Virally Imperfect.Written by Seamus Dolly
A virus is sometimes described as smallest infectious agent known to man.A virus is sometimes described as a self-replicating program, known to man and machine The commonality here, relates to its effect in terms of their transmission properties, nuisance value, and their often-sickening effect. Its’ nature is as it was intended. This holds true where man and machine are designated recipients or targets to infiltrate. Both viruses have evolved to seek-out, infect, and propagate. . We are (as yet), unsure who masterminded biological version and we know some of masterminds behind software version. Mutation and transmutation of both versions, is key to their success, and therefore their existence. Had we foresight to determine such mutations, then, both would be “old hat” and “fodder of history”. And to have that foresight, we’d have to know in one case, more of our own ability to upset and “cure” for it.
| | The Trials and Tribulations Of Learning A New Computer SkillWritten by Georgie Farmer
It all started several years ago when I walked out on a well-paid job of 11 years. I needed to get another job fairly quickly. My monthly mortgage repayments were pretty hefty. Something I hadn't thought about during my dramatic exit. I eagerly poured over job columns in newspaper. Yikes, every job required Microsoft Word. To get another job, I needed to learn a new computer skill. So what? There are loads of people "in same boat" in this ever-changing world. If they can do it, so can I. First, I had to decide how! Group classes didn't work for me. At one, I got left behind - simply because I didn't grasp one little point and wasn't brave enough to admit that I, apparently, was only one who hadn't "got it". At another, I actually knew more than others and felt frustrated listening to stuff I already knew. One-on-one training would be better, but too expensive. My computer-whiz niece offered to help. She sat in my computer chair, took control of my mouse and went zap, zap, zap. All kinds of things appeared and disappeared on screen at a fast rate. During all this activity, I stood behind her chair feeling quite dazed. Finally, she said with a smile "That's how you do . . . whatever it was she was trying to teach me (I still don't know)". Her smile was replaced by an incredulous look when I said that she had lost me after second zap. Needless to say, I didn't pursue her kind offer any further and, as a result, we are still best of friends. What I really wanted to do was to learn at my own pace and at home. I decided to try manual that came with my computer. At this stage, I was blissfully unaware of terrors ahead.
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