So, for today’s Phun Phriday post I thought I would regale you with a story could that could have turned out tragic – but mostly just ended up with a humiliating twist.
A couple of months ago, I received the Amazon Echo. If you don’t know what that is, I highly recommend you watch the video below. In fact, even if you do know what it is, I suggest you watch the video because it plays an important part in this story. (Try to ignore the irritatingly condescending father if you can.) Go ahead and watch. I’ll wait.
After I received the Echo, I mentioned it to my students one morning when we were all sharing some personal stories. They didn’t really understand my explanation, so I showed them the video. Duly impressed, they asked if I could bring it to school. Unfortunately, the Echo needs wi-fi and I was pretty sure the district wasn’t going to give me the password just so I could demonstrate my new toy.
The next day, I went to get my hair cut after school. My stylist, who has known me for 17 years, asked if there was anything new. I told him about the Echo, and he looked a bit confused by my description. (Apparently I am very bad at describing things.)
“No problem,” I said. “There’s a video I can show you. ” I pulled out my iPad. Two stylists, a client, and I gathered around one of his other clients who was getting her hair colored so everyone could see the Amazon Echo video demonstrating this modern miracle of technology in action.
I pulled up the video.
The video started playing and I watched everyone’s faces to see their reactions. When the son said, “Alexa, play Rock Music,” and the speaker obeyed, I could see that the group in the hair salon was impressed.
The mom said, “Alexa, what time is it?”
And this is where things went awry…
“It’s time to calm the _________ up!” Alexa responded.
Substitute the worst word you can say out loud for the blank space.
I scrambled to stop the video.
The room was dead silent.
“Well, that was interesting,” commented one of the clients with a glint in her eye.
My stylist started snickering, and so did everyone else. The other stylist was laughing so hard she was wiping tears from her eyes.
“Wait! That’s the wrong video! I swear that’s not the way it works!” I yelled because despite what I claim I am very worried about what people think of me and two perfect strangers were now of the mind that I regularly show R-rated videos to everyone in my vicinity.
“Well, darn, because I was ready to go out and buy it!” was my stylist’s response.
My face was so hot I was surprised my hair didn’t catch on fire.
All I could think of was that I hoped the clients didn’t think I speak like the foul-mouthed Alexa.
Then I remembered.
I had shown that video to my students yesterday! What if I had accidentally pulled up the wrong video then?!!!!!
So, my friends, there you have it, a lesson to be learned by all of us.
Never marry a condescending man, like the one in the video, who thinks he knows more about technology than you do.
Oh, and never show a video to your students until your hair stylist has a chance to approve it.
