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Month: June 2007
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Safari for Windows is a Good Idea?
That’s a question, not a statement. I was all excited by the prospect of faster download time, so I jumped at the opportunity to try the Safari 3 BETA. I tried Google first (of course), and all was well. I typed in CultureFeast.com, and the site looked good. By this time, I think to myself, I should blog about this! Safari rocks!
I log into my WordPress dashboard and click Write Post only to find that my CMS is all jacked up!!! The title and post fields are tiny and hiding down in the right hand sidebar below the fold. What the heck? WordPress isn’t Safari-friendly? Seriously?
Talk about a buzz kill. I’m back in Firefox just so I could comfortably write this complaint.
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The Internet, Anxiety, and Poor Writing Skills
When I began copywriting for websites, I started by searching through some how-to articles for pointers. I was aggravated and disappointed to find everyone recommending simple, direct, and action-packed. Not that I have a problem with engaging content, it’s just that all the classics of literature take the time to establish the setting and characters. The most reputable authors wrote from a totally different perspective than authors today.
Who else can we blame except the expanding media channels? With the advent of information access came the simultaneous dilemma of information overload. An author 200-500 years ago had no television, radio, Internet, or telephone for news and information updates. They had word of mouth, some newspapers, pamphlets, letters, etc. The pace of life was such that the literature produced reflected a life of contemplation, observation, and stillness. There was no sense of frantic suspense or blistering action to be found.
Traveling was so inconvenient that many people only traveled into town once a month. They stocked up on supplies and news and headed back to the family farm. Of course, there were city dwellers who had weekly access to gossip. Still, cultures worldwide knew nothing of the mind boggling pace we endure in the 21st Century.
I blame the Internet and the television for poor writing skills. First, the television sucked up the hours of daily life previously spent on reading and communication with family and friends. Then came the Internet, Instant Messaging, and Text Messaging. With the advent of the Web, we have access to billions of information soaked pages, yet we have to choose a minuscule percentage of information available that we will actually give any attention to. This leaves authors and marketers around the globe scrambling to liven up available content. Competition is fierce (as in the publishing industry), and the selection is so plentiful that people don’t have to spend time on lengthy descriptions and soliloquies. With thousands of voices vying for our attention every day, we give time to those few that are most compelling and immediately accessible.
The art of writing has largely been lost as we fight against the clock to absorb and distribute unprecedented volumes of information. It seems that nothing short of a return to agrarian society could deliver us from our ADD-based writing and reading skills. In other words, either choose to read hyper-focused drivel or remain oblivious to the world today and return to the classics. Or live in the wonderfully frustrating tension of balancing the relevant with the artistic.
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“The Secret” vs Christian Faith
How does The Law of Attraction apply to Judaism and Christianity? A proclaimed universal principle does not corroborate other faiths. "Your thoughts become things." A thought has a frequency, and that frequency is transmitted on a consistent basis. Whether it's magnetic or some other compelling force, the law is that like attracts like. It can sound like a convoluted mess.
Some might say that disciplined thoughts seem to draw similar realities because focused thoughts steer our actions and lead us to accomplish what we want. They would say that disciplined thinking is more about removing the hindering lies that keep us from pursuing a truth or desired result. The Secret tells us to think and speak about what we want, rather than what we don't want.
It seems like such a meaningless shade of difference between "I don't want to be poor" and "I want to be rich." Most of us think that these are the same thought. We don't even consider how words or thoughts of negation affect our attitudes every single day.
While it is possible to find a thread of similarity between the Bible and The Secret, this is also true of most every religion in existence. A thread of similarity implies nothing. The Bible makes it very clear that God is the source of blessing, not us. It does call us into account, however. Each person is responsible to think on good things and to ask their heavenly Father for the desires of their heart.
The Secret has absolutely nothing to do with God, per se. You are essentially sending out a signal into the universe every time you say or think something positive, which will echo back to you with blessing somehow. Where does it come from? Who knows. The whole point is that you make it happen.
Many disgruntled Christians have looked into The Secret in hopes of finding the answers to getting what they want. Unless you want a Joel Osteen lifestyle, you won't find enough common ground between Christianity and The Secret.
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No Cure for Stupid in Sight
I’m not looking forward to work tomorrow. Everyone knows that I left the office early to attend a class on the dangers of vaccinations to babies and children. I fully expect someone to try goading me into a short summary so that they may laugh their clueless and scornful laughs.
Sadly, I can speak plain, logical English and still get the same blank, prehistoric stares. The look that says “you must hate doctors, society, and America” is borne on the faces of the masses when anyone challenges traditional views of medicine, diet, energy, and possibility. People with absolutely no clue as to why they disagree except for the fact that they trust the masses who believe the same.
I have nothing to offer these people. I can’t cure stupid. You either practice critical thinking, or you don’t. You either blindly accept tradition, or you don’t. If you’re fine with tradition and feel no need to question or challenge status quo, go right ahead. Ignorance is bliss… except when it’s not.
This isn’t to slam anyone at work so much as it is to point out the critical need nationwide for some good old fashioned logic 101. You don’t have to live a perfect life. I don’t live anything remotely resembling a perfect life. I know when I’m being stupid (or I have a strong suspicion). I still choose stupid in some areas. But I give myself the room to choose stupid because I recognize my path of progress and the truth that I can’t fix everything that’s wrong with myself all at once. I give myself some slack to work on one thing at a time.
Hear my request. Please fight against stupid. Don’t accept it. When you put anything artificially made into your body, don’t act like it’s not completely logical that on some level it will cause you harm. Yes, prescription meds are harmful. Yes, fast food is harmful. Yes, sodas are harmful. Yes, vaccinations are harmful. Yes, your favorite store brand cheese dip is harmful. Yes, your body naturally fights off disease (and succeeds WHEN YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY!). Yes, your body is designed to process natural foods (vegetables, grains, fruits, legumes). Yes, your retirement diseases depend on your current lifestyle. You control your destiny. You have the power. You might not want it, but it’s yours.
Get over it. Continue to live as you choose, but don’t accept stupid. Know what you are doing with your life. Take responsibility. Be an adult. Fight stupid everywhere you can.That’s my soap box. ‘Nuff said.
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Recent CultureFeast Theme Changes
As part of our identity crisis, CultureFeast has changed themes a second time. In our continual pursuit for heightened self-awareness and personal branding, blah blah blah. So really, I just decided it was time for a new look. I probably visit this site far more than anyone else, so the look and feel gets old quick.
We are in the process of messing around with the style you see right now. I’m hoping to add a logo in the near future, so if you do killer logos and you’d be interested in submitting one for full credit and promotion on this website, feel free to contact me. Contact info is available here, or you can submit a comment.
I like the sidebar and body of this style, but I’d like a total redesign of the header. I’m working on it, slowly and surely.
Update:
As you can see, the last design lasted a whopping six days. Something about the girlie reddish pink post titles and anchor text that just didn’t fly.
Go figure. My wife is telling me that the design before that with the revolving photos was a winner, and she mourns the loss of it as much as she could mourn anything blog related (i.e., not much). I would agree except for the flaws in the sidebar which I am not tech savvy enough to fix and a few other issues. I understand that it can get boring looking at the same stupid header all the time. I’ll consider a return of header images… just not yet.
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A Reprimand of Self: Don’t Be a Common Blogger
I found myself enjoying (for lack of a better term) an existential crisis in terms of my CultureFeast identity. For so long, I focused on the Google Analytics, and constantly looked for blog topics that would draw in search visitors. But I don’t need to rank for Randy Galloway’s name or discuss the latest web 2.0 news to enjoy a fulfilling blog culture. CultureFeast has been anything but focused, and that means I have been anything but focused.
I reprimanded myself this evening when I realized that I no longer enjoyed blogging. I contribute to four blogs and one article column, and I am sick and tired of fitting into the mold of SEO / copywriter / PR consultant. Each of those jobs can be rewarding to the right person, but that person is not me… at least, not right now.
Yes, I will continue to offer those services to those in need. But there’s more to me than marketing. Way before I knew anything about marketing, I wanted to write books. I wanted to tell stories and I wanted to share life experiences. Ideally, I would find a market in young, curious adults who have more questions than answers. No, I don’t pretend to offer all the solutions to life’s problems, but perhaps I could share some wisdom that would make other people’s lives easier and less confusing.
The problem with writing from the heart is that people read what you write. It’s much like journaling, only without the privacy. That means that in the midst of my professional pursuits, those snoopy clients, employers, etc. may very well track me down online and read these words and reconsider working with me based on my publicized opinions and views.
Hence the spineless underpinnings of the blogosphere. Those intensely popular and utterly shallow industry blogs. Okay, I’m being a bit harsh, but only because I have no respect for an industry that promotes lives without political, ethical, spiritual, or moral beliefs. Everyone is so nice, they have no personality. We’re all a bunch of identity-less bloggers who have sold out to become well known.
Well, you can have it. I’d rather be uncommon. I’d rather be true to myself than to make millions as the how-to guy.
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American Idol Returns to DFW
That's right. All you wannabe superstars will have your chance to shine. Season 7 of American Idol begins June 25th in San Diego and works its way to Irving's Texas Stadium on Monday, August 6th. Audition information will be posted on the American Idol website soon.
If you're 16 to 28 years old, you are eligible for tryouts. Good luck!