I don't want to come across all luddite-like, but I'm wondering about all this new technology I'm surrounding myself with. There are a couple of questions about this; first off, the acceptable level of technology rises all the time. Take remote controls. We have a small child and as a result remote controls get used as tools for fighting alongside Power Rangers to defeat the Dark Spectre (Go Team Force!) and can be broken and lost. But that whole getting up from the couch to change the channel thing? Forget it. I haven't done that since, oh, 1980 or so. We also have two TVs which are almost completely useless as their remotes are lost and we can't tune the goddamn things.

But new technology brings it's drawbacks too. Take DVDs. I was originally all for DVDs as I really loathe the sound quality you get from rental tapes. Muddy, hissy things, and you have to whack the volume up to eleven (if you can find the remote), so DVDs -- good thing. Nice clear sound, no tracking problems. Excellent. Except not. I think that in all my video rental history there has been only one time -- two tops -- where the tape has been unwatchable, and that might well have been the fault of my machine. Since I started renting DVDs, (in the last 18 months or so) we've passed that particular milestone already. So, DVDs -- no rewinding and better sound, VHS -- more robust and you can fast forward over the stupid studio credits.

Then there's cameras. I was given a digital camera for christmas (you may have noticed) which I was very pleased about. I like to take silly pictures of buildings and architectural features and hay bales and other esoteric objects and mostly those pictures are for my own consumption and usually destined for this web site (if I could ever get my shit together). For these pictures, the digital camera is perfect. No scanning, I can preview my shot then and there and I can take as many as I want until I get the picture I'm looking for. But I also like to take pictures of my kids, and holiday snaps and so on. And these types of pictures are designed to be viewed while not sitting at a computer. The digital camera also is not good for 'action' shots as there's too much damn time between the pressing of the button and the taking of the picture. And then it takes a couple of seconds to write the picture to the memory card before you can take another. So it's hard to capture the fleeting moments. So I figure I'll keep my trusty APS camera and use it for the non-arty shots. But I really can't see myself carrying two cameras around (especially when on holiday in a city where all the guide books go on at great length about pickpockets), so I'll have to make some decision one way or another.

Yesterday I attempted an hourly photo diary. I woke late and started at nine, but by two I had forgotten that I was doing it and all the afternoon shots would have been ones of my desk, so I gave up. You're welcome to see the morning ones though (exciting and all as they are).

9am Late, and wondering what to wear.

10am On the way to work. Still late.

11am At my desk (phew). Stop surfing and start working.

12 noon Preparing for a trip to the hygienist.

1pm Returning from the hygienist.
Perhaps a picture of my teeth would be more interesting.