Tech-NO-logical
When the new millennium came around, everyone celebrated in their silver unitards, sequined hats and face glitter (or was that just me?), expecting the 2000′s to bring a hailstorm of technology and futuristic gadgets to make life easier (if we survived the approaching armageddon, that is). I also think we were secretly hoping that aliens would come down and party with us, celebrating the new age and teaching us about the secrets of their tractor beams and hyper-space travel…
ANYWAY, I am slightly miffed. If technology is supposed to make life easier than why am I red-faced, brow-furrowed, and verbally abusing my malfunctioning EFTPOS machine?! If technology is so great, why do computers always fail me at the most crucial time? I am constantly finding myself at the mercy of a broken machine of some description, having to push a button down with one hand, hold three cables in the back, while typing in a password at the same time. I say NO MORE!
My advice? Revolt against the electronic age by turning out the lights and lighting a few candles. Use anything as a candle holder! My pick is this Have You Met Miss Jones? bone china milk bottle ($22). Perfect for long candles and a candlelit dinner with friends.
Or a ceramic crumple cup for tea light candles! ($16.50)
Throw away your iPhone and your Blackberry; communicate through messages in a bottle! Just write the message and when the west wind comes in, throw it out onto the river! (*may not reach destination, but it would be fun to see where it ends up!) ($15)
And for Lomo lovers out there, get back to basics with the new Diana Multi Pinhole Operator! Who needs lenses or shutters? Not I! This medium f0rmat film wonder comes with colour filters to rock your analogue world; no electronics required! This truly is raw photography; you use your finger as a shutter, and it has the option of up to three pinholes when shooting. ($110)
So take some time to reflect: give our old ‘pal’ technology some time off, bathe in the moonlight, make a mess with candle wax, or capture the sunrise through a pinhole… By the time you return to your computer (or EFTPOS machine), you’ll be feeling a whole lot calmer. And who knows? The machine may be back in working order!
xx lauren