartridges. I opened the top of the printer, but the cartridges were slid all the way to the left, so I couldn't unload them. The woman told me to gently pull on the white cable attached to the cartridge holder, and slide it to the middle. I did this, and unloaded the cartridges. The printer did not like this at all, and the cartridge holder started sliding violently back and forth, snapping off the clips that hold the cartridges down. I told this to the woman, who re-started her instructions at "Now please open your printer" at which point I said "I DID THAT AND UNLOADED THE CARTRIDGES AND THE PRINTER JUST SNAPPED OFF THE CLIPS THAT HOLD DOWN THE CARTRIDGES!" IT'S EVEN MORE BROKEN NOW!" Without missing a beat, the woman asked me for my mailing address, as they would be sending me a new printer in 3-4 business days. WHAT?! I mean, I'm glad I'm going to have a working printer, but that's it? It's broken so replace it? She said I was going to have to send them back my broken printer so I wouldn't be charged for the new one, so I can only hope that they fix or refurbish the one I have. But there was no option given to physically repair the one I have. This makes me crazy.
The new one better be wireless.
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On another note, Junkii wants an iPhone, and he keeps saying how he NEEDS all the apps - the gps, the address finder, the level - as though it's only through some miracle that he's been able to survive 31 years without this amazing device. We're trained to think we need stuff that we can easily get along without. It's another part of our culture that drives me nuts.
I have also heard the siren song of the iPhone, mainly when I'm returning from Ottawa from a business trip, sitting in a departure lounge, envying all the people plugged into their various devices. Tell Junkii I'll get him a old fashioned pocket level for him for his 32nd birthday - and I'll tape a map to it.
You know, when I was working for UNICEF, and driving all over Mississauga and Brampton, I completely relied on my car nav to get me around. The thing was, halfway through the day, I'd look up, and have absolutely no idea where I was. I hated that feeling, because usually I have a very good sense of direction. The nav was making me feel stupid.
I know!!! Hate the planned obselesence!!! (sp?)
And you know they won't recycle the dead printer.
Did you get my email about www.storyofstuff.com?
At least so many of us are talking about it, choosing not to over-buy
and making conscious changes to the amount we consume.
Last week we were sitting watching hockey with some friends and a commercial for a fast food place came on advertising 1.99 burgers.
One guy said "How can they sell them that cheap and still make a profit?"
His wife replied "Third World labour, forests, meat and fuel..." Her tone wordlessly added "any more stupid questions?"
I think there may have been a few people in the room who hadn't considered that was how it works. And now they will. Hopefully.
As far as all that tech stuff we "need" I agree that it's all tempting, but we do get along just fine without it...until we have it and it stops working, then we're utterly lost. (Esp. in the case of a nav system!! ha ha) I say just don't get it in the first place and hone your practical skills instead.
tomato, huh? that makes sense, since they are hard to transport etc...
you learn something new every day.
btw...i don't eat that ff crap either, so greasy & tasteless.
If I'm going to eat meat it better be good quality and preferably organic.