Modern Technology and the Older Generation.

One cannot generalize, of course, but there are some “Golden oldies” who greatly dislike and even fear this age of technology. Here is an example.

Last night at a special dinner, I soon realized that at my table of eight, I was the youngest by quite some years. Everyone introduced themselves and slowly the conversation began to flow. It was soon found that four of the eight had attended the same school! There was great excitement at that and much reminiscing. “Do you remember so and so?” etc.,

Gradually the conversation swung round to the internet, because the school had a website and an “Old Girl’s section”. Two of the ladies admitted to not owning or having access to a computer. One of the other ladies declared that she simply hated all the “new” gadgets and went on to tell how her husband had given her a “Magimix” when they first became available, many years ago.

She had pretended to be delighted and very grateful but said that she would keep it for “PASSOVER”.

That first year, Passover came and went and the machine remained in its box. After all, she said, she was a very good cook, but she preferred to do things the way her mother had taught her.

Some thirty years later, that machine is still in its box, unused and in pristine condition. “And as for cell phones”, she remarked, “What use do I have for them? My telephone at home suits me fine. If I am in the bank, its banking I want to do, and likewise for the Post Office. A cell phone would just be a nuisance at Bridge games, and an invasion in the Supermarket. One doesn’t want one in the Cinema either. I don’t drive any more,” she added, “So I really don’t need one”.

And I must say that we all had to agree!

Some of the over sixties both male and female, have taken to each advance in the technological field with excitement and have studied the manuals, (grand children are a great help here ) and are quite at home with cell phones, remote controls for their television sets, calculators and of course, emails and the internet. But there are some, if they would only admit it, who live just as happily, without any of it!

Feedback and Comments Sent In

The following comments have been sent in via Face Book, Twitter, Etsy and email. Do post comments directly to this blog too.

This comment was sent in after we posted the Perceptual images with a tree and...

"I like the baby one myself, thx. Tree picture that is..
Thank you. Love that kind of stuff :)"

Take a look at the images yourself and let us know which one you preferred.

Or

Read the other articles, look at the images, view the books and purchase one for a child you know. Remember, let us know your comments and feedback.

This comment was sent in response to the photographs of the Cape Town Thunder Storm

"They are amazing!"
" wow fantastic storm photos!"
"absolutely beautiful picture. what a place to grow up!"


In response to the book: Why Unicorns Eat Lavendar
Beautiful!! - Comment by an artist on Etsy

These comments were posted in response to the Snow Sculptures:

"Thank you so much for sharing. I have seen snow and ice sculptures in Idaho but these are amazing. I love the horses. Beautiful."

"stunning."

"Beautiful. That's some art.
I'm your first follower :) "

"Those are GORGEOUS! I like the woman the best."

Photographs of a Cape Storm

Being a School Teacher provides the opportunity to hear the cutest sayings from children. The Cape is known for various storms, some years being stronger than others. In the 1980's there was a storm that was particularly strong. It rained for a few days, with heavy rains and a lot of storm damage.

At the end of the storm a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noticing this from the classroom window, a second grade child folded his arms, looked up at the sky, shook his head and said: "Promises! Promises!" After all, hadn't G-d promised not to destroy the world by flood? Well to a 7 year old boy, the city he lived in was his world.

Have a look at the photographs below for an idea of how this little boy felt.

Photo's taken in Somerset West, South Africa on Sunday 12 July 2009 when the Cape had a massive storm.

While the images of nature might be interesting, fascinating, even a beautiful image, the storm was very frightening to drive in....



One taxi or car load misjudged how deep the water was.

Cape Town Thunder Storm

One of the Cape's best kept secrets is that during June and July and especially during the school holidays, we can experience wonderful balmy days with warm sunshine and no wind. Temperatures can reach 25 degrees C. and then one wonders why so many leave the Cape to go away for the holidays. It is a bit chilly for swimming, I suppose. However, just as easily and quickly one can awake to heavy skies and exciting thunder storms, with streaks of lightning. This might be followed by rain in abundance, which often causes rivers to burst their banks and general flooding of roads, especially in the low lying areas of the Cape Flats. Water cascades down the famous Table Mountain into the rivers and underground springs pop up in certain suburbs, most notably in Newlands, flooding houses and gardens and quickly causing swimming pools and ponds to overflow. Storm water drains are unable to cope with the extra volumes of water and raging torrents quickly build up, sometimes making it impossible for people to get into or out of their homes. Just as quickly, these storms abate and one has a period of relative calm and one or two of those beautiful sunny days mentioned earlier. The Cape Peninsula has nine different climatic regions and it is not unusual for Capetonians to experience all four seasons in a single day!

Here are some photographs sent to me by my friend Deidi that illustrate these incredible storms.

Isn't this sky incredible?

What a beautiful light...

THE DANGERS OF BOILING WATER IN A MICROWAVE OVEN

The following e-mail was sent to National Safety from one of our readers.

“I feel that the following information that anyone who uses a microwave oven to heat water should know. My 26-year old son decided to have a cup of coffee. He took a cup of water and put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he had done numerous times before.

I am not sure how long he set the timer for, but he told me that he wanted to bring the water to boil. When the time shut the oven of, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into the cup, he noted that the water in the cup was not boiling, but instantly the water in the cup “blew up” into his face. The cup remained intact until he threw it out of his hand but all the water had flown out into his face due to the build up of energy. His whole face is blistered and he has 1^st and 2^nd degree burns to his face, which may leave scarring. He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye. While at the hospital, the doctor who was attending to him stated that this is a fairly common occurrence and water (alone) should never be heated in the microwave oven. If water is heated in this manner, something should be placed in the cup to diffuse the energy such as a wooden stir stick, tea bag, etc.

It is however a much safer choice to boil water in a teakettle.

Please pass this information on to friends and family.

General Electric’s Response:

“The e-mail that you received is correct. Microwaved water and other liquids do not always bubble when they reach boiling point. They can actually get superheated and not bubble at all. The superheated liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is moved or when something like a spoon or tea bag is put into it. To prevent this from happening and causing injury, do not heat any liquid for more than two minutes per cup.

After heating, let the cup stand in the microwave for thirty seconds before moving it or adding anything into it. I hope this helps. Should you need any further assistance, please contact us.

Response from a Scientist

“Thanks for the microwave warning. I have seen this happen before. It is caused by a phenomenon known as super heating. It can occur anytime water is heated and will particularly occur if the vessel that the water is heated in is new, or when heating a small amount of water (less than half a cup). What happens is that the water heats faster than the vapour bubbles can form. If the cup is very new then it is unlikely to have small surface scratches inside it that provide a place for the bubbles to form.

As the bubbles cannot form and release some of the heat that has built up, the liquid does not boil, and the liquid continues to heat up well past its boiling point. What then usually happens is that the liquid is bumped or jarred, which is just enough of a shock to cause the bubbles to rapidly form and expel the hot liquid. The rapid formation of bubbles is also why a carbonated beverage spews when opened after having been shaken”.

If you pass this on….you could very well save someone from a lot of pain and suffering.

What Do You See - The Tree or ?

Look at the tree from a distance or through half closed eyes (ie through your eye lashes)

Can you see 10 faces?
If not, look again or for a little longer.

Now take a look at this image.

Can you see the face?

How about this tree?

Can you see the baby?