Reflections of a Curmudgeon

Adaptive Curmudgeon has a bit of a tech review, and some reflections on risk, and life. SpotX Details

Two years ago I bought a two way satellite communicator. It goes against my grain to have such a gadget, but it was the right call.

It’s wise to develop a reasonable, measured, approach to self-preservation. Smart men acquire and learn to use the appropriate equipment for that purpose. (I carefully phrase myself to differentiate from a society that’s pants shitting hysterical about the smallest risk. Also, I don’t want to be lumped in with the “count on good luck” crowd. Fuck them both!)

As for the SpotX... it is a satelite communicator that lets you send text messages from (almost) anywhere on the globe, not just from where your cellphone has service. Boaters and hikers find it a useful piece of kit. But it isn't perfect.

It sucks as a GPS navigator. It has one main dedicated use and won’t play games or take a photo of the fish you just caught. That’s a selling point to me. Your cell phone does everything which means it does a lot of it poorly. In my opinion, phones don’t cut the mustard. They’re meant for domestic spying on mall walkers and not as a safety device for explorers. Just my opinion of course.

The reflections on risks in life are more interesting. Click thru for that.

One last thought on tech from AC...

Also, the SpotX is just fine to turn off and ignore. A cell phone messes with your head and it’s hard to trust that it’s private even when it’s theoretically shut down. Given the choice between a handy rugged safety tool and a creepily invasive spying device that has a disturbing dopamine like mental effect on the user… you know my preference! Here’s my cell phone theme song:

You get a bonus musical interlude of "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell.