Wiki Junkie

by Bob Seidel

I again want to thank the NC DOT for giving me the long periods of solitude and boredom in which to contemplate my next column. As I do my rounds in the BSC pickup, I often have to travel through the Long Beach Road / 211 intersection. Oh, I try not to - I attempt to plan my routes around it - but it happens all too often nonetheless.

Of course, the July 4th week is exceptional, but the tie-ups at that light have become monumental now. Gridlock situations definitely are occurring, causing traffic to back up both ways on 211 because it just can't flow into LBR. The DOT probably feels that it has improved the intersection by painting it black and thus won't be doing anything major for a long time to come. I suppose the only relief we can look forward to is the second Oak Island bridge. I have said this all before and probably will again.

I read about an interesting new technology that I am sure is going to go nowhere. The problem it attempts to address is that people have trouble sending family photos to the oldsters or non-techies in the family through email. Sometimes the email gets lost or is thrown away; and even if received the relative does not know how to print the photo attachment.

Presto Services will provide an HP printer and apparently hook it up to a phone line (Internet connection or service not needed) at your relative's place. You upload your photos to the service, and it will call up the printer and print the photo. Your relative doesn't need an Internet connection or even a PC. But the service charges a monthly fee and it still doesn't answer problems such as the relative knowing how to put paper in the printer and replace print cartridges. It will also tie up their phone line. I am sure you are going to hear a lot about this in the future - NOT!

I have become a Wikipedia junkie. Oh, I tried to fight it, but in the end I lost. I have talked about this online encyclopedia in the past, but I was never really an active user. I guess one night I had some time on my hands (rare, these days) and I linked over to the main page (www.wikipedia.com) and just started browsing something random. Well, one lookup leads to another, which leads to another, and before you know it hours are spent browsing.

I have taken voyages through political situations, particle physics, mathematics, classic science fiction, and so much else that it's hard to remember. If you wish, you can start with one of the random selections for the day, or start your search for a specific topic. Once you are in a particular topic, many of the keywords are links to additional information or topics - just a simple search can lead you in very far ranging directions.

It's well know that not all the information on Wiki is 100% correct or factual. But then, what is? Is it better to have the information updated irregularly by a staid organization such as Britannica, or updated constantly by people who know and care about the topic? The analogy to open source software vs. package software is a good one.

Often, some information can be somewhat opinionated. There was one entry that I read that compared the science fiction movie "Soylent Green" to the old Damon Knight story (which became a Twilight Zone show) "To Serve Man". I don't want to include a plot-spoiler here, but the two have little in common. I suppose my option would be to update that entry to remove that comment and perhaps in the future I will become a Wiki editor and do just that.

If I can just find some time…

(Bob Seidel is a local computer consultant in the Southport - Oak Island area. You can visit his Website at www.bobseidel.com or e-mail questions or column ideas to him at bsc@bobseidel.com. For specific inquiries, please call Bob Seidel Consulting, LLC at 278-1007.)