This is my Bible

"Anyone who practices the art of cultural criticism must endure being asked, What is the solution to the problems you describe? Critics almost never appreciate this question, since, in most cases, they are entirely satisfied with themselves for having posed the problems and, in any event, are rarely skilled in formulating practical suggestions about anything. This is why they became cultural critics.

"The question comes forth nonetheless, and in three different voices. One is gentle and eager, as if to suggest that the critic knows the solutions but has merely forgotten to include them in the work itself. A second is threatening and judgmental, as if to suggest that the critic had no business bothering people in the first place unless there were some pretty good solutions at hand. And a third is wishful and encouraging, as if to suggest that it is well known that there are not always solutions to serious problems but if the critic will give it a little thought perhaps something constructive might come from the effort."

~Neil Postman, Technopoly

Only Time Will Tell

An astute observation was made today over brunch. That, in the rapid growth of the use of mobile devices, wrist-watches have become less popular, less worn. Everyone has a clock on their cell phone - usually more accurate than the one you set yourself. This, of course, prompted us to start checking out everyone's wrists to see who still wears one. I still do - my watch was given to me as a high school graduation present by a very close friend. But neither friend I was with wore a watch.

There's a tradition in wearing watches. From the days of yore when a little boy came into manhood, his father would often give him a pocket watch, perhaps as a way of saying, keep track of your time, you're responsible now. Even today, watches are often given as presents, or passed down through generations. When someone buys a watch, it probably comes with a lot of thought. There are still Rolex knockoffs out there. Watches still seem to convey a sense of class status, of tradition.

So, will watches become non-functional, just a piece of jewelry, in the age of digital mobility and interconnectivity? I don't know. But I now can't help but look at people's wrists all the time.

Really now?! #ipad

Got this off an article about the iPad on NPR today...

"Outside an Apple Store in Freehold, Ray Majewski came with his 10-year-old daughter, Julia, partly as a reward for getting straight A's in school."

Really?? When I got straight A's in 5th grade, I got a pat on the head and a cookie.

Fwd: Important Easter Literature

From Cris
>

> Some important literature to cover during your Easter weekend. Some
> scientific, some culinary in nature. As always, please make science
> your priority.
>
> ***The Science***
>
> peep surgery,
>
> http://www.peepresearch.org/surgery.html
>
> the effects of smoking and alcohol on peeps,
>
> http://www.peepresearch.org/smoking.html
>
> the evolution of fear response in peeps,
>
> http://www.peepresearch.org/fear.html
>
> more on cold response, heat response, and solubility,
>
> http://www.peepresearch.org/index.html
>
> ***The Culinary***
>
> peep sushi,
>
> http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/03/peeps-recipes-how-to-make-peepshi-sushi-rice-krispies-treats-easter.html
>
>