Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Friday, September 27, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Ramblings of the Wanting Part II
Continuing from the saga of Part I, a simple thought came to me as I was walking my dog this rainy, Saturday morning.
I think I'm managing my wants a little better these days, but a couple of big ones are a little harder to shake. Cameras. The picture hasn't changed too much, the Nikon D7100 is still the best choice, but hopes are still with one better in the DX line. Cars. No change, choices are still all over the map, but I did hear that the Volvo V60 will be available in Canada next year. I think I'm doing a decent job of recognizing that I'll never be satisfied, and I continue to try and enjoy the wonderful things I do have.
But thinking back to the topic of vacations (I still haven't really had a week+ vacation in a few years), there is a small difference between experiences and material possessions. You may have heard the insight that people enjoy Fridays more than Sundays. You're working on Fridays, but the anticipation of the weekend is more powerful than the enjoyment of having Sunday off, where you're already thinking about the work week ahead. Sidebar: this is why my favourite day of the week is Sunday...of a long weekend !
So here's the new (simple) idea. Why not align the brain cells and enjoy the anticipation of the new purchase ? If there's this nagging, back of the brain feeling, that when you finally buy something, the enjoyment will be short lived until a new version of a want materializes - why not simply enjoy the foreplay ? Dreaming of the day when autofocusing is quicker and more accurate, when I need less light for my photography, or I'm enjoying the comfort of a luxury car, opening the roof and feeling the turbo kick in - ah, that's a nice feeling.
This may work.
I think I'm managing my wants a little better these days, but a couple of big ones are a little harder to shake. Cameras. The picture hasn't changed too much, the Nikon D7100 is still the best choice, but hopes are still with one better in the DX line. Cars. No change, choices are still all over the map, but I did hear that the Volvo V60 will be available in Canada next year. I think I'm doing a decent job of recognizing that I'll never be satisfied, and I continue to try and enjoy the wonderful things I do have.
But thinking back to the topic of vacations (I still haven't really had a week+ vacation in a few years), there is a small difference between experiences and material possessions. You may have heard the insight that people enjoy Fridays more than Sundays. You're working on Fridays, but the anticipation of the weekend is more powerful than the enjoyment of having Sunday off, where you're already thinking about the work week ahead. Sidebar: this is why my favourite day of the week is Sunday...of a long weekend !
So here's the new (simple) idea. Why not align the brain cells and enjoy the anticipation of the new purchase ? If there's this nagging, back of the brain feeling, that when you finally buy something, the enjoyment will be short lived until a new version of a want materializes - why not simply enjoy the foreplay ? Dreaming of the day when autofocusing is quicker and more accurate, when I need less light for my photography, or I'm enjoying the comfort of a luxury car, opening the roof and feeling the turbo kick in - ah, that's a nice feeling.
This may work.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Hacky sack consequences - #258/365
Via Flickr:
New version of hacky sack where keeping it up isn't the point of the game; colloq. bite the rail/net; all fun and games for the lad's cottage weekend
New version of hacky sack where keeping it up isn't the point of the game; colloq. bite the rail/net; all fun and games for the lad's cottage weekend
Friday, September 13, 2013
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Monday, September 09, 2013
A perfect TIFF date
My wife got tickets to the documentary InRealife playing at TIFF this afternoon. I try and take in a little TIFF every year, sometimes splurging on a gala, but often times get better value from a documentary or lesser known gem.
The film was playing a TIFF Lightbox, a beautiful acoustic, visual and thought provoking experience with a short intro by the director Beeban Kidron and a in depth interview and Q&A afterward, hosted by Nora Young of CBC.
The film is about the influence and fundamental change the internet is having on the younger generation of today. Kidron mixes interviews of teenagers with psychological and tech industry experts to paint a pretty grim picture of a next gen society addicted to the online world. Lots of awkward bits of young lads talking about porn, the love of their smartphones or their exclusively-online friends and the tragic, but inevitable cyber bullying victim. But bigger, far reaching topics are exposed and dissected with professionalism and care.
Some of my friends have heard me say that the lack of concern for privacy is a generational gap; the majority of kids today are growing up in an age of cyber sharing and no concern for privacy. When they grow to rule the world, all their peers and the leaders of the future will be in the same boat, unembarrassed by their youthful indiscretions. I'm pleased to say, the film quickly hit on this naive notion. Yes, the kids are adapting to the modern ubiquitous online world, but it is changing them (and us). We don't truly know how it is changing us and that is the scary thing. We cannot just accept it without properly understanding it.
Other insights include:
After the film, we soaked up the King Street TIFF buzz and drifted over to the festival epicenter where Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor and co. were on the red carpet for August: Osage County. Crowds were about 5 deep and very tall, so no personal sightings, but hey, it's not every day you can say you were within 30 feet of the glorious Ms. Roberts.
Some of my friends have heard me say that the lack of concern for privacy is a generational gap; the majority of kids today are growing up in an age of cyber sharing and no concern for privacy. When they grow to rule the world, all their peers and the leaders of the future will be in the same boat, unembarrassed by their youthful indiscretions. I'm pleased to say, the film quickly hit on this naive notion. Yes, the kids are adapting to the modern ubiquitous online world, but it is changing them (and us). We don't truly know how it is changing us and that is the scary thing. We cannot just accept it without properly understanding it.
Other insights include:
- the lack of real world interaction our children have missed in their short lives and the over-protection and fear we instill limits their opportunity to gather in person for social interaction, i.e. either it's not safe or kids are discouraged from hanging out in the park or the mall. The internet becomes the only place to "safely" congregate.
- the gender differences (from the afterfilm Q&A): girls handle the social aspects of the internet well, but are challenged my self-image versus boys who are uber confident of their id but lack social interaction skills.
- the nefarious goals of the massive internet companies of today with the most hidden powerhouse being Google (who know more about you than your mother and maybe even yourself).
- but the relatively optimistic viewpoint by Joi Ito who admitted there are challenges in the online world today, but we have a way of ultimately adjusting to these societal cracks and moving on.\.
After the film, we soaked up the King Street TIFF buzz and drifted over to the festival epicenter where Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor and co. were on the red carpet for August: Osage County. Crowds were about 5 deep and very tall, so no personal sightings, but hey, it's not every day you can say you were within 30 feet of the glorious Ms. Roberts.
As is the case with every great movie you share with your best friend, you need some quality time and setting to digest the cinematic and story telling experience. We ejected from the TIFF crowds and walked up to Queen Street, then targeted quieter Baldwin Street, but stumbled upon the romantic French Midi Bistro - well, the sign out front really grabbed our attention. Time zoomed by (as did the wine) as we talked about the film, its place in our world and the catalyst for future endeavours. Perhaps I've created a new documentarian. So we came home, I walked Kooper and set a blog writing challenge of recording our wonderful evening. The goal of an hour was a little ambitious, but I'm pleased to say this was written in about 110 minutes. Please excuse the typos (my editor has gone to bed).
TIFF: InRealLife - #253/365
TIFF: InRealLife - #253/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.
Movie and full evening review on pjmixer.blogspot.ca/2013/09/a-perfect-tiff-date.html
Sunday, September 08, 2013
Saturday, September 07, 2013
Friday, September 06, 2013
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Wednesday, September 04, 2013
Coffee shop visit with family friends from the olde country - #248/365
Coffee shop visit with family friends from the olde country - #248/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.
First time I've ever used the self timer in the Camera+ iPhone app
Tuesday, September 03, 2013
Monday, September 02, 2013
Sunday, September 01, 2013
Windsor family bike ride - #245/365
Windsor family bike ride - #245/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.
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