Technology Changing, Life

I'm a geek.  Really.  Truly.  Unabashedly.

I just spent a few hours listening to the keynote speakers at Google I/O 2012.  Really cool stuff coming down the pipeline, but as I spent all this time listening, I couldn't help but recall something a friend wrote a while back.

Kris wasn't complaining so much about Google in his post (I'm sure he'd be more than willing to share his views on ol' Goog), but about his issues with one of Google's products, Reader.  That said, Kris has most certainly found his way, but all of this simply parallels a few thoughts rattling around today during the keynote speeches.

Throughout the year, there comes about a number of conferences and expos that highlight upcoming technologies by various companies.  Whether it be Apple's WWDC, the E3, or Google's I/O, it's easy for consumers nowadays to stay on top of the newest crop of changes coming in the digital realms.  Excitement, frustration, and anticipation are all present amidst the glittery photos and polished videos.  I've felt all those feelings with the announcements and for all of it, it's still a rush.

So what's the point of it all?  Dylan said it best and he was is right; the times they are a changin'.  Fact 1: Change is inevitable.  Fact 2: Stagnation will always be problematic.  I would venture to state that those two statements will always be true, thus the needed change.

As a teacher, I knew that change was abound; I just never liked it.  It wasn't until not so long ago that I recognized the need and value of change.  Routine becomes boring, which becomes stagnate (you get my drift here?)... Change alters the ecosystem and brings about a stress that results in change.  I can undoubtedly proclaim that my buddy knows the value of changes and the rewards that it can bring.  I've made a few commitments to make certain changes as well.

Sometimes changes seem present only to create some drama, but often times being optimistic (even amid the turmoil and stress) can help see you through the said stress.  Facebook's recent attempt to adding friends was pulled quite quickly, but the attempt was made to change (Note:  I really have my issues with FB, so I won't dwell).  As a technogeek, the changes that Google announced today had me really excited about certain possiblilities (and saddened that the Big Blue Consonant will probably steal a few of those ideas).

 So am I a geek?  Sure.  At least, I'm one who can appreciate that the update to that app is about the developer moving forward with improvements. Google+ has added Events and I'm very stoked about it.  I'm ready to get my pictures on!

So, I leave you with the sublime words from David Bowie:

Time may change me, but I can't trace time.

Birthday Beginnings

I just had a birthday one week ago. In the weeks leading up to it, I found myself in a bit of a quandary. Quite frankly, I wasn't quite as happy with how I was looking. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm quite the handsome devil, but from a strictly physical standpoint, I could stand to shed a bit of blubbery goodness.

It wasn't anything that snuck up on me; it was there all along. And while I have begun making changes to address my earlier mentioned quandary, I found myself today deep in thought and really going through the priorities in my life.

Maybe it was an epiphany. Maybe it was the endorphin saying "Move faster fatty!". Maybe it was something more significant considering the proximity to Dec. 25. Whatever. Message received.

I thought about the material things in my life, because I've got my share. I thought about the friends that I have, that I have had, that have come and go in my rather short life. I've had challenges and cake-walks in various avenues of my life. But for all of that, it's help me become the person I am today (fat jokes all aside here folk...).

I hope that wherever you read this, whatever stage in your life you may be in, and whatever higher power you may speak to (or not), take in a moment and, without it being a cliche, realize that it very well could be worse.

Thanks for visiting. Maybe like my buddy, I can regain my blogging chops and post more regularly. But then again, priorities first.

As you go forth, I simply leave you with a very humble yet moving quote:

Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Shazam!

Guilty Pleasure: Jumper

Yes, I admit it. I really like watching Doug Liman's Jumper, the 2008 critically panned sci-fi movie featuring Diane Lane, Hayden Christensen , and the ubiquitous Samuel L. Jackson.

Honestly? The movie pretty much sucked. Let's get that out right away. Special effects aside, the storyline really needed a lot of work. Oh wait...did you know it was based on a book?

A book so bad-ass, it basically should have been the storyline. The writers of Hollywood, in their status of knowing it all, decided that Steven Gould's novel needed spicing up and to be a convoluted confusing mass of "Why the heck did that happen?".

So why do I watch movie? Because I often find myself in a realm of Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda. The books, if you haven't read them ,really develop that thing called character. Yeah, I know; it's just not a pretty thing on screen. It's not like it's never been done before [cough Forrest Gump cough ] or has ever been successful [cough Bourne Identity cough], but what do I know?

The best part of the books? The sequel was equally good. Yeah, it was. What the movie lacked, the book easily addressed. The action of "jumping" was overplayed, in the thought that audiences would be swayed by magically disappearing and reappearing. Ask yourself this: Why are the Harry Potter and Twilight series so successful? The development of the characters. The movies themselves were easily written; they followed the original blueprint!

On second thought, don't watch the movie. It will basically piss you off and you'll rant to me about losing ninety minutes of your life. Spend a few hours and read Steven Gould's little gems about a young man against the world and how he/it is changed through the course of events.

If you watch the movie, you will feel guilty. I can't attest to any pleasure though.

Shazam!

The prodigal son returns...

I remember starting this blog quite a few years ago, in an effort to simply chronicle my exploits and adventures with golf. In that time, I've been fortunate to play many courses, great and otherwise, and meet many people who epitomized (and exploited) the gentlemen of golf, and vastly improved my game through hours of practice.

For all of this, I lost sight of a few things, namely the amount of time that I could have been with my family. While my coaching duties required my attention, it was the additional time that I put in beyond that required that took me away from my family. Beyond weak justifications, I finally realized that I was missing a huge part of my family due to my own actions. It was time for me to take a step away.

In the nearing two years since that time, I've played golf a total of four times, namely in charity tournaments with some buddies, but I didn't miss the game. I guess all the hours that I had put in (and away from my family) had been more than enough to satisfy the longing that I may have had.

I got an email the other day from our local golf course (the ownership is changing, and this website may quickly become outdated). Basically, there have been some positive changes made at the local golf course (new management and all) and in short, the rest of my family are interested in taking advantage of this and obtaining a membership. I guess it's funny how things go full circle. My son has a renewed interest in it, and is actually listening and following instruction. The wife is ready to take up the sport as well. All of this without my persuasion, I might add.

I'm excited about this next chapter in our lives. As I told my wife the other day as we discussed this possibility, I was always a bit jealous of the neighborhood men whose wifes would join them to play a round or two here and there. Maybe deep down, it was something I had wished for, and wow...here we are.

Pictured above, the split fairway Par-5 #11.

Shazam!

Short and Sweet...

I just finished reading my buddy's latest and final entry for 2010, and it was the impetus I needed to go ahead and get a few words down on this last Friday of the decade.

Today's words? Short and Sweet. Down and Dirty. Hard and Fast. Okay, that may be a bit much, but you get the gist.

1. Santa Run 2010 - I must be getting old, as the trip was as good as usual, but I got hit with some road-lag or something, because after 400 miles, I was simply tuckered out and not myself. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, but was sad that my son, looking to make a sort of initiation, couldn't make the trip due to illness. Aside from that, visiting with my siblings and their respective spouses was a great joy. The lunch and conversation with my grandmother and a dear friend of mine really goes to show. Not a bust, but way too many problems this year.
2. Fantasy Football - As I have in years past, I partake in a college pick 'em league. Really simple: pick the winners each week, drop your lowest week, and largest total wins. Came in second last year (Shawn's picks just outdid me in the final three weeks), but this year I came out on top. It was a frisky few final weeks, but two points is two points. Shawn? He came in second. It was a fun league and I look forward to next year's competition.
3. Kindle - I don't want to spoil the full entry that'll probably come in a few days, but basically, this singular device has enabled me to read more than I have in the last few years. Don't get me wrong, I've read my share, but this device is, quite frankly, so easy and handy to have around, reading is simply that much easier. But more later...
4. Playstation Move - Santa was pretty nice this year, and I splurged on the Move. So easily put, it's the Wii that's been jacked up on Steroids and enabled with sniper vision. It works so easily and eliminates all the annoyances that the Wii had (I still have and enjoy the Wii, just differently). The 1:1 ratio of movement tracking really can create some tired arms, but it's a lot of fun. Watching my son take care of his little animal on EyePet is quite hilarious. More after further testing...

That's it for now. Yeah, I know...nothing really substantial. That's okay. In fact, this holiday, I've spent more time really trying to focus on the little things. Paying attention to my kids and what makes them smile and laugh. I guess it's those little things.

As this year closes, wherever you are and whom ever you share the entering year, make it a step forward in the right direction.

Cheers!

Shazam!