Technology can be so… frustrating.
Picture: When stuff doesn’t work right, this is what can happen…
We all have these kinds of days. It’s part of the modern world, when technology suddenly stops working the way it should, and in a blink of an eye, the easy life we had come to expect suddenly isn’t so easy anymore.
A friend of mine is having some mysterious computer problems. A day before, I wasted a few hours of life when my slide scanner software totally stopped functioning, even though it was working fine the day before.
This reminded me of one of my favorite Galen Rowell stories: I remember walking in to the office one morning after Galen had been trying to put together a slide show. (This was back in the days before digital & powerpoint presentations.) Normally he used a standard 80-slide tray, but for this show he was using an older 140 slide carousel. Same round size, tighter fitting slots. Apparently at some point in the night, the slides must have stuck one too many times. I walked in to his office at 8:30am to see the slide tray smashed into hundreds of little bits on the floor with a hand-written note from Galen. I took a picture of it.
The note says:
This is the last 140 tray I will try to use for a slide show. It did not die a natural death. Give it a suitable burial. – Galen
I’m sure we can all imagine how emotionally gratifiying it would be the next time your computer or laptop suddenly stops working at the exact wrong moment to smash the living crap out of it. Most of us will take a deep breath and call a technician. Very few of us might reach for a sledgehammer. But gosh, wouldn’t it be fun….
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September 24th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
That is hilarious! I do not miss the days of slides. Amazing how much progress has been made on this front. As to reaching ones breaking point… I’m glad it was only the slide tray that suffered such a fate. I’m sure it was super satisfying to destroy it. I wish I could have seen it happen LOL
September 24th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I love it.
Yet another example of Galen living out one of my fantasies!
Patrick
September 24th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Not even god is immune to equipment malfunction.
September 24th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
This is a great story! Thanks for sharing (and for documenting the deceased 140 tray)!
September 24th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Great story Gary! I don’t want to admit how many times I have wanted to do this not only to my own stuff, but cars on the highway, other peoples stuff, etc, etc.
September 24th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Classic Galen! So many tantrums, so few this well documented. Nice story, Gary.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:05 am
As a newcomer to Twitter, I’m inclined to believe the number 140 is inherently prone to causing extreme frustration.
Guy
September 25th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Wonderful story!! I sure don’t miss those slide trays.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Galen must have had a thing about slide projectors. Once I went to two of his events a few days apart. Each was a multi-projector sync setup and each time it went amiss, the lights went on and he had to fiddle for fifteen minutes to get it sorted out.
Even so the shows and story were great.. we all miss his contributions and creative energy
September 25th, 2009 at 10:26 am
[...] Crabbe shared a great story about Galen Rowell this week. I’m still smiling from [...]
September 25th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
That is a great post Gary! I’m glad you took the time to grab a photo – I can so relate!
September 25th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Its right technology may fall when it uses very carelessly.
September 29th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Ha! Reminds me of: jwallphoto.bl...ruction.html
October 1st, 2009 at 7:30 am
John:
That’s Hilarious! Thanks for Sharing.
Cheers, – Gary.