#digital paradigm

[grlucas]

Tumblr: Another Extension

One of the things I like about the Web in the age of social networking is that it provides easy ways to expand my brain's storage capacity. This idea was first suggested by Marshall McLuhan when he defined media as "an extension of ourselves." McLuhan theorized this idea years before the personal computer hit the streets, and decades before Web 2.0 -- or Web 1.0, for that matter. Yet, his definition is strikingly prescient.

As I get older, I find my brain doesn't work the way it used to. I forget names as quickly as I hear them; I can't remember the names of restaurants I enjoyed, or what I ate that was so fraking good; I often grasp at words while teaching. I attribute this to aging, but it could also have something to do with disinterest or solipsism. Goodness knows, I am the center of the universe. But, it could also have something to do with my changing relationship with technology.

Years ago, say twenty, I used to carry in my wallet a laminated card that had my frequently used phone numbers printed on it. Not only was said card a testament to my utter nerdliness, it was also a pretty good memory helper. However, I probably used the card a total of two times, since my youthful brain seemed to recall most of the numbers on it anyway. Also, changing the card proved difficult. Not only did I have to go into the MacWrite Pro document to modify the names and numbers, but I had to print it on card stock (both sides), cut the card so it looked neat, then buy one of those self-laminating packs from the dispenser at Eckerd Drugs. Often, my cut would be lopsided or imprecise, or I would accidentally stick the card to the laminate too early and have to start all over again. When the planets finally aligned, I'd have a tribute to my nerdly OCD: a perfect little card I could put in my wallet that would probably be obsolete within a day or two.

Fast forward twenty years: my laminated card has been replaced by my iPhone. Not only is updating a breeze, my iPhone could actually carry around details about every person I have ever met, including a vague little photograph that might be them. Seriously, because of its tether to Facebook, my iPhone now has details about people I haven't seen in twenty years, including "friends" I've likely never met -- or at least don't recall meeting. Photos don't really help here. Not only does my brain not have to remember any phone numbers -- well, I do know my wife's cell number -- I might have your number in my brain extension without even knowing it.

Another way I extend my brain is with other Web 2.0 sites, like Delicious. This link accrual and sharing site lets me store the links on their server rather than my local web browser. The beauty here lies in the fact that a new web browser or a new machine does not destroy my memory of favorite, interesting, or amusing sites. Delicious extends my Internet memory. I just wish I remembered how I tag stuff, but that's another issue.

Enter Tumblr, my latest extension (permanently linked above under Portfolio). Think of Tumblr as a microblog -- not quite like the full-fledged blog you're currently reading, nor as limited as a tweet. It occupies a realm somewhere between. Twitter is for the apathetic blogger; Tumblr is for the lazy blogger. Blogging is for the wannabe writer, for that  matter. Yes, I still live in another paradigm, but I am crossing over.

Tumblr is like sitting behind the wheel of a car you've had for years: comfortable, easy, and neat. It allows me to post snippets of text, links, photos, video clips, chats -- just about any Web media you can think of. It's a log of stuff I find interesting enough to want to remember. Sure, the only real organization is chronology, but Tumblr does provide tags now, an attempt at folksonomy, much like Delicious, grown-up blogs, and Technorati. I like tags; I just wish my brain could use them in a consistent way.

I use Twitter primarily for professional purposes, like communicating with my students. There's something elegant and germane about the 140 characters here. My tweets run across LitMUSE with important tidbits of information. I just wish students would look before shooting me a frantic email.

I use the blog for writing practice (here, here, and here) and for my photography side-business.

I use Tumblr as a brain dump. It's a place to remember what I thought about something and when I thought about it. While I have it linked to Facebook and Twitter, it's really just for me, an extension of myself.

[nikipenola]

"I Choose Love" | Behind the Scenes

Firstly: watch Lexi Elisha's video for "I Choose Love" here.

2 hours of sleep. 15 hours of doing things. So tired. So worth it.

Other than Arody and Bryan, I had never met the other guys on the Digital Paradigm crew. I can only say that these dudes are amazing and hilarious.

The camera that the boys had (The Black Magic) was ridiculous. Being completely non-knowledgeable in all things film, I stayed away from that beast and took photos of it instead, occasionally holding it on my lap during car rides or breaks. That sucker is heavy. It's amazing that Bryan had to carry it around for as long as he did. On the morning of day 2, he said he was sore. Hah, dang. That's too crazy.

Filmed the concert/performance scene at Lexi's home church. There was so much smoke/fog; I didn't even realize how foggy it had gotten in the auditorium until I stepped outside.

We knew we were going to be pressed for time (the church/auditorium was only available for a few hours after their worship service was finished) so it was hectic getting things set up and shot before we had to leave. In the end, everything worked out beautifully.

Filming the car scenes, watching Bryan and Arody being harnessed onto the car to film, seeing Brett hanging off of the edge of the car with hardly any space around him on the flatbed (all to control the music being played), getting funny looks from people watching us drive around... that whole experience was something I will never forget.

The boys and I drove to Chicago after we finished filming at sunset. The entire drive there, there was an argument over where to eat, and it was down to 2 places: Giordano's vs. Piece. We finally decided on Piece, called them, and found out they would be closed by the time we got there, so we got Giordano's instead. All I can say is what the heck. Cheese overload. It was yummy. Bryan and Jakin swear I will enjoy Piece so much more. Things left for next time.

Being the only girl on this trip, I got spoiled with my own hotel suite. All intentions of hanging out with the boys while they emptied the memory cards and recharged the batteries were thrown out the window the second I hit the bed.

I was awake at like 9:30am. Except, because I was in Central time, it was really 8:30am. Traveling between Central and Eastern time multiple times in time span of 3 days was strangely exhausting. Although, that could've just been the sleep-deprivation.

After the boys finally woke up (a few hours later), we packed up our stuff and went in search of food. Ended up at Penang, which is ALWAYS a good decision. Always. In the middle of lunch, the boys geeked out because the Apple keynote was happening. It's hilarious watching them fanboy over new tech. I finally know what that's like when I do that around all of my nurse friends. That's not to say I didn't get excited over the new releases and updates... they just acted like bigger fanboys.

Weather check after weather check. It almost rained us out, but we figured we'd be in the clear for shooting in downtown Chicago.

Arody, Jakin and I took the train in to Chicago while Brett and Bryan took Brett's car (with the camera and the gear) into the city. Arody, Jakin and I wandered the city a bit waiting for the other boys to tell us where to meet them. I got to be a little tourist, stopping at the Bean.

Met up with the boys just as Lexi and her family got to the meeting spot. Walked over to Navy Pier and filmed. Cue the onslaught of fog. After shooting for a few hours, fog covered the entire area. Then came the question of whether that would affect shooting the final scene on the boat. After walking back, we got confirmation that the fog was only at the entrance of the river, and that once you take the boat through downtown, it cleared up significantly.

At this point, it was now almost 7pm. My flight out of Chicago Midway was at 9:45pm. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay for the shooting of the last scene. I got to ride the boat for a few minutes before they dropped me off closer to where I needed to go. This is where I played a game of How Many Forms of Transportation Can I Possibly Use Tonight? I said my goodbyes to the crew and Lexi and her family, hopped over the edge of the boat while jumping the railing on the side of the river (I'm sure the boys have video of that somewhere), walking up to the main road, hailing a taxi, getting dropped off at the orange line, taking the train from downtown Chicago into Midway, getting checked in and boarding my plane ride to Atlanta, then driving up to Dalton. For those keeping score, that is 5. Also, by this point, I had crossed between Central and Eastern time 4 times in 3 days. Whew... that was ridiculous. You can imagine my exhaustion. But that entire weekend was so incredibly fun and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

The Digital Paradigm Crew: Arody Bermejo, Bryan Fellows, Joel Lopez, Jakin Thomas, Brett Christiansen, and me.

Chicago, I will be back.