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#professor layton #legend of zeldaMore you might like
Me: oh yeah, if you think school photography is hard now, try imagining doing this with film.
The new girl: what's film?
Me: ... film. Like... film that goes in a film camera.
New girl: what's that mean?
Me: ... before cameras were digital.
New girl: how did you do it before digital?
Me:... with film? I haven't had enough coffee for this conversation
New girl: I need you to show me how to format the usb.
Me: format?
New girl: yeah what do I do?
Me: you... put the usb in. Then you make a new folder on it and rename it with (name, date, location)
New girl: but how do I do that?
Me: ... they dont... teach you this anymore, do they?
The lack of computer skills is becoming a problem. Like there was a period of time where the older workers in office jobs had to be brought up to speed on computers, but now a lot of the newer workers have the issue too.
There's a lot of assumed technical literacy because we had a whole generation brought up on desktop computers, but now it's one that was brought up on phones, tablets, and chromebooks. Phones are easier to use, but that means the users have never had to work around the daily problems presented by most desktop environments.
But our systems are still set up assuming the kids are "digital natives" who just already know this stuff. So no one teaches them. So a new employee walks into the office... and they just don't.
30-something here. And this is frightening for a few reasons.
Much of the back-end architecture will soon be more difficult to maintain, as those with the expertise retire or when the one guy volunteering to update a niche corner of some minute software function that holds up 1/4 of the computer world dies.
While products are made to be “easier to use” now, which has made them more accessible, they aren’t made to last, contributing to tech pollution / e-waste. Many consumers don’t know how to upgrade or repair their own tech…if they are upgradeable.
Which brings me to my next point.
I bought a new low end laptop recently. Not chrome book, but actual Windows PC laptop. I haven’t had a personal computer for a while and with a lot of expectation to “return to the office” because COVID’s over, right? *heavy eye roll*, I wanted something cheap and portable. I found a deal because a lot of low end laptops are being discounted because school children aren’t remote now. I was actually looking for refurbished but found what I wanted cheaper new, sadly.
Finding one that I knew would run the software I needed or that wouldn’t be bogged down just with Windows? A challenge. You’ve got to know what RAM, HDD vs eMMC vs SSD, cores, age of processors, and all those specs mean.
Finding one that wasn’t Windows in “S mode,” a bullshit mode that locks you into the Windows app / store for ALL software (where they take a cut of each purchase)? Even more challenging.
When I booted it up…I imagine most people just click yes through things because why not, just want to get right to it, right?
The amount of privileges I had to decline because of targeted data collection, for ad preferences and other nefarious reasons; the number of easy-to-miss “no thanks” options to decline enrollment in bloatware; the number of things that wanted me to launch the free trial, where they could automatically enroll me into a monthly PAID subscription and could report failure to add a credit card to pay for it to credit agencies (!); many of these presented as the “recommended” or default option… ASTOUNDING.
And then I still had to go into system settings and turn off additional data tracking that they didn’t even present during set-up, along with bloatware bullshit programs they wanted to always run at start-up. Because I knew where to go and find that stuff. Don’t even get me starting on fucking Cortana.
Technology has gotten bad. Even 10 years ago, it was a couple simple agreements not to pirate, using software at your own risk, etc. and that was it.
Now? Waiving rights, arbitration, hidden terms that could leave you owing money if you don’t uninstall it, data collection to link accounts and literally track every move / your exact location / your usage, attempts to personalize ads through your specific searches, inability to block cookies unless you download a Google app!?, four pop ups for every website, as the default?
It is scary how much tech that was designed to increase productivity and make life easier has become yet another way for corporations to track us, sell to us, and sell their data on us, even potentially incriminating us.
Oh, and heaven forbid you know what you’re doing and try to upgrade or repair your equipment yourself. Warranty voiding? Should be illegal, may be illegal in some areas, but they still tell you it’ll void your warranty. Good luck finding the parts. Using non-OEM parts will void the warranty too…by design.
I did not survive Windows Vista era to deal with this bullshit.
I did not survive
Windows Vista era to
deal with this bullshit.
Beep boop! I look for accidental haiku posts. Sometimes I mess up.
Anyone have any resources for technology literacy for beginners?
Yes! @aquadraco20
General basic safety
How to avoid ransomware, malware, hacks, and how to maintain good data privacy.
https://www.getsafeonline.org/
^ this has intermediate information (as well as beginner info) that I think people who grew up on the internet benefit most from (so it won't tell you what a phone is, or how to press the power button to turn on a computer). I recommend all sections the personal section under the top drop down (except the one aimed at children).
https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetsafety/
Same deal as above, with quizzes and additional topics.
https://www.digitalliteracyassessment.org/
^ this one is mostly video and audio which some people might helpful
HTML
https://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp
W3schools is a well known free resource for coding. I recommend HTML because it gives basic website building capabilities, so you can create a neocities website for example or even edit your Tumblr theme. You can also learn CSS (used with HTML to make prettier websites) and Python (used to make programs).
Touch typing
Touch typing is using the home row on keyboards. It allows people to type faster than pressing individual keys one at a time, like on a smart phone.
https://www.typingclub.com/
This site has lessons, and honestly looks much nicer than the program I learned to use touch typing with.
https://www.how-to-type.com/touch-typing-lessons/how-to-type-home-keys/
This site has lessons and practice tests and speed tests to measure progress. In middle school I was taking a practice test about three times a week and a speed test once a week for about fifteen minutes each time, if that helps.
---
These three areas are the main things people were taught in computer literacy courses.
I also recommend checking your local library or other educational resources (like local colleges, your current college/highschool/middle school etc, the college you graduated from). These can have in person instructors which can be super helpful. Feel free to send me any questions and stuff, if I don't already know I'll try to find out and share where I found it!
Helpful things I've done with my windows computer to make it safer/more efficient:
- Installing Malwarebytes/enabling windows defender
- Creating a backup of my computer on a hard drive
- Setting permissions for apps to start on startup
- Getting a password manager
- Installing a web browser that isn't chrome
- Changing old passwords into better, more secure passwords- especially websites that have debit card info
I hope this helps :D
Adding a webcam cover if one is not already built in is also a good idea.
i call this one “nobody likes you when youre 23”
uploaded this at 1 am thinking ‘oh no one is going to see this, whatever :)’ but reading your thoughts, your heartbreak and ultimately your hope made me feel like the world is one yknow what? We got this
funds for indigenous communities affected by the canada wildefires
- grassy meadows first nations (ontario) needs funds for an escape route
- odawa first nations (quebec-ontario) is raising funds for evacuees
- algonquins of barriere (mitchikanibikok inik in alberta) lake mutual aid request
- you can drop donations for the odawa first nations at 815 st laurent blvd in ottawa
- you can drop off food donations for mitchikanibikok inik at the ramada plaza in gatineau; you can also email info/@/health.rapidlake.com with mutual aid donations. please note that the maniwaki native friendship center is now closed to donations
- if you’re directly affected, the pueblo action alliance has developed a guide for DIY filtration for the smoke
i’ll update this as i find more fundraising initiatives and please free to share your own. reblogs with anything than sharing resources/mutual aid requests/fundraising opportunities get blocked.
Donations for evacuees from Little Red River Cree Nation can be sent by e transfer to Roseann@lrrcn.ab.ca (ref # foxlakedonation15043)
And a (nation approved) gofund me has been set up:
Part of my reserve burnt down, including my grandmother’s home and my workplace. No lives were lost but we are recovering. Please consider donating if you can!
updated with more resources, reblog this version please
white people please just purchase native artwork and jewelry from native people i keep seeing idiot white people be like “waaah i wish i could support native creators but its cultural appropriation” girl why would beaders sell you their earrings then. just dont get a medicine wheel or a thunderbird then like damn it is that easy
If Native folks are making it to sell to white people with the approval of their tribe, it’s not “appropriation”–its support and appreciation! So yes, buy that native-made dream catcher, but not the mass produced fakes made by white people. Like, you can go to a pow wow and buy native crafts there, too.
here are some places to get native/indigenous goods and merch online if you can’t find something local or if physical access is an obstacle:
https://sweetgrasstradingco.com/
https://nativeharvest.com/
https://byellowtail.com/
https://www.salishstyle.com/
https://trickstercompany.com/
https://hutxh.com/
https://www.thentvs.com/
https://urbannativeera.com/
https://www.oxdxclothing.com/
https://kotahbear.com/
https://www.totemdesignhouse.com/
https://ginewusa.com/
https://eighthgeneration.com/
and the only native-owned comic shop in the world:
https://redplanetbooksncomics.com/
making a dwarf grandma how’s ur night going guys
her name’s Mhika she’s a traveling merchant from the Blue Mountains and is now your grandma
[img ID: an elderly dwarf woman with long, grey and white streaked hair pulled back into a braid. Her beard is pulled into three braids, and the colour matches her hair. She has several silver piercings in her ears & her eyebrow, as well as an ear cuff. She is smoking out of a black pipe with gold accents, which she holds to her mouth with one hand, her elbow propped on an unseen table, the other arm folded in front of her on the same surface. She’s smiling warmly at onlooker(our POV), with a twinkle of mischief or bemusement in her expression. She is wearing a forest green tunic with dark gold accents on the ¾ length sleeve and chest and a wide brown sash or belt around her midsection. /end ID]