I probably should buy “Computers for Dummies,” but, given all the advances, it might be antiquated already. I still don’t know what the basics are — “because,” my wife says, “you get everyone else to do things for you.”
While computerese is Geek to me, input, download, upload, and all that, I do know the jargon associated with many endeavors, and because I can throw the words around people tend to think I know what I’m talking about, when, in fact, like Manuel, I know nothing.
Montaigne, himself, said, I believe, that being of a middling mind wasn’t so bad, for, presumably, there would always be things to learn, and that, therefore, life would always remain wondrous and the inquirer curious.
Que sais-je? Nothing about computers, that’s for sure.
Still, it nags that I have been, when it comes to electronic devices, retrograde, out of step, and have fallen so far behind that I’ve barely begun to be distracted. For that’s what I think it all leads to — complete and utter distraction with a capital C and U and D. Distraction from the Big Questions, such as Where did we come from? Where are we going? Why are we here?
(Actually, I do know the answer to that one: I am here because The Star’s a place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.)
As I said the other day, to Jon Diat, I believe, “half the town has worked here at one time or another.” I came up with the names of more than 100 people with whom I’ve worked one day not long ago when I wanted to be distracted — momentarily, of course — from deep thoughts.
But I can only stay away from them, the great imponderables, for so long, and so I bought at BookHampton today “The God Question” by Michio Kaku. Einstein and String Theory.
I love books about things I don’t understand, which is why, as Rick Murphy discovered, at a state boys basketball tournament in Glens Falls years ago, you can, while I’m dozing, switch the page I’m on and I’ll not know the difference.
It’s the same with “Bosch.” Mary and I are always two, maybe three, steps behind — “haven’t we seen this episode?” — but fascinated. And, so, we let it ride.