Last night I had trouble with my computer and became extremely panicked when I couldn't work, couldn't check my email, couldn't surf the net... I couldn't even call my parents because I don't have their phone number memorized.

I started to feel like I've gone on technology overload. I mean, I buy this nice computer, then I spend all this time trying to find the perfect apps for it or the perfect wallpaper or how to make it distraction free-- and what does it add up to? Me dependant on something and not really getting much work done.

Even the lo-fi forum seems to fall into the perfection trap-- the perfect moleskine, the perfect fountain pen. Is it all just a waste of time.

I mean, Cormac McCarthy wrote one of the best books I read last year (The Road) on a portable manual typewriter.

Do you ever feel trapped like I do?

And how do I get out?