The Test: A 48-Hour Technology Blackout
By Tim Hage on Jun 24th, 2010 at 11:56PM
As a technology blog, it goes without saying that Craig and I are nothing but complete gaming and PC junkies, never being out of reach or out of touch with the internet for more than a few hours.
My friends, that is about to change. I’ll be cutting myself off from technology for a solid 48 hours this weekend.
Why am I doing this craziness? Well, after checking my email and RSS feeds for the fourth time in 7 minutes, I wondered what going cold turkey would be like and more importantly, if I could do it. Naturally, I needed to check my email again before pondering the subject further. After reflecting on it more, I still had no real reason for my plans.
Before you start jumping to conclusions, this doesn’t mean I’ll be going all caveman on you guys with clubs made from bones and worshiping fire (who are we kidding, I can’t even light a Zippo to save my life). I will still be using electricity for lighting, cooling, heating and so on. I will also have my phone on for incoming calls only unless, of course, I have another hooker die on me, then I reserve the right to call out for her pimp to pick up her corpse.
In all seriousness, here’s how it’ll go:
- PC(s): Off and unplugged for the entire 48 hours.
- All gaming consoles: Off and unplugged for the entire 48 hours.
- TV(s): Off and unplugged.**
- Phone: On and receiving calls. Only calling out for emergencies. Other functions restricted.
- MP3 Player/Radio/CD player: Off for the entire 48 hours.**
- Camera: Off for the entire 48 hours.
- Battery-operated sex toy: Off for the entire 48 hours.
- Air Conditioner: Permanently set to Arctic cooling mode with the intensity dial set to 11.
- Other miscellaneous mobile devices: Off.
**If I come across one that I have no control over and it is on, I will do my best to A) Ignore it or B) Distance myself from it.
The blackout will begin on Saturday, June 26th at 12:00AM (EST) and run until 12:00AM on Monday the 28th. I will keep a journal and then post it up for all of you to read after the 48 hours have expired. I have no doubt that this will be harder than any video game marathon I have attempted before.
Image Credit: Tom Raftery
Best of luck I know how much it sucks to have no Internet connection( for 1 whole week), it sucked, but his would be even more brutal. atleast I had my movie collection/ and games to pass the time…but this….
Prediction: you’ll go crazy and will probably give in.
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Taking bets here. In this corner stands Tim, at 7 foot tall and 100 pounds Tim’s ultra light on his feet and knows how to move. That’s good for the first few hours, but his lack of strength will ultimately be his downfall. For in the other corner we have the 48 hour weekend. While only at a mere 5 foot tall, this 9001 pound mammoth can take a beating and keep on going. Lets go live now to the ring, this is match hour 37. Tim’s looking refreshed and recharged after a long nights sleep and bouncing around the arena like no other. A left jab here and a right smack there to weekend, but weekend is glancing them off like they’re nothing. AND BAM, out of no where weekend slams down hard onto Tim, crushing him under pure weight. A sneaky move but completely legal in this all out brutal match. With no ability to get up, the announcer makes the call. 3…2…1…He is out of there. Remaining champion 48 hour weekend claims the belt.
No srsly, Tim’s gunna kick ass.
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Good luck, but shouldn’t be that hard, really. It would be hard if you couldn’t use anything ELECTRIC. AT ALL. No water pump. No fridge for food (OMG MAH FOODS NOOOOOO). Nada…like in a real black out :P But good luck anyway!
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Haha what are you going to do to pass the time Tim? Other than dream of Portal…
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I reckon no power what so ever. Should go camping for a weekend purely based on survival lol.
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Do not go outside! I know its tempting, and you’ve probably heard some amazing things about it, but its a trap!
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