Spring continues to reign in Central CA. The sun is shining brightly, there is a light breeze to spread the pollen of the almond blossoms and mustard all over the place, the projected high today is supposed to be 80. We shall see. Despite my red, watery eyes, I am enjoying the day. Daniel and I took a very long walk (6 miles) to the bank, the coffee shop, the donut shop and home. It’s been awhile since I walked like that. It sure did feel good. I will need to stretch out after little man goes down for his nap so i won’t be sore tomorrow.
Bill gave me my birthday present last night and the girls are all jealous. It’s a pretty pink I am having so much fun with it. I have already downloaded about 150 songs in it from my cd collection with more to go.
My dad, among others do not care for the iPod craze. dad seriously devoted a recent letter to his opinion about iPods and how they potentially can lead to the end of Western civilization as we know it.
iPods are isolating. On his long daily walks he sees joggers, walkers, moms pushing strollers all wearing iPods. He worries that this prevents them from hearing the world around them like the birds singing, the train going by, the older gentleman walking past calling out a cheerful “hello”. That would probably be dad I imagine.
He also is concerned that it isolates the listener from hearing all kinds of music. By downloading only our favorite songs we limit ourselves from listening to another genre or artist that perhaps we might have passed over. He likens this type of isolation to the “button pushers” who are constantly changing the stations on their car stereos…..but not to the person changing the tv stations with their remotes interestingly enough.
Such isolation can insulate us from an open-minded attitude towards other people, ideas and philosophies. This can lead to distrust of all that is different from our well insulated little world. Distrust has the potential to cause us to eliminate or destroy that which is different or cause us to seal ourselves up from the world around us.
….all this from an iPod. I bet this is part of Steve Jobs’ evil plan to rule the world. muhahahahaha!!!!!
Well, for the most part, I respectfully disagree. I see the iPod as an improvement on concepts or products that have been around a lot longer than I have been.
In the gym, on the track, at the park, anywhere around you before the iPod we had transistor radios, stereo headphones, personal cassette players, walkmans all which made it possible for us to carry our music ith us wherever we may go. We could enjoy it all to ourselves or if we chose to, play it loud enough to make our ears bleed so others around us could hear it too.\
The idea of selective listening has been around as long as radio stations had selective formats. Nowadays you have radio stations that play very specific genres of music and very rarely, if ever explore outside of their limited view. With music purchases before iPods and their like we could choose to purchase the entire album or the 45 which had the hit single on the A side and a B side selection. I often made my own mixes if you will, by taping on cassettes songs on the radio or from my own albums and friends’ record collections….not unlike the multitude of cds my daughters have burned of entire albums or various selected songs from music download sites and friends’ personal collections. Yes, we are being selective but admit it, how many times have you bought a cd because you liked a particular song only to be disappointed with the rest of the cs? I do have a few of those myself.
So I have created my own personal selection of music. It is uniquely mine. I can assure dad and you that it is very diverse asI have various selections from underground rap, heavy metal, alternative, country, bluegrass, salsa, reggae, blues, Motown,, show tunes, R & B, Cuban, big band, jazz with much more to come as I have scarcely put a dent in my personal cd collection. I am being selective but across a very broad plain.
This morning as I walked pushing my jogger stroller I was able to enjoy the scenery around me and below as I watched Daniel surveying his kingdom from his little throne. I was able to enjoy the sounds of the town and Daniel’s running commentary and all that he saw as well as the music I shuffled. I kept the volume low so outside sounds filtered through very easily. I still made a point to smile and say “Good Morning” to anyone who happened to pass by as i always do. I did not feel insulated instead I felt as if I had my own accompaniment as I walked along to the beat. It seemed to lighten my steps and brighten my mood even more if that was at all possible.
So I may or may not be contributing to our downfall as I enjoy this gift from Bill. Frankly all I care about is finally I have a means to take ALL of my music with me everywhere I go. Thanks honey! This was the perfect gift.