Tech Advancement: is there an iPhone app that measures fear of tech evolution?

i'm reading a book by Christopher Moore called "Fluke". it has little to do with technology; it's actually a story about a whale-watching scientist who sees a strange message on the tail or 'fluke' of a diving humpback. this blog entry stems from a minute part of the story that had little to do with the plot or characters. it was simply a description of some of the scientist's equipment which included a "portable GPS (global positioning system) device". when i read this, i was taken aback because the book was written in 2003, and yet, the author felt it necessary to explain the acronym GPS. if he wrote this book a mere 5, maybe even 4, years later, that explanation may not have been necessary. a bit profound isn't it?

to me, the evolution of technology is both wonderous and terrifying. in recent decades, the rate seems to have grown exponentially. i had an earth science professor who believed that our technology is growing too fast for us - that it is developing at a rate that we humans cannot handle. i tend to agree with him. and i don't think that bodes well on our survival as a species. sure this evolution has created miracles in health care and information access. but at what cost? face-to-face communication is decreasing and we learn about each other through Facebook statuses and MSN names. of course i'm glad i can see up-to-date pics of family members in other countries. and i do enjoy writing up these little blurbs. but the print industry is suffering. as are musicians trying to break into the scene. our young people have underdeveloped social skills because they spend hours hunched over a computer instead of out in the world learning how to socialize appropriately.

i know you cannot slow the progression of technology nor would i really want to. but doesn't part of you hate how dependent you are on your computer, your cell phone, your GPS (global positioning system)? no need to try different restaurants in search for that gem in the city - there's an app for that. why pick up the phone to greet your friend on her birthday when you can post on her wall? these may seem like fairly trite issues but the bigger picture is there too.

ancient South American tribes were wiped off the planet leaving only the ruins of their vast and beautiful cities. their technology was incredibly advanced for their time. could the same be said about the human race now? perhaps just 5 or 10 years down the line? i for one hope not. because some historians believe that those societies could not handle the rate of their advancement - and were crushed under the weight of their own technology.

I Hate Commercials

seriously. i f-in' hate commercials. i hate them.

now and again, something genuinely fun or interesting will amuse me, but generally, commercials fail at both entertaining me as a viewer and enticing me as a potential customer. some make me downright angry. examples?? no problem...

- the yogurt commercial where the family has a grand old time spraying each other with water out in the backyard. oh i'm sure that sounds fairly benign, maybe even a little fun, but why do they do it in slow motion? the creators of this ad have now turned family fun in the sun into something borderline seductive. slow motion water should be relegated to sex line commercials, r&b music videos or parodies of either. but to have a mom and kids in wet t-shirts, tossing their hair slowly in the sunshine is just gross and creepy. and has NOTHING to do with yogurt.

- the car commercial in which they ask: 'did you see the solar eclipse? did you see the woman with the leopard?' the concept may have looked good on paper but could it be any more condescending? it sounds like it was written by some know-it-all smartass. let's consider the visual: a slick vehicle swerving around some high rises. from the first fade in, it is obviously a car commercial. nothing unique there. so no shit i didn't notice the eclipse or the leopard, but neither do i notice the grassy hills or boutiqe background on any other car commercial! that doesn't make this company special. and the funny part is, i'm not leaving out the name of the car so as not to identify the company... i really actually don't know which one it is. withhold the commission for that writer.

- every eHarmony commercial. let me preface this by saying i have nothing against dating sites or the people who use them. i think love can be found in any way as long as there's mutual trust and respect. but my God...the background music, the slow motion - YES again!! must it be so cheesy and lame? if i was single and wanted to use a dating site, i wouldn't use eHarmony for fear of becoming one of those sickly sweet couples. one in particular grinds my gears: when the gentleman says that bars and clubs are the passive way of meeting someone, and that eHarmony is the active way. hold on a second now. passive means someone other than yourself is doing the work while active says you're doing it. going out involves you gussying up, heading to the hoedown and charming your way into someone's BlackBerry. is that not an active approach? and eHarmony involves you filling out the online survey and having the service match you with potential people. hmmm... sounds passive to me! this is not to compare the merits of each method; i'm sure they both have their pros and cons. but that whole commercial is rendered pointless when their spokesperson doesn't have his terms correct!

i do enjoy the Dos Equis commercials, and for some reason i love the little food characters on the Excel commercial. so it's not all bad out there. some writers are capable of entertaining the audience while remaining memorable. these ads shine all the more brighter when lined up against the rubbish i listed above. we are a materialistic society, wrapped up in consumerism. do these companies not have enough money to pay some good writers?! if they posted a YouTube contest and implored the masses, i'm sure they'd come up with advertising gold...instead of cornball couples and dairy product incest.

Michael Jackson: August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

there is little i can say about the late great Michael Jackson that has not already been said far more eloquently. the memorial service at the Staples Center in LA has just finished and it was a beautiful and moving tribute to Michael. celebrities, musicians, family and fans found themselves united in their grief, their need for closure and celebration. we were all equal today. we were all mourners.

whatever allegations and accusations surrounded his tragic life, his artistry and generosity transcended all negativity. he changed the world of music and opened doors for people of colour. in sharing his talent with us, he broke down walls and united us through his art. no corner of the Earth was left untouched by his genius and we will never see one like him again.

today, all of the rumours, the eccentricities, the doubts and the criticisms fell away. we were left with an empty spotlight and a gold casket adorned with roses.

he was a prodigy and an artist.
he was a son, a brother, and a father.

from one EmJay to another, thank you for sharing your gift. i'm sorry for how we invaded your life and stole any chance of serenity you may have had. now, finally, may you rest in peace.