New Technology: Exploration versus Utility (Microblogging and Its Discontents)

As much as I think it’s cool that I can update a tiny piece of text on my website from my phone (that little speech bubble on the right side), I’m still wondering and exploring what kind of utility Twitter and its ilk are really offering. I often find my friends’ posts mildly interesting — especially when viewed over time — but “mildly interesting” does not a useful communication tool make. Continue reading “New Technology: Exploration versus Utility (Microblogging and Its Discontents)”

Jean Baudrillard: 1929 – 2007

I just found out that Jean Baudrillard died last week. As much as his work has been loved, debated, and dismissed, I feel a great loss. As Steven Shaviro once put it, “The success of a work of theory should be measured by its capacity to provoke diversities of response, and not by its ability to compel unanimous acceptance.” I have a great many of Baudrillard’s books and, for what it’s worth, he had the diversity of response down.

Peace to Baudrillard and his family. He will be missed.

Robert A. Moog: In Memorium by Hans Fjellestad

Robert MoogAs I’m sure you all know by now, Bob Moog passed away this past Sunday afternoon at the age of 71. This morning I returned home from Asheville, North Carolina, where I was honored to attend the funeral services for Dr. Robert Moog on Tuesday, and a public memorial the following day. Speeches and memories were shared by Bob’s son, daughters, and wife, Ileana… as well as Wendy Carlos, Herb Deutsch, Steven Martin, David Borden, Tom Rhea, John Eaton, Wayne Kirby, Keiichi Goto, David Van Koevering, Joel Chadabe, David Mash, Mike Adams, and many others. Letters and emails poured in from all over the planet. It seems like Dr. Moog’s passing was felt in every corner of the world this week. Continue reading “Robert A. Moog: In Memorium by Hans Fjellestad”

Bad Comedians = Bad Drivers

Last week my girl and I were headed out to get some lunch. We were driving through back roads in San Diego, and we got stuck behind this big, honking SUV in which the driver was talking on the phone: nothing out of the ordinary, but frustrating nonetheless. Anyway, this monstrosity-on-wheels kept creeping along, veering from one side of the road to the other. Just as I was about to lose it and lay on the horn, the SUV took a slow, un-signaled left and crawled out of the way.

As we finally got past it, I noticed the vanity tag:

“DAT PHAN”

So, based on this experience, I’m trying to formulate a propositional theory wherein the comedic ability on stage is directly proportional to the driving ability, but I need more data in order to make sure this isn’t a spurious correlation.

For the record, Doug Stahope‘s driving is good, but it’s kinda edgy (i.e., “It’s not for everybody”), just like his act.