Month: July 2007

Comment on Foster’s Post

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Just wanted to link: first help desk.

I’ve got to admit that I identify with the clueless monk and am always amazed at the steady patience of the it guys.  Clearly the tone is universal if the language isn’t.

(This was going around a few months ago; sorry if I’m repeating it but can’t find it through googling Chicagoboyz.)   And I suspect there was some of that in the 1930’s; inertia and fear of change are probably at least as motivating as turf battles & definition of status in terms of how many people wait on us.  The break with all those notions was described by Franklin – but I think it is human nature to fear change and want larger acreage.

Senate Technophobia, 1930 Style

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In 1930, U.S. Senator Carter Glass (Virginia) introduced the following resolution:

Whereas dial telephones are more difficult to operate than are manual telephones; and

Whereas senators are required since the installation of dial telephones in the Capitol to perform the duties of telephone operators in order to enjoy the benefits of telephone service; and

Whereas dial telephones have failed to expedite telephone service; therefore, be it

Resolved that the sergeant-at-arms of the Senate is authorized and directed to order the Chesepeake & Potomac Telephone Co., to replace with manual telephones, within 30 days after the adoption of this resolution, all dial telephones in the Senate wing of the United States Capitol and in the Senate Office Building.

The resolution passed.

(source: Visions of Technology, edited by Richard Rhodes)

Wisdom from the Country

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While John Jay reads Russian lit in Russian, I listen to country music. But “the immortal Sawyer Brown” has thoughts on the relation of truth to narrative as well:

The phone rings: it’s the call of the wild

And the clothes we wear have finally come back in style

We got some tall tales that we love to tell

They may not be true

But we sure do remember them well

From “The Boys & Me.“