Unintended Consequences of Travel

So I decided to stray from the integration of technology into Family & Consumer Science Education to talk about my recent trip to Arizona.  I will not give you a travel log or even the slide show - my daughter says I take WAY too many photos!  I will tell you about the consumer experience I had as a not too frequent flyer ... I haven't been on a plane for a few years... I know, no life!

Anyway, how has technology led to unintended consequences in the travel field?  Please remember I only experienced one airline so this may not hold true to others.  So here is my list:

1.  Less actual persons to help with any issues - the customer service reps at the counters have been replaced with computer screens printing out boarding passes.

2.  If you choose to check a bag for the extra $25 you can stand in line for 35 minutes for the one counter that is open even though it is the early morning in the middle of vacation time.

3.  When printing out your own boarding pass you have the option of taking your bags as carry-on or checked, for the extra fee of course.  The screen reminds you that the overhead compartments will hold a bag that is 22" x 14" x 9"; or fits in the bin near the baggage check.  Now how many of you actually have measured your bag?

4.  Once you get through TSA, after taking off shoes, belts, hairbands and clips, watches; been patted down because the agents can't see your legs; put all your carry-ons in separate bins, laying flat of course, with your toiletries in a requisite qt. size plastic bag; you make it to your boarding gate.  Now at the gate you see one or two human beings, who in garbled speak ask you to double check your carry on luggage and to check it since the plane will not hold it all. 

5.  Of course, nobody offers to check their bags because of many different reasons - most likely being they want to make sure it gets to the same city they are going to.

6.  So now you board - of course First Class goes first - so that all the peasants can drag through their "special" area while the flight crew is busy trying to serve them drinks.

7.  After First Class we board all the "Special" customers - the young, old, handicapped, frequent fliers, etc.  They of course are dispersed thoughout the plane, so now when the masses get boarded, everyone can climb over everybody else.

8.  Finally the peons are boarded by zone.  Of course all the oversized carry on luggage is wiggled into the overhead compartments, many not fitting, while others are small enough to be under the seat.

9.  All this jockeying of luggage, climbing over others makes for frazzled nerves, in a tube of 160 people.

10.  Finally after the flight attendants get all the hatches closed, with the oversized luggage carefully thrown under the plane because it really was a 36" suitcase, and not 22"; the plane taxis to take-off.

In my experience last week the boarding of a plane to Detroit took 45 minutes at one time, and on the return trip 60 minutes.  The flight lasted 1 hour and 1 minute.  So the unintended consequence - Wasted Time!

If there was a human being at the beginning of the process checking all luggage (and enforcing policy), carry-on and checked, the boarding of the plane would have been smoother, faster and much more pleasant. 

 So as we integrate technology into the mundane tasks of life, we need to ask ourselves, What are the possible outcomes of the introduction of this technology?

Overall the trip was great, even though I got to spend 6 hours in Detroit around midnight trying to get home ... but that story is for a different day!

Creative Technology Ahas!

I'm sharing this video because so many times I get the feeling that we need to completely embrace technology, giving up all the handmade, creative tendencies that those of us involved in the creative outlets of fashion, crafts, designing and cooking have.  We do it to ourselves when we introduce ourselves as.. "I'm "just" a housewife, or "it's just something I whipped up". 

So as I have been designing and creating all sorts of great pieces for my daughters apartment, using the fabrics and trimmings from a variety of sources.. integrating my fabulous, computerized sewing machine with good old common sense and basic mathematics I came to the realization that the integration of all the technology at hand is what has helped make me a more creative being.  My creative abilities have led me to this blog ... an idea that 20 some years ago would have been science fiction ... but alas it offers an outlet to me that can touch more people than my family.

So now that leads me to McDonald's - a company that has been criticized over and over for poor nutrition, marketing to children, and the most vile... the purveyor of childhood "obesity".  They have successfully integrated technology into all aspects of the restuarant business; even to the point of marketing the Quarter Pounder.  Enjoy the video - look at it with an open mind.  Remember, "all things in MODERATION", nobody should eat this burger everyday.

So my point to all this... technology is useful for creating the real world we are in.  We can not eat, dress or feel in the virtual world.  It is time to unplug once in awhile, feel the textures of life, enjoy what is there, realize that manipulation happens, but that there are reasons for it.

So until next time, I will be using technology to CREATE - don't know if it will be digitally or texturally, but I will be creating!

Week One of Summer Vacation

It is now Tuesday of the first week of summer vacation.  I vowed to myself that I would be productive these first two weeks of summer - before Summer School starts.  So what have I done with myself...

I have crafted - sewing, crocheting and knitting.  The weather has been gorgeous - great with the windows open into my sewing room, it keeps me energized.  I truly have not focused much on the newest technology, although sewing has been made so much simpler with my Brother Innov-is-900

What a great machine - everyday I find out some new thing about it.  It is programed to do knots, and cut the threads at the end of seams.  It also is so great that it has a self-threading feature.  A long way from the beginning sewing machines invented in the 1800's.

My sewing this summer has so far focused on clothing -

a skirt for Lesley with some great trim she found in our visit to Jomar ( if you are in Philadelphia a great experience - although I am not responsible for any budget busting purchases) and an easy knit top for our upcoming trip to Phoenix.

Need light colored, cotton clothing for in the desert!

I've also finished the potholder project for Lesley's new kitchen in Phoenix.  The colors were chosen by her - they should look really nice with the black granite counter tops and cherry cabinets.  Hopefully she will remember to keep them dry so she doesn't burn her fingers.  The dishcloth was knitted - a pattern called "feather and fan".   Once I figured out the pattern it was a breeze - was even able to do it sitting in the car.

Lesley thinks I should make these and create my own "Etsy" Shop - who knows, maybe I will.

So I think at the rate I am going I will be able to say my summer was productive.  Thank goodness for the technology of the sewing machine, iron, and all the fiber/fabric producers. 

Summer is here!

I have not blogged in awhile; been so busy with finishing up school and classes.  I must say I was quite pleased with the outcome of my website for Web Design.  I learned quite a bit in the process of creating.  Remembering to keep my audience in mind, keeping it clean and simple, and consistent throughout the site.  As usual, I tended to bit off more than I expected; but it is leaving me in good shape for capstone.

Stitch by Stitch: a Sewing Tutorial is the result.  Hopefully it will help Southern Regional Sewing Students find the information they need to create awesome fashion!