And then…

What if?

I was having a conversation with a friend recently about the possibilities that come with new technology.  I have past experience in the museum world and thought I might return to it post-graduate school in order to use the internet to build interactive exhibitions.  I understand that a museum’s chief aim is to get visitors in the door to explore the collections, but, I strongly believe that by creating online cultural attractions, museums (and other cultural institutions) may offer their educational wares, as it were, to the public both in the institution and for those who cannot come through the doors.  I think, eventually, this will catch on, but for the time being, the uptake seems to be slower than I would have thought.  The conversation progressed to businesses and brands beyond the museum world and their ability to move as quickly as the technology allows.  Most have moved quickly into the interactive, using it to gain a new digital audience through viral marketing, re-branding techniques and the creation of communities.  Some are hesitant, relying on tried and true ways to maintain.  In the past, major brands have failed to see the future and have paid for it.  Could Sports Illustrated have been ESPN?  Rolling Stone have been MTV? These were highly circulated and well-respected magazine publications that missed the boat on television.  All of these now have extensive and impressive websites, but what about those that have yet to make a solid transition to web?  We are in the midst of another time of major technological shift and it is time companies examine the possibilities before they may be left behind, comfortable.

String Around my Finger

Why can’t I remember stuff?

This has to be one of my favorite things going on online these days: Evernote.  I have never been much of a list maker, but this goes beyond the normal to-dos of the past.  The application allows you to capture basically anything you see and keep it on your desktop or on the web.  Supposedly, the application works even better on an iPhone (no I cannot verify this for myself…but maybe one day…or maybe an Android!).  Even without the picture snapping ability in the palm of my hand, Evernote helps me remember book and movie reviews I read, restaurants I want to check out, wine bottles I like or just notes to myself to pick up my dry cleaning.  In the past, I have been a big fan of the online Stickies (for practical purposes and their nostalgia factor).  Evernote knocks out Stickies in the first round.  Cold.

Mused

Aren’t people tired of the antics of Hunter S. Thompson?

I am going to try not to gush like a teenage girl, but I must admit my anticipation and enthusiasm concerning the new Hunter S. Thompson documentary, Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson.  The New York Times review describes the film better than I can, however this coverage (both the review and the documentary itself) of Thompson and his work seem to be more accurate and less…hokey…as the feature film and biopic stoners and hipsters (myself included) have come to enjoy.  Why am I blogging about this documentary?  Simple.  I am not your average Thompson devotee, I suppose, but as an undergraduate creative writing major at  a highly respected, yet stuffy institution of higher learning, I found solace in the voice of the Gonzo journalist while my classmates lauded John Updike and Vladamir Nobokov.  Don’t get me wrong,  I can appreciate some  perfected realism.  I have always been attracted to a more pungent narrative style in my own writings that has been nothing short of inspired (there I said it) by the freedom of writing from one’s own silent, but constant noise from within.  David Carr, the Times writer, is quick to point out that Thompson’s drug and alcohol fueled words could never have been so…toxic without the assistance of said substances, a caveat used in all commentary concerning Thompson’s expansive career.  No doubt such antics were recipe for the often winding prose, but it is not the lifestyle I was (or am) attracted to.  It is the use of language to weave a tale so visceral and visual that the words become moving images in my head.  I read Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail first, then proceeded to digest the entire repertoire throughout early college.  At the suggestion of my two siblings, I tuned in to Thompson’s weekly musings on ESPN.com’s Page 2.  His Hey, Rube column loosely  covered sports happenings and his complaints on such, but  more broadly spoke to America and societal problems.  The columns were entirely succinct, yet ruthless, and this was the voice I craved.  Now that I have gone onto the world of graduate school and interactive media, I often forget my writing roots (oh dear, sappy tendencies once again).  I suppose I started this post to hush the underlying  sounds of those skeptics that have heard enough nonsense from Thompson and those still in his camp.  The documentary aims to shift perspective surrounding the Gonzo legacy from the outrageous day-to-day outbursts of the man himself to the true professional and unique writing career he created and sustained, which, in short, brings me back to his work time and again.

Either Or

Why do we pick a particular candidate?

I don’t claim to know alot about politics, but I have an opinion here and there.  This morning, 23/6 reported a bit on Jim Webb’s Vice prospects.  Here come my caveats (followed shortly by my point, I promise).  The original  article concerning Webb’s interest in running alongside Obama appeared in the Washington Times, a paper known for its conservative point of view.  Secondly, 23/6 is known for its often light-hearted take on…well… lots of things.  The  website proceeds to make a pros and cons list of Webb’s, including his “a-hole factor” (5) and his “vibe” (manly).

In my opinion, most Americans will make their voting decision based on how much they like a particular candidate.  Others will decide strictly on party lines.  More times than not, though, both of these decision-making factors have very very little to do with what each candidate actually stands for politically.  Again, perhaps I am not giving the American public enough credit, but I bet most Americans cannot tell me more than one thing either candidate stands for.  But they will say “McCain is too old” or “Obama is inexperienced.”  What about McCain’s stance on social security?   Or what Obama wants to do with bankruptcy laws and mortgage fraud to jump start the economy?  Don’t know?  These issues affect the American individual much more significantly than Obama’s connection to his former minister or McCain’s wife’s annual income.  Is the media to blame for fueling the hype?  Sure, partly.

Shouldn’t we educate ourselves about what we are voting for – what a candidate will do once actually elected – rather than making snap judgments based on unimportant factors of personal character?  I can respect a vote for any candidate if the decision is well-informed, not just based on hype alone.