I’m
not too proud to admit it, I still want my movies and music around
in some physical format. There are people that call it old school
style, I suppose. Though honestly it isn’t the label of old school
that’s used as much as observations from others that technology
has long since moved beyond my comfort zones.
And
that’s it, isn’t it? Comfort zones.
It’s
not about accepting or rejecting technology, at least not if we’re
being honest. I may not be the most current or even interested
user of the latest and greatest, but I can navigate around most
issues and get what I want and need taken care of.
No,
this is about comfort… preferences… the way I like things. I want
what I want when I want it. And it seems as though technology
comes with too many headaches and whims to have earned a true
high standard of reliability. And I keep finding there are reasons
for it.
Issue
number one… my printer
About
a week ago, I went to print something. Everything worked just
fine. The next day… the very next day… I went to print something
else. Same computer. Still using Microsoft Word. Couldn’t do it.
Rather
than bore you with driver issues and outdated unavailable updates
and more, I spent about an hour tinkering with some troubleshooting
and problem-solving ideas, and eventually ended up having to uninstall
and reinstall the printer. Multiple times. Finally got it to work.
But
this is just an example. Technology has often, for no obvious
reasons whatsoever, failed on me. We aren’t discussing wearable
parts, power surges or expiring subscriptions. Just for no identifiable
reason at all, collapse followed by chaos.
Issue
number two… The Sure Thing
Have
you ever seen The Sure Thing? If not, I highly recommend
it to you. Unfortunately, chances are, you’ll never find it. At
least not any time soon.
It’s
a great movie. Well written and directed. Acting is solid. Features
John Cusack, and is one of three films that making up his classic
1980s trio that includes Better Off Dead and finishes
up with Say Anything….
Here’s
the kicker though… if you don’t have it, you won’t find it.
It’s
not on any streaming service. And any available copies of it right
now are ones you need to search for and get second-hand.
Now,
of course, both of issues stories come with side notes. Take The
Sure Thing. It looks like a new collection of films might
make it available in January of 2021. And streaming services adjust
their offerings each month. Things change. It will be around at
some point. But if you want to be certain you have it when you
want it… well… back to basics of that printer story…
Several
years ago, I downloaded a lot of music onto my computer. I was
essentially doing it to load up an iPod. Hard drive crashed. Everything
was wiped out. But go figure, because I still had the discs, I
still had the music even though the computer files were gone.
Yes,
technology is making wonderful advances. And even the ideas I
complain about or use as evidence to support my desire for physical
copies of music and movies and books and more are getting a bit
weaker as shortcomings are improved.
Still,
our world is moving into arenas without physical connections.
The tangible and handheld is turning to digital and whatever the
cloud and its associates may be. That’s not a bad thing… unless
you’re looking for The Sure Thing.