Continuing on with my Chris Brogan topic of 100 Blog Topics I Hope You Write...
# 59. Twitter is Too Simple- Twitter is Just Right
I had heard friends talking about "twitter" and "tweeter." So I did a little exploring. From what I gather, twitter is merely a non-branded "update" that you use to update friends and family about what you're doing. Think "status update" from MySpace or "what are you doing?" from Facebook, but not used on any particular application.
I have a slight problem with this. It's not that it's too simple, and it's not that it's just right. More and more we move away from being a physically social society and move towards being almost wholly technical. While this may be convenient and efficient, it ruins the whole aspect of personality. We have smarthomes, we have smartphones. We have cars that talk to us. We talk to cars. We have voice recognition on anything under the sun. Now we have a way of keeping friends and family informed on any aspect of our lives (or as many times as we want to hop online and update) over the internet.
What happened to a phone call? Let's take talking to people, and trace it on back:
45,000 - 10,000 years ago: Cro Magnon Man
1000+ AD - smoke signals used as a form of communication
Late 1700s - telegraph invented and used as means of communication by deciphering morse code.
Mid 1800s - many ideas of a "telephone" arise but no funds to patent idea
1875 - Bell patents "Transmitters and Receivers for Electric Telegraphs."
1876 - First clear transmission of a voice using liquid transmitter when Bell spoke into his device, " Mr Watson, come here. I want to see you."
Early 20th century - "real" telephones introduced.
April 1973 - first public call made on a cellular phone.
1989 - first "text message" sent via a beeper using numbers read upside down as letters.
1993 - first SMS messaging sent to wish "Merry Christmas."
1995 - Customers send average 0.4 messages per month using SMS.
2000 - number of messages per customer per month averages around 35.
2004 - Text messaging confirmed to being addictive by the study of the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.
Present - study at the Queensland University of Australia has found that text messaging is the most addictive digital service on mobile or internet, and is equivalent in addictiveness to cigarette smoking.
So here we are. We go from speaking to one another to punching out morse messages to one another....to phoning one another...to using a cell phone to talk to one another.....to text messaging instead of calling. Now, instead of doing any of those things, we're merely taking the anonymous and impersonal approach of telling anyone who cares what we're currently doing by posting it online.
While it seems like a good idea, I find it impersonal if used as your sole means of communicating with persons you know as to what's up in your life.
Showing posts with label 100 blog topics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 100 blog topics. Show all posts
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
100 Blog Topics I Hope You Write: # 4
Continuing on from yesterday with Chris Brogan's 100 Blog Topics (www.chrisbrogan.com), here is my newest post:
# 4. A Community I Love
This was a more difficult topic for me to address than almost any other topic. I gather that Chris meant "online community" or community in general. I can't decide what community I "love." The English major came through with me, and I thought of the most obscure linking between what I am about to write and the topic at hand. As long as I have "evidence" to support my statement, I'll be okay. Most of you know why I love the people where I lived in South Georgia between 10-17 years of age so I chose a new one...
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND (SCOTLAND IN GENERAL)
Photos: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/236200964CLYHEH
I first went to Scotland in December 2004 so that is the time I will write about here. We (Krissy and I) were a little more than completely stoked about going to Scotland. We flew in through Amsterdam and landed in the small Edinburgh airport after a shuttle from Holland to Scotland. That, right there, was funny to me. Our taxi driver was not only friendly but informative, explaining to us that Edinburgh is divided by the castle in the middle of the main city. (The suburbs of Edinburgh are much like Atlanta - where there is a "Buckhead" in Atlanta, GA, but the town of "Buckhead" is not the same place). One one side of the castle and the gardens is "New Edinburgh." Buildings ranging from 1700 to present. On the opposite side of the castle is "Old Edinburgh" dating 1700 to 0 (see "Picts" - aka "tribal Scotland.") We stayed in "New Edinburgh" a block away from the castle off George Street (behind the "main drag" of Princes Street).
When we were on our flight from Atlanta to Amsterdam, we accosted two Scotsmen waiting for the restroom near our seats and asked them, "if there were places to visit in Scotland in one week that weren't touristy and couldn't be missed, what would they be?" They gave us a list of places, "William Wallace Monument in Stirling," "Urquhart Castle on the Loch," as well as "Standing Order" and "Espionage" (two pubs/bars). The night we arrived in Scotland, we went touring to the pubs. We started to walk into "Standing Order," but never made it inside.
As we were walking inside, three guys came walking out of the bar. When we said "thanks" (for them holding the door open), we were stopped immediately and asked "where ya frum? Canada?" We replied, "The States," and it was downhill from there. No, we never made it into "Standing Order" that night. Instead, we followed our new friends (two Scottish Army soldiers and their DD) around Edinburgh. I learned the difference between "green" and "orange," and I learned about Parliament, etc. In the middle of that was listening to the Scots sing American songs in karaoke at the "American Pub" - "The Filling Station." I walked into a private house by accident...turned around quickly. We compared tattoos, and it was a great night all around. Krissy was being fought over by the two soldiers, and I talked current events and Scottish facts with the DD.
The reason why I love Scotland, in general, not just Edinburgh, is everyone is friendly and helpful. Yes, we were two American college girls, but we were opting against tourist stuff and opting for things like small towns, local restaurants, local memorials, etc. as opposed to the "Ten pounds gives you a haunted tour!" type of stuff. We went to Stirling and Inverness. We stopped along small towns on the way up to Inverness and then Drumnadrochit.
It was 2am one night in Old Edinburgh, and we were walking towards Grassmarket (Diagon Alley from Harry Potter was based off of Grassmarket). People were still alive and kickin' - eating fish n' chips walking down the street in a euphoric alcohol bliss. "Good Evening!" a man called out. I can't remember why we shook hands, but it was just a "hey how's it going?" type of thing. He grabbed Krissy's hands, "Warm hands......cold heart." He grabbed my hands and smiled, "Cooooool hands.....warm heart" bid us good night, and continued on his way, picking up where he left off with fish n' chips. At 3am, we were still walking around Old Edinburgh...so were others. Yes, let me repeat that. It was 3am. Two girls walking alone, and we felt completely safe. Come to find out, that's just how it is in Scotland and in Edinburgh. Of course, we weren't drunk or drinking so that helped, too.
Heading up to Inverness and Drumnadrochit, we stopped at a small town with a local bakery. The local baker was MORE than happy to see us, smiled, and chatted a bit while we got hot chocolate (real hot chocolate) and a pastry for breakfast. We opted against meat and kidney pies...and haggis, for that matter.
One of the final nights we were there, Krissy and I walked around "New Edinburgh" - past an old cemetery behind the castle, past left over pict carvings in stone marking the entry into "Old Edinburgh." Once you go to Scotland, it pulls at you to go back. All of the above reasons and millions more are what makes "Scotland...a community I love."
# 4. A Community I Love
This was a more difficult topic for me to address than almost any other topic. I gather that Chris meant "online community" or community in general. I can't decide what community I "love." The English major came through with me, and I thought of the most obscure linking between what I am about to write and the topic at hand. As long as I have "evidence" to support my statement, I'll be okay. Most of you know why I love the people where I lived in South Georgia between 10-17 years of age so I chose a new one...
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND (SCOTLAND IN GENERAL)
Photos: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/236200964CLYHEH
I first went to Scotland in December 2004 so that is the time I will write about here. We (Krissy and I) were a little more than completely stoked about going to Scotland. We flew in through Amsterdam and landed in the small Edinburgh airport after a shuttle from Holland to Scotland. That, right there, was funny to me. Our taxi driver was not only friendly but informative, explaining to us that Edinburgh is divided by the castle in the middle of the main city. (The suburbs of Edinburgh are much like Atlanta - where there is a "Buckhead" in Atlanta, GA, but the town of "Buckhead" is not the same place). One one side of the castle and the gardens is "New Edinburgh." Buildings ranging from 1700 to present. On the opposite side of the castle is "Old Edinburgh" dating 1700 to 0 (see "Picts" - aka "tribal Scotland.") We stayed in "New Edinburgh" a block away from the castle off George Street (behind the "main drag" of Princes Street).
When we were on our flight from Atlanta to Amsterdam, we accosted two Scotsmen waiting for the restroom near our seats and asked them, "if there were places to visit in Scotland in one week that weren't touristy and couldn't be missed, what would they be?" They gave us a list of places, "William Wallace Monument in Stirling," "Urquhart Castle on the Loch," as well as "Standing Order" and "Espionage" (two pubs/bars). The night we arrived in Scotland, we went touring to the pubs. We started to walk into "Standing Order," but never made it inside.
As we were walking inside, three guys came walking out of the bar. When we said "thanks" (for them holding the door open), we were stopped immediately and asked "where ya frum? Canada?" We replied, "The States," and it was downhill from there. No, we never made it into "Standing Order" that night. Instead, we followed our new friends (two Scottish Army soldiers and their DD) around Edinburgh. I learned the difference between "green" and "orange," and I learned about Parliament, etc. In the middle of that was listening to the Scots sing American songs in karaoke at the "American Pub" - "The Filling Station." I walked into a private house by accident...turned around quickly. We compared tattoos, and it was a great night all around. Krissy was being fought over by the two soldiers, and I talked current events and Scottish facts with the DD.
The reason why I love Scotland, in general, not just Edinburgh, is everyone is friendly and helpful. Yes, we were two American college girls, but we were opting against tourist stuff and opting for things like small towns, local restaurants, local memorials, etc. as opposed to the "Ten pounds gives you a haunted tour!" type of stuff. We went to Stirling and Inverness. We stopped along small towns on the way up to Inverness and then Drumnadrochit.
It was 2am one night in Old Edinburgh, and we were walking towards Grassmarket (Diagon Alley from Harry Potter was based off of Grassmarket). People were still alive and kickin' - eating fish n' chips walking down the street in a euphoric alcohol bliss. "Good Evening!" a man called out. I can't remember why we shook hands, but it was just a "hey how's it going?" type of thing. He grabbed Krissy's hands, "Warm hands......cold heart." He grabbed my hands and smiled, "Cooooool hands.....warm heart" bid us good night, and continued on his way, picking up where he left off with fish n' chips. At 3am, we were still walking around Old Edinburgh...so were others. Yes, let me repeat that. It was 3am. Two girls walking alone, and we felt completely safe. Come to find out, that's just how it is in Scotland and in Edinburgh. Of course, we weren't drunk or drinking so that helped, too.
Heading up to Inverness and Drumnadrochit, we stopped at a small town with a local bakery. The local baker was MORE than happy to see us, smiled, and chatted a bit while we got hot chocolate (real hot chocolate) and a pastry for breakfast. We opted against meat and kidney pies...and haggis, for that matter.
One of the final nights we were there, Krissy and I walked around "New Edinburgh" - past an old cemetery behind the castle, past left over pict carvings in stone marking the entry into "Old Edinburgh." Once you go to Scotland, it pulls at you to go back. All of the above reasons and millions more are what makes "Scotland...a community I love."
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
100 Blog Topics I Hope You Write: # 83.
Chris Brogan wrote a blog entitled 100 things I hope you write:
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/100-blog-topics-i-hope-you-write/
So I am choosing a number each day on the topics I can write about...or for those of you that know me - each blog post will have a new topic (possibly several posts a day).
#83. Letting Go.
Not knowing Chris personally, I read through some of the blog posts including the list of 100 things. I've realized that the phrase, "Letting Go" has multiple connotations...some of which I will address here as well as give you a little insight into who I am.
When someone says, "letting go" or "just let go," I have an image in my head. It's of someone in a climbing harness on the edge of a cliff, and someone below them saying, "just let go." The climber is safe in their harness, but they can't get out of their head that here they are, hanging on a cliff, scared to "let go."
I compare this to my first rappelling experience at North Georgia. I had no need of "having" to rappel, but I wanted to rappel. After all, this was a military school, and we had a small rappelling wall right there on campus (Mountain Order of Colombo - promotes interest in military mountaineering and small unit infantry tactics). My first rappelling experience wasn't at that rappelling wall - it was on "The 9's." Now let me tell you about "The 9's." Already, my NGC fellows are smiling. "The 9s" are located right after Hwy 9 and Hwy 19/60 split. One portion goes around the mountain towards Blairsville, and the other portion goes around the other side of the mountain (much more mountainous and curvy road) towards Suches.
"The 9s" are, of course, located on the Highway 9 branch heading towards Suches past Trahlyta's Grave (pile of stones said to mark the grave of Trahlyta, a Cherokee princess who knew the location of hidden "youth" springs - custom among Cherokee and whites to lay a rock on the gravesite for good tidings and luck). I digress. As you head on Hwy 9 north, you come to a jagged rockface slathered with grafitti, some small springs popping up over the rocks, and there is "The 9s." We climbed to the top, cabled in, and here I go, I can't let go.
My fingers are turning white gripping the rope and then the edge of the rock. It takes awhile for me to breathe, take a deep breath, and release as my feet push off in my first rappelling jump.
That release. That deep breath. The release of that breath while letting go was one of the best feelings. I was letting go, but I knew I would not fall. That mindset can be applied figuratively as well as literally. Letting go but not falling.
Why is it hard to "let go"? I mean this subject of "it" in the sense of relaxation or stress or frustrations, etc. Why is it that we find ourselves saying things like, "I really need a break" or "a rest would be nice" or "it'd be nice to have a little help," but we don't do anything about it. We don't change, and we can't seem to "let go" of what we need a break or a rest from. Why is this so difficult?
Is it because of the familiarity we have with whatever it is we need to "let go"? Is it because we're comfortable with this "it" that we need to "let go"? Are we afraid of what might happen if we do let go? Yes, yes, and yes, or at least those are my opinions. We gain this familiarity and comfort level with whatever it is. We worry about what it would be like to "let go," and it scares us - similar to the initial push off a rock face when rappelling. The "it" can be positive or negative. Hypothetically speaking of relationships "it" can be your heart, your guard, your ability and want to love this person...but worried about the consequences. The "it" in the negative sense can be a relationship you were in that didn't work, but you can't let go of "it."
"Letting go" doesn't mean running willy nilly with no control over anything you do or say. It means little things.
1. Take some time to reflect about something that has frustrated you or bothered you.
2. Don't dig yourself deeper. Don't make yourself even more upset or annoyed. Don't make false judgments.
3. Just think about WHY that frustrates you.
4. WHY does it bother you, and what you can do to "let go" of it? The more you hang onto whatever it is, the worse you will feel, and the harder it becomes to "let go."
Luke 1:13 says, "Fear not, Zachary, for your prayer is heard."
Isaiah 43:1a-3b says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."
I don't know about you, but those passages right there seem to be God's way of saying, "No matter what, I got your back." I don't think there's any better wingman you'd want than God. So reflect. Relax. Breathe, and let go. He's got your back no matter what.
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/100-blog-topics-i-hope-you-write/
So I am choosing a number each day on the topics I can write about...or for those of you that know me - each blog post will have a new topic (possibly several posts a day).
#83. Letting Go.
Not knowing Chris personally, I read through some of the blog posts including the list of 100 things. I've realized that the phrase, "Letting Go" has multiple connotations...some of which I will address here as well as give you a little insight into who I am.
When someone says, "letting go" or "just let go," I have an image in my head. It's of someone in a climbing harness on the edge of a cliff, and someone below them saying, "just let go." The climber is safe in their harness, but they can't get out of their head that here they are, hanging on a cliff, scared to "let go."
I compare this to my first rappelling experience at North Georgia. I had no need of "having" to rappel, but I wanted to rappel. After all, this was a military school, and we had a small rappelling wall right there on campus (Mountain Order of Colombo - promotes interest in military mountaineering and small unit infantry tactics). My first rappelling experience wasn't at that rappelling wall - it was on "The 9's." Now let me tell you about "The 9's." Already, my NGC fellows are smiling. "The 9s" are located right after Hwy 9 and Hwy 19/60 split. One portion goes around the mountain towards Blairsville, and the other portion goes around the other side of the mountain (much more mountainous and curvy road) towards Suches.
"The 9s" are, of course, located on the Highway 9 branch heading towards Suches past Trahlyta's Grave (pile of stones said to mark the grave of Trahlyta, a Cherokee princess who knew the location of hidden "youth" springs - custom among Cherokee and whites to lay a rock on the gravesite for good tidings and luck). I digress. As you head on Hwy 9 north, you come to a jagged rockface slathered with grafitti, some small springs popping up over the rocks, and there is "The 9s." We climbed to the top, cabled in, and here I go, I can't let go.
My fingers are turning white gripping the rope and then the edge of the rock. It takes awhile for me to breathe, take a deep breath, and release as my feet push off in my first rappelling jump.
That release. That deep breath. The release of that breath while letting go was one of the best feelings. I was letting go, but I knew I would not fall. That mindset can be applied figuratively as well as literally. Letting go but not falling.
Why is it hard to "let go"? I mean this subject of "it" in the sense of relaxation or stress or frustrations, etc. Why is it that we find ourselves saying things like, "I really need a break" or "a rest would be nice" or "it'd be nice to have a little help," but we don't do anything about it. We don't change, and we can't seem to "let go" of what we need a break or a rest from. Why is this so difficult?
Is it because of the familiarity we have with whatever it is we need to "let go"? Is it because we're comfortable with this "it" that we need to "let go"? Are we afraid of what might happen if we do let go? Yes, yes, and yes, or at least those are my opinions. We gain this familiarity and comfort level with whatever it is. We worry about what it would be like to "let go," and it scares us - similar to the initial push off a rock face when rappelling. The "it" can be positive or negative. Hypothetically speaking of relationships "it" can be your heart, your guard, your ability and want to love this person...but worried about the consequences. The "it" in the negative sense can be a relationship you were in that didn't work, but you can't let go of "it."
"Letting go" doesn't mean running willy nilly with no control over anything you do or say. It means little things.
1. Take some time to reflect about something that has frustrated you or bothered you.
2. Don't dig yourself deeper. Don't make yourself even more upset or annoyed. Don't make false judgments.
3. Just think about WHY that frustrates you.
4. WHY does it bother you, and what you can do to "let go" of it? The more you hang onto whatever it is, the worse you will feel, and the harder it becomes to "let go."
Luke 1:13 says, "Fear not, Zachary, for your prayer is heard."
Isaiah 43:1a-3b says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."
I don't know about you, but those passages right there seem to be God's way of saying, "No matter what, I got your back." I don't think there's any better wingman you'd want than God. So reflect. Relax. Breathe, and let go. He's got your back no matter what.
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