When I was a child, I’d often stand in front of the Philco radio and pretend I was a concert conductor. “Beethoven’s Fifth” and “Flight of the Bumble Bee,” gave me a good, aerobic workout as did Mussorgsky’s, “Great Wall of Kiev.” 70 years have passed and I don’t do much conducting anymore. That may change. Next year, Doppler Labs will introduce a new set of electronic ear buds that will, in effect, allow music lovers to conduct music. The device lets listeners turn up the bass or “add reverb of instant remixes,” so that individuals can conduct live music to suit their tastes. (“Innovation of the week, The Week, October 16, 2015 pg. 20)
Innovations are wonderful and not a week goes by without another breakthrough in the tech world. Not all innovations are welcome, I’m afraid. Some, in fact, are annoying. Electronic snooping devices are an example, which is why I’ve added “no tracking” software to my computer. Unfortunately, these programs don’t screen out every peeping Tom, so, over the course of my life, I suspect my trail of passwords will look like latitude and longitudinal lines drawn by a demented first grader.
I’ve done a fair job of keeping my legal documents filed in a way that will make sense to the executor of my estate when I’m gone. I’m not so sure about the state of my electronic remains. (Blog 9/9/2013)
Carol Kando-Pineda, Counsel with the FTC’s Division of Consumer & Business Education gives some simple advice on how to help your family or executor align your digital existence with your real one. (Click) They are simple: 1) make an inventory of your digital life, accounts, passwords, social media groups to which you belong. Don’t, however, attach that inventory to your will as a will is a public document, subject to public scrutiny; 2) appoint someone as your digital executor to close accounts and memberships, preferably someone who is savvy about the internet. If no one in your family has that skill, hire a third-party to carry out your instructions.
Put simply, when conducting music or your real and virtual life, it’s best to know the score.
(First published 12/2/15)
Courtesy of bavariankumquat.livejournal.com
