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Stare

As I was preparing to file taxes for the past year I was struck by how my screen time has been going up each year.

See when I first started filing taxes I did it with a pencil and eraser on paper.  This tradition continued for years after the advent and accessibility of the internet.

As I might have said in the past I am a reluctant technologist and have been wary of anything new and improved.  My first reaction is congruent to the Latin phrase 'Caveat Emptor'.

So back to screen time.  For the past couple years I've resorted to using software to help file.  In part because the tech in that arena matured and also because taxes got wildly, stupidly complex.  Getting a salary and filing is not an easy task apparently.

So to use the software you end up staring at the computer for a good chunk of time that was otherwise spent looking at a sheet of paper and printing with graphite or erasing said print if the calculation was wrong.

Rewind many many years and humans have moved away from staring at nothing, to the nature around them, to man made implements, to mostly staring at a piece of glowing glass; the latter in the form of a computer of some kind.  The uber busy or appearing to be anyway, are constantly staring at their mobile device (a form of computer) or tablet or a version of a computer.

If they are not they are staring at traffic in most major metros.

So what of it you ask?  Well for starters we are becoming less clued into the world around us instead of more with the so called acceleration of all tech around us.  People seem to spend more time gossiping and getting depressed (as witnessed by proliferation of anxiety meds) than being informed and smart as a result of this tech revolution and the devices that make information accessible.  Not to mention all the other ills of this migration to keyboards and screens, carpals of all sorts, to poor eyesight, strain and obesity.

Perhaps it is time to sharpen our pencils and go draw a landscape.  Or simply sit on the beach and stare at the waves.  Or get up and walk in the woods.  Another easier way may be to take a swig or few of a spirit that will have you seeing visions.  Worse case it will put you to sleep.
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