Today I learned two important things:

1. You can trust Optometrists.
2. You can't trust Computer manufacturers websites.

The Great RAM Odyssey

I recently upgraded my home computers to Tiger.  My lappy was a little anemic in the RAM department so I decided to throw a gig in for good measure.  This meant a trip to Apple.com to find out the correct type of RAM that my 12 inch powerbook required.

After a few moments of searching I found that my lappy takes PC 2100 266mhz DDR, so far so good; I then ordered the RAM and waited for it to arrive, which it did today.  5 minute install and I reboot the machine expecting much 1.25 gig of RAM goodness... what I got was 256 MB of RAM!

After much consternation and colorful speech, I found out the problem.  My lappy actually takes PC 2700 333 DDR, not the 2100 variety.  Score one for Apple.  So now I have to call the dealer and hope that they actually will exchange this RAM chip for the correct one.  Meh.

Scratch a lie, find an Optometrist

Both my wife and I had our eyes examined today, and we both purchased new glasses.  I didn't start wearing spectacles until my 18th birthday.  One day I woke and up and suddenly reading for extended periods gave me headaches, so I asked my mother to take me to get my eyes examined.

The Optometrist I saw then said I had developed an Astigmatism, and that I would need glasses for reading.  If I chose to wear them all the time it wouldn't hurt, and could quite possibly help my vision.  So for the next 10 years I have been a spectacles wearer... until today.

Apparently the original doctor... well lets just say that some Optometrists are motivated by the sale of materials.  Even without the benefit of corrective lenses I have 20/20 vision.. always have.  I am slightly near-sighted in one eye and far-sighted in the other.  The difference is so slight, that my present doctor felt that corrective lenses were useless.  When wearing glasses I have always had 20/10 or better vision.

He told me point blank that I did not now, nor have I ever actually needed corrective lenses.  It couldn't hurt obviously since my site is very slightly impaired, but in his words "Most people with in your position don't even bother with glasses."

I have worn glasses for the last 10 years because some mook in Indiana gets a kick-back whenever his patients by glasses, that is just incredible.

I did buy new glasses, since I like to read for extended periods, and that will still strain my eyes.  But it is nice to know that I can just "take a vacation" as my doctor said, from glasses if I so choose.

A few parting words

So what wisdom can you gain from this events, gentle reader?  When in doubt, for the love of Mike check the box your computer came in, and never, ever trust Optometrists, always get a second opinion... preferably from a doctor not connected with the first one.

This has been a Public Service Announcement from your friends here at Sillyness Spelled Wrong Intentionally.  We now return you to your regularly scheduled web surfing.