|
Just like the Christopher Cross song says, sailing really does take you away. Unfortunately this time it took me a bit too far. With sailing skills that make Natalie Wood look like Ferdinand Magellan, I've found myself shipwrecked somewhere in the South Pacific. It could be worse; I do have my health, a soggy but still functional laptop, and part of a beautiful tropical island all to myself. Now all I need is Tattoo and his plane--although a burning sensation of thirst makes me think this is not Fantasy Island.
First things first: I need water, now. Luckily I've recently mastered the arcane art of dowsing (a.k.a. water witching). With my handy divinity rod and Dowsing 1.0, a freeware application that helps detail and track water searches, I set out on my mission. After a few misses, I strike liquid gold. My thirst thoroughly quenched, I start planning my way off this island.
Even with my misadventures in sailing, I decide a new boat is my best bet. Without a great deal of shipbuilding experience, I turn to Carene 2003, a powerful 3D CAD utility for designing and modeling various types of vessels. Now if I can just decide between a catamaran, a frigate, and a schooner.
Even with my freakish, MacGyver-like improvisation savvy, this shipbuilding is going to take a while. In the meantime, I need to work on getting rescued, so I promptly gather wood and set up signal fires around the island. Thanks to a lifelong interest in flight patterns and Flight Explorer Personal Edition 5.0, my chances of rescue are looking good. This little aviation app lets you track commercial flights over the continental United States, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, and parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in real time. Now if I just had some peanuts and a mini pillow.
After setting up the signal fires, I realize I haven't eaten all day. With hunger setting in, the cute critters I saw when I landed are looking more and more like tasty mammalian treats. Once again I go to my laptop and fire up Trapping 1.0, a nifty little program that lets you set and track various types of animals traps. It's the kind of software you can sink your teeth into, and hopefully I'll be sinking my teeth into some fresh animal flesh soon.
It's been a long day. As the sun begins to sets, I notice it's getting a bit chilly. I look for a cozy spot to sleep and boot up Spirit of Fire 3D Screensaver 2.3 to keep warm. There's nothing quite so soothing as the synthetic glow of a fiery computer screen. I slowly forget my island worries and fall into a deep slumber.
Before downing his boat in the South Pacific, Associate Producer Mark Sikes downloaded software for a living at Download.com.
Episode six: Jenny Pritchett, Cocoa Nut | Back to intro
|
|
Click to Save up to $300/yr on calls
