The Most Powerful Gay Thing You'll See This Week

Anthony Starble

The Internet is both a wonderful and terrible tool which has changed the lives of everyone born before the 1990's. A virtual Wild, Wild West of information; entertainment; knowledge; pornography; science; music; art; film and almost anything else you can think of, it can bring people together and drive others into total isolation. 

I like the Internet best when it teaches, entertains and introduces me to new artists; musicians; performers and cool science. Today, it introduced me to a young gay musician by the name of Anthony Starble. His latest single,"Oh Father" (via) is a gorgeous ballad about the very complicated relationship between so many straight fathers and gay sons. While I won't get into my theories about my own father and our rather complicated relationship, I will admit that Starble's song and video hit home on so many levels. And I'm guessing it does the same with many of my readers. See for yourselves:

My father always seemed on the verge of violence, especially once he realized I was never going to be the person he wanted me to be. I have long since forgiven him for how he treated my mother and I and actually feel sorry that he couldn't find the happiness he so desperately seemed to be seeking. I lost my father long before he actually passed, and did not mourn his passing in the 'traditional' way. Instead, I mourned the missed the opportunities we could have shared. Starble's song and video capture how I felt about him in an oddly personal way. As I am sure it will for many others. 

More, anon.

Prospero

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The Web Has Lost Its Mind

What the...? It seems that embedded videos in all the blogs I regularly visit (including my own) have disappeared. Has Anonymous hacked YouTube? Has Vimeo been taken down by hackers? If so, to what end? I don't get it. I've even noticed that commenters have noticed. On Bits and Pieces, one commenter wrote: "The videos don't work! I broke the Internet!" 

Of course, as I write this post, the videos seem to have been restored. And I'm sure that whatever happened is my fault. I've finally met someone and am happy. There had to be a price to pay...

No, my self-esteem isn't quite that low. I know there was some weird technical glitch somewhere that was resolved by someone far more technically savvy than Uncle P (and trust me, it doesn't take much to be more technically savvy than me). Perhaps I can blame it on all the idiots I talked to today. No, I talk to idiots everyday - why should today be any different?

Personally, I don't care why or how what happened, happened. I'm just happy it seems to have resolved. And so my love/hate relationship with the World Wide Web continues unabated. We can all relax again and enjoy cat videos to our hearts' content:

Am I growing cynical? Man, I hope not.

Of course, ShareThis is still not working... (sigh...).

More, anon.
Prospero

You have read this article Nonsense / Ramblings / The Internet / Video / YouTube with the title The Internet. You can bookmark this page URL http://tammycross.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-web-has-lost-its-mind.html. Thanks!

Augment THIS!

Google's "Project Glass" Augmented Vision Glasses

You may have seen the video from Google about their newest in-development hardware/software combo package called "Project Glass," which is basically computerized eye-wear that allows it's user to interface with everyday reality and their personal Google accounts.

As someone who has worn eyeglasses and/or contact lenses from a very young age, I find the concept both intriguing and frightening at the same time. It's bad enough that we have so many distractions on a fairly regularly basis as it is. Now imagine that everything you see is connected to the web.  Everyone you know; everything you read; everything you eat; everything you do... shared with everyone you know and everyone they know. Sort of a live-feed Facebook (or in this case, Google+).  In case you missed it earlier this spring, here's Google's video about the project:

Yikes! As much as I love the Internet and the connectivity it gives me to people literally all over the world, there's something decidedly Orwellian about Project Glass. I don't share everything I do online with everyone to whom I'm connected. Like most of you, I share only things of common interest with selected friends and family members. Just imagine sharing everything with everyone. No thanks.

Young filmmakers Erin May-raz and Daniel Lazo take it a step further and imagine a not-too-distant future in which everyone is connected by an implanted device called 'Sight' in their short film of the same name (via):

  Sight from Sight Systems on Vimeo.

Of all the possible futures Science Fiction can imagine, this may be one of the worst. Of course, using technology for personal gain is nothing new. But we have to draw the line, some where. And please don't lie to yourself - everyone has a secret they wouldn't want to share with anyone, let alone online, for all the world to see. The alternative? Unplug yourself. 

More, anon.
Prospero

You have read this article Google / Privacy / Scary / Science Fiction / Secrets / Short Films / Technology / The Internet with the title The Internet. You can bookmark this page URL http://tammycross.blogspot.com/2012/08/augment-this.html. Thanks!