Hmm... is technology really a good thing?

So I have a final exam tomorrow afternoon, along with a 5-page paper that's also due tomorrow.

But about 3 hours ago, I found myself updating both my Facebook and both Twitter. Which leads me to ask the question:

Is technology really a good thing?

Of course it is. I seriously just need to learn how to focus on my work.

The question I asked, however, is the same question that many other people ask all the time, as a lot of the technological advances over the past few years seem to become distractions, getting in the way of other work that needs to be done. With MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc., there are numerous alternatives to doing work.

But why does it seem that people are more distracted with modern technology than they were in the past? The most likely reason is the interactivity that makes this new technology popular. All of the aforementioned web sites are examples of what has been termed "Web 2.0," described by Tim O'Reilly, founder and CEO of O'Reilly Media, as transforming the Internet into "a more mature, distinctive medium characterized by user participation, openness, and network effects" (Web 2.0: Principles and Best Practices, O'Reilly Radar).

"User participation"... that means users have to participate, right? And the more that users participate, the more popular the technology becomes. And the more popular the technology becomes, the more that users participate. It's a never-ending cycle that will continue to both attract and distract more and more people.

So how do we get past the "distraction" of this new technology? It's not easy, that's for sure.

But let's think about something: when televisions became popular in American society during the 50's and 60's, people saw TV as very distracting, as it "invaded" their households at a ridiculously fast pace, providing news and entertainment throughout the day.

Did this mean that TV was bad, though? Of course not. Think about this: when you wake up in the morning and want to know what you should wear, you don't have to step outside. Instead, you can just turn on your TV, flip to The Weather Channel, and get an update on the current temperature, along with information about the weather for the entire week. (You can even watch shows about crazy storms and hurricanes and such, but that's not as crucial.)

The point I'm trying to make is that, although new technology might be seen as a distraction, it helps make life more convenient and efficient in the long run. And it helps make it more fun, too. (My new iPod Touch is a great example of this... especially the fun part.)

Okay. I'm done writing. Let me go start my paper. I just need to update my Facebook and my Twitter first to let everyone know that I'm finally writing it.

Beyoncé messed that girl up!

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW***

I'ma keep this post very short and simple: if you haven't seen the new movie "Obsessed," you should.

Not because of its intricate storyline... because, well, it's not that intricate. It's actually very predictable.

Not because of its exciting script... because, well, it's very tedious to watch, and it gets very repetitive at some points.

Honestly, there's nothing that makes this movie stand out over any other movies. You know exactly what to expect from the movie after watching about the first 5 minutes of it.

So what is it that makes this movie appealing? Two things:

• #1: The actors are so into their roles that the ferocity with which they act is just amazing to watch (the on-screen chemistry between Beyoncé and her husband, played by Idris Elba, is absolutely brilliant).
• #2: The whole movie is basically preparation for one of the greatest ending fight scenes in cinematic history. (Obviously, I'm biased because it's Beyoncé, but when she goes at it with the girl who's trying to steal her husband... absolutely beautiful.)

But for real, good movie. Check it out... you'll be obsessed with it.

Nappy Thursday...

Yeah... "Nappy Thursday..." I know you're wondering why I gave this post that name. Well, two main reasons:

• #1: On a day that I really need to be extremely productive academically, I can't seem to stay mentally functional for more than 3 hours at a time. And I've been taking nappies all day long. I don't really know why. Probably because all these long nights I've been spending in the library are starting to catch up with me. Oh well, it's still just the beginning... it's gonna be a long couple of weeks...
• #2: I didn't get a haircut yesterday as I had planned... so I'm still NAPPY!!! That's all.

But back to reason #1. I have a 5-page paper due Monday, another 5-page paper due Tuesday, a 12-page paper also due Tuesday, and yet another 5-page paper due next Saturday. On top of that, I have my first final exam next Thursday, followed by another one next Friday, another one next Saturday, and yet another one due sometime before May 8...

Hooray college! Anyway, I'm gonna take a very quick nap since my TA hasn't shown up to my discussion section yet, which was supposed to start 6 minutes ago. I'll be back...

Ah, the joys of college...

I'm sitting in the library... late at night... again... working on a paper... and I'm not really that happy about being here.

So, I decided to make a list of reasons why I should be happy right now:

• #1: The Lakers took a 2-0 lead in their first-round series vs. the Jazz. Gotta love that PURPLE & GOLD!!!
  
• #2: I ate eel for the first time today. Absolutely delicious.
  
• #3: I had a really good workout earlier... getting me that much closer to having that six-pack for the summer!
  
• #4: I just devoured one of those new Reese's SnackBarz and washed it down with strawberry kiwi juice. (#4 probably isn't very good following #3, but oh well...)
  
• #5: Although I have work to do, I don't have anything that's due tomorrow, so I can finally get some sleep tonight/this morning... I miss my bed...
  
• #6: I'm finally getting a haircut sometime tomorrow. Praise His Holy Name!
  
• #7: I'm spending the night working in the library with a great friend of mine by the name of Erica... good times :)
  

Ahhh... there. That made me feel better. Now back to work...

Twitter, anyone?

Three days ago, the unthinkable happened.

I got a Twitter.

Yep... you read that right. I signed up for my very own Twitter.

So why is that unthinkable? For the last couple of months, I've been bashing Twitter and saying why it was absolutely ridiculous and pointless. And then I actually went to the Twitter website. Obviously, that visit to their homepage changed my perspective on Twitter, so much so that I am the proud owner of a Twitter myself.

So why exactly did I get a Twitter? Because it helps keep me connected. And anybody that knows me knows that I like to stay connected. Now, Twitter doesn't have all the added features of Facebook. It doesn't have all of the pictures you've taken, the videos you've recorded, or the random applications you've added to your page to make it look more "fly." And it doesn't have the collegiate feel of Facebook either... even though that last part is going away very quickly; it's scaring me how many Facebook friends I have over the age of 40.

But that's exactly what makes Twitter great. As much as I love Facebook, it gets way too unnecessarily cluttered at times. Sure, I'd love to hear about your amazing summer vacation in the Bahamas, but do I really need to see a whole photo album from your trip on my homepage? I think not.

Well, maybe I want to see the 5 billion quizzes you've taken on Facebook about your personality, what your name means, what your birth month means, what your... wait... I really don't care about that either.

What do I care about then? The same thing that Twitter does. All I do is tell Twitter what I'm up to, in 140 characters or less, and everybody following my Twitter will know what I'm up to as well.

Let me just put it this way: KISS... "Keep It Simple, Stupid."

Intrusive? Maybe.

Nosy? Probably.

Fun (to me)? Definitely.

Now not everybody's going to like Twitter. There will still be those that view this as an unnecessary invasion of privacy that allows everyone to see what you're doing at all times. And that's exactly why those people don't have to sign up for it.

For the rest of us, it's a very clean, effortless, and useful tool to keep abreast of what's going on with your favorite people. For example, when I was embarking on an all-nighter in the library yesterday, my dad, who wants to stay up-to-date on my academic happenings, got an update as soon as I changed my Twitter status. He sent me a message later that night, telling me not to work too hard... and that he had just enjoyed a "thrilling episode of 24." Thanks, Dad... not only did I miss out on sleep, but I missed my favorite show on television. Great.

(Just kidding Dad... you know I appreciate the advice.)

That's why I like Twitter, though. From either my computer or my phone, I can update anybody that wants to know what I'm up to.

And that's all.

Twitter keeps it simple. So don't be stupid. Get a Twitter, and Tweet away. You'll be glad you did.

A day in Los Angeles...

So I get to tape my Jeopardy! episode tomorrow, but I was thinking... since I'm out here, I might as well see all there is to see in L.A. And the city tour that I took with my dad today did just that.

The "Fresh Prince" mansion, the HOLLYWOOD sign, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, the Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, Sunset Strip, Universal Studios, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Kodak Theatre, Staples Center, the Walk of Fame, and the random people on Hollywood Blvd. that impersonate Michael Jackson, Mickey Mouse, Catwoman, Supergirl, Yoda, Darth Vader, Spider-Man... wow.

I knew L.A. was a crazy city, but it seems like there's something to do on every street corner. Maybe it's just because I'm from Richmond, but this seems like the most fun place on Earth. Sure, we were stuck in traffic the whole time we were on the freeway, but as busy as this place is, the atmosphere is just great. Seriously... where else can you take a picture with Michael Jackson on the middle of the sidewalk?

Anyway, let me watch tonight's Jeopardy! episode and try to mentally prepare myself... one more day!

Exciting Phone Call...

First off... my sincerest apologies for not having posted to my blog in FOUR weeks. My job has just been very hectic, and I really haven't had time to do a lot outside of work. Actually, that's really just an excuse for the lack of interesting things going on with me this summer. But, that's about to change...

This past Tuesday, I received a phone call from someone at Sony Pictures Studios, who gave me some very exciting news: I'm going to be on Jeopardy! (And, no... the call wasn't a prank, or Punk'd, or Candid Camera, or anything like that... it was 100% real!) For those of you who don't know, I was a Jeopardy! contestant during their Back to School Week in October 2000. Just so happens, they want to have a "reunion" week, featuring past B2S contestants, and they picked me as one of them. August 10th (which, coincidentally, is my dad's birthday) is the day I'll fly out to Los Angeles for the show's taping.

I'm not gonna lie... I'm nervous. God definitely helped me out the last time around, with a come-from-behind win that hung completely on the Final Jeopardy! answer. If either one of the other contestants had gotten it right... no win for me. And, most likely, no second trip to L.A. in a couple of weeks. But, thanks to the fact that my co-contestants didn't know that the guy who turned 18 on June 21, 2000, who also happened to have a little brother named Harry and a dog named Widgeon, was none other than Prince William... I came in first place. (If you're wondering what in the world I'm talking about, fast forward to the last couple of minutes of this video.)

But like I was saying... I'm nervous!! I'm very competitive, and I hate to lose at anything... especially on a nationally-televised game show. But I can't really study for it, unless I want to try memorizing the entire Encyclopædia Brittanica in two weeks. And that's not gonna happen. So, I guess I should just look forward to the trip, and enjoy every minute of it, win or lose. After all, none of my other friends have ever been on Jeopardy!, and I'll have been on there twice. That's something to brag about, right?