Yes I love technology; But not as much as you, you see; But I still love technology; Always and forever

It’s true. I do love technology, especially in crap gizmos that are really cool but you’d never use or have a need for. I also respect the reciprocal relationship it has with mankind. We create the technology, which in turn makes it easier for us to create other technologies. No one can complain about that, right?

Well lo and behold, don’t you know it, we have a bunch of whiners in our midst. One of their favourite arguments is “well if technology is so good and makes our work more efficient, why are people working more now than ever before”? Well when I first heard it in my early teens, I thought it was a valid argument. I was at that ripe young age when I swallowed any information that was force-fed to me without question or regurgitation. Now that I’m older and wiser, my gag-reflex has developed extra sensitivity.

I think that argument is as absurd as my fictitious claim that microwaves are responsible for today’s rise in crime rate. Before the invention of microwaves, not only were there fewer appliances to steal - i.e. microwaves, Magic Bullet, George Foreman grill, etc. - people also had to spend more time making meals, leaving them less time to commit crime [wow I came up with a fake two-pronged argument…I’m awesome].

I’d like to suggest that societal changes, rather than technological progression, are the culprits responsible for longer work hours. The demands placed on the workforce are not external. To a reasonable extent, it is appropriate to demand more from each worker who is now better able to finish tasks quicker with the help of technology. Rather, the demands come from an internal source. Let’s go back to the Stone Age to make an exaggerated case [note that the same comparison could be made with a reference point mere decades ago]. Cavemen were easily satisfied. All they really wanted was food, water, warmth, shelter, a good-sized club, and a fertile woman with child-bearing hips. Once in a while, for special occasions, he may even get a new loin cloth. They hunted to ensure their survival, no less and no more. Today’s workers are quite different. We want so much more – fancy cars, beautiful houses with manicured lawns, karaoke machines [well I do, anyway], satellite radios, expensive threads, diamond earrings, the latest hair style, pet clothing, stiletto pumps, space foam mattresses, massage chairs, etc. To afford these luxury items, people have to work harder and longer to make more money above and beyond that required to sustain their survival.

Critics may still point out that many workers from lower-income families have to work two jobs just to maintain the bare minimum standard of living. But remember who is responsible for creating the division between the rich and the poor. It’s not microwaves, insulin, electric motor, or any other technological advances. It is the result of people’s greed and selfishness. We have to use technology to make life better for everyone, not just for the rich in expense of the poor. We have to make that choice quickly and consciously or else we’ll be so far out of touch with reality that things will pass the point of no return and we’ll all be forced to pay for our ignorance.

Here comes the bride, all stressed in white?

I attended my second wedding a few weeks ago and had the privilege of being a bridesmaid and a master [or mistress?] of ceremony. For those of you wondering, my first wedding was over two decades ago, when I was a flower-girl at my uncle’s wedding [I can’t remember anything, but I’m sure I was cute]. So the recent wedding was the first in my adult life. It was painful in a few different ways – the heels hurt my feet for a full day, the heels hurt my knees for a full week, and the crushing blow that smashed my fairy tale dreams will last a life time.

It is possible [and highly likely], that I am exaggerating. Ok fine, I’m undoubtedly blowing it out of proportion. But the difference between the reality of what weddings are like and the image conjured in my mind are so drastically different that I was terribly shocked. The amount of attention the couple paid to themselves was miniscule compared to that paid to the comfort of the guests, timing of the day’s events, decisions for unforeseeable problems, etc. It did not have a fairy tale feel to it. Now, don’t get me wrong. The ceremony was very touching [more than I thought it would be] and the pictures and speeches were great. I’m sure it looked like a fairy tale to the guests who don’t see the things that go on behind the scenes. My problem was that I was just very naïve as to what it takes to put on a show as grand as the one that took place. Although I was fully aware of the planning that went on before the wedding, I was surprised by the amount of work that went on during the day of the wedding.

So this got me thinking about what my wedding would be like. I don’t know where it’s going to be, when it’s going to be, what kind of flowers I’ll have or where I’m going to get my cake. What I have in mind are just a few rules of thumb I developed while watching and helping with the inner-workings of my friend’s wedding.
1. The bridesmaids get to choose their own matching dresses.
2. The bridesmaids get to choose comfortable matching footwear.
3. Delegate as many tasks to as many dependable people as possible.
4. If it’s not critical, don’t stress about it.
5. The day is about the couple. Don’t forget that!
6. Invite people who want to be there and who you want to be there. There is no max/min number.
7. I’d rather put more focus on food than decorations [I like the show “I do, let’s eat!” on Food network].
8. Hire a professional photographer who isn’t TOO pushy.
9. Make friends with people who play the keyboard and violins NOW [haha]. They make a big difference during the ceremony.
10. Make pockets of alone time for the couple to be by themselves to relish the day.