THOUGHT PATTERNS

A claw foot laptop

It looks like a Victorian music box...

... but inside this intricately hand-crafted wooden case lives a fully operating laptop.

 

It features an elaborate display of clockworks under glass, engraved brass accents, claw feet, an antiqued copper keyboard and mouse...

 ... leather wrist pads, and customized wireless network card.

A steampunk laptop! This is love at first sight.

The machine turns on with an antique clock-winding key by way of a custom-built ratcheting switch made from old clock parts. (What?!)

 

I wrote in one of my previous posts about a classy steampunk keyboard made out of old typewriter parts, but this laptop blows my mind. 

xoxoxo

{made by detamancer}

Photoshop in real life

I've been trying to get a hang of Photoshop lately. I'm very fond of technology (who isn't, right?), but I'm also very nostalgic about the past. I love using my computer, but I also crave to get my hands dirty with paint. So, this interpretation of what Photoshop would look like if it was on our desk, consisting of real tools, paints and brushes, really made me smile:

{you can click to expand}

I love all the little compartments filled with magic wands, hand tools, buckets of paint, magnifying glasses & little erasers.

xoxoxo

{photo wandaaaa}
 

The slow times are behind me...

For the past several months I've had terrible computer issues. I've been using a really old and slow computer which was causing me aggravation of the most awful kind. The computer was so slow that I had to multitask while opening a document, multitask while waiting for the browser to open, multitask while writing this blog, multitask while commenting on other people's blogs even - which was the most annoying thing and made me in the end stop commenting on other people's blogs - as with every word I wrote the computer froze a little. If I didn't multitask I would have long ago stuck a pencil into my eye.

I do remember the old days of dial-up and compared to that I really wasn't that slow. But still, comparing what we are used to these days... I was lagging behind terribly! We do have another better computer my husband works on, and he was so tired of me constantly saying "Darling, I'm gonna use your computer for just a minute (2 hours)", just when he was inspired to start working on his book.

Anyway, finally, several days ago we broke down and got me a new computer, and this time a laptop. Yay!! So, I've been a bit computer involved for the past two days, transferring files, uploading and installing, calling tech support (nothing can ever go smoothly) and all the usual necessary stuff. But, slowly I'm getting used to the new environment. Bookmarking all of my favorite blogs - which was the first thing to do, trying out some new photo editing software, and a lot of other exploring.

 

 

Me and my pet.

I'm so thrilled! I was so frustrated for the longest time with what I was working on. I'm usually very fast in everything I do (too fast, and not thinking things through, Terry would say:). I walk fast, I talk fast, I eat fast (I'm working on it!)... when I'm in a rush I like to literally run around the house to save on minutes :), so this computer thing was truly testing my patience. Well, I have learned to be a bit more patient as a result, so it was a little bit worth it. But, boy, do I like the speed I'm writing in now!!

Have a wonderful week everybody!

xoxoxo

Telephone Etiquette

It's hard to imagine that there was a time (not so long ago) when people were in awe of telephones and had to be taught how to use it. I kind of remember my family getting the telephone for the first time. They came in only two colors, green and orange. We chose a green one. Tough decision! It's so different for the kids of today. The computers, the cameras... the iphones, choosing between this application and that application, 7 trillion different colors and ring tones. Land lines - what the heck is that?

I stumbled onto this very funny and charming brochure (via Accidental Mysteries) telephone companies used to send their customers along with the phone...

Telephone Etiquette

I guess now we search for friends over the internet. Is there a "How to make friends on the internet guidebook?" Oh, I guess there must be. There is a gazillion of everything nowdays.

 

 

Yes, please don't shout while you're talking on your phone. Pretty please.

 

 
How about replacing all of telephone customer service with the automated messages? Wouldn't that be just lovely? NOOOOOOOO!

 

I think someone must have been real bored while reading this - notice the underlining (that looks like little stairs) that goes on in all of the pages. Probably some kid, stuck with the brochure, and all he wants to do is ride on his bike.

 

Now, that was both hilarious and adorable. Ah, the old days. I can't decide if they were better or worse!

xoxoxo