IT Insights Blog

Just like the song says, when you read you begin with A-B-C, when you sing you begin with do-re-mi, and when you start learning about computers you begin with, well, what exactly? For most kids these days, it's probably a smartphone or tablet that belongs to Mom or Dad, or maybe even one that is their very own. Today's children have technology in their hands at an age that would have been essentially unthinkable just 40 or 50 years ago.

Almost exactly six years ago, British researchers announced the creation of the first crash-proof self-repairing computer. We know what you're thinking: A "self-repairing" computer could either manufacture or correctly identify needed replacement parts, remove failed hardware, and properly install new components. As often happens, however, the headlines announcing this groundbreaking scientific leap forward exaggerated the reality somewhat.

Advertisers like to work with running themes. Someone has a good idea for a commercial. The finished product seems to strike a chord with consumers. So why reinvent the wheel? It's much easier change a few things here and there and stick with what works. People enjoy familiarity, after all, and we especially like to be reminded of something that made us laugh. Insurance conglomerate GEICO is a master of this model.

We occasionally shout out some pretty silly national days here at the IT Insights Blog. (Hey, this is a rough gig. YOU try coming up with something new to write about three days a week for an entire year, Mr. Intelligent Trousers.) For example, in additional to being Feb. 27, today is also Anosmia Awareness Day, National Kahlua Day, National Strawberry Day, National Polar Bear Day, and National Retro Day.

There's a pretty good chance that almost no one who stumbles across this blog post will have ever read, or even heard of, the 19th-century English novel Paul Clifford by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. Let's face it, there are probably plenty of people who teach English literature who have never read or heard of Paul Clifford. Bulwer-Lytton's novel is not quite so lost to time that it's out of print altogether ... but the current paperback edition is ranked No. 1,890,901 on Amazon.