"I've been completely offline for all of Feburary (no internet, TV, news) -- what one thing should I read up on? @ msg me your suggestions."
The overwhelming consensus? I didn't miss anything.. There were some funny and/or amusing replies in there, of course, (you're a clever bunch!) but for the most part, I was kind of disturbed at how few things that are truly significant happen in any given two-week period. There were the usual bevy of internet memes, some fussing over, of all things, a policy change at Facebook, and a couple of pop-culture items of note.
But if I hadn't been on vacation, I assume I would have been doing what I always do, reading up constantly on new email in my inbox and checking RSS feeds and pursuing all the other sources of news that I usually follow.
So, it's not exactly the most profound observation, and I'm far from the first to make it, but it's worth noting again: There isn't that much going on. While the constant flow of information is entertaining and addictive, it is, by overwhelming consensus, primarily filled with bits that are of little to no value. I'm recording this as much for my own future reference as for anyone else's.
]]>I haven't paid attention to my RSS or Twitter much over the past couple of days and after I caught-up last night, into today, I realized that - indeed - there isn't much "going on."
]]>http://www.theage.com.au/national/bushfires
]]>Similarly, when you run into an old friend and ask what they've been up to, the response is usually, "Not much. Work, family, etc."
It's not that there isn't much going on but that there is constantly lots of stuff going on, and it's difficult to encapsulate in 140 characters. While shared experiences make for easy water cooler conversation, it's much less interesting than the agreggate of activity that takes place over a couple weeks or a lifetime.
]]>Furthermore, most important things do not happen in an instant: they unfold over a long period of time. For example, Obama might have signed the stimulus bill while you were gone, but he had been working on it for a long time, even before you left.
Finally, some things are captivating because of the suspense. The outcome of the Super Bowl is way more interesting to you if you read about it for two weeks (plus watch the game for hours and hours) than if you hear "oh yeah, the Steelers won".
]]>* I had a great dinner party with friends.
* Kate lost another tooth!
* Played a fantastic tennis match one morning with colleagues
* Actually had a night out with Trina
* I reconnected with a long lost friend, and it's great to be back in touch.
* It rained!
if you ask my friend the finance freak, he'll give you a list of (very important) things that have been happening that show why the US government should nationalise banks right away. but then, not that we care about those nuances.
so i guess activity is in the eye of the beholder (perhaps through a keyhole)
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