The Future of Stuff..

Forgive me for sounding old fashion, but upon discovering this article, I found myself slightly saddened by the some of the trends addressed in this article.

1. DVDs:  This is probably the easiest one the get over, assuming Blu-Ray still continues to sell.  I had no problems with changing mediums.  VHS to DVD was no problem, sure I had to by all of my Disney Movies all over again on DVD.  Those are really the only movies I own.  Disney also happens to be offering the alternative.  They sell their Blu-Ray discs with a copy of the DVD.  This way, even though I haven't quiet moved up to Blu-Ray yet, I'll have a copy when I do make the transition (not to mention Blu-Ray players are backwards compatible.  I have no concerns about the Netflix rentals either. 

This article, however, mentions that downloading movies is becoming to popular way to go.  This concerns me because when I like something enough to purchase, I would like something tangible to display on a shelf.  Files of movies on a computer would not satisfy me nearly as much.

2. Home Telephone Service:  I still have a land line, and for as long as they are available, I will continue to have a land line.  I also have a cell phone, but I try to limit my use on it when I'm in my own home as much as possible.  My land line service does not drop my calls as much as my cell phone.  I suppose if home phone service does become obsolete, then I will have to buy one of those devices that hook up to your cell phone so you can use it similar to a land line.  Cell phones are tiny, and much harder to keep track of in your own home.  I would much rather not have to wear my BlackBerry on my hip at all times even in my own home.  I keep it in my purse, and would rather not have to chase my purse down every time I hear my phone ring.

3. Newspaper/Magazine Subscriptions:  I love reading hard copies of the magazine.  Staring at a computer screen all day can be taxing. The best thing in the world is to just unplug and relax upon returning home from work.  To do so, reading a hard copy of the newspaper or a favorite magazine is great.  I do not think I will ever catch on to the Kindle thing.

4. CDs:  This is what I am saddest to see go.  As I mentioned of DVDs, I do not mind the media changes so much as I don't like to lose something tangible.  I will gladly use iTunes to download a single or two, but if I plan on buying an entire album from one of my favorite artists, I prefer to have something tangible in my hands.  This isn't the same as when Vinyl went to cassette, or cassette to CD.  It may seem like a waste of space to rip a CD to the iPod, and then put the CD on a shelf somewhere.  To mean, it doesn't feel that way.  They are like collectors items, the same way people keep their old Vinyl records.  I have had discussions about this in the past, and find that many of my peers do not feel the same way, so it could be just me.

Maybe this is just my apprehension at letting so many things of the past go.  We're moving into the digital age, and losing touch of everything tangible.  This is something I may just be having a hard time moving past, so perhaps I am just a little too old fashion.  This may be the same way future generations have felt at the creation of cable TV or moving from telegraph to telephone.

Readers:  How do you feel about the potential of these rapidly approaching evolutions in technology?  Do you think many of these items really will become obsolete?  Are you releuctant about the changes as well, or do you think I'm just crazy?  Their were a couple other items in the article I didn't mention because they aren't relevant to me.  Do you have any differing opinions on these items as well?

First Attempt at Freeing My Mind

As part of my 101 things, I chose to attempt to answer the 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind.  Today, I attempted to answer the ones that came to me right away as I was reading them.  I will take a stab at the harder ones in the future.


2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?  

•  Failing for sure.  I am not one to jump into tasks that are a huge gamble.  If the cost is minimal I am willing to take a chance, but I am not one to take unnecessary risk.

6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

• Honestly, the career path I chose is one that makes me truly happy.  I enjoy the work I do and feel accomplished at the end of the day.  That said, the reason I didn't choose the career path that would make me happiest is because the availability of these types of jobs are very small.  I used to dream of training killer whales and Sea World.  If it weren't all but impossible to have a job doing so, then that would be the kind of work that would make me rich.

8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

• I would have gotten married and had children rather than focusing on developing a career right away.

9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?

• I am very much in control of the course my life has taken.  The decisions I have made are 100% my own.

 10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

• Doing the right thing is the most important.  I could not do something that would cause for me to go against my morals.

11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do?

• I would like to say that I would stand up for this friend.  I am pretty sure I would, especially if the criticism is unjustified.  I have little difficulty in standing up for someone, and I doubt the fact that I respect and admire the individuals that need to be stood up to will change my mind.

13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?

• Without hesitation.

19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?

• Michigan in a heart beat.  It would be wonderful for my fiance and I to be close to our families.

20. Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

• No, because I know it doesn't make the elevator move faster.
  

21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?

• Joyful simpleton.  I take great pride in my intelligence, but if I was simpleminded and happy, I would not know what I was missing.
  

24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?

• The good friend moving away.  It is always possible to see the ones that live far away, but losing touch is far worse.
  

26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?

• I would rather lose all of my old memories.  I am still young, and have years to make new, wonderful memories.  I am sure as I age, my feelings on this will change.
  

28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?

• No, it hasn't.
  

37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?

• No.  Regardless of however many millions of dollars, I would not quit my job at the point in time.
  

38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?

• More work I enjoy doing.  When I have more assignments at work, the day goes quickly and I enjoy myself.
  

39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?

• Not at all.  I think I am capable of finding enjoyment in many things.  I have a wide variety of tasks to keep me busy, so my life never feels repetitive.
  

42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?

• No.  Plain and simply, no.
  

50. Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

• I feel as though I already answered this one.  I make my own decisions.
  

Post Chrismas Thoughts

Christmas has passed again this year. It always seems to go by so fast. At this time of the year, I try to reflect on the past year and think about ways I can improve over the next year. I also take advantage of this time to enjoy quality time with my fiancé and the post- holiday bliss.

We had a good Christmas this year, and received a multitude of gifts that will greatly improve our home. We have artwork to decorate our walls, utensils for our kitchen, and the newest edition of Wii Fit to help with our New Years Resolutions. It is sad to return home, and get back into the daily grind, but at the same time I am glad to be back home after the long weekend.

On to New Years... I hope to put this blog to good use in keeping up with the resolutions I make. I plan on posting a list of 101 things I plan to accomplish in 1001 days. I have attempted this in the past and failed miserably. This year (and then some) I will have my readers to hold me accountable, imagined or not. So, expect to see a list being published first thing New Years Day, if all goes according to plan. I will post follow up posts periodically that link back to the original and explain my progress. I am currently unsure of how I will go about doing so, but more on that when the time comes. This will by no means be the meat and potatoes of this blog, but will provide regular content in addition to my periodic reviews and meetings with my book club.

Readers: Do you have any resolutions for the new year? If so, by all means, share. I may need some inspiration in coming up with 101 items by the end of the week.