Technology – The Petrini Page

Stupid and Stupider

I just saw an old Facebook post of mine about people saying stupid things online. I’d forgotten all about this post, but these gems are too good not to share. Here is what I posted: Is there some sort of epidemic of stupidity on Facebook today? Seriously, it seems way worse than normal. I’m notContinue reading “Stupid and Stupider”

Another Sexist Troll

Just when I thought it was safe to go back on Facebook…. Some guy told me this week that men are better than women at art, cooking, engineering, architecture, and sports. But he says it’s good for women to have “their own space” where they can dabble in such interests without getting in the wayContinue reading “Another Sexist Troll”

Stupidest Mansplain Ever

I recently commented on a genealogy page, agreeing with women who complained that a particular family tree site’s algorithms are sexist for assuming that a woman changes her name to her husband’s when she marries, and for assuming that all children have their father’s surname. A man jumped in to mansplain to us that everyContinue reading “Stupidest Mansplain Ever”

Phone Faux Pas

I dreamed that I was at a theater, attending a play for the first time since the pandemic began. In the middle of the performance, my phone started making loud noises for some kind of notification, and I knew I had forgotten to turn it off. Usually there is an announcement before a play, butContinue reading “Phone Faux Pas”

Wordless Wednesday: JMU Robot

8,000 Miles

I’ve been posting photos recently from the month-long road trip we took around the U.S. this summer. Most of the posts begin with an introductory blurb that says we traveled more than 7,000 miles on our trip. As it turns out, it was actually almost 8,000 miles. My husband took a photograph of the odometerContinue reading “8,000 Miles”

Flag-Flying Foolishness

Why do so many people feel that their own opinions and preferences should govern everyone else’s choices???? A man named Matthew posted before-and-after pictures of his house on a Facebook page devoted to home renovation, restoration, and decoration. The “after” picture showed a cute, modest one-story yellow house with a red door. It also happenedContinue reading “Flag-Flying Foolishness”

Logical Fallacy

I’m noticing a pattern in online conversations with people who apparently have no understanding of logic, or who are too blinded by their beliefs to pay attention to the actual words being written. Typically, Jane will make a true statement in this format: “In some cases, ABC.” Logic-challenged John replies, “That’s not true, because IContinue reading “Logical Fallacy”

Is Grammar Out of Style?

I have a Master’s degree in writing and a Bachelor’s degree in English. I’ve written more than two dozen books, and I’ve edited others. I’ve been a newspaper and magazine editor. Grammar and spelling are important to me. Are they no longer important to our society as a whole? I saw an online post recentlyContinue reading “Is Grammar Out of Style?”

Mouse Eggs

This morning, a post on an online home-improvement page startled me. A woman worried about how much it would cost to replace a lot of insulation in her home. Mice had gotten into the old insulation. She said they were pooping there and laying their eggs. Laying their eggs???