Outsourcing Our Memories

Here’s another podcast, this time about how we aren’t quite as smart as our technology makes us think we are. Many thanks to the BBC World Service for letting me include this clip on the blog. Here it is. https://www.loosewireblog.com/files/memories_with_cue.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Windows. How Much Pain Can You Take?

If you’re still happy with your Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition then you’re on your own. Microsoft won’t help you out after July 11, 2006, when it ends public and technical support. This doesn’t just mean not having someone to talk to on the phone. It means no more security … Read more

My PR Pet Peeves

On the whole, I find PR people to be great —  helpful, quick and thorough. But some have their quirks. I know I shouldn’t but I’m going to anyway. Here are some of my current pet peeves, all of them including examples I’ve collected over the past few days. Let me just first say that … Read more

The Skype Hole

Perhaps this isn’t that new, but I’ve noticed that Skype chat messages often don’t get through until hours later, even if both parties are online.  The problem seems to be that while both parties are online — i.e., have Skype running and are shown as online, or away or something — the other party can’t … Read more

The Digital Writing Podcast

Recently I wrote (WSJ.com; subscription only I’m afraid) and spoke (BBC World Service; podcast here) about digital writing — the still peripheral business of using a pen to write on paper, and then have that work digitally transferred to a computer, PDA or cellphone. (And then, optionally, have any writing converted to text your computer … Read more