Everything Happens for a Reason

So, I've known for a while now that my computer is very old. In fact, several months ago my financial intentions were to acquire a new computer when the new mac operating system had been released. Okay, so maybe it was more than several months ago as my money has since been spent on something very different... When the current "big choice" of my life came around and I did a (I regret to say) very rough opportunity cost analysis, the cost of not being able to buy a new computer was factored and I decided I was okay with putting it off until I had more money.

However, I am now being forced to re-evaluate that conclusion. Over several days last week, I had been noticing a surplus in damaged files on my computer, culminating in a disappearance of complete folders entirely, to where I was forced to admit that the amount of missing data was increasing. Something had infected my computer and was eating my data. For a while, my outlook had been that since most of the missing data had been downloaded from the internet in the first place, the only thing I was really losing was the hard earned time it had taken to actually find and download that material as I could go and redownload it... However, I eventually discovered that this predicament was just a bit more serious than I could easily shrug off. In very big and round letters, I was forced to utter a pronounced, "Explicative." In addition to the loss of several applications, all of my research on the AOL campaign (six months of intensive work) was lost...

So my inability to update my virus protection as my computer is so old (also one of the applications that has disappeared) and lack of hard drive back ups as my computer no longer has the ability to burn discs, have recently given me a new depth perception. Hmm... No, I still would have spent my money in that fashion for the most part, but my education is turning out to be a little more expensive than previously thought. More than just financial, my free time is now also required to make up for the missing pieces.

Actually, this probably doesn't come down to the age of my computer so much as it is a reflection of my intelligence. I chose not to buy a computer that would protect me from this sort of thing, but that doesn't mean there were not other preventative steps I could have taken... If only I could be just a little bit smarter or a little bit more willing to put in the effort needed.

From a different perspective, perhaps I was meant to develop more awareness of my situation. The event occurs now, when the most important data I could lose was only academic in nature rather than grounds for employment termination. I have gained a real appreciation of backing up my data rather than just an academic one. In trying to make up for the data loss, I have become reacquainted with the Windows operating system, a useful skill for the job market, as well as the campus library resource of laptop rentals. Online music streaming and online data storage, free and accessible on any computer, are now viewed as more valuable.

All things considered, I'm actually taking the situation pretty well. Everything happens for a reason, right?

Star Struck

One of the Last Rides for the Old Tram

I was cleaning out a part of my computer when I discovered these pictures from two summers ago. I used to work for a music festival at the base of a mountain resort. From my booth, I would watch people ride up and down the tram to the top of the mountain all day long, but I never got to go myself. I imagine this is how employees at an airport might feel. Everyday they are surrounded by the promise of adventure, the hint of excitement, the lure of the unknown. Yet everyday they only get to watch as others board the plane. I imagine they get used to it, but I always seemed to harbor a strange twinge of jealousy toward those who had more freedom in purchasing a tram ticket to ride the tram than I did in my ability to ride for free but no time to go. Perhaps you think I'm being silly. It's just a tram ride to the top of a mountain, I've been on top of mountains before and I used to live in a place where I could go to the top of a mountain any time I chose. What's so special about being on top of a mountain or getting on that plane and so on... My answer? Perspective. Even if you have no other pursuit in your life, you should always strive to gain a new perspective.

Yes. (Albeit a little creepy...)

By Your Words

"But perhaps he may be a little whimsical in his civilities," replied her uncle. "Your great men often are; and therefore I shall not take him at his word, as he might change his mind another day, and warn me off his grounds." ~Pride and Prejudice


A far more eloquent way of stating it. Your words will only be words until you can be prevailed upon to demonstrate a consistency of actions to prove their worth.

The Language of the Industry (Soon to be the Language of Everyone Else)

I love the business world. When we come across a concept for which there is no word, we make one up. My current favorite is "frenemy" - a short-term friend but a long-term enemy. The term is used to describe temporarily beneficial partnerships between indirect competitors, but it could easily be applied to everyday relationship categorizations. Just imagine the new color to your social network a word like this affords! Like the word "muggle," I can see this one taking on household and playground acceptance in short order.

Besides, it's just plain fun to say.