It is a bad day here in blackrock... my DSL Internet connection has failed after being used for most of the day. It seems that my router is not authenticating with my Internet Service Provider's server.
Instead of the blog entry that I had intended to post, I decided to take this opportunity to challenge each and every one of my readers to consider the personal and professional impact of losing their Internet connectivity.
- No telecommuting.
- No music downloads.
- No surfing the net for news.
- No updating your TIVO program listings.
- No e-mail to communicate with family, friends and others.
- If you use a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), no telephone calls.
- No receiving or paying your bills.
- No checking your account balances.
And I am sure you can add many other things with a just a little thought.
What can you do?
Have a backup position. I am writing this blog using my desktop computer instead of my laptop. Connectivity with the Internet is through an old, slow dial-up connection with another Internet Service Provider not located in my immediate area. All of my data is backed up on removable backup devices.
Have a disaster plan. Know what is important and how you plan to continue with your day-to-day activities if you lose a critical piece of your home computer system or network. Especially connectivity with the Internet. Keep a list of emergency numbers handy.
Keep the manuals and settings together in one place. I use a file transfer box to hold all of my warranties, manuals and settings notes. Every year or so, I simply throw out material for equipment and programs that I have discarded. When giving hardware or software to my friends, I also provide the original manuals and other pertinent information. This single step makes life a great deal easier when I need to dig out the magic manual to restore lost functionality.
Have technology experts on call. Know who to call if you need technical assistance. My friends call me and when I stop laughing, I am usually able to provide immediate help or, at the very least, some semblance of a plan to resolve the issue.
Keep calm. It does no good to become emotionally involved with a relatively dumb, silent electronic or mechanical device. It will cost you time, possibly some money, but the trick is not to let the problems upset your emotions and, by extension your health.
Believe in the technology fairy. Perhaps it is time to upgrade your system, purchase that removable backup device, select a more reliable vendor or take some other action. Other than those obsessed with state-of-the-art hardware or the latest whiz-bang program, most of us live well within our comfort zone -- happily doing what we normally do -- until circumstance requires remedial action. Perhaps now is the time. For me, I see a new router on the horizon -- a faster, more secure one with an extended wireless range. I feel better already.
Keep it all in perspective. It could be worse. Your Internet connection could fail on the very same day your car won't start for that trip to the local electronics store.
-- steve
A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…
The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius
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