Telecommuting (Okay...Working At Home!)

Being somewhat of a latecomer to digital technology, I never really thought about 'telecommuting' or working from home via the internet as a condition for evaluating a potential job offer. And telecommuting,it appears, is an option that many companies are offering with jobs in my chosen profession of technical writing.

On first consideration, telecommuting seems like an ideal way to work as a technical writer. This mode of working would enable me to work for almost anyone in the world at almost any given time. Telecommuting would eliminate much of the need for expensive transportation and the concurrent headaches of dealing with traffic jams. Moreover, working at home in this manner would enable me to set my own schedule.

Nevertheless, I believe telecommuting has a downside that would, in my opinion, offset all of the above benefits. I fear eventually that I'd develop a feeling of isolation and alienation. I like to deal with people directly and have a sense that I'm a part of the world. Telecommuting, I believe, would cut me off from those dynamic forces.

(For the record, the person in the above picture isn't me. I 'googled' an image search for telecommuters...and this is one that came up.)

Opening Pandora's Box?

If you’ve been on Facebook lately, you might have noticed numerous posts denouncing Monsanto Corp., an agribusiness giant who appears to be spearheading an effort that enables consumers to buy foods cultivated from genetically-engineered crops, which experts call genetically modified organisms or (GMOs).

So what’s the fuss? GMOs are crops that people have altered in a laboratory with the intent of improving such traits as nutritional content or resistance to herbicides. Traditionally, scientists used the rather lengthy process of selective breeding to enhance crops. However, genetic engineering has proven to be much quicker and more accurate.

Potentially, GMOs could prove to be a windfall for humanity. Scientists could develop crops that can endure droughts and frost. In addition, genetic engineering could enable farmers to grow crops that are resistant to many destructive fungi and viruses.

However, many folks are troubled that GMOs might cause unintended harm to other organisms. One recent study indicated that genetically altered corn caused increased mortality rates among monarch butterfly caterpillars. Another concern many people have is that genetically modified crops could produce a dangerous allergen, which in turn, would be ushered into the world with little or no warning. Moreover, many people fear the new technology simply because so much about its consequences remain unknown.

I tend to agree with the above sentiment. I think we should tread lightly before we open a potential Pandora’s Box that unleashes a whole host of ugly things.

Joel Pondering Peyton

What does the future hold for Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts? Joel sheds absolutely no new light on the subjects as he continues to experiment with his webcam.

An Offline Game That Lurks Inside....

Because I don't live in a Wi-Fi hotspot, I'll lose internet service once in a while due to foul weather conditions or poor cable bill management. When this happens, I find myself at the mercy of an offline laptop where I rediscover the fun of of playing the Microsoft Windows version of Free Cell. (I'm thinking that Bill Gates himself must be a Free Cell aficionado because the game is offered on every Windows operating system I've ever encountered.)



Free Cell (the Windows version) includes the following items:

• One standard 52-card deck

• Four open cells

• Four open foundations (one for each suit) to build upon

• Eight randomly dealt card cascades in stacks of either seven or six cards

• One player

The player wins Free Cell when he or she moves all the cards to the foundation piles. I find the game quite addicting. I get peeved when I lose especially when conventional wisdom says all Free Cell games are winnable expect one.

Looking For a Radio Gig When Digital Meant Relating to a Finger or Toe

I used to be in radio broadcasting, and there were many occasions where I directly contacted a company without prior knowledge of whether they were hiring. Since I made these contacts about 20 years ago, I had to rely on 'snail' mail and land line telephones. And since there was no internet, I had to use resources at the public library to find out the telephone numbers to out-of-town radio stations.

My unsolicited search would begin with a cold call to a radio station where I'd ask the receptionist the name of person responsible for hiring air talent. Then, I'd send a cassette recording of an aircheck and a resume in a padded envelope to that station calling attention to the name I obtained from the previous phone call. If I knew I little more about the company or the market, I'd include a cover letter.

This approach failed about 99 percent of the time. But that 1 percent of the time it was successful more than made up for the rejections. I landed some decent radio jobs in Columbia, MO, and Lafayette, IN, using this method.

My Two Cents on Jim Caldwell's Firing...

Yes, the Colts were 2-14 last season, and yes, Caldwell made some questionable calls during his stint here. However, I don't believe he should have been fired. I believe the reason that the Colts played so badly last season without Peyton is because they refused to draft or trade for a decent backup QB. They have had ample opportunity to do so.

While I despise the New England Patriots, I have to admire how they continued to play well when they lost their star quarterback, Tom Brady, to injury back in 2008. They still won 11 games with backup QB Matt Casssel.

There's no reason the Colts couldn't have drafted someone like Cassel. So, I think Caldwell's firing is mostly window dressing and a bit misguided.

Can Technology Exist Without Science?

I believe it’s possible, but only on a singularly and fleetingly rare occasion. In many instances throughout history, people have discovered a new technology by accident and its first use came about without any prior scientific research.


I believe prehistoric cave dwellers may have discovered the benefits of cooking in such a way. Tens of thousands of years ago, perhaps, some cave people were sitting around a fire eating raw meat from a fresh kill. Suddenly, one of the hunters accidentally dropped their slab into the fire. After fishing the food painstakingly and cautiously out of the blaze, the cave person soon discovered that the meat was easier to chew and tasted better.


The above example is a one-time example where people used a technology without science. From then on, the cave dwellers relied on the observed knowledge or ‘research’ that fire makes food tastier and easier to eat and purposely began using the fire to cook their meat.


Yes, I believe technology can exist without science, but only by accident!