Social Networking is the New Social Networking

I know. You're looking at that title and going, huh? Well, it's simple. Long ago before Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and every other imaginable "social networking" system, there was something known as going out with friends. There was no "poking" or status updates. If you wanted to know what someone was doing, you'd have to go find your friend or give them a call and find out what they were doing. This was also the way to keep in touch. There were no "walls" for people to post on. You simply had to talk to people. Oooh, scary. Actual social interaction? How did the world survive?

Now, if you know me, you know that I have a Facebook account. You can see on the right hand side of this blog that I even have a Twitter account. And yes, I technically still have a MySpace account. But the funny thing about those three things is that I don't use them entirely for interaction with my friends. Yes, there are friends of mine that are not close by that it's easier to see what they are doing. Not that I don't call people on the phone or see them in person, either. Like I said, some people are just too far away to get in contact with.

Here's the problem. Kids today are so technologically inclined that Facebook, MySpace and Twitter come second nature to them. Instant Messaging and Text Messaging is part of their lives. They text their parents to find out what's for dinner or they text their friends who are in the same room because they don't want to strain their voices or something. another part of the problem is that some parents are simply accepting the new generation's need to text or IM or be on the computer at all times. This should not be acceptable. I am fine with teaching my future children how to use technology and even will help them get things set up when I am ready for them to have it.

Children need actual social interaction in order to fully develop as people. If we didn't talk to other kids in school, how would we be able to talk to people as adults? If we didn't have to learn how to present ourselves as individuals, how would we have gotten a job? These are just two of many different reasons for requiring that kids get social interaction and get away from the cell phone or computer for just a little while.

Again, I am a strong proponent of technology education and am all for it. I just think that the kids of the future need to know how to talk to someone right next to them with their voice instead of using their fingers.

Attack of the Giant Blue People!!

If you haven't guessed already, then I will inform you that I went and saw Avatar this evening. To begin with, if I were to give this movie a rating from 1-10, I would have to give it a 7. And it's lucky to get that 7. The effects make the movie. There is no way that that movie is made without the technology. My guess is that there had to be 85-90% effects. Even most of the interior scenes on the base were filled out digitally. That's not to say that it's a bad thing. Look at the Star Wars Prequel movies for instance. Those movies were made on a computer and they still turned out alright, despite what most cynical critics might tell you.

Now, to the movie at hand...

I've read and heard many different opinions about this movie. How it is a "digital retelling" of Dances With Wolves. Or how it's like Romeo and Juliet. Heck, one opinion that I haven't heard to date is that it is a futuristic retelling of the cutting down of the rainforests.

Let's see...one "people" or "government" finding a precious "resource" where and indiginous people are living and that original "people" deciding that what they want is much more important than the indiginous people. Hmmm, I guess that also sounds like what happened to the Native American tribes back in the olden days.

Now, I'm not trying to start anything political here. I'm just offering up some observations.

Yes, the movie is similar to Dances With Wolves and for those of you that haven't seen it, that's a shame, because it is a great movie. Avatar is a good movie (notice what I did there?). The problem with Avatar is that it is too long. It spends countless minutes on exposition and narration that could be covered in simpler montages. It's obvious that Jake is going to fall in love and change his ways and lead the Na'vi against the "aliens". That's fine. But it could have been done a lot quicker.

Even Dances With Wolves got out of hand in the time category, running over two and a half hours, but the story held its own. Avatar doesn't really do that. There are parts in there that could have been removed and still kept the story moving toward its eventual climax. An ending, I might add, that was predictable. However, just because I think the ending was obvious, again does not mean that I did not like the movie.

All in all, it was a good film (I did it again), but I don't think that it is worth the hype. If you are merely talking about the effects, than yes, it is definitely worth the hype and more. The effects wizards at WETA Digital, ILM, Stan Winston Studios and the rest of the companies that created that world are geniuses and I recognize that. However, James Cameron could have used a little more assistance on the actual story.

Like I said, 7 out of 10. Not bad for his first movie since Titanic, but I think that it is what it is - a popcorn movie. Made solely to escape to a world of giant blue creatures that have an immense bond with their living world. If only people here on this world thought of that before deforestation.

No more politics for me. I enjoyed the movie, but not as much as I had hoped for. At least James Cameron can say that he created the two top grossing films of all time.

An Observation

I saw something very strange today while walking to the Transportation Office. There is a middle school just south of here and the kids were in PE class. The funny thing was that I saw several girls RUNNING the laps while the boys in the class were simply walking. Is this some grand design of things to come in these boy's futures? The fact that they are unwilling or unable to keep up with the girls makes me think that those boys will be lagging behind the girls in more than just PE.

The girls seemed determined to keep running despite how tired they were and the boys merely slowed down until they stopped running completely. Is this the sign of the times? Are girls suddenly destined to outrun boys in life? Society has changed and women are no longer required nor expected to stay at home. They are challenged in school and have a desire to learn and advance themselves academically, socially and financially. Boys are starting to lag behind in all those areas just as those boys were lagging behind on the laps.

I know it was just a PE Class, but it is still something interesting to think about.

Monday, Monday . . .

Good morning and Happy New Year (again). Today is my first day back at work in two weeks. Let me tell you, it was very difficult to wake up this morning and then get into work. However, I was glad to be back at work. Not only does it give me a chance to catch up with people and their holiday adventures, but a chance to get back to work.

Not much else to update, but since I wanted to keep this blog a little more updated, I figured that I needed to add something. And since it was difficult to get out of bed this morning (and I'm now tired), I figured it was something good to talk about.

If you don't like it and would prefer something else, go find a different blog to read. At least until I can come up with something clever, witty and imaginative.

I think I need a nap.

Happy New iPhone!!!

I mean, Happy New Year! I'm sure that I said it last year, but I think that 2010 is going to be a great year. 2009 was good, but here's hoping that 2010 is better. I have a lot of plans in my head - nothing really solid just yet, but ideas and hopes and dreams, just like all of you, for the new year.

One of them is to get better at blogging. I have this blog and another one that I want to be better at writing. And I want to keep up on my writing. The story that I wrote TWO years ago, now (for NaNoWriMo), has been edited to the point that I am happy with it. I have submitted it to two different literary agents so far and have been turned down. However, I am not discouraged yet. I knew that the process could take a long time. Therefore, I shall just keep researching literary agents and hope that I can find the one that fits my story. Until then, I'll just keep praying.

As for other hopes, we'll see. It's a long year that zooms by pretty fast, but I think I can slow down enough to smell the roses. As Ferris Bueller said, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't slow down a little, you could miss it."

But wait, what of that title up there? Did I merely gloss over the mistake or what? No. You read it right, kids. I got an iPhone. Actually, Joanna said that it was her gift to me (to let me get one). Anyways...it is a really cool device and I have already downloaded several FREE apps just for fun. I've even made a few phone calls and used another app at the same time. I can't wait to learn more of the advanced functionalities of it, but for now, I'm happy.

I hope that you and your families have a safe and wonderful new year. Check back often and we'll see how well I do with keeping up with the blog.