Death of a Phone Call

Meant to write this post last week - I read a really interesting article about how text-dependent we've become.

I know I've talked about this before and it's not the first time I've thought/talked/elaborated on it. It's so true, and this article says it better than I think I ever could. Phone calls are "uncontrollable" and nobody likes not being in control. There's a demand for an immediate response, within seconds.

Depending on the type of call, it could be very imperative that what is said is thought out and said effectively. Being on the phone doesn't totally mean that you're getting that person's full attention. In an office setting, they're more than likely reading e-mail. On a cell phone, they're most definitely doing something other than focusing squarely on the call. So it's really become the least effective way to communicate, because you don't really have someone's attention.

Texts offer a sense of control and stability. You can stop, think about what you want to say, say it to it's strongest point (within 160 characters) and then not think about it until you get a response, which can be happen anywhere between a few seconds or a few hours. It's like this blog - I can take my time, write what I want, and say it as strongly as I think (or have time) to finish it, without worrying about looking like a (total) idiot.

I still get frustrated with texts because of they never seem to "end". Conversations can be drug out over hours if they're isn't rapid fire responses. There rarely seems like a "goodbye" to them, it's always one person not responding to the other. I always feel like I'm the one who sends that last text that doesn't yield a response. I say that, although I may not realize when I don't respond to someone, ending the conversation.

Depending on the person, I think what did I said to not yield a response. It's like you have to say something to warrant a response. You have to ask a question or say something ridiculous that requires a response. Otherwise you won't hear back. And then what happens? How do you start the next text? Then you double think everything. "I'm not gonna text her back, she never responds." "Why doesn't he respond to my texts." "she saw my BBM and didn't respond." That one True Life about having Digital Drama made me want to scream, but this is the world we live in. Needless to say, I'm very content to not have that in my life. For now.

It started back when instant messaging started, when it would be one person at a time speaking and you'd wait to hear back. That's not how I usually talk in real life, but I also think I talk a lot. Too much sometimes. That's why I blog, because no one responds to my texts, so I just say everything I want here. I'm kidding. Sort of. Well. This is embarssing.

P.S. the worst thing about texts? Those texts that don't say anything. The "yeah" or "umm" or "lol". Thanks for wasting my time. That's how conversations die. Next please.

The thing with texts is that it's mobile instant messaging, and with these cell phones you have no idea what the other person is doing. May not have their phone. May be at the gym. May be out to dinner. May hold onto their phone like it's a third appendage. Yet people (especially people trying to make plans/friends/relationships/drug deals) get so angry over people not responding to texts. Especially when it's a "what are you doing tonight/want to hang out" type deal and I know people who literally say "wtf how do they not answer their phone". It's true but it's stupid that this is what we've come to. The digital/non vocal way of communicating that is all text based.

I've made jokes before about online dating sites and then over the weekend had a serious talk with one of my buddies about how 1 in 5 relationships start online. 1 in 5. 20%. That might just be PR/advertising BS, but holy hell, that's terrible. Could you imagine dating someone who you've met online and sent e-mails or whatever? I really don't know anything about the process, and really don't think I should be dating any girls for the next 17 years while I figure out my life/grow up, but wow. That sounds miserable, meeting someone online. And then that awkward like first meet. I feel like all the True Life's I've seen lately say "I'm dating online." Clearly I'm watching too much True Life. Most people on that show are degenerates anyway.

This really wasn't about dating sites. I might make a post of that later of my female friend's horror stories from them. The point is, the Internet/Technology has developed that we don't communicate in person any more. It's not breaking news (although maybe @BreakingNews might tweet it, since they're idiots). It's just sad how we don't communicate anymore. I can't say I'm innocent of any of it either. I'd rather text. I've avoided phone calls to send a text later. I'd rather we didn't have the option, but we do. Can't wish it away, not going anywhere. If you give someone an easy out, they're going to take it.

Anyways, what's everyone's plan this weekend? Text me!

Proving a Point

A couple posts ago I wrote that Bruce was the best concert I've ever been too. The readers of Rolling Stone agree. Who knew I had so many friends?

I'm not going to bore you and re-write my obsession with Bruce or his concerts, butttt I'm right.

Working On A Dream.

Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark

So I saw Spiderman last night. It had been something I wanted to see before the 20 different accidents and the million terrible reviews. The little kid in me (plus the U2 fan) thought that this would at least be a great experience.

I'm not a critic, so I can't tell you if it sucked or not. They way I described it as soon a I left was this: It's like watching a live Power Rangers episode with Team America puppet-pulling (read: stupid) action sequences. The "flying" was cool, but I was crapping myself thinking that somebody might fall.

The whole concept of the play its hard to pull off. Nobody will be happy because Spiderman is one of those iconic heroes in America - everyone has their own image of him. I'm not going to say I wasn't happy, but I wasn't thrilled. They killed some of the key original story lines.

I'm not sure it was ever meant to be a musical. That's part of the problem. There were points where I couldn't really understand what was being sung, it felt like the guitars overpowered the voices. Some of the songs were really good (I've been trying to download them all day today), but some were terrible. I kept trying to picture Bono singing them, and it didn't really work for me. But the "main" song was right up Edge's alley. It felt like all the songs were adaptations of other U2 songs, which is kind of weak, but U2 is amazing, so it balances fairly.

I'm not a huge Spiderman nerd. I couldn't tell you everything about the villains and the differences between Amazing Spiderman and Ultimate Spiderman and SuperDuper Spiderman. I watched whatever version that was on Fox on Saturday Mornings. I vaguely remember something about the spider goddess, but I really didn't like that whole theme. It really bothered me that the "with great power comes great responsibility" line from Uncle Ben that was like the focal point of the entire cartoon/movie/comic was barely mentioned. They could of made a song out of that.

Staging wise (is that the right term? I've become such a loser.) was probably the best thing about the show. They were able to mix in a healthy combination of comic book into the "real" world. You can see why the show is the most expensive in Broadway's history - the set was moving more than Kanye West's during his Glow in the Dark Tour.

One funny thing from last night - at the end it was pretty clear that Peter Parker was supposed to fly one last time, but he didn't get his "flying tools" strapped on in time/correctly, so he just walked off the stage and sort of threw the cords at the stage hands. Glad to see he didn't risk his life, but it's a shame the ending wasn't what it could of been.

The show is still in "previews" or whatever the correct terminology is for it. I don't think it's a total disaster. I just think they need to change things around. The whole Spider Goddess thing was brutal. Scratch her, make one of those "Sinister Six" the core villain for part two. They're strong enough characters there. There's a lot they could do - the Spiderman Universe is so expansive, it makes no sense to keep it to just the Green Goblin.

I just pray this isn't the beginning of a trend, as in a few years we see a X-Men on Broadway. And then the Hulk. Then Iron Man. Etc. Keep them on the silver screen.

Charlie Sheen

I've been trying to write this post for the past 3 days. Every day something new and crazy happens and I have to scrap everything I wrote. I'm trying to bang this out before he admits to being an alien.

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I honestly can't say I know much about Charlie Sheen prior to these few weeks. I really only knew him on Wall Street, and I only saw that once. I don't watch Two and a Half Men. I couldn't tell you anything else about him.

Until he started waking up in rooms with hookers and more cocaine than Tony Montana. I really can't even say I paid much attention to that either. I don't know every detail or how many times. I skimmed it once in his Wikipedia. Seems routine for Hollywood.

Either way, he is providing great comedy for America right now. All of this tiger-blood and goddesses, sober ranch, it's great fodder, espeicially for the internet age. I'm enjoying every minute of it. I can't really say if I have an opinion or not on what he thinks, but I think this is simple; give a guy too much power and money, he'll lose control. The thing is he knows he's in a position of power - America's highest paid television celebrity - and if CBS wants to drop him then he'll go do other movies. He's not the first actor to do cocaine to the point of going to the hospital. Some directors don't care. And he's supposedly clean, so if a director is really worried, put a continual drug test in his contract.

What is interesting is that he's being so open about it. You don't see any other celebrity this open. Lindsay Lohan is keeping mum. Sheen couldn't possibly be on enough networks (save CBS). And he's not saying the same thing every time, which makes it even more entertaining. He seems like he's having a great time - except for his inability to do his "job".

Sad story with his kids - I've always said divorce is brutal. I can't comment on that, but Charlie doesn't seem totally sane, so I think Brooke's got a case. They need a father figure in their life though.

If I were CBS, how can you not bring back this show? I think everyone who has caught onto this Charlie Sheen runaway train would be interested in seeing the show after all of this. To see if Sheen can actually act normal. To see if he and the creator can co-exist. I would probably tune in for an episode or two. It's going to be more popular than ever, and you can't say that about most shows that are going into season 10.

That's really all I have to say, but in the meantime, keep winning.

NBA Markets

I didn't know how to phrase the topic the right way.

There's been a lot of discussion amongst the talking heads of the NBA world about how players are ditching the small market teams to running to the big markets. Some small-market owners are complaining, saying that there's a competitive disadvantage if they can't keep their star/franchise player because the larger market is more appealing to the player.

I think that's bogus. Absolutely bogus. The reason players leave teams (which, conveniently happens to be the small market teams) is because they're poorly run. It doesn't get much more simple than that. If you run your team smart, the players will stick around and reward you for rewarding them with the right pieces. Look at San Antonio, Tim Duncan has played their his entire career. Although Timmy doesn't seem like the guy who goes after the glitz and the glamour.

Or you can say the same with Oklahoma City. Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the planet, and just this past summer signed an extension because he was going to be playing with great players like Westbrook and Ibaka.

LeBron left because Cleveland wasn't putting the best players around him in an opportunity to win. It's that simple. He had stuck it out for 7 years. It's fair to say he gave them a fair shot. Now, going to Miami, to Dwayne Wade's team, is a totally different animal. But as far as "jumping ship" to a big market? If he wanted the biggest market he could of gone to the Knicks. He didn't. And just a year ago nobody would of wanted to go to the Knicks because they were in turmoil, with no direction and just seemed to be a mess. They freed up space to get Amare and now Carmelo, but so what? They're still a 6 seed, and might fall to 7 if they don't check their rearview mirror. They beat the Heat, but they lost to the Cavs. Riddle me that.

Remember, the NBA is different than the other sports because there is a max contract. There is no A-Rod deal. Kobe makes the same as Joe Johnson, who makes the same as Chris Bosh. That's as simple as it gets. So while money is nice, it's clearly the option of the players to determine where they want to get their money from. Although, that doesn't mean the NBA is free from it's boneheaded, scratch your head type contracts and just say "he makes HOW much to ride the bench and play 15 minutes a night?"

The league honestly is at an all-time high as far as popularity. I don't know if it's necessarily LeBron's doing, but for me it started right around then. There are so many subplots and story lines it's like a rich man's WWE. The Celtics Big 3 trying to show the young 3s teawmrok. Miami's Big 3. Orlando trying to prove they're the best team in Florida New York trying to make 3. Kobe still proving who is top dog. Blake Griffin trying to break the backboard. Kevin Love turning into the white Shaq. Durantula's continued evolution. And I haven't even talked about the Bulls, Spurs, or Mavericks.

Sure, nobody cares about the chaos in Detroit, or the Bucks, or the Pacers, or even the Sixers. I'm not sure I could tell you one player on the Memphis Grizzlies. Or the Rockets. But there are 8-10 teams that I would watch any time they're on television. That's about 8-10 more than I would have watched this time last year. I think that in itself is the accomplishment. The NBA is bringing the casual fan and getting them invested again, because there's fun to the league. Not everyone's having fun, but more people are than before.

So small market teams, shut up and run your team better. Your players will reward you for your efforts, if you play to win, and not play to make a profit.