Need some extra help around the house? Well, here's an idea.
Ants. Let's train ants to do simple tasks. Tasks such as putting the soap in the washing machine, folding clothes, cleaning the floors and the counters, putting away the groceries, and any other job that would benefit from many hands making light work.
Crazy? Maybe. But think about it. Ants are often wandering around our homes, coming inside during wet weather, or acting on a tip that some morsel of food awaits them in the third house from the corner. They usually come in large numbers, and we spend most of our time trying to shoo them out.
My point is, if ants are in there anyway, why not give them something to do?
In fact, I've already seen them doing odd jobs in television commercials in Australia, and they really seemed to enjoy the work. Besides, if we can teach dogs, monkeys, birds, dolphins, and even mice to perform tricks and tasks, why can't ants learn to do something more useful than trekking around where and when they feel like it? Worth a try, at least.
Everyone likes to have a purpose. Even ants.
As with anything in this world, ideas, great or otherwise, simply need someone to make them work. Any takers?
Monday, July 13, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Websites and chocolate - take 2
Clearly some issues uploading blogs from public computers, so let's try this again ...
Imagine travelling almost 15,000 km just to update your website! Perhaps a bit extreme, but these days you sometimes need to go the extra mile for quality work.
Down here in Oz, my friend Peter - yes, the one who said no one would ever read my blog - knows a thing or two about updating websites, and mine desperately needed some sprucing up. So a few days ago, we teamed up to make all the long-overdue changes to www.jennygates.com.
Ah, much better! And I even got a few tips for when I completely remodel my site later this year.
The moral to this story is that if you use the tools, you need to play by the rules. No point having a website if the information is outdated and irrelevant - certainly not for me who has a message to get out, and certainly not for anyone visiting the site in search of a speaker, a writer, an editor, or all three.
Anyway, now it is up to me to keep the site current and viable so that the next time I'm on vacation in Oz, rather than spending valuable time stationed in front of a computer, I can be relaxing on the beach and indulging in some excellent fine wines and real quality Australian chocolate!
Beauty, mate!
Imagine travelling almost 15,000 km just to update your website! Perhaps a bit extreme, but these days you sometimes need to go the extra mile for quality work.
Down here in Oz, my friend Peter - yes, the one who said no one would ever read my blog - knows a thing or two about updating websites, and mine desperately needed some sprucing up. So a few days ago, we teamed up to make all the long-overdue changes to www.jennygates.com.
Ah, much better! And I even got a few tips for when I completely remodel my site later this year.
The moral to this story is that if you use the tools, you need to play by the rules. No point having a website if the information is outdated and irrelevant - certainly not for me who has a message to get out, and certainly not for anyone visiting the site in search of a speaker, a writer, an editor, or all three.
Anyway, now it is up to me to keep the site current and viable so that the next time I'm on vacation in Oz, rather than spending valuable time stationed in front of a computer, I can be relaxing on the beach and indulging in some excellent fine wines and real quality Australian chocolate!
Beauty, mate!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
And the prediction was ...
... wrong. For now, at least. Which is, of course, why I don't bet on the races or gamble at casinos.
The moral to this prediction is - leave predictions to the experts ... and get back to work!
The moral to this prediction is - leave predictions to the experts ... and get back to work!
Monday, June 22, 2009
The silent blogger
So, I started this blog a few weeks back and, for the most part, didn't tell anyone. Well, anyone except Peter, who promptly asked, "Why would anybody want to read anything you have to say?" Thanks, mate!
There is, however, some truth in that comment. Being somewhat of a neophyte in the whole world of e-communication, I figured that if I wrote it, they would read. Alas, that is apparently not the case.
Undaunted, I will persist, but I will take steps to let it be known that I have a blog, whether anybody wants to read it or not - a note on my soon-to-be-updated website, and then maybe I'll say something on my Facebook page. And since I firmly believe that word of mouth is still the most effective means of communication in any language, I'll try that as well.
Essentially, I started writing this because I had to start writing something. Call myself a writer, eh? Well, that only counts if you actually write something - other than business letters, brief editorials, shopping lists, and notes to self.
A blog provides a forum, a deadline, and a speedy publication date, is fun and challenging, and pushes me to think before I write. That the forum is public warrants accountability, good spelling, and something of interest to someone somewhere. It's a great tool of communication, even if it's only for me to get out of my head.
The interesting thing is that I've finally begun working on other writing projects - a play, a screenplay, two books, and lots of speeches. It's exciting to feel the pen in my hand, to see the words spill out onto the page, and to live the stories being told. Cathartic and rewarding!
So, Peter, whether anyone reads this or not is immaterial. That I am actually writing is the real point of this exercise. But thanks for giving me pause to consider the real purpose of my blog, and to delve even further into the world of e-communication by at least letting people know I am here.
PS Having said all that, if anyone is reading this, feel free to send me a comment, if only to let me know that you are out there.
There is, however, some truth in that comment. Being somewhat of a neophyte in the whole world of e-communication, I figured that if I wrote it, they would read. Alas, that is apparently not the case.
Undaunted, I will persist, but I will take steps to let it be known that I have a blog, whether anybody wants to read it or not - a note on my soon-to-be-updated website, and then maybe I'll say something on my Facebook page. And since I firmly believe that word of mouth is still the most effective means of communication in any language, I'll try that as well.
Essentially, I started writing this because I had to start writing something. Call myself a writer, eh? Well, that only counts if you actually write something - other than business letters, brief editorials, shopping lists, and notes to self.
A blog provides a forum, a deadline, and a speedy publication date, is fun and challenging, and pushes me to think before I write. That the forum is public warrants accountability, good spelling, and something of interest to someone somewhere. It's a great tool of communication, even if it's only for me to get out of my head.
The interesting thing is that I've finally begun working on other writing projects - a play, a screenplay, two books, and lots of speeches. It's exciting to feel the pen in my hand, to see the words spill out onto the page, and to live the stories being told. Cathartic and rewarding!
So, Peter, whether anyone reads this or not is immaterial. That I am actually writing is the real point of this exercise. But thanks for giving me pause to consider the real purpose of my blog, and to delve even further into the world of e-communication by at least letting people know I am here.
PS Having said all that, if anyone is reading this, feel free to send me a comment, if only to let me know that you are out there.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
And the prediction is ...
... that Jon and Kate will announce they are staying together and wrapping up their show at the end of the season - all for the good of the family and in an effort to mend their apparently ailing marriage. Tears can work both ways - sad because of all their 'troubles', and sad because they have had to pretend for the sake of ratings. According to Kate, "We can't go back now. We can only go forward and that's what we're going to do." No dispute there, but there are two meanings afoot if you read between the lines. Good luck to those kids, whether I'm right or wrong.