Big In Japan

I am from the internet generation. I, as well as many of my peers, rely on the internet for many aspects of modern life. I, however, may be more a-typical than many of my peers in how much I utilize the internet. The first thing I do in the morning is check my e-mail (though as many know, I just read and rarely reply). I have one computer on 24/7, *I have another computer on whenever I’m awake, I have a terabyte file-server (that’s a lot of hard drive space), and I even have two laptops for when I’m on the go. All of these computers are networked together in my room. Each can talk to the others. I can even use my TV as a monitor if I so choose.

The problem comes when I loose my internet connection. My whole routine comes to a grinding halt. I can’t check my e-mail. I can’t talk to my friends over an IM program. I can’t play online games. I have to... go outside.

Sunday morning about 1am, my connection to the world at large faltered and failed. I went to bed thinking that the problem would remedy itself (as many computer problems do) if I shut everything down and left it alone over-night. In the morning, nothing. The problem persisted. I called OIT (office of information technology) and of course, it being a Sunday, no one was there. So I enjoyed a day of non-computer based relaxation, spent time with my roommate, and watched the Simpsons.

This morning I woke up and tried the internet again. Again, nothing. So I called OIT again, this time getting a human being, and filed a service request. The first available time? Tomorrow morning at 10:00.

I guess today will have to be spent as yesterday, freed from the chains of my computerized room. The rain which has been falling for the past week has let up, so maybe I’ll take a walk.

P.S. If you’re wondering how this made it to the internet, Western (thank goodness) has free wireless access across most of campus (not in the dorms however.)