I’m beyond old enough for this to happen. In the early 2000s, I wasn’t grousing about my parents. Much too old for that. Actually, I’m old enough to be the original posters dad.
Image is from one of my favorite webcomics, xkcd.
Category: Digital Life
Social Media, Platforms and Control
I’ve been kept in the loop about the different groups encompassing the #StopeHateForProfit initiative and their meeting with Facebook a few days ago (here’s a recap of the situation if you need it). Other folks have written about Facebook’s strategy and risks, so I really have nothing to add there. However, one element has given me pause. What happens if the site collapses?
No, I don’t think that Facebook is going to fail simply due to this issue. However, there are a huge number of challenges that Facebook faces, from privacy to a lack of public accountability. All of that makes me wonder what the breaking point will be? Ultimately, I believe Facebook’s Waterloo will be a combination of all the issues facing it, along with the natural conservatism that comes with huge success and an IPO, and the creation of a challenger. And I have something of a fatalistic view: that the end will come for it. Not that it will suddenly vanish. It’s a well-run business. However, I expect it will simply fade from relevancy once the new thing appears (i.e.: MySpace).
For me, this speaks to the importance of having my own website, my own place on the interwebs. One where I control everything. My own personal brand, I guess. Mainly, though, where my presence is independent of decisions made by some random group of individuals.
I realize that, in many ways, this is a fantasy. This site is hosted by a company, built on WordPress…external factors that I don’t have much control over. However, I can move my site to another host. I can port my blog from WordPress to some other platform if need be. Everything on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc, will simply vanish if those sites end.
Now, maybe this makes sense as I’m currently studying web development and design. As I was told many years ago, “having your own domain is the height of being a nerd” (I own that with delight). So, I guess this might be my inner geek. But I see deep value in having my own site, using it as a hub to the rest of my internet presence. And I see the value for you, too.
Thoughts on a YouTube Cyberpunk Documentary
I’ve long enjoyed the cyberpunk genre. Stumbling upon this video was rather fortuitous. I appreciated diving deeper into cyberpunk’s history and seeing the way different media influenced its growth. One thing I took away: cyberpunk was the first genre where video games were a key part of its evolution.
Below is a playlist of a video series: The Origins of Cyberpunk. I hope you find it as fun as I did.
Morning Musical Mood: Friday, May 22
This is part of my morning musical focus. Ambient, triphop, and such are styles I’ve long delighted in. From back in the early days of electronic music. I find the graphics accompanying this to be cool, too.
Why I’m Launching A New Career In Web Development
Just over a month ago, I learned I was being let go from my current role. I’ve wandered this path before, so I, initially, wasn’t terribly concerned. However, the more I thought about it, the more concerned I became. Mainly, I’d been laid off twice in less than a year. Thinking further, since 2009, I’d been laid off 4 times. I’m a bit tired of that. Yeah, even being a tech-savvy executive assistant/project coordinator, that work is too easy to outsource. Plus, with digital assistant growth, the lessening of friction for scheduling, the ease at which most folks can book their own travel, and you see the recipe for a dying career. I’m ready to be, shall we say, more essential.
Pretty much all of my life I’ve had a fascination with technology. As a young boy, my love of robots and radios (I had a particular fascination with shortwave radios), evolved into space and aviation, then into computers. Early PC games and BBSs then morphed into a vocational certificate in Information Processing (mainly databases and spreadsheets). Looking back, my biggest contribution to most of my past roles has been digitally based. Whether it’s my ability to fix a copier, 90% of PC issues, set up and manage a network, use things like Photoshop and AutoCAD, or build a website, those were the things that added the most value to the world around me.
I believe that the web holds our future. We will interact with most systems and data with web tools. SaaS models are already driving there…in the fast lane. Web development is a fast-growing path (projected 27% growth over the next 10 years), with decent salaries to boot.
So, it looks like fun, and there’s a need, which seems like a great combination. Thus, off I go.
Life & Career Update
Update in the life of Carl: this Friday will be my last day at my current job. Though tinged with sadness (great people to be missed, though a commute to Bellevue I rejoice in leaving behind), I move forward. After exploring some re-training options, I plan to study Web and Application Development at Edmond Community College. Though still ironing out details, this path excites me. With a gap in my time starting next week, I plan to spend time catching up as many people as I can. Friendship: life’s best present.
The IRS and 21st Century Annoyances
So, one of my current projects is helping a non-profit get up and running. One of the things we need is an EIN (Employer Identification Number…the organizational equivalent to a Social Security Number). So, I go to the IRS page to request this, and keep getting the old “Can’t connect to the website. Please try again later” error. I don’t think too much of this, but after a couple of hours, it’s getting to me. So, I explore a bit and find this.
Really? A website that’s only useful during “business hours”? It’s a WEBSITE! Why on earth is this not available 24-7? I guess that there’s some manual approval that happens during the process. Even so, I should be able to apply and be dropped into a queue that’ll be checked Monday morning, or whatever. A website with office hours just boggles my mind.
Ok, this clearly is a 21st Century problem. But it’s just so antithetical to the zeitgeist.
Watch “Inside The Awesome New VW Camper “California”” on YouTube
One of my dreams: driving around the country exploring backroads, diving deep into the unique culture of small town America.
I generally picture this while driving a VW bus. And though I delight in the old Kombis, this van featured here brings so much modern coolness, I’d be hard pressed to pass up one. If I had the budget.
Anyway, tis a dream I’ll entertain more.
Some Thoughts On The Traveling Wilburys
The Traveling Wilburys just popped through my Spotify feed. I loved their music from the get-go. It was sobering, though, to see this photo. 3/5 of them have passed on. Fortunately, Jeff Lynne and Bob Dylan seem to be in good health.
I guess there’s a certain immortality here. Photos, videos, and music give these artists a voice long after they’ve died. Recorded audio has transformed so much of how we life, and how we relate to each other. Seeing connections to them that are indistinguishable from when they were alive is a big one. I’m pretty sure there are people who would be shocked to here a band where every member has been dead for years. And not because of some tragedy, but just life.
Well, enough sober reality for one day.
Watch “TRUE HAWAII | By Sam Potter and Nainoa Langer | Beautiful Destinations” on YouTube
Hawaii is one of the places I could easily move to. I’ve been blessed with several trips to the islands. Most of my Hawaiian journeys have been on Oahu. Waikiki and Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, the North Shore and Hanauma Bay. I’ve also made it to Maui and the Big Island (Kona). I love these places! Especially the feeling in my soul when in contact with the land.
This YouTuber, Sam Potter, is from Hawaii. He’s creating a travel series that will be fascinating to watch: Beautiful Destinations. This is visually rich, which delights me deeply. Sam does a great job capturing the mood. I’m looking forward to the future of this show.