Archive for December, 2008
I saw the advertisement in this morning’s NY Times on Michael Phelps’ new book entitled ‘No Limits’ which is to be released today. This is his second book – somehow I missed the first one. Like so many Americans (and dare I say even non-Americans) I was enthralled with Mr. Phelps’ performance at the Beijing Olympics this past summer. It’s even ok that he is now the new Subway sandwich endorser (bye-bye Jared). But with at the ripe old age of 23 I have serious doubts about what Mr. Phelps would have to say about his ‘life experience’. Ok we all know that he can swim really fast. Faster than just about anyone maybe ever. Yet what has he done except get wet alot and eat a big breakfast?
I wonder how the book might read? ‘I got up early (again) had a big breakfast (again) and went swimming. Had a big lunch, went to school, went swimming again. Then had a big dinner (again) and did some homework then played video games. I did this for 22 years. My mom is a saint and offers many interesting facial expressions when the camera is on her on television.’
I cannot figure where else a book like this will go. What else could he have to say that would be even remotely interesting? I am sure Michael Phelps is a nice guy and maybe even a cool dude. And he has millions of fans and many of them will clamor to read his recent effort (since he has so much more life experience now than before his first book). Celebrity offers much to those that do great things (and sometimes not great things). Here’s hoping that Michael Phelps decides to donate a good portion if not all of the proceeds to people in need. He got $ 10 million to endorse Subway so I am guessing he could afford to do so.
And don’t get me started on the reported $ 7 million advance offered to Gov. Sarah Palin for her story. Sure to be an engrossing read. If she cannot see Russia from her bedroom, she can surely make out the ATM.
I flew out on Monday from a NYC area airport and forgot not only that I did not have my 3 ounces or less liquids in my little one quart plastic bag. Not only that I left all the liquids in my carry-on. Went right through security having never given it a thought. Hmmm. I thought was there a change in policy from TSA? I don’t recall hearing about it. I removed my shoes but did not seem to recall if other travelers were doing the same. (When I was in Tokyo a couple of years ago the agents could not understand what I was doing taking off my shoes!). I also remember right after 9/11 flying someplace and having an overzealous TSA agent confiscate a nice cigar cutter I had received as a gift.
So on the return flight out of Cincinnati I did not have time to get the proverbial plastic bag but I also noticed that they did not have the 3-1-1 signs or the constant drone of what to do with your shoes etc. They did talk about jackets needing to come off and several travelers had to stand in the special scanner that blew on you. Somehow I was not asked to do this. Just lucky I guess. But once again my bag went right through with my toiletries etc. inside my carry-on not in a plastic bag.
So what gives? It appears I missed some change in TSA policy (by the way at both airports I spent less than three minutes going through airport security so what does one really need the ‘Clear’ for anyway?).
The next thing you know you will not need to remove your shoes! Also I found the TSA personnel to be pleasant and as usual professional. Interesting since there was a heightened sense of concern over the holiday weekend due to recent world events and even local to NYC threats.
All in all it made for a pleasant traveling experience (yes I traveled coach or second class as my sister used to say). Was I just lucky? Is the TSA going a little soft? I will be flying again a couple of times this month to different cities and will be sure to notice if this is a trend or just an anomoly.
When the terrorists struck on November 26th in Mumbai news media feeds and reports were sketchy at best. The tweets that came out first were real time and as it turns out accurate reports as to what was going on moment-by-moment as more than 170 people would ultimately perish.
I have commented that mundane things like ‘what am are you doing right now’ will possibly choke the growth of Twitter as followers may drown in a sea of irrelevant information. But on the other hand what happened in Mumbai is a fantastic illustration of how social networking combined with Citizen Journalism can be completely relevant and important all at the same time.
There’s a certain amount of faith that has to be laid out to start with regard to the person tweeting. But once that person develops a following and as such a reputation for truth and genuine content, the immediacy of Twitter will supplant any ‘news’ feed since it will not be filtered by an editor.
If the future of Twitter is to be an immediate and relevant source of information on topics of importance (subjective) and interest (doubly subjective!) long live Twitter and Tweets!