I once wrote a short story that only had one paragraph that I brought to a reading group. It was in a rough state with very little editing, just how I wrote it at the time. I even notified the others that I intended to polish it up and add paragraphs. I was amazed how that became the focus of criticism and also how many people had trouble reading it. I was partially inspired to leave it in that condition after reading this book. Seeing it in the library with the first page beginning on the cover got me intrigued. It reminded me of You Shall Know Us By Our Velocity by Dave Eggers. I found a copy and was charged with the freshness that permeates this novel. Again I am amazed why so many people talk about the difficulties of reading one long paragraph. I find it exciting when authors challenge the rules of the English Language. When you start reading it you find that there is no problem with it in the slightest. You forget about it and get used to it, kind of like reading subtitles to a foreign film. As you read you also find a complexity that would be absent in other "rule-bound" novels, which is how seamlessly Milward can connect ideas, whether they be related or not, together without allowing himself the use of a new paragraph. Like a literary magician he uses slight of hand to change subject, tense and even point of view. Throughout the book we float in a drug fueled fantasia from person to person, situation to situation; climbing a story on the rungs of swirling prose. This work is far from elegant or graceful; the grit can get into your teeth if your not careful. We are treated to the underside of society with all its drugs and theft, but unlike the black and white world of Film Noir this one is populated with bright colors and a feverish pace that will make you sweat and gasp for air. This is comparable to Darron Aronofsky's deeply excruciating 2000 film Requiem For A Dream in that it concerns four individuals that suffer their own personal form of addiction. The main difference being is the overall tone which is a great deal lighter than Requiem. Brightness seems to shine from every page and delivers an optimism surmounting the odds that the characters are facing. Even at the climax of the book-from where the namesake comes-the scene is terrible in a conventional sense but somehow the book retains a feeling as if everything will be okay. The book contains many funny moments but skimps on the poignant ones. There are no life-changing revelations to be gleaned here. The characters do have epiphanies but they are far from profound. However the question must be begged, does one need profundity in order for a revelation to be relevant? Perhaps common sense is not inherent and whatever we learn is new and important for the individual. Despite this the story does not suffer. It was a joy to read something new and something good from someone not named Egan, Franzen, Foer or Kingsolver. Not to crack on them, their talent far exceeds mine, it's just that their names have dominated literary media for several months. Richard Milward is no rookie, Ten Storey Love Song is his second novel, but his is far from veteran status. I hope to see more from him in the coming future. Richard, please don't keep us waiting.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
...
Just a few minutes ago I checked in. Not to check my comments, not even with the intent to write an new post but here I am. I was wanting to see if I could hunt down the date of a friend's birthday hoping that I hadn't missed it. But check my comments I did. On my latest post I found an anonymous post wishing that I return and write some more. I don't know what affected me more; the fact that it seemed like such a heart-felt plea or that it came from someone that I didn't know at all. It made me rethink how I've treated this place.
It's been a place where I can deposit my thoughts about the world around me. I built it so that I could talk about anything. It was about as random as I was. I mused about music, movies and strange occurrences that only I might notice. I had to look back at some of the posts to remember some of the things that inspired me to write. There are many good memories in there. But I took it for granted.
I took for granted that there were people that enjoyed reading the things that I wrote. In my defense there wasn't an indication that people read, few comments ever popped up. It was very easy to let it slide until I forgot about it completely. And for that I am sorry.
You there, anonymous. If you are reading this I am writing this for you. Sorry for letting you down. I hope you're reading this and feel good for inspiring someone. I'll do my best for keeping these posts coming on a regular basis. In the mean time just think of me as the Johnathan Franzen of Bloggers. It takes years for new material to come out but man, is it worth the wait.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Dream Archetecture
The dream has always been a mystery. It remains untouched by the measures of science. They are unpredictable; always appearing at their whim, or disappearing at the slightest shift in our sleeping bodies. They can transform without warning and, strangely enough, our unconscious may not even register the change. Whatever they may be they are ours alone. Others offer interpretation however we are the only ones that experienced what we did, and we are the only ones that can truly say what they mean to us.
What if then, could another share in our dream experience? Friends could aid, helping us find meaning in our dreams and we could do the same for them. The impossible could seem like reality in the worlds we create. We could love without end, see exotic places together, or participate in sinister games of the imagination harm free. Anything could be done as long as the bounds of the imagination are untethered.
Problems would arise, like they often do. Who would be the arbiter of these worlds? Would such a one be needed with the physical factor virtually eliminated? Or would we find that the products of the mind are more tangible than we could have ever thought? "Your dream or mine?" a maxim for that era if there ever was one brings to light of how casually fleeing reality could become. Why would you need reality when you have perfectly actualized dreams? Is not the new dream reality enough?
Most importantly, however, would be this: how do you become the architect of something so fleeting and mystifying? How does one make concrete what is not even there?
The summer movie Inception, written and directed by the superbly talented Christopher Nolan, asks many of these same questions, tantalizing the audience with a cautionary-esque tale of events so explosive it left me in sheer awe when the final credits began to roll. Most people might know the movie from the very cryptic trailers that have been seen in theaters, on the web and, most recently on TV, but that is just about it. The marketing campaign has been masterful, showing just enough as to get people wondering but giving nothing away in the process (The perfect trailer, really; take note horror movie makers.) In this slumping summer of movies, producers would have us ask, "Who is Salt?" What myself and millions of others around the globe have really been wondering is, "What is Inception!?"
Inception is a word with Latin origins meaning "take" or "seize." The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, a man with mysterious ties to an unknown corporation. He works as an Extractor, someone who invades the dreams of others in order to steal secrets locked away in the subconscious of his subjects. The trick is doing it without the subject even knowing that it is happening. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays, Arthur, Cobb's right hand man and fact checker. It's his job to make sure that the dream is accurate to the subject's reality effectively continuing the illusion. The team is tight, and both actors play expertly off on another.
The movie begins with Cobb and Arthur inside the dream of corporate mogul Satio (Ken Wanatabe). They are there to be tested, if they can steal a secret without being caught and if they can do it without giving the dream-state away. The purpose of the test is to see if the team is good enough for a very advantageous assignment: inception. Satio proposes not the extraction of ideas but rather the act of implanting a notion or thought into the mind of a subject.
Inception is deemed impossible by everyone except for Cobb who claims that he has done it once. The risk is extremely high but so is the reward; too high for Cobb to pass up, and he ends up taking the job. Later, Cobb employs characters played by Michael Cane, Ellen Page and Tom Hardy for their talents. What ensues becomes just short of chaos when the characters plummet farther into a foreign consciousness, fighting off imagined foes, time, and of course, themselves.
Inception is the summer movie that I have been waiting for and I have been waiting a long time. I can't remember the first time I saw the trailer for the film but I do remember the sentiment, "Wow, this is going to be big!" With Christopher Nolan comes excitement because I know what a treat is in store for movie goers. But after watching Inception I realized that I've been waiting for this film for far longer than I have thought. This is a film has so much weight and magnitude that I knew I would love it, but I didn't know exactly how much. In simple terms, Inception has far exceeded my very high expectations.
Yes, I know how that sounds, like I'm a fanboy foaming at the mouth with excitement. But understand that this film comes from the mind and talent of, who I believe, is one of the greatest directors of our time. Christopher Nolan has been kicking cinematic tail for over a decade now beginning with the largely unknown Following (1998). The film itself, I must be honest, never captivated me when I first saw it. But I could appreciate it as a form of art; it was quirky, it was black & white, it was very unique. It was when his next film, Memento (2000), came out that Nolan really came into the spotlight. Memento was a film so good it could work as many director's masterpiece, for Nolan he was still cutting his teeth in the film industry.
The story was about Leonard Shelby, a man that experienced a violent home invasion that resulted in a brain injury for him, giving him short-term memory loss, and the death of his wife. He is searching for his wife's killer but for anyone with memory problems this would prove difficult seeing as you wouldn't be able to remember a single clue to the case. To remedy this, Shelby tattoos the facts that he has found onto his body. He also has Polaroid's of important people, places and things that he needs to keep track of. This is my car, this is my friend, this is the hotel where I stay. What makes Memento really interesting to watch is that the whole film is backwards. The very first scene of the movie is actually the last scene in the story. This juxtaposition is really confusing but the result is that you are just as lost as Leonard Shelby, effectively connecting the audience to the character in ways that lesser directors can only dream of.
I remember when I first saw Memento. I was enthralled by the tale and how it was told. Even when my friends got bored with it and left, I was still there to the end. And what an end it was. Film Noir lives again! I'm not sure if it had died to begin with, but at least it was reinvented. After that I was hooked, a true fan of Nolan. I tried to find more about him and his films. I saw his career unfold over the years never being disappointed in the least. I think the story would have ended there, him being a niche director, had it not been for a little film known as The Dark Knight (2008).
Though there is nothing little about The Dark Knight seeing as it has grossed over a billion dollars worldwide. It was not his first foray with the Caped Crusader but it was definitely the best. The Dark Knight showed the world how convincing a superhero movie could be and what a world with these masked vigilantes and their nemeses would really be like if they existed. Coming off the heels of The Dark Knight, Nolan had absolutely nothing to prove. The irony is that if Inception had been far less impressive it could conceivably discredit him entirely. The Dark Knight gave the world Christopher Nolan, Inception showed the world that he could direct.
That being said, what makes Inception a triumph? The movie is largely a genre pic, but it really proves how epic formula can be. Inception is cool as a cocktail and I describe it this way: two parts Waking Life, one part Matrix and a squeeze of heist. Shake well, serve over ice. The film combines genre so well as to camouflage the subjects entirely. It has just enough Sci-Fi as to transport the story but not enough to alarm the audience that what they're really watching is Sci-Fi. It has a perfect amount of heist as to not get in the way and just enough brooding as to not get annoying.
The characters themselves are virtual dynamos of power played by actors at the literal top of their game. Many fault a movie for having DiCaprio in it, having never forgiven him for his roles in Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Titanic (1997) . His work on The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006) and Shutter Island (2009) have long given credence that he is an actor worthy of acclaim. Gordon-Levitt's career's also keeps getting better after the smash hit (500) Days of Summer (2009) that he co-starred in. Ellen Page rounds out the talent by being part of Hollywood's new generation of great starlets.
But even the greats like Humphrey Bogart or Katharine Hepburn would fail if the characters that they played weren't worth the ink on a script. Inception's characters are exciting to watch and even more rewarding to figure out. The relationship between Cobb and his wife Mal is as electrifying as it is toxic. It's riveting to watch the only memories of his wife and children, destructive memories, really, pervade the world that Cobb is placed in. Mal's haunting becomes ominous and you come to feel how distant she is from reality.
Inception is saturated with many symbols and metaphors which is fitting seeing that many interpret dreams with very similar tools. One of the more prominent symbols in the film is the totem; a physical object that the possessor uses to indicate if they are in a dream state or not. The totem is very valuable, so much so that its owner can't even let others hold it. If someone could know the details of the totem then they could then fool an individual into believing that they are awake when in reality they are asleep in a dream. The totem that Cobb wields is a top that when spun will fall like tops always do. But if he is in a dream the top will continue to spin unaided for as long as it is allowed. Totems become keys to reality, objects of truth. When all else is unreliable the totem can be relied upon to cement the world around you. In a sense they are the only physical objects that matters.
Deep existentialist questions are posed in Inception. Primarily, what is reality and is it subjective? Cobb and Mal have an extended shared dream experience and upon waking Mal become dissatisfied with waking life, believing that nothing is real. She later becomes a specter for Cobb and tries to convince him that you can experience all the life you desire in the realms dreams. This is a very polarizing idea because both sides could be argued very vehemently. We can have very vivid experiences inside a dream but if it isn't real then what does it matter? Is joy and pleasure the means to an end, or does truth overrule?
The score was composed by Hans Zimmer who has many credits to his name. For Inception he created a very dense score that fills the movie with an emotive and ever building sense of suspense. To his credit, Zimmer didn't craft a score that dictated the suspense but instead the action on screen and the music exist in a very healthy symbiosis. Nolan and Zimmer's talent are so well exhibited in this area that the climax of the film never seems to end. And that's a good thing. Tension builds continuously throughout the entire 148 minutes that the movie runs. Even as it comes to a close it doesn't fall and leaves you spinning as the final credits roll to the end.
Inception is a true cinematic juggernaut encompassing many forms of great. It created anticipation beforehand, it truly entertained, and even days after watching it I still can't stop thinking about it, and I can't wait to see it again. If you haven't seen it yet, you owe it to yourself to watch it. You might not like it as much as I did but I guarantee that you will enjoy it more than you thought. At the very least watch it to support good film making instead of the pathetic attempts at entertainment that we've been subjected to this summer. I predict that Inception will win big at the Academy Awards and that it will be talked about, thought about, and viewed many years to come.
The movie begins with Cobb and Arthur inside the dream of corporate mogul Satio (Ken Wanatabe). They are there to be tested, if they can steal a secret without being caught and if they can do it without giving the dream-state away. The purpose of the test is to see if the team is good enough for a very advantageous assignment: inception. Satio proposes not the extraction of ideas but rather the act of implanting a notion or thought into the mind of a subject.
Inception is deemed impossible by everyone except for Cobb who claims that he has done it once. The risk is extremely high but so is the reward; too high for Cobb to pass up, and he ends up taking the job. Later, Cobb employs characters played by Michael Cane, Ellen Page and Tom Hardy for their talents. What ensues becomes just short of chaos when the characters plummet farther into a foreign consciousness, fighting off imagined foes, time, and of course, themselves.
Inception is the summer movie that I have been waiting for and I have been waiting a long time. I can't remember the first time I saw the trailer for the film but I do remember the sentiment, "Wow, this is going to be big!" With Christopher Nolan comes excitement because I know what a treat is in store for movie goers. But after watching Inception I realized that I've been waiting for this film for far longer than I have thought. This is a film has so much weight and magnitude that I knew I would love it, but I didn't know exactly how much. In simple terms, Inception has far exceeded my very high expectations.
Yes, I know how that sounds, like I'm a fanboy foaming at the mouth with excitement. But understand that this film comes from the mind and talent of, who I believe, is one of the greatest directors of our time. Christopher Nolan has been kicking cinematic tail for over a decade now beginning with the largely unknown Following (1998). The film itself, I must be honest, never captivated me when I first saw it. But I could appreciate it as a form of art; it was quirky, it was black & white, it was very unique. It was when his next film, Memento (2000), came out that Nolan really came into the spotlight. Memento was a film so good it could work as many director's masterpiece, for Nolan he was still cutting his teeth in the film industry.
The story was about Leonard Shelby, a man that experienced a violent home invasion that resulted in a brain injury for him, giving him short-term memory loss, and the death of his wife. He is searching for his wife's killer but for anyone with memory problems this would prove difficult seeing as you wouldn't be able to remember a single clue to the case. To remedy this, Shelby tattoos the facts that he has found onto his body. He also has Polaroid's of important people, places and things that he needs to keep track of. This is my car, this is my friend, this is the hotel where I stay. What makes Memento really interesting to watch is that the whole film is backwards. The very first scene of the movie is actually the last scene in the story. This juxtaposition is really confusing but the result is that you are just as lost as Leonard Shelby, effectively connecting the audience to the character in ways that lesser directors can only dream of.
I remember when I first saw Memento. I was enthralled by the tale and how it was told. Even when my friends got bored with it and left, I was still there to the end. And what an end it was. Film Noir lives again! I'm not sure if it had died to begin with, but at least it was reinvented. After that I was hooked, a true fan of Nolan. I tried to find more about him and his films. I saw his career unfold over the years never being disappointed in the least. I think the story would have ended there, him being a niche director, had it not been for a little film known as The Dark Knight (2008).
Though there is nothing little about The Dark Knight seeing as it has grossed over a billion dollars worldwide. It was not his first foray with the Caped Crusader but it was definitely the best. The Dark Knight showed the world how convincing a superhero movie could be and what a world with these masked vigilantes and their nemeses would really be like if they existed. Coming off the heels of The Dark Knight, Nolan had absolutely nothing to prove. The irony is that if Inception had been far less impressive it could conceivably discredit him entirely. The Dark Knight gave the world Christopher Nolan, Inception showed the world that he could direct.
That being said, what makes Inception a triumph? The movie is largely a genre pic, but it really proves how epic formula can be. Inception is cool as a cocktail and I describe it this way: two parts Waking Life, one part Matrix and a squeeze of heist. Shake well, serve over ice. The film combines genre so well as to camouflage the subjects entirely. It has just enough Sci-Fi as to transport the story but not enough to alarm the audience that what they're really watching is Sci-Fi. It has a perfect amount of heist as to not get in the way and just enough brooding as to not get annoying.
The characters themselves are virtual dynamos of power played by actors at the literal top of their game. Many fault a movie for having DiCaprio in it, having never forgiven him for his roles in Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Titanic (1997) . His work on The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006) and Shutter Island (2009) have long given credence that he is an actor worthy of acclaim. Gordon-Levitt's career's also keeps getting better after the smash hit (500) Days of Summer (2009) that he co-starred in. Ellen Page rounds out the talent by being part of Hollywood's new generation of great starlets.
But even the greats like Humphrey Bogart or Katharine Hepburn would fail if the characters that they played weren't worth the ink on a script. Inception's characters are exciting to watch and even more rewarding to figure out. The relationship between Cobb and his wife Mal is as electrifying as it is toxic. It's riveting to watch the only memories of his wife and children, destructive memories, really, pervade the world that Cobb is placed in. Mal's haunting becomes ominous and you come to feel how distant she is from reality.
Inception is saturated with many symbols and metaphors which is fitting seeing that many interpret dreams with very similar tools. One of the more prominent symbols in the film is the totem; a physical object that the possessor uses to indicate if they are in a dream state or not. The totem is very valuable, so much so that its owner can't even let others hold it. If someone could know the details of the totem then they could then fool an individual into believing that they are awake when in reality they are asleep in a dream. The totem that Cobb wields is a top that when spun will fall like tops always do. But if he is in a dream the top will continue to spin unaided for as long as it is allowed. Totems become keys to reality, objects of truth. When all else is unreliable the totem can be relied upon to cement the world around you. In a sense they are the only physical objects that matters.
Deep existentialist questions are posed in Inception. Primarily, what is reality and is it subjective? Cobb and Mal have an extended shared dream experience and upon waking Mal become dissatisfied with waking life, believing that nothing is real. She later becomes a specter for Cobb and tries to convince him that you can experience all the life you desire in the realms dreams. This is a very polarizing idea because both sides could be argued very vehemently. We can have very vivid experiences inside a dream but if it isn't real then what does it matter? Is joy and pleasure the means to an end, or does truth overrule?
The score was composed by Hans Zimmer who has many credits to his name. For Inception he created a very dense score that fills the movie with an emotive and ever building sense of suspense. To his credit, Zimmer didn't craft a score that dictated the suspense but instead the action on screen and the music exist in a very healthy symbiosis. Nolan and Zimmer's talent are so well exhibited in this area that the climax of the film never seems to end. And that's a good thing. Tension builds continuously throughout the entire 148 minutes that the movie runs. Even as it comes to a close it doesn't fall and leaves you spinning as the final credits roll to the end.
Inception is a true cinematic juggernaut encompassing many forms of great. It created anticipation beforehand, it truly entertained, and even days after watching it I still can't stop thinking about it, and I can't wait to see it again. If you haven't seen it yet, you owe it to yourself to watch it. You might not like it as much as I did but I guarantee that you will enjoy it more than you thought. At the very least watch it to support good film making instead of the pathetic attempts at entertainment that we've been subjected to this summer. I predict that Inception will win big at the Academy Awards and that it will be talked about, thought about, and viewed many years to come.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Two men, one truth
I have just finished watching the movie "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Cowardly Robert Ford". I'm really not sure how I feel about it, whether I found it pleasurable or not. The acting was marvelous, though I've come to accept nothing less from Brad Pitt over the years. I liked the number of cameos strewn throughout the film: a surprising show from James Carville, an unexpected two scene appearance from the illustrious Zooey Deschanel and, my favorite, Nick Cave himself. The narration seemed like it was pulled straight from a PBS documentary, I feel Robert Duvall would have performed better. Despite that there is something that I can't put my finger on. Something elusive that kept me from becoming totally immersed in the story.
I did enjoy the depiction of human tragedy; of how fallen a character Jesse James was and, as it turned out, so was Robert Ford in the end. One man killed because he had to and the other killed because he wanted to. I'll leave it to you to decide which was which.
I wonder a hundred years from now how will people depict our heroes and villains. Will our supposed enemies be pardoned for their motives and be raised on a pedestal to be admired? As well, could our figures of renown become denigrated, transformed into a hiss and a byword for the rest of time? It is our greatest wish for our contemporaries that they produce something to their credit that only time can reveal. It is the discredit to ourselves that we act as judge without the slightest part of evidence against the station of another.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
It's a tough day to be a chicken...even worse to be a pig.
This day is a red letter day for many but especially so for poor college slackers, retirees and anyone else willing to get up before six. Today marks the second annual Denny's free Grand Slam Giveaway (phrase not copyrighted) where you can get a Grand Slam for no charge at all, your drink and extras you still have to pay for though. Being as the Denny's Grand Slam breakfast is on my list of favorite things ever, maybe between twenty and thirty, I made it a point to go.
I didn't have to work today so I took my time getting there as well as eating my meal. I remember last year this event went on I had several classes during the day and I only had about an hour break in which I could take advantage of the deal. When I got to Denny's the wait was about 45 minutes. Disappointed I left without a Grand Slam to feed my hunger. Little did I know that this was to become an annual event and I would have another chance at the goodness that was two eggs, two 'cakes, two slices of bacon, and two sausage links (or any other combination of breakfast delights that you would like to arrange).
While waiting in the lobby, book in hand, a thought struck me. This Grand Slam gala is not just a corporate promotion luring in millions of hungry Americans into a single chain of restaurants, it is much more. Denny's has struck at becoming the Great Uniter! Around the country today, many are headed for the familiar green and gold and it's there that they are assembled together with no pretense. People of all kinds, with different beliefs and values, young and old are joined together under one accord: free food.
At the the tables you can see families enjoying each other, some might even be reuniting. Go to the bar and find that strangers are strangers no longer. Friends are there too and they are doing what they do best, simply being friends. All around this little microcosm there are no hard feelings, no disagreements. This is peace, and it is good.
What puzzles me is how this is so easy for Denny's to accomplish and yet for the leaders of our Nation it becomes a difficult feat. Capitol Hill needs to take note and emulate if they want to unity this country.
Such has been done to pit person against person these last few years with the Red State/Blue State debate that it's natural to want to tear the head off your neighbor. With so much controversy that has been stirred around it's almost as if the average Americans every were have been set down in a boxing ring with pundits in each corner screaming "Fight, fight, fright!" It's time for some deprogramming.
If you want to unite people, here's an idea: Give something away for free, something that is unanimously popular, but hold back the amenities; it's those you have to pay for. People will absolutely love you. Let's take an example, something like...phone service. Give your users free phone service but then have the options of paid texting or data. What an amazing plan this is that people will be jumping off their iPhone's just to sign up.
The premise here is simple. Just as I am more willing to drop a very generous tip (as I did) after enjoying a free meal so will consumers that might not take advantage of various products or services will instantly want them after being provided with something on the cheap. The law of subsidy needs to be closely reviewed here.
These syrup drenched thoughts of post-lard utopia are rather lofty but hey, so was the US Constitution. If they could do it then we can do it now with more bang than the framers could even dream of (and they could dream big, "Star-Spangled Banner anyone?) I'm just glad they didn't decide to pen the constitution in a breakfast serving tavern. A syrup stain would really ruin the symbolism.
My only question for you is if we can achieve peace at such a small level who is to say that we can't have world peace? I believe that every person; and I do mean every person, has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of pancakes!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Winter weather blunderland
This last Friday I woke up to the biggest snow that we've seen in over ten years. I was really disappointed because I was supposed to go to Charlotte that day and celebrate my friend's birthday. (Happy Birthday Devin!) I had the weekend off as well, how many times can you manage that? Reluctantly I stayed instead of braving the monsterous storm. However, being stuck at home isn't that much better.
I think snow is only fun when your younger. The older you get the more you learn to see snow as a fluffy nuisance. When your a kid all you have to worry about is school and when that gets canceled you then have time for the more important things in life such as video games, sledding, snow ball fights and hot chocolate. It's only when you grow up and get a job or have friends that aren't right across the block that snow looses some of it's magic.
It gets much worse when you have to shovel the stuff. By then no magic is left and you pretty much hate snow all together. I don't want to sound cynical but it's really hard to love something that has you walled in tighter than the FBI at Branch Davidian.
It was shoveling snow that I spent the most productive parts of my day. During that time I managed to pull myself away from my current dislike of the weather in order to snap a few photos documenting it. These are a few that I shot.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Connected. Or how my iPhone is ruining my life
Recently I acquired a device of masterful capabilities.
I can chat and game, I can surf the web and I can even keep up with my blog like I am doing right now. I am amazed every day at what it does that I often wonder at what it can't. This device is none other than my iPhone (or more specifically my iPod touch but iPhone sounds so much more sophisticated.) iPhones have become so mainstream and ubiquitous that you may be wondering why I am referring to it in mystic, shrouded terms like a cnet writer talking about the lasted electro-gadget. I can't answer that, I guess it's my vain attempt to take up valuable bandwidth talking about my life.
But having this, dare is say godsend, has been revolutionary. I can now do so much at one time. I have now become connected, one step closer to downloading my consciousness into the singularity. I have millions of apps at my fingertips now that encourage me to be more productive. I have a calender, an alarm clock and a thermometer. Now I know that these items individually aren't particularly spectacular enough to write about as they are, but when together in the confines of a sleek, black box suddenly productivity has become cool!
However, this sudden connection has me wondering if too much of a good thing is really a good idea. For instance, my family and I are watching the holiday classic Home Alone. Instead of sitting there and being content with laughing at the antics of a small child as he foils the attempts of two bumbling crooks as they try to rob his parents house I found my self itching to multitask. It seems as if I can't sit and do just one thing anymore. I may have an acute case of onset IIPADD, iPhone induced attention deficit disorder.
I've noticed how much my facebook usage has increased now that I can check and update my status on the fly. I've become one of Those People. You know the ones. They're the people that feel the need to announce every mundane moment of their lives. Now I'm no Ashton Kutcher and I still believe I will never own a Twitter account I just think I can now better understand Those People.
There is a more disturbing occurrence, however, and that is how much this thing is taking me away from my simple pleasures. I should really say that it's worming it's way into how I enjoy them. Those that know me also know how much I love to read. Usually I will bring a book to work to enjoy on my break. Now days it seems the iPhone has taken precedence. Its not that I've chosen to check my mail during my 30 minutes of solace, it's just that I found a way to read on this thing as well. I recently got an app containing two-hundred odd classics. And yes, Moby Dick is one of them. Gaming is another issue. Why play on a console when I have all the virtual rapture I can stand on this?
So I ask is there any redemption for me? Can I find peace? I think so, it just may take time, patience and a lot of thumb exercises. Until then I will love every moment spent with my new favorite friend.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone...was there any quesion?
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