The Frogs were tired of governing themselves. They had so much freedom that it had spoiled them.
Perspective -- We need more of it
Last night, a good friend sent me this quote from Bill Hicks:
“Today a young man on acid realized that all
matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, that we are all
one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such
thing as death, life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of
ourselves. Here's Tom with the Weather.”
My immediate thought and reply was that one need not get even so esoteric in one's thinking. This example instantly popped into my head:
Personal Explorations in Photography
One of my avocations is photography. Although I am somewhat horrible at photography, I enjoy it nonetheless.
As I get back into this hobby after some time away from it, my intent is to "carry on a conversation with myself" here in the blog. As I come across key insights and basic instructables, I'll post replies to this blog post. My learning style lends itself to ten or twenty minute bursts of information which I can then go put into practice and explore. Therefore, my intent is to keep these limited to "short burst" articles rather than entire books or publications.
I'm not working in film (aka the "real raw"). This means my explorations will be limited exclusively to digital photography. I am also not terribly interested in Photoshop and re-touch. My focus is on the craft and art of getting the shot right "in the moment" it is taken, whenever possible.
If you find similar articles which help develop the technical and artistic competency of novice-to-intermediate photographers -- I invite you to post them as replies here, as well!
As I get back into this hobby after some time away from it, my intent is to "carry on a conversation with myself" here in the blog. As I come across key insights and basic instructables, I'll post replies to this blog post. My learning style lends itself to ten or twenty minute bursts of information which I can then go put into practice and explore. Therefore, my intent is to keep these limited to "short burst" articles rather than entire books or publications.
I'm not working in film (aka the "real raw"). This means my explorations will be limited exclusively to digital photography. I am also not terribly interested in Photoshop and re-touch. My focus is on the craft and art of getting the shot right "in the moment" it is taken, whenever possible.
If you find similar articles which help develop the technical and artistic competency of novice-to-intermediate photographers -- I invite you to post them as replies here, as well!
Getting to frugal
I have a confession. In my personal life, I have the "cheap" gene.
Cheap is bad. Cheap leads you to avoid issues, take shortcuts and incur unnecessary stress.
Frugal is good. Frugal ensures you get value for that which you realize is a realistic and healthy use of your funds.
I sometimes have anxiety when buying non-essentials. This can even happen when buying things that are required, but my "cheap" gene is talking me out of them. How do I personally address this?
Cheap is bad. Cheap leads you to avoid issues, take shortcuts and incur unnecessary stress.
Frugal is good. Frugal ensures you get value for that which you realize is a realistic and healthy use of your funds.
I sometimes have anxiety when buying non-essentials. This can even happen when buying things that are required, but my "cheap" gene is talking me out of them. How do I personally address this?
A Star Trek replicator - coming to a desk near you!
The more I see of it, the more I am convinced 3D printing is THE game changer of the next decade.
What is referral spam and how do I discourage it?
A note from the management. If you run a blog and you suddenly see an influx of traffic in your referral log, take care. Some of the traffic may be from what are called "blog spammers" or "referral spammers".
Detail is not wordiness
I've noticed a current trend in United States written discourse. "Cursory skimming" is at an all-time high. It stands to reason given the on-demand, internet-search-driven mode of information delivery today. Compound that with Twitter and texting becoming more prevalent and the trend seems pretty pronounced. I'm observing this "skimming mania" in many modes of communication from websites, to emails, to brochures.
With this skimming comes a side-effect. If you do not very explicitly state your meaning on every key point you write, with detail and in several clauses apiece, the reader doesn't find enough key words to catch their eye. They skip right over major points.
What is the result?
With this skimming comes a side-effect. If you do not very explicitly state your meaning on every key point you write, with detail and in several clauses apiece, the reader doesn't find enough key words to catch their eye. They skip right over major points.
What is the result?
Bubbles... tiny bubbles...
Are you experiencing the world? Or are you experiencing your world? With the increasing importance of the Web and Internet Search in our daily lives, it surprises me how many people still don't know...
The Death of the Channel?
So, I am channel surfing the "modern" way... via the channel guide grid. As I do so, I end up stumbling into a channel with the schedule:
The 700 Club religious program at 7.
The Jerry Springer show at 8.
A hunting show at 9.
Some random 90's sit com at 10.
At first this seemed peculiar. Then I considered several options. I'm only hypothesizing, but one reasonable explanation is that this "channel" has lost all cohesion as a brand because it really doesn't intend to be viewed as a channel that holds your attention. One can nimbly schedule content in each half-hour block to compete with other channels' offerings, forgoing any attempt at a channel brand identity. In the new paradigm of on-demand tivo and content that is often discovered by a Search function moreso than channel surfing... this may be the next step beyond the virtual programming blocks like Adult Swim we saw surface a few years ago.
Perhaps to some in "the industry" they know this and can confirm it. But to me looking in from simply a technologist's perspetive, if it isn't the strategy, it certainly makes sense that it can now BECOME the strategy.
The 700 Club religious program at 7.
The Jerry Springer show at 8.
A hunting show at 9.
Some random 90's sit com at 10.
At first this seemed peculiar. Then I considered several options. I'm only hypothesizing, but one reasonable explanation is that this "channel" has lost all cohesion as a brand because it really doesn't intend to be viewed as a channel that holds your attention. One can nimbly schedule content in each half-hour block to compete with other channels' offerings, forgoing any attempt at a channel brand identity. In the new paradigm of on-demand tivo and content that is often discovered by a Search function moreso than channel surfing... this may be the next step beyond the virtual programming blocks like Adult Swim we saw surface a few years ago.
Perhaps to some in "the industry" they know this and can confirm it. But to me looking in from simply a technologist's perspetive, if it isn't the strategy, it certainly makes sense that it can now BECOME the strategy.
How to lose audience by thinking you're "oh so clever" in 3...2...1...
Here's how you can simultaneously show you are incompetent, untrustworthy, show no attention to detail, and have no business speaking to or referring others on important matters... all at the same time! Ready? <Click the jump link>
sin non city...
The recent release of Sim City, in a design driven by paranoid digital rights management and a resulting need to force traffic through centralized sites, has fallen on its face spectacularly. Here is one of many articles outlining the headaches Electronic Arts has pawned off onto paying customers.
This prompts me to share part of the reason I have deliberately not played an EA game since the year 2005.
This prompts me to share part of the reason I have deliberately not played an EA game since the year 2005.
Hush! We were never here…
When I read articles like this,
they bring me to a simple conclusion. We need to evolve our institutions, education
and morality at a much faster pace.
We are entering an era where
time and the ability to prove someone was ever present are becoming uncertainties.
Without careful consideration of what technologies individuals have a right to
use in their own defense, we will face astounding challenges of predation.
Brother, can you spare a Yuan?
I’ve seen this argument a lot lately. We’re in a pretty bad spot when even the apologists
for debt and the security of the dollar are basing their case on the
technicality of, "well, people need the dollar because people use the
dollar.” Or worse, “in a world of bad alternatives, the dollar is the best
one." It really doesn't take a lot for that to change.
He I, He I... Oh
Sometimes friends and associates give me grief for over-using the first person during discussions. I am aware it sometimes comes off as egotistical, but there is a more central reason for it. The practice stems from my viewpoint on the world.
"I" seems, to me, more honest and based on personal experience.
"You" or "they" is more often judgmental, a degree removed, and likely to be wrong.
"I" seems, to me, more honest and based on personal experience.
"You" or "they" is more often judgmental, a degree removed, and likely to be wrong.
What is satisfaction? Invite your customers to spy on you.
In the news recently. A couple who wanted to have their wedding at a ritzy
five-star hotel found out in a not-so-pleasant way... it isn't going to happen.
The hotel's wedding planner sent an email to her boss and accidentally cc'd
the couple saying, "I know this probably doesn't sound very nice, but I am
trying to put this wedding off as I don't think they are the type of people
that we would want to have at Stoke
Park."
I will avoid debating the rights of a private
establishment to refuse service to whomever they choose. I'll also ignore the fact the bride
in question is adult glamour model Pauline Bailey.
There’s another customer service lesson here besides
remembering to watch the cc line in those emails. The lesson is: think positively
about your customers and pretend like they’re eavesdropping on everything
you say about them.
Not-so-super man?
For those who don’t follow
comics, the movie character Iron Man comes from a long tradition of comic
stories about a billionaire playboy who moonlights as a superhero. This
hedonist-with-a-heart has played well for some time. It is no surprise Iron Man
enjoys high popularity in today’s society. But now publishers are altering
other, even more iconic characters in order to “relate” to modern
audiences. This is not a crisis. But does it really serve us and our social
dialog, or does it just further promote our propensity to live in bubbles of
isolation?
The Two-Team Fallacy and The Sports Centerization of Politics
Although I discuss politics very
little (so far) in public forums, I have long opined to my friends about US
politics being incorrectly cast in the framework of “home versus away”, “red
versus blue”, and even “good versus evil”.
Plan as though you'll live forever...
Many of us have seen the saying, "plan for tomorrow, but live for today."
After pondering what bothered me about that saying, I finally landed on a replacement thought...
"Plan as though you'll live forever. Live as if it is your first day on earth."
After pondering what bothered me about that saying, I finally landed on a replacement thought...
"Plan as though you'll live forever. Live as if it is your first day on earth."
The Power of Coming Right Out and Saying It
This post and its excellent title really spoke to me. It helped me bolt together
a few loose observations I’ve had laying around for awhile.
Modern Fashion?
In other news...
Police are still searching for the suspect or suspects who slaughtered the entire cast of My Little Pony and used the remnants to start a new line of clothing.
Police are still searching for the suspect or suspects who slaughtered the entire cast of My Little Pony and used the remnants to start a new line of clothing.
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