Last computer column
RIVER BENDER -
April, 2013Fifteen years have passed since I submitted my first computer column to the RIVER BENDER. It really wasn't a computer "column" back then. I had submitted an article titled "Should I buy a computer" after hearing from seniors who had no interest in computers. Marelen Allen was the editor of the RIVER BENDER then and I had submitted earlier articles on such topics as Mallard ducks in our yard and how to create a mulch pile so Marelen knew me, especially since I helped her often with her old computer. After seeing my computer article she suggested that I have a regular monthly column but I told her I was definitely not interested.
But after my first article on whether someone should own a computer I decided on a follow-up article on how to buy one and then another follow-up on how to surf the web. So it began to look like I had a regular column and that's how it went for 15 years, going from month to month submitting articles. I can't remember how many times I was going to quit, especially as the deadline neared every month. Marelen suggested I submit my articles direct to THE SHOPPER that produced the RIVER BENDER newspaper.
I always loved to write and wrote many technical communications proposals to the government when I was an engineer at AT&T. I was also a Certified Data Professional (CDP) and worked with computers since their infancy in the '50s. I became the resident data engineer of our group after graduating from the Bell Systems Data Engineering School in Cooperstown NY. I found that writing computer articles for the RIVER BENDER was more beneficial to me than readers because it kept me abreast of technology changes. Fun with personal computers really began in the early '90s when the Internet became available to the public and there were many topics to write about. It has been fascinating to see the changes that have occurred in computing and communication technology over the years from DOS to Windows 8 and be part of it.
But times change. I'm not getting any younger at 83 and one by one I have extricated myself from burdensome activities such as planning and moderating NBCUG meetings, managing NBCUG and River Bend's email lists and webpages, visiting residents to troubleshoot PC problems and raising money for MS Bike Tours. I'm still left with managing three email lists but I really need to get back and finish my life story and genealogy that I've worked on for years and do a little fishing like I used to do in the Trent River.
What's to happen to the RIVER BENDER computer column? I heard from one person who may be interested in taking it but as of this date no decision has been made. If anyone is interested I suggest they contact Janey Anderson, the current editor of the RIVER BENDER in River Bend. I'd love to see the column continued.
All of my past computer articles since 1998 are posted at http://pages.suddenlink.net/davew/dwindex.htm. You can also see an index of my existing webpages at http://pages.suddenlink.net/davew/dave.htm.