Musings of a Senior Scribe
Archie and the Wright Brothers
By Mona Lease

Hi, all!! As I write this, the area is buzzing with anticipation - this weekend is another "Dayton Air Show."

I've stared at the little brown, cardboard box for days. I summoned up the courage today to open it. Inside is my replacement router box. I need this to make my laptop work. I've used a desk computer - it's not the same - not my familiar homepage. I opened the box. I hooked up the router. I used the desk computer. I followed the directions - there were two of them. I tried my laptop. It wants security numbers. I was not given any in the directions. *?#-^!!! I called Century Link.

The Wright Brothers - Orville and Wilbur - are credited with the first sustained, controlled, human flight. From 1905 - 1907 they developed their "flying machine" into a practical, fixed wing aircraft - that's 2 years of getting numbers - ratios, etc. - in their right places.

The woman at Century Link helped me figure out what number I needed for the security code. My laptop was telling me it recognized the router box - even the number of the router box. The router box told the laptop - "I need a number before I will work for you" - that is - get me to the internet. I had no numbers.

Edith Bunker answers the phone. A voice tells her that her husband, Archie Bunker, is now deceased. She says that can't be - he is eating dinner with me now. Sorry, Ma'am - he's deceased. Our computer tells us he is. After waiting through the weekend, Archie goes to Social Security. The guy gets on his computer - tap, tap, tap. He figures out the problem. It's a "slipped digit." He tells Archie he's not dead (DUH!). Now to straighten out the problem. Finally - it's fixed. Archie Bunker is alive and a Mr. Binker is deceased.
This one is probably a "stretch."  But - one wrong number and you'll get no where in the "computer world" or some where you don't want to be or need to be. I think it might have been easier for me to invent sustained flight than to get my laptop and the router box to talk to each other...they were 8 inches apart!!

Then I think that Alexander Graham Bell had long distance phone service from Boston, Massachusetts to New York City in 1884. That's still not Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, nor it is Dayton, Ohio. That means Orville and Wilbur had no way to call anyone for help. I, at least, had that. And, if Orville and Wilbur were alive in 1884 - they would have been toddlers...their biggest concern being food.
No one has told me I am deceased. My laptop works - I guess the router box and it are on speaking terms. My cell phone works. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all. Enjoy the Air Show!!

Remember the kiddies and our service people. Be good to the furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next time. Ever Toodles!! MONA