ODE TO ON/OFF SWITCH

There are some things your queen can't do (shock?).  There are also some things your queen won't do (no shock).  Writing an 'ode' is one of those things she doesn't not know how to do, but doesn't much care.  So.

ODE TO THE ON/OFF SWITCH

Why do things have to be so complicated?  Do we really need all those choices?

In the last few days our world has been in an unprecedented deep freeze.  And if ever there were a time when things wouldn't work, this would be it.  Just 'cuz.  For example:

Remember when (some of you don't, so just imagine) that if you had forced-air heat -- or subsequently, a unit that switched from heat to cool -- it was controlled with a SWITCH ON AND OFF.  Then came a little knob that you could slide indicating a temperature where the unit could be set.  Simple.  Efficient.

Now we have progress.  A computerized 'touch' screen with a gazillion options:  Time -- to come on or go off; night or day or vacation or?";  continue to stay that way or just for ?  And, just to confuse the matter, international symbols instead of words.  Now some of these are fairly simple -- a sun for day and a moon with a star for night.  But some aren't.  We won't digress.

And phones:  Once upon a time they rang -- no options as to what sound they made, just a loud bell.  You picked up the receiver, talked and put it down to end the call.  Simple.  Then we got answering machines.  Now those were kinda fun because you could record straightforward or silly messages.  When some one called and you didn't pick up that receiver (for whatever reason) they could listen to that message and leave -- or not -- one of their own.  This had advantages and disadvantages we need not go into here.

But they did not play music, update the weather, tell sports scores or play games (among other things).

So when, in our immediate gratification world, did we start to need these?  Just for giggles, in the next few days see how many things you encounter that could be just an "on/off switch".

Just sayin

Your Queen