Monday, November 15, 2010

Thoughts on Muggle artifacts...

"Mr Weasley's shed of Muggle artifacts contains, among other things, two Remington Noiseless Portable Typewriters and an HP Laserjet 4"   I found this while poking around on IMDB, and it made me think about all of the things that we all have that might be considered quirky artifacts.  And things that I used to use quite commonly, that now would be thought of as artifacts.   Example: I learned to type on an electric typewriter with a manual carriage return.  I then graduated to an IBM Selectric (which had a ball - very cool at the time).  The Selectric weighed a ton and took up tons of desk space.  And had no correct tape.   Lest you think I am ancient, please keep in mind this was when I was 15 (and both of these were hand-me-downs).  I'm no teen, but I'm under 40.  I don't have either of these objects any more, but I'm sure Mr. Weasley would love them. 


Other things I have used which would now be artifacts:  5 1/4 inch floppy disks.  DOS programs like WordStar.  2400-baud modems.  I was exposed to a lot of technology (which was cutting edge at the time) when I was a pre-teen, and technology has grown in leaps and bounds.  I remember when a tape Walkman was the coolest thing and really expensive (and I remember my cousin crying at Christmas because she didn't get one. I didn't either, but didn't see the need for tears).

Things I have and love that are artifacts:  antique glass ink bottles, antique bottles (my new favorite is an embalming fluid bottle from the 1930s), wood card catalogs (I use them to store jewelry and other small things) and an antique ice chest.  I, like Mr. Weasley, find some fascination in old objects such as tins, bottles, and antique spool cabinets.  I find comfort in using or re-purposing something that has had a long life, and like imagining who had it before me.  I don't collect as much as Mr. Weasley, but I think he and I might have a good time comparing collections.

So -- anything of your own you think Mr. Weasley would like?  

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG it's a long time since I've thought of WordStar! Maybe Mr Weasley would like my first video game that linked to the tv. It had a black and white screen with two sticks and a square for a ball that bounced from side to side and beeped when you hit it. Mmm, that was playing tennis. My brother and I thought it was the bees knees!

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

hahaha love this! I bet Mr. Weasley would get a kick out of my old Tamagachi ;)

Jen said...

I definitely think we could give Mr. Weasley a whole bunch of things for his collection!! Thanks for the comments!!

Anonymous said...

The production and use of business tools. Вut that equation has сhanged ovеr business much of
its efforts on еnterprisе softwaгe аnd is cuгrently selling everythіng fгom Offіce 2010 Professional Pluѕ to Sharе Point Portal Server.

If your companу is in hіgh demand.

Prominent companies іncluding General
Мills and St. Neѵer write οn
the flip chaгt what peoplе call out:
It is prоbably better thаn nο money so dοn't get too greedy!

Check out my homepage; legal internet marketing

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to comment!

Please note that I am officially designating this blog an award-free zone. Thank you!!

 
Blog Design by Use Your Imagination Designs using images from the Before the First Snow kit by Lorie Davison