Hold the Phone

[Current topic:  Technology--Love it or Leave it]

A lot has been written about cellphone etiquette lately, but that’s not going to stop me from adding my two cents’ worth to the discussion. It has become a pet peeve of mine, coming in a close second to people who like to rant about their pet peeves.

I’m not the only one who’s exasperated with the increase in “techno-rudeness” encountered every day by folks all across the social strata.

Schizophonic Thrills

From ratsinthebelfry

Last night, on Rachel Maddow, I heard Larry Flynt gasp out that old chestnut, "Next to survival, humans are driven by sexual needs." I would put the drive to learn higher, just beneath survival; we can't seem to help doing it and, universally, we really seem to get off on it. Very little tops the bang I get out of a new idea and, these days, thanks to the blessings of the technological age, I can arrange it so my little head explodes as often as I can stand. You could say I'm idea addicted.

Just a thought...

(The topic turns to "Technology: Love It or Leave It")

I for one appreciate the enhancements that technology has brought to our lives. The advances in communication alone have brought millions of people information that would've been impossible to get even a few decades ago.

And contrary to what many might believe, I'm of the opinion that most of technology will serve to better mankind. We've already seen how this has brought politics to the people, and the digital public square has the potential to get everyone involved in the betterment of their communities and countries.

Why, just imagine, if Thomas Jefferson had been able to avail himself of the latest in digital communications, poor Sally Hemings wouldn't have had to settle for something like this:

Much Ado About Nothing (Much)

Some might call my current obsession sinful, immoral, unAmerican, even selfish and lazy, but I prefer to think of it as a lifestyle choice.

My obsession: mono-tasking (as in the opposite of multi-tasking), and it is my attempt to take back some of the time, energy, and focus that work and other distractions relentlessly bleed from me.

Scent Dement

Waterhouse

An unexpected, bemusing byproduct of aging in me has been the emergence--or should I say, the blossoming--of curious serial obsessions.

The tendency has probably always been there. Come to think of it, I recall the All Patrick O'Brian, All The Time stage. And there was the Homegrown Herbs Drying All Over The Kitchen mode, both within the last decade before retirement. And, of course, there's been the Blog Your Brains Out cycle, which keeps trying to wane on me and has to be flogged from time to time. But I think I must have been too busy with work heretofore to have fully experienced my capacity for a groove.