I love technology; except when I don't. I had a rough draft for a stellar post. It was all about the documentary "Maxed Out". My thoughts and frustrations. However when I left my laptop it self-restarted because it self-updated and my entry didn't self-save.
The computer while a great invention can be frustrating and annoying. Maybe I get disappointed because I expect to much from them. If I lowered expectations I would probably be better off.
Since I am going to re-write my "Maxed Out" review later. I will just leave you with some great commentary on the foibles of technology.
Maybe I should get a Mac?
Course this one makes a good point...
26 April 2009
11 April 2009
Leading A More Productive Life
Wanted to share this blog post. It is from a blog I read regularly and it has some great observations about accomplishing goals. I see it as an explanation for why we always make the same New Years Resolutions or why some things are always on the "to-do" list. It is long but is well worth the time.
International vs Local
This video is a short lecture on international news coverage. I found it interesting as a geographer and it brought up some interesting questions. See below for my commentary.
Initially I was excited about the presenters use of maps. As a geography major I am keenly aware of how maps impact our perceptions. The news map did an excellent and powerful job of conveying her initial point. As she delved deeper into her topic I found myself agreeing with her. When I did a regional news study on the South Asian region I had a very hard time getting anything detailed. This despite the then new eruption of civil war in Sri Lanka and Nepal. But as she talked about local news coverage a thought began to pound at my brain.
"Is it really that important to be informed on world news?"
In college I would have emphatically said yes. Now I wonder. For thousands of years humans across the planet lived and died knowing very little about the wider world. Even with our increased communications and transportation most people confine their daily life to a small geographic area. An earthquake in Italy might be interesting but it doesn't really impact those living in Utah. However an Amber alert or news of road construction is important and useful information.
So what is the role of news? What is fit to print? These are questions I could probably answer if I had ever taken a journalism class. But for now I will just have to think on it.
Initially I was excited about the presenters use of maps. As a geography major I am keenly aware of how maps impact our perceptions. The news map did an excellent and powerful job of conveying her initial point. As she delved deeper into her topic I found myself agreeing with her. When I did a regional news study on the South Asian region I had a very hard time getting anything detailed. This despite the then new eruption of civil war in Sri Lanka and Nepal. But as she talked about local news coverage a thought began to pound at my brain.
"Is it really that important to be informed on world news?"
In college I would have emphatically said yes. Now I wonder. For thousands of years humans across the planet lived and died knowing very little about the wider world. Even with our increased communications and transportation most people confine their daily life to a small geographic area. An earthquake in Italy might be interesting but it doesn't really impact those living in Utah. However an Amber alert or news of road construction is important and useful information.
So what is the role of news? What is fit to print? These are questions I could probably answer if I had ever taken a journalism class. But for now I will just have to think on it.
A Change in Style
It was brought to my attention that to have a blog and to be a blogger are two very different things. Currently I have a blog but I am not a blogger. Mostly this is because I haven't figured out what kind of blogger I want to be. I do know that I don't want to be the type that seldom updates. I also don't want the blog to be all about my personal life. I do want it to be informative and interesting. A place where my friends can learn something.
So in my quest for a blogger birth I am going to start experimenting with different types of entries. Feel free to tell me what you like and what falls flat.
So in my quest for a blogger birth I am going to start experimenting with different types of entries. Feel free to tell me what you like and what falls flat.
09 February 2009
Any Suggestions?
Constantly on the look out for new stuff, I am always trying to get suggestions for stuff to watch, listen to, or read. This can be difficult. Friends suggest books that I find boring. Co-workers rave about movies I end up sleeping through. New bands don't seem to be as good as my old standards. If you have this problem let me recommend a couple cool web utilities
For music: Pandora. I have already got my entire family hooked on Pandora. Pandora is an online radio station prog
ram. Using an artist you enjoy they consult their vast database to find music that is similar. Sometimes they play stuff I already know and love but mostly it is new. Pandora also learns the more you use it. As you listen you can give songs a thumbs up or a thumbs down. Pandora uses these ratings to fine tune what they play. You can have up to 100 stations which provides tons of variety. If you haven't tried it you should.For books: Amazon. You can use the online bookstore to help you find things you might want to read. Amazon tracks the buying habits of their shoppers (can you say Big Brother?) this gives them a large database. You can use that vast database to your advantage. To do this log into your Amazon account. Make a wish list of all your favorite and most hated books. Then from your Amazon homepage click on "improve my recommendations" and rate your books. Amazon will now give solid recommendations based on those ratings. If you already have lists or a long buying history with Amazon just go straight to "improve my recommendations". Conceivably you could do the same thing for movies but I like to use something else.
For movies: Netflix. We all know I love Netflix. Like Amazon, Netflix tracks its users activity to create recommendations. These recommendations can be spooki
ly accurate and like Pandora the more you rate the better they are. If you don't want to pay for a subscription you can still use Netflix to get great recommendations. All you do is sign-up for a free trial. Then before they can send you any movies (or before the month is up) put a hold on the account. This way you can rate movies, recieve recommendations but don't have to pay. However keeping Netflix on the lowest plan is only going to set you back $5 a month and is well worth it.
ly accurate and like Pandora the more you rate the better they are. If you don't want to pay for a subscription you can still use Netflix to get great recommendations. All you do is sign-up for a free trial. Then before they can send you any movies (or before the month is up) put a hold on the account. This way you can rate movies, recieve recommendations but don't have to pay. However keeping Netflix on the lowest plan is only going to set you back $5 a month and is well worth it.For all three: Tastkid. Tastekid is the simplest and easiest tool to use. Simply type in a band, book or movie you like and it will spit out ten suggestions. The suggestions are varied and pretty accurate considering the amount of information you gave it. I recently introduced my sister to this and she was enthralled. I highly recommend it for those times when you just want a good suggestion with minimal effort.
So now you have no excuse not to be constantly finding new and interesting things to read, watch or listen to. Good luck and drop me any good suggestions you might have!
01 February 2009
"And Then I Feel Mortality Surround Me"
This last week I have been preparing paperwork for my will and a health care power of attorney. Not because I expect to die in the near future, but because I believe in being prepared. But placing a dollar amount on my life has put death on my mind.
In Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic Death is a character that shows up when the hero is in dire circumstances. Death also figures hilariously in Good Omens a novel by both Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (who is probably my favorite modern author). In these novels he is personified with the typical cloak and scythe but has a much better sense of humor. (Incidentally I just remembered that in 5th grade I was the Grim Reaper, with a blood-stained tinfoil scythe, for Halloween.) The personification of death in this way is really just an attempt to make sense of something that can seem random and impersonal.
As a member of the United States military I have many friends currently serving or preparing to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan. Because of this I have prepared myself for the possibility of having to attend their funerals. But I was shocked today when I learned that the little sister of a good high school friend had died. Death in a combat zone I understand. Death on a Idaho highway is hard to wrap my head around. Yet it is not all darkness.
The death of such a young, and vibrant person is sad but with a knowledge of the Plan of Salvation I know it isn't a tragedy. She will be reunited with her husband and have the opportunity to raise children. She will continue to live and grow. My heart and prayers go out to her family. I hope they also know that despite the pain and sadness that death brings it is not the end.
My knowledge and testimony of the Gospel gives me peace and understanding when dealing with death. I still fear it and don't know if I could ever be like Peter Pan and declare; "to die will be an awfully big adventure". I am content with having peace and comfort. The rest will have to come later.
In Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic Death is a character that shows up when the hero is in dire circumstances. Death also figures hilariously in Good Omens a novel by both Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (who is probably my favorite modern author). In these novels he is personified with the typical cloak and scythe but has a much better sense of humor. (Incidentally I just remembered that in 5th grade I was the Grim Reaper, with a blood-stained tinfoil scythe, for Halloween.) The personification of death in this way is really just an attempt to make sense of something that can seem random and impersonal.
As a member of the United States military I have many friends currently serving or preparing to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan. Because of this I have prepared myself for the possibility of having to attend their funerals. But I was shocked today when I learned that the little sister of a good high school friend had died. Death in a combat zone I understand. Death on a Idaho highway is hard to wrap my head around. Yet it is not all darkness.
The death of such a young, and vibrant person is sad but with a knowledge of the Plan of Salvation I know it isn't a tragedy. She will be reunited with her husband and have the opportunity to raise children. She will continue to live and grow. My heart and prayers go out to her family. I hope they also know that despite the pain and sadness that death brings it is not the end.
My knowledge and testimony of the Gospel gives me peace and understanding when dealing with death. I still fear it and don't know if I could ever be like Peter Pan and declare; "to die will be an awfully big adventure". I am content with having peace and comfort. The rest will have to come later.
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