Life On the Wicked Stage: Act 2

The 8th Annual Life on the Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards

Here we go. It's Ink Blot Awards time. A time for fun, and time for some introspection, a time for passing time, and a time for looking back. I've been blogging both here and at GottaBeMobile.com for over eight years now. I began this little annual tradition on the first annivesary of this blog as a way of celebrating a community that no longer exists today. That community was a group of geeks devoted to the early Tablet PCs. Things have changed quite a bit since, but here's what I wrote on that first anniversary as some context.

I created The Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards as a celebration. Yes, it's a celebration of the 1 year anniversary of this blog. But it is more than that. It is a celebration of a community that I have come to know and admire. The Tableteers that make up the Tablet PC Community are an amazing collection of individuals who know and work with the Tablet PC platform. They are fiercely protective of it, insatiably curious about advancing it, very intelligent, often wickedly funny, at one time very forgiving and patient, and in the same breath, scathingly critical when the need arises. They are also exceedingly willing to evangelize the platform to anyone who will listen, and in my humble opinion, have helped keep the spotlight on The Tablet PC in ways that may, in the long run, prove to be responsible for keeping the platform thriving.

Like I said, many things have changed since then. The Ink Blot Awards continue to evolve, without or without any hint of intelligent design. Those early Tablet PCs might as well be made of stone given how the technology has advanced. The media that covers Tablets (and other things as well) proves over and over again that the exciting technology we have at our current disposal doesn't mean that the stone age thinking of how we cover things goes away with new technology.

What hasn't changed and what's consistent about Tablets and mobile tech is that they offer a very personal experience. Apple gets this. Microsoft and others are trying to, but they insist on making devices while Apple creates experiences.

My attitude about politics, cultural happenings, and other things are also changing. I've also changed how I observe and remark about them. The convenience of Twitter, App.net, Google+ and Facebook take something away from this blog. I used to worry about that. I don't any longer.

I used to find most of what revolves around us as we make our way through this crazy life as entertaining in a "Human Comedy" sort of way. That has stopped, largely. What used to entertain more frequently just fills me with disdain. I guess that's mostly because those that pull the levers seem to view us all with disdain and they are becoming more transparent about it. I suppose I'm losing my tolerance, but perhaps that's because these days you can't talk about things in a nuanced manner. Whether the subject be politics or the latest gadget, you're either with us or against us, whoever the us is. Why remain tolerant with intolerance? Hating is the in thing these days, though for whatever reason I can't quite figure out. The ins and outs of life begin with the foibles of humans. We can create beauty and magic. We can also screw up just about anything we touch given half a chance. It used to be we acknowledged that, celebrated it, and moved on, bettering ourselves in the process. We might still do some of that, but far too often I increasingly feel like we're playing a sucker's game. Granted the game is being rigged by other suckers who just don't realize that's what they are. Rats in a maze can only repeat their paths so often before they pass out and die or get too fat from finding the reward. I often wonder why we get so many chances to make the same mistakes over and over. Maybe we're just too small to see the maze.

All pretense aside, the rules for inclusion on this little list are the same as they have always been. Award winners are subject to my own whims and fancies. Some are best in class, some are just frivilous, some deserve the small heaping of scorn these awards might cast their way. Human nature, no matter the field of endeavor, is ripe with that which needs celebrating, and that which needs derision cast its way. Good friend and Tableteer, Mark “Sumocat” Sumimoto, christened these awards with the nickname of ‘The Blotties’ in year one, and that sorta stuck. So we'll let it keep sticking. And finally, if you don't like the list, go make your own.

So, as always, hit the jump, cue the dancing girls, beat out a tattoo on the drums, sound the trumpets  and get ready for the Eighth Annual Life on the Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards .

Enjoy!

The 7th Annual Life on the Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards

Like everything else in my life in this insane year this post is a day late and a dollar short. The seventh anniversary of this blog was yesterday, December 3. But things in my life kept me from putting the finishing touches on the post and getting it published on the big day. On some level that's unacceptable. On others it is entirely in character this year. But then, maybe we'll see that change in the new year.

Seven years. (and a day) That's how long I've been presenting the Ink Blot Awards as my way of recognizing the anniversary of this blog. It's been a fun ride. It's been full of laughs. I'm hoping this year's awards will also provide a few chuckles to folks who stop by and give them a read. Although the history is mostly ancient and perhaps bordering on the irrelevant, I think it is important to provide some of it as context. So here goes:

I created The Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards as a celebration. Yes, it's a celebration of the 1 year anniversary of this blog. But it is more than that. It is a celebration of a community that I have come to know and admire. The Tableteers that make up the Tablet PC Community are an amazing collection of individuals who know and work with the Tablet PC platform. They are fiercely protective of it, insatiably curious about advancing it, very intelligent, often wickedly funny, at one time very forgiving and patient, and in the same breath, scathingly critical when the need arises. They are also exceedingly willing to evangelize the platform to anyone who will listen, and in my humble opinion, have helped keep the spotlight on The Tablet PC in ways that may, in the long run, prove to be responsible for keeping the platform thriving.

So much has changed in the time I started blogging that first year. It's changed with me and also that community has certainly changed. Those around me have changed as well in an eerie parallel to how things with Tablets have changed. Tablets mean different things now-a-days, although some of those who make them seem to have less penchant for success than Microsoft did.

What hasn't changed and what's consistent about Tablets is that they are still the very personal devices that they started out to be. Microsoft never recognized that. Apple did. Others tried to emulate without acknowledging the core reasons for Apple's success. And by and large they failed.

What's also changed is my attitude about politics, cultural happenings, and other things that I observe on this blog. I've also changed how I observe and remark about them. The convenience of Twitter and Google+ take something away from this blog. Sometimes I worry about that. Sometimes I don't.

I've become increasingly disenchanted with quite a few things this year. To be honest, I don't know why. I used to find it all entertaining in a "Human Comedy" sort of way. I don't find it that entertaining anymore. The ins and outs of life begin with the foibles of humans. It used to be that somewhere along the line we acknowledged that, celebrated it, and moved on, bettering ourselves in the process. While I think we still acknowledge it, and we might celebrate it, the only benefit we're deriving by moving on is to repeat the same things over and over again with an increasing frequency. I think this year's Ink Blot Awards reflect that with the number of repeats. Or they reflect my warped sense of things.

This was a year that so many things resulted in a "FAIL" that I think we have to look for a new buzz word for failure. Politics and the circus around it started performing without a tent and nobody cared that the clowns weren't funny any more. It's not that the clowns weren't funny that is maddening. It's depressing that no one cared anymore. Major tech companies became exposed for what can only be described as abhorent stratagies. New gadgets now depend on the same fickle first weekend sales that movies do. Of course if we had better gadgets being released, we'd probably see better results. Social networking became a parody of itself and all of that sharing resulted in a few shares too many or not nearly enough, depending on your perspective. Big media continued to prove that it doesn't have a clue. Little media seems to inexplicably want to follow that path as well. Oh, and Mother Nature reached up and smacked the planet around trying to get our attention. But aside from watching the compelling video and pictures we continued to just be thankful it wasn't us feeling her wrath, and sympathetic to those who did. The 99% became the Tea Party without the tea but with lots of party, because in the end the complaints are the same. For its efforts it got criticized by the 1% for being unorganized, dirty, and partying too much by the 1% that defines itself by making money and not making anything else so it can party. I think the 1% are just jealous because they feel like they have to dress up and shower in order to play their game. There's an old saying in show biz that if you put real life on the stage no one would believe it. I think if you put this last year on the stage, not only wouldn't anyone believe it, but Groupon would have a hard time selling discount tickets to it.

Last year's many repeats were due primarily to me spending the year dealing with my mother's terminal illness and ultimate passing. This year's repeats, I think, deal more with the fact that nothing has really changed. Change used to be a constant. I don't think it is as constant presently. On some levels I find that depressing, on larger levels I find that extremely human. I also find that it focuses those who are looking at life with 20/20 vision into a clearer view that someday may pull us out of the rut we're in.

Any pretense at aspirations aside, the rules for inclusion on the list are the same. Award winners are subject to my own whims and fancies. Some are best in class, some are just frivilous, some deserve the small heaping of scorn these awards might cast their way. Human nature, no matter the field of endeavor, is ripe with that which needs celebrating and that which needs derision cast its way. Good friend, Tablet PC MVP and fellow GBM contributor, Mark “Sumocat” Sumimoto, christened these awards with the nickname of ‘The Blotties’ in year one, and that sorta stuck. So we'll let it keep sticking. And finally, if you don't like the list, go make your own.

So, as always, hit the jump, cue the dancing girls, beat out a tattoo on the drums, sound the trumpets (or the theremin) and get ready for the Seventh Annual Life on the Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards .

Enjoy!

Forget +1. I Want a Stupid Button

Google+ is all the rage. Twitter is still rolling along. (Although Tweetdeck is just a steaming pile of Fail Whale since Twitter bought it.) Facebook is still booking faces. And of course the thing that drives them all (or supposedly will) is advertising.

Each of the social networks has a "Like" button or a +1, or a retweet, or something for others to follow along. But you know what these services and websites, and blogs, and headlines really need? A Stupid button, or some form of a Total Rejection Button. I know folks have talked about "disklike" buttons before, but when it comes to Ads and how that scam actually works on websites and social services, etc... I think we need to start measuring just how stupid some of these things are.

Privacy Reboot?

Privacy and Facebook still continue to dominate the tech news. Mark Zuckerberg's early life is getting splayed open for all to see (read privacy). Dana Boyd talks (excellently) about radical transparency. Robert Scoble says we need to reboot privacy and realize that everything we put on the net could be public. Hit the brakes there. It always has been that way. The reboot isn't about "getting over privacy" or getting over a fact of life. The reboot is about forcing companies to say exactly what they are doing and if you believe that will happen, I'll promise you that you can actually have some privacy in today's world.

Face it Zuckerberg and Facebook are BP. Zuckerberg and Facebook are Big Finance. Zuckerberg and Facebook are Apple (for those who like to hate Apple there's a bone). Zuckerberg and Facebook are the the health insurance industry. Zuckerberg and Facebook are the political class. Zuckerberg and Facebook are any religion that feels like it has to ban things and ideas in order to protect itself. Zuckerberg and Facebook will do what is in their best interest, period end of statement. That is until they perceive that interest is threatened.

When that happens they will weasel and they will manipulate and they will find a way to spin it and still do what they want. That's what lawyers and PR peeps are for.

It might sound like I'm down on the whole game here. I am and I'm not. I am because of the delusional aspects. There's self delusion here by those running the game in that they continue to believe that they can pull the wool over our eyes. And in many cases they are correct. I'm not because, face it folks, we must like the game, or else we wouldn't play it.

Sunday Morning Reading

Some Sunday morning reading to share.

A Kansas Supreme Court may have just thrown foreclosure out as a legal tool. This could get very interesting and I’m sure it won’t hold up.

A Census worker is found hanged with the word “fed” written on his chest in Kentucky. Scary stuff.

The Washington Post gives its employees new guidelines for social networking that essentially says don’t show that you have an opinion. The need to keep pretending that impartiality exists.

Time Warner is thinking of selling its magazine business.

Nancy Nally of Web Worker Daily challenges the assumption that extra batteries really come in handy. 

The Birthers are now running Infomercials. These guys know when a money is to be made out of nothing. 

Looks like there is going to be a resurgence of George S. Kaufman plays this season.

Ballmer admits Microsoft screwed up Windows Mobile, long after the horses are out of the barn.

The airlines are adding surcharges for the busiest holiday travel days. No surprise there. Here’s the question, does this mean they are going to improve their service on those days? Guess again.

It's Just Business

After Facebook acquired Friendfeed today, some Friendfeed users are bemoaning the fact, some are excited about what the acquisition means, and some are angry. Par for the course I guess when something like this happens. As far as I’m concerned, what Friendfeed turns into or if it just gets shut down isn’t really a concern. Anyone banking on any of these services to be around for a long period of time should be banking on something else. That said, I do enjoy Friendfeed as a service and will miss it if it disappears, which I think is more than likely. Who knows what will happen here and while emotions are flaring, it is too early to know what will come of this.

But that’s not what this post is about. Good friend, Newsganger, and ace blogger, Francine Hardaway made this comment in a Friendfeed post about those who were upset by the deal.

Sunday Morning Reading

It has been awhile, but here is some Sunday morning reading to share.

David Olive of the Star.com takes on the great journalism debate and says the problem with newspapers and newsrooms is that today’s journalism is boring. I couldn’t agree more. As everyone focuses on the Internet’s impact, I think it might have some value to focus a bit on all of the consultants that called in who basically succeeded in making everything the same. What was it Sarah Palin said? Only dead fish go with the flow? Worth a read.

A group of leading clerics in Iran question the ruler’s decisions and the election. This is probably big news in the middle of that still fomenting struggle. We’ll hear more about it after Michael Jackson is finally buried.

Twitter, Facebook, (and other social media) and organized religion. Good thing? Bad thing? Or is it just another facet of the complexity that already exists within the makeup of a religious community.

Sarah Palin decides to step down with a bizarre speech. Is there another shoe to drop? Is she positioning herself for the big run in 2012? Is it family issues out of control? There is a lot of focus on trying to analyze what I think defies analysis. Maybe someone should analyze the throngs that still worship at her feet. Just as hard to do, but in the end scarier than she could ever be.

Trouble on the iPhone 3GS front with battery life? What else is knew except that the article makes huge mistakes like the size is different between the 3G and the 3GS. And what were we saying about dead fish?

The First 100 Days from Obama’s Facebook Feed

This, from Slate,  is the best (and funniest) take on the 100 Days craziness that somehow has become a national holiday. (The picture is just an excerpt. Follow the link for the entire thing.)

And the Great Reviews Keep on Coming for Southern Crossroads

The Winchester Star weighed in this morning with another good review for the world premiere of Wayside Theatre’s Southern Crossroads. We’ll take all the good vibes we can get, and there are plenty of them in this review.

We’ve also opened up a Wayside Theatre/Southern Crossroads page on Facebook. Go ahead and become a fan and let us know what you think!

Written by Crocker and Przybylski, who also arranged the music, the production offers a great evening of entertainment with expert acting and outstanding musical talents.

 

Here’s a link to the latest review and here’s the link to the Facebook page.

Four Years of Life on the Wicked Stage

It has been and will continue to be a long Act 2 here on Life on The Wicked Stage, although there have been times when I’ve wished for a longer intermission this year. I still find it hard to believe that I’ve been doing this for four years, and yes, it is even harder still to envision not doing it. More to the point, I sit every day in wonder that people actually come here, or read what is written on RSS feeds after all this time. The thoughts, links, and musings here are things that I find of interest and chose to comment upon one way or the other. The fact that anyone else deems that of value is a bit scary and still inspires a bit of awe in my pea brain.

This has been a challenging year for me personally on a number of fronts, and consequently things fell off here in spurts. Even so, I still counted it as a blessing that I could return to share things that I found silly, fun, ridiculous, outrageous, sublime, beautiful, ugly, and above all worth sharing. Yes, it is still a refuge, and yes, it is still a place that I like very much.