Singularities, Single Spaces, & Seedfolks

This week has been pretty intense.

Even though its 2011 and we don't have civilians with flying cars, technology has been becoming an even bigger part of our life and after hearing The Singularity: Humanity's Last Invention segment on NPR, I am honestly a tad freaked out.  Generally I embrace the benefits of technology and am not too cautious - but this week when I heard Martin Kaste discuss the reality of artificial intelligence multiplying in its intelligence and potentially becoming a threat to humanity, images of all those apoccalyptic Matrix and 1984 horrors started filling my mind.  We are closer to such an invention than ever before - don't you think its time we slow down a little?

I also read Paul Fleischman's Seedfolks, which was timely as its a story about an inner-city community in Cleveland that blossoms as its members slowly decide to plant in the neighborhood rundown empty lot.    The story was inspiring and reminded me of the many beautiful community moments at my previous apartment complex.  I miss that place a lot and hope to engage similarly where I am now.  Perhaps getting connected with a community garden in Tigard would be a good place to start... I will keep looking.

Finally, the intensity of the week concludes with David sending me the article that has finally convicted me of my writing sin: the double space.  Writing and typography snobs will agree that single space is the way to go.  I have without conscious thought have been typing double space my whole life and believed it was better.  I can't break the habit, but I will be giving it a shot - after this post. Wish me luck!   

Here's to a great simple weekend doing simple things!

Addicted Much?

Perhaps this is a warning to myself, but I can't help but notice the growing impact of internet addictions, especially those to social media, like the Florida mom who lost control and killed her own baby. Of course most of us will deny that we would ever be pushed to that limit, but have we come close?

Does this cheesy video look familiar?




I'll admit, I've been there. There being the place where upon sitting for hours on social media, any interaction with a live person becomes a nuisance. I'm sure I've snapped a fair share at my little brothers unfairly because I was "in the zone" of the internet. And even now, sometimes I catch myself.

I was excited to see Holiday Matinee mention Hamlet's Blackberry, a book that shares practical advice on how to manage all the connectedness and how to disconnect once in a while. I'll definitely be picking this one up.

Technology isn't evil, but achieving a healthy balance can be challenging. How do you set your boundaries? Are you happy with the amount of face time vs. tech time you get?

I liked how Sarah from Her.Meneutics put it:

"When God created man to desire companionship, he didn’t take a rib and turn it into a Wi-fi signal. He took Adam’s rib and turned it into a living, breathing creature who could hug, touch, comfort, and even intuit emotion in its fellow inhabitants. I don’t think that means God frowns on technology like computers or phones. Social media facilitate most of our relationships and can even deepen some of them. But God’s intentions for humans call us to be purposeful about preserving face-to-face relationships — and stopping virtual addictions before they start."

Love: Robots

It is National Novel Writers Month and David is writing 1,500 words a day towards what is becoming quite an interesting sci-fi, Matrix meets Brave New World type novel. This writing opportunity is great for him, and being the sociologist and technophile that he is, it only makes sense that he is incorporating technology and the social science elements into his writing.

Thus, in the spirit of fusing technology and social science:

The most adorable robot necklace I have ever seen from Marolsha. Reminds me of my little brother's lego guys, except its somehow cute enough to wear.

And what about Thomson. His body is made of the Thomson Recording Wattmeter from the early 1900's, with Baby Brownie camera eyes and a voltmeter mouth, legs of retired fire hose nozzles and freezer door handles arms, he is definitely a work of art.

And in case you forgot, Ninja's and Robots are still friends.