Zandia They say you can find any information you need on your computer, just ask. So much better than when I was in school, before computers. If we wanted information we had to go to the public library and search through the books you werenât allowed to take out. Encyclopedias and books about things and countries. They had a giant room with tables where you could go to use them, but you had to do it there. Plus, they werenât more up to date than the last time the town gave the library enough money to update them. In other words, not often. Still... How great it is now to be able to get the latest information about any question you might have, from your own personal computer! And all it takes is to be able to ask. Simple! Easy! So they say... all lies. I sit in front of my computer. My own personal computer! Which apparently has no allegiance to me. It mocks me. âSo,â it seems to be saying, âyou want to know the population of Zandia? You donât even know where Zandia is! You couldnât find Zandia on a map! Go ahead, try! Iâll mock you every time you hit a key!â I try again, âWhere is Zandia?â âFunny!â says the computer, âIâm not going to tell you! Figure it out! Here, Iâll tell you how to spell Constantinople while youâre waiting! Maybe Zandia is in Constantinople! Too bad you canât find out!â And so it goes, until I quit. Am I too old to learn how to talk to a computer? I donât know. I hope not. But in the meantime... I actually do know where the public library is... and you know, they still have a librarian there too... who will help you. |