Am I an iPhoney? Part II

Back in June I wrote about my recent acquisition of an iPhone (see post here). I had been uncertain of the impact the adoption of a smart phone would have on my communication and phone usage. Six weeks later I feel it's time to reevaluate the phone situation. I've found it to be quite helpful when I need to access information from emails such as directions. I've used the GPS a couple of times, although I recently received a Nuvi as a gift so I doubt I will need to rely on it too often for that purpose, especially since my Nuvi doesn't deplete my data plan.

I use it to check the weather on a daily basis, and use the world clock function to know what time it is where my expatriated friends are. I've downloaded a song to use as a ring tone, the Fandango application to check movie times, Pandora to listen to music anytime and anywhere, and Tetris. The main thing I love about it is the camera. It's great when I just want to quickly capture something funny, or take a photo of something I want to think about buying, or when I forgot my camera battery at a friend's wedding. It's convenient, but at the end of the day a camera would have performed the same function.

The bottom line is that the functional impact the iPhone has had on my life is negligible. Sure, some things I used to do on a computer I now do on my phone, but isn't that just a different format for the same habits? I might spend less time on my laptop, but instead I'm just staring at a different, smaller screen. The iPhone is fun, occasionally very helpful but as I described it to a group of friends the other day: it's basically a phone with a Gameboy attached. I've probably played far more Tetris on it while waiting for a bus, a friend, takeout, etc. than anything else. Let's face it, I should probably be toting a library book around with me instead. It would be much better for my brain and my eyesight. Of course it's probably too late for that, I've probably become assimilated. Besides, you know what they say, once you go Mac, you never go back.

Insomnia and la vie en rose

image via Amazon.com

Last night I found myself tossing and turning, unable to sleep. After a weekend trip to Seattle I was unable to shut my mind off after so much socializing, eating & drinking, and of course hours in the car. My go to for nights like this is generally a glass of water and a predictable, familiar movie. Last night's selection was Sabrina, the 1995 Sydney Pollack remake of the 1954 Audrey Hepburn classic.

The movie's montage of Paris always makes me a little bit heartsick for the summer I spent in France several years ago. As the camera pans cafes with outdoor seating, Notre Dame de Paris and Ile St. Louis, I can almost smell the boulangeries and rich espresso. I think of how nice it would be to just spend time inconspicuously writing with pen and paper while drinking cafe au lait as I did many an afternoon that summer.

In the movie, Sabrina quotes Gertrude Stein, saying "America is my country, Paris is my hometown." Anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to visit and fall in love with the French way of life understands this sentiment perfectly. I never understood before that fateful trip, how you could feel so at home, all by yourself in a foreign country. I'll leave you with a favorite line from Sabrina that I feel adequately sums up the French philosophy on stuff:

"More isn't always better, Linus, sometimes it's just more"

On one of the bridges crossing the Seine as the sun set


What helps you sleep well?

Take some time to enjoy the summer

I had the pleasure of hanging out with this little guy the other day. He belongs to a friend and is a 5 month old French bulldog named Pepe. What is it about animals that reminds us how to be human?

Sir Paul Receives the Highest Honor in American Popular Music

image via PBS.org

On Tuesday, June 2nd, 2010, President Obama honored Sir Paul McCartney with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Music. The evening was broadcast on PBS tonight and I was able to take a break from prepping for a very important baking project in order to watch it in its entirety. I would expect that the program will be rebroadcast as well as available on PBS.org shortly.

The evening started with various artists covering McCartney penned hits including (but not limited to) Elvis Costello doing "Penny Lane", Corinne Bailey Rae and Herbie Hancock's version of "Blackbird" and a surprisingly spirited rendition of "Baby you can drive my car" by none other than the Jonas Brothers. I also enjoyed Dave Grohl's turn on "Band on the Run", I saw him in concert with the Foo Fighters a few years back and I think he was a formidable rock star to be chosen for that role.

After a brief speech in which the President referenced the difficult times facing Americans, specifically those in the Gulf, Sir Paul was presented with the award and proceeded to play several of his biggest hits. Sir Paul's performance throughout the whole night begs the question: Could Paul McCartney be any more charming?

He answered this with a concise "no" when he opted to play "Michelle" in dedication to the first lady as his first song after receiving the award. While the night might have been a little too saccharine for some, I feel I'm not alone in thinking, isn't it nice to see people getting along?

Here is a behind the scenes video the White House produced of a bit of behind the scenes of the show including the Jonas Brothers' performance (starting around the 3:30 mark):

People have strong feelings

Image via New York Times

LeBron James announced today that he's leaving Cleveland to play for Miami. I didn't watch the one hour broadcast on ESPN but I imagine it was roughly the sports equivalent to the President's infomercial during the 2008 campaign. Obviously people feel very strongly about this. Specifically people in Cleveland.

Brendan Marrocco

This weekend I read this article in the New York Times about injured Iraq veteran Brendan Marrocco. I continue to be amazed and humbled by the power and strength of the human spirit. This article illuminates something we often take for granted: the value of medical research and development. Because of the incredible advancements in prosthetic technology and limb transplants, Specialist Marrocco already can walk for very short periods of time and faces the prospect of having transplanted arms and hands one day. The article is accompanied by a detailed photo essay of his rehabilitation as well as audio of the people most closely involved in this process. The new media world that we live in has its flaws, but these photo essays are an example of how our storytelling can be enhanced by technology, especially when used by a reputable source.

Abubaker Kaki

On Saturday, July 3 Abubaker Kaki of Sudan will attempt to set the world record in the 1,000m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. Kaki is a two-time world champion and seems poised to set the record at one of the most elite track and field events in the world. The prospect of a world record being set on the track I walked past every day on my way to class during college is, in a word, thrilling. While running may be the most understated of international sporting events, it is by far the most competitive. There is no gear to obtain, no fancy practice facilities required, a nation's GDP doesn't make its runners faster and it sure doesn't guarantee them more guts in a race. Sure, high altitude training helps and of course sponsorship and access to accomplished coaches, but when it comes down to it, man was built to run. It's hard to find a playing field more level than that.

So on a day in July, in a small town in Oregon known mostly for its college, the world will watch a man from a country most of us will never visit attempt to do something that until that moment was impossible.

Image via BBC

Godspeed, Kaki.