Stacking Wood

I used to have an impeccable memory. There was a time when I felt I could remember everything, about every moment of my life. I think the feeling peaked somewhere around 25-26. Since then, I've noticed things aren't as fresh as they used to be. It's probably a combination of age and too much partying when I was younger. Of course, the irony in this is that my most prolific periods of writing came when I was much younger.

Halfway through college I began keeping a journal and was diligent about it. I probably have at least two solid journals of hand-written entires. Sometime around 2001 I remember being faced with the dilemma of whether or not I should begin to move my writing to the web or continuing along the handwritten path. Today, my record-keeping is almost exclusively online. But, the appeal of the handwritten journal still touches me from time to time. And tonight was illustrative of this.

I was outside stacking a cord of wood in the show with Nate. He's at that wonderful age where is Dad is a god and he wants to everything I do. Watching him fill his wagon with wood as the snow fell all around him was one of those moments that twang my heartstrings just so. It goes without saying that the cuteness of an almost three year old hits you everyday, but sometimes there are moments when you see him do something and your heart feels like its going to explode. Watching him drag that heavy wagon back and forth from the driveway to the backyard was one of them and it got me thinking that maybe I need to start keeping a written journal just for him. I know Tracy does it. But, I think I need to follow suit.

I found my self just watching the pure unadulterated joy that came from him helping Daddy and my heart melted. I love watching the joy in his face. It reminded me of the first time we took him to the circus and he was just in awe...the first time I ever seen him really "get" something and take pure pleasure in it. I need to start writing this stuff down. For him to look back on someday, but moreso, so I can always remember the cute and adorable innocence that is my son.

"33"

What is my age, Alex? Feels funny to type that, "33." Still doesn't seem possible. I've always lived by the cliche that age is state of mind. I find that to be true as I somehow remain stuck at 28 in mind. Which is a good thing, given the cruel relative nature of time.

Like many, I often marked my birthdays with deep reflection. Often, it led to deep cycles of depressive thinking...something the turn out to be a moderate clinical thing with me. However, that changed when I turned 30.

That traditional milestone was superseded by the impending birth of Nate. Ever since, I've never really reflected too much on this day. Part of it no doubt due the the powerful nature that comes with becoming a parent. But part of me also wonders if I've lost some of the reflective nature that has always fueled me. I tend to chalk it all up to my life changing when I became a Dad with everything before it serving as a wonderful landscape of memories of wild youth and everything since a new beginning. Granted it took me a good year after Nate was born to truly realize the powerful nature of it. In fact, I feel it something I still haven't quite grasped. Because, quite frankly, adjusting to life with a family of your own is a significantly different experience to my life pre-30.

Maybe the fact I remain stuck at 28 in my mind is a symbol that I'm still stuck in some sort of limbo.

So, to get back to some reflection, I'm going to borrow from a few friends of mine and highlight the top 10 events from this past year.

1) The birth of Cameron
2) ...

You know, I simply don't have the energy to think about a top 10 list right now. I'm simply too tired...which probably goes deeper than the literal definition of the word.

I've got a lot going on...maybe I really do need to clear the mind's cache soon.

Until then, hello "33."

Baby 2.0

Baby number two is well on the way. It's so close in fact, that I'm a bit freaked out. With nine weeks to go, I feel like I should have done more to prepare.

Or should I have?

Afterall, this is baby number two and I've always been someone who is great at doing something when the second time rolls around. Although, I must say, even my confidence is a bit jarring. But what is amusing, is how "old hat" the second time around is.

I have to be amused with my cockiness in the above few lines as we're now just a couple of days out from a planned C-section. I've been pretty clam throughout the entire pregnancy this go-round. In fact, it has really only been with in the last couple of weeks that the reality has set in. That is not to say, I haven't realize ym second son will be here soon, but that the reality of time set in...as in, it could happen any minute.

What I find surreal about all of this, is that there is that I don't necessarily feel as if I should be on the verge of having my second child. Part of me still feels like that 19-year-old college kid that had life by the balls. Granted, its a great feeling to still feel like you have life my the cojones, but, I've also had life kick me in mine more than a few times.

Perhaps that is why this pregnancy has been so fast and somewhat abstract...too much drama at work. I'm not even sure I can, nor want to get into it, but let's just say, I certainly don;t seem to have a problem with finding my way in to bizarre and stressful situations at work.

For now, I'm just going to try and ease myself head away from work. I have to, because my guilt of caring too much about my job of late, as me feeling somewhat guilty that I haven't paid as much mind to my family. I won't bring up the fact i have to travel for business a couple of weeks after "Pete" is born. I just know that Tracy unwavering support means the most. And that I truly am doing what I am because I want what's best for my family.

So, i just let the excitement build and pray that all goes smoothly on Monday. I'm about ot be a Dad times two. It's a good thing we are stopping after this one because I'm pretty sure my heart would explode. The cliche that being a parents is the best thing you'll have do is that for a reason.

Stating the Obvious...

YouTube remains one of the best things to hit the Web since its inception. I've been using it to check out music a lot lately. Tonight, it has been Pearl Jam realted. The first is this sick version of Porch from Amsterdam last summer:



If you've ever watched the Letterman show, you know bands often jam into commerical. Well, check out this gem of Pete Townshend and Eddie Vedder:



Now, to get back to the top 10 concert list...

Brain Dump...

I never intended this blog to venture into the realm of disucssing my work situation. But, I feel current circumstances warrent it. My boss is leaving. Ideally, I'm hopeful this will be a a great opportuniity for me. We'll see.

Rainy weekend with nothing but me up to my elbows in paint as we put the finishing touches in place for baby 2.0. Let's see if I can't get back to that Top 10 concert list.

Orbiting The Giant Hairball...

I recently finished reading "Orbiting the Giant Hairball" for the second time in my life. It's written by the late Gordon Mackenzie and details the unconventional jobs he created for himself while employed at Hallmark for 30 years as a means to break out of the corporate rigmarole and foster creativity in his colleagues. It's a interesting and leveling read which instilled a certain levity for me.

I was initially turned-on to the book about fours years ago when I was experiencing similar corporate work issues that have plagued me recently. Upon first read, I felt it was an interesting, but wholly unrealistic approach to finding a niche a work. However, this time, i did wonder if it was actually parts the were feasible. While I don' t think my current role affords me the opportunity to create a zen-like, think-tank that he did, I do wonder if there is a way to carve-out something different for myself.

My initial thought is that my current company could use a role that would allow people to come and air their problems/frustrations without the fear of being within a human resources role. In fact, I'm thinking "Listener" would be the appropriate title.

Too often, I think people find themselves caught in difficult work situation and have no where to turn. Sure, they may be able to vent with friends or colleagues. Or, things may be seer enough that they end up going to their HR representative, only to find the HR person tends to side more with the business versus their problem. So, people may be afraid to go and this only leads to workers internalizing their feeling and problems, which is not productive for no one. The Listener would be there to do just that, listen. But workers would benefit from the fact they feel there problems have been "documented."

Obviously there are certain grey areas here -- anything from a related degree to when you would escalate problems -- but I think I may be on to something. I'm not sure I can stay in PR forever. The job is too stressful, too often and because of my "wear it on my sleeve" emotional state, I worry it could could affect my health down line. This might be a solution. In the meantime, go give Gordon's book a read.

Freeeze-Frame

I had a moment last weekend that has forever captured a single moment in my mind's eye that I will infinitely treasure. I was sitting at the Big Apple Circus with my son on my lap when I looked at him taking it in all in with the biggest smile I've ever seen. You can find no better illustration or definition of pure joy than what was on his face in that moment. It's melted my heart every time I've thought it since.

Perhaps I'm a bit more emotional in the face of my soon-to-arrive second son, but something seminal happened in that freeze-frame I've locked away forever. It may be the realization that these are the last few weeks I'll have in my life when I'm a father to one son, I really can't put a finger on it. More so, it may be that I'm obviously more in tune with what it means to a father than I ever was when Nate was first born. The cliche that your life is ever the same when you have kids is true for a reason. For me, it took me nearly a year before that major reality sunk in.

But, it did.

I know I will look forward to, and treasure, many more events and little moments, big and small, for the rest of my life. But, that one moment on cool early May day in 2007 will forever be the picture of my little boy I keep in my mind and heart. For it is the purest, most innocent love I have ever experienced.

Brain Dump...

Well [insert standard rant about the difficulties of finding time to update this here] it has been a will since I've posted anything here. Most it is due primarily to my being sick for the better part of two weeks. The other is that there just isn't anytime.

Time has always been my nemesis...my mismanagement of it I suppose. The cluster fuck that is my work-life ties me up a little too much. Probably more than I should let it.

I've have several things I need to spout-off on, including:

• Baby 2.0
• Orbiting the Giant Hairball
• My moderate obsession with abandoned amusement parks

There's probably much more, but until then, i remind you the Pearl Jam's latest disc "Pearl Jam," rocks.

Trey Pleads

Trey Anastasio pleaded guilty today to the charges resulted from his arrest with a boatload of pills and heroin last December. He's getting a fairly stiff sentence, but no jail time...unless he royally messes up. I say stiff considering the transient rock-star life he has been accustomed to. Not only does he have to move to Whitehall, NY for a least three months due to daily drug testing, but if he slips up once, he could be sent away for one to three years. He's got five years of probation to serve after his court drug program is complete. Quite a life change for him I'm guessing.

I'm not sure what to think of it myself, other than sadness. It's been obvious to many that he has had a problem for years. Just makes me sad to think it come to this. I'm not one to pass judgement, it really could have happened to any of us back in our younger years. Granted, the difference is the severity of the charges and the fact he is 42. And in that respect, it probably could have been much worse for him. Here's hoping he comes through a better person.

Crack(berry) Kills

It probably didn't come as a surprise to many, but a new survey by Yahoo HotJobs says that the corporate world's reliance on mobile devices is blurring the Work/Life balance lines.

Unless you've been in a coma, the crackberry addiction that has gripped the nation is substantiated by the findings that indicated 26 percent of workers feel like wireless devices keep them on a permanent corporate leash. I'm surprised it was actually this low.

I see this first-hand everyday. There a good numbers of "select" people who are issued these devices in my workplace. And nearly everyone uses them as an additional appendage. What I find most assuming (and annoying) is being in a meeting with these people. Unless the meeting leader is presenting absolutely riveting info, without fail, 10 minutes in, everyone in the room with a crackberry is checking it under the conference table.

I've been able to avoid being issued a crackberry in my working life, and hope to remain that way. However, I do waiver on my need/desire for one. Often, my position has me needing to respond to requests instantly, when you're in PR, it's the nature of the beast. But, what really gets me is when it affects my ability to communicate with others within my organization.

There have been countless times where I've been tied-up in back-to-back meetings and some email goes out asking a question that I could easily resolve. But, too often, in the time I'm away from my computer, a handful of people on the email chain manage to escalate something in my absence. What makes in worse is that things get elevated because the people responding are doing so via crackberry; meaning that the fire off quick answers or opinions that just raise the confusion of things.

This might be my biggest beef (aside from coming in in the morning and seeing emails from all hours of the previous night). The nature of these devices often solicit rapid responses, that are quite frequently never thought out. It drives me nuts.

And it also where I base my argument that technology is killing the human experience. I'm only have serious of course, but I think there is merit to technology eroding people communication skills. This is also quite relevant in the younger generations entering the workforce. The Gen Y'ers have been raised on this stuff, so much so that the art of conversation is becoming lost on them. Gen Y does everything through email, text messages, IM, etc., that they are losing skills. There are undoubtedly stats to support this, but I don't have the time to dig them up now.

Maybe if I had a crackberry, I could dig it up on my commute tomorrow. But, before I get on my soapbox about people using their crackberries while driving, I think I'll call it a night.

Bloggers as Sources (Schilling Speaks)

There has a been a view recent examples of traditional news sources using citing blogs has news sources. This article from the New York Times is a great read on the subject.

This idea is really playing-out these days in the Boston sports world. Outspoken Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling has taken to the blogging world recently with his new site 38pitches.com. Curt has been banging out content at a herculean pace that puts columnists to shame. Even better, he's raising the ire of these same people and causing some serious, albeit sarcastic, worry among the print set.

Basically what Schilling is doing is taking out the traditional middleman and communicating right to the public. It presents an interesting dilemma to the regular newspaper columnists and beat reporters and raises the question of what could happen if all athletes starting taking to the Internet to express their opinions? It could seriously put their profession in danger.

Of course, this would require all players finding the time to actually blog. Something that will probably never happen. But, Schilling is a start. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the course of the season. While I doubt he will be able to be prolific once the regular season starts, I'm sure there will be a handful of times during the summer where he will cause some controversy. Not only will the media's reaction/response be something to look forward to, but I'll also be curious as to how the Red Sox PR team chooses to handle things.

Technology & the Aging Man

I started tonight with every intention of writing something of substance. Instead, I got caught-up in trying, and failing to make this blog look somewhat visually appealing. You can be the judge, but please allow me to cast my vote of failure.

I think this looks like shit. While I am willing to take my share of the blame, I'd like to heap some on blogspot as well. Blogger has certainly evolved significantly from its humble beginnings in terms of offering more templates for all of our ramblings. However, I think the customization of templates is still a bit limited.

I've been playing around with this thing for an hour or so know, trying simply to get an image for my title. But I couldn't. You would think it would be easy to had an simple user-generated image to your blog, but you would be wrong. In order to get the above, I had to manipulate the actual HTML code. While I'm sure this is probably an easy thing to do, my HTML coding dates back to the stone age of the web when I was creating "gems" like this. As you can see, I was clueless enough that even archive. org doesn't have it stored. (Fortunately, I was able to get some help to offer this design.) Still, I hate to think I'm that dumb that I can't manipulate the code for this page.

Obviously, I am.

I still hold out hope that I'll be able to get this to something that is moderately visually appealing. But, the jury is out. For now, I just feel a bit like a technological dinosaur and hope I can move past this and actually deliver something worth reading soon.

Quick post

I can't muster much for Monday, but did have a couple of interesting things I came across today.

You've probably seen the preview for the new Adam Sandler movie Reign Over Me. As you've also probably guessed, its title is taken from the classic Who tune Love, Reign O'er Me. Pearl Jam did an amazing cover of this tune for the movie, although it wasn't without some initial apprehension. Apparently, the couldn't use "O'er" because test audiences had no idea what it meant. Which, I can only conclude means these audiences are morons.

Second item is from a guy who bills himself as the "Angry Video Game Nerd." I guess he's been around for a while, but some of these spoofs are hysterical. If you grew up in the 80s/90s, you have to check his site out. Here's a primer:


Enjoy.

Badmotorfinger

There is something satisfying, and invigorating about rediscovering the brilliance of an album years after the fact. In this case, the brilliance is Soundgarden's "Badmotorfinger."

Setting aside the sobering realty that this album was released more than 15 years ago (a fact that seems impossible), but playing off the notion that it has been years since I've listened to this disc in its entirety, I'm blown away by its sonic brilliance.

This all started thanks to Sirius' new alternative channel, when the channel served up the album's "Jesus Christ Pose" to me the other day. I was looking for something to get my through a funk at work, something heavy, but loosely familiar. I dialed it up on my iPod and proceeded to be blown away in the same way I was when I first got lost, frightened and then split open by "Searching with my Good Eye Closed."

Soundgarden was obviously an important part of the early 90s grunge scene, along side the usual Seattle players likes Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice in Chains. But, it really their "Superunknown" album that most people remember. In fact, I recall about three years ago, when I proclaimed its brilliance after listening to it in its entirety after a similar long layover. But, Badmotorfigner blows it away.

It's so dark, driven by think bass lines, soaring guitars and Chris Cornell's otherworldly vocals. I remembered the "bigger" hits from the album: "Outshined, Rusty Cage, and the aforementioned "Jesus Christ Pose", but it was the lesser known "Room a Thousand Years Wide" and "Mind Riot" that took my right back to remembering how freaking incredible this album was. It really encapsulates the general feeling of malaise and uncertainty that was present in the era.

It also got me thinking about what college kids these days are hanging their proverbial hats on. Is there a sense of uniformity these days? Then, there was a feeling of solidarity, like we were all dealing with the craziness of a changing society and an uncertain future. What to they have know...or do they have anything? Maybe this current generation is a little too self-important...at least according to this article it is.

I'm not sure what my point is, or if I just sound like an old soul trying to relive his past glory. But, damn if things didn't mean something then. If anything, its refreshing to realize that an album that was so important to me back then, still holds up against time.

I was slipping through the cracks of a stolen jewel
I was tightrope walking in two ton shoes
Now somebody is talking about a third world war
And the police said this was normal control

And the candle was burning yesterday
Like somebody's best friend died
And I've been caught in a mind riot

Circadian Rhythms

I'm not well-suited to this new daylight savings time schedule. I'm all for the energy-saving reasoning behind it the earlier change, but my circadian rhythm certainly didn't get the message. While it's nice to know my feeling "off" is an actual physiological issue, it certainly hasn't help my ability to function these last couple of days.

The extra daylight is nice, but there is something unsettling about this extended daylight in March. Although. it seems it only a matter of time before we move to permanent daylight saving time. At least the potential problems with computers ended-up being as eventful as Y2K. Except for these guys.

Continuing with the latest from Deval Patrick, he announced this weekend that he will be cutting back his hours to help his wife battle depression. Sure, he's received the expected criticism from the usual right wing folks, but I applude him. Depression and mental health are still too much of a taboo topic in this day. But, its something that affects many every day. I applaud him for not only making this public, but for helping to raise the awareness of depression. Of course, some would say its just a PR stunt to deflect attention away from this recent issues.

7

The number seven has always served a time-line of demarcation for me, a sort of boundary diving the recent and distant past. It's not sensical at all, and I really don't have a reason why, other than for some reason, the distance between six and seven has always seemed much greater to me than reality. I bring this up because, well, it's 2007.

A memory crossed my mind the other day where I was remember something that happened in 2000. I don't quite recall what it was, but it struck me that seven years ago is a long time.

The cruel irony of time is that its realative; the older you get, the faster time seems to pass. Yet, this reality doesn't seem to want to sink in. And I worry. Not so much about the past, but more so, that my attempts to "live in the present" are being lost. I'm starting to wonder if because of my life-long battle of trying to rectify the past, I'm missing the present. Maybe my "living in the present" is really living just slightly behind real time.

RIP Brad Delp

One of the best voices in rock history met his untimely death today. Brad Delp of Boston found dead today at the age of 55.

Boston was a staple of my high school life, particulary as it realted to my days playing hockey. Boston was always fixture in the locker room before games and on bus rides to long away games. Being local, I'll always have a fond spot in my heart for them.

What's coincidental is I loaded Phish's 7/12/99 show on my iPod this morning; the show where the band returned to Great Woods after four years, and opened with Boston's Foreplay/Longtime. I haven't listened to it in years prior to today. Weird timing. You can download it here.

The offical Boston web site, has a simple statement on his death: "We've just lost the nicest guy in rock and roll."

Don't look back.

Meandering

Updating this on a regular basis is already prooving to be a bit tough. Part of the problem remains, I'm still trying to figure out if I'm trying to achieve anything here.

I'm doing my best to try and get myself as educated as possible about the Web 2.0 world. It's a bit easier said than done, which I'm guessing is a equal parts playing catch-up, battling my own generation tendancies and the sheer massiveness that is the Web. There is just so much out there, that, when combined with my tendancy to constantly menader from one topic to the next, often gets me nowhere. It's the jack of all trades, master of none philosphy that I've always pursued. I tend to always chase down knowledge that I seldom take the time to really digest things in thier entirity. I guess my hope is that all the little bits I pick up with somehow meander there way toward on cohesive eureka moment for me.

For example, take this article I stumbled upon today about a kid who invented a refrigerator that will automatically toss you a beer. Cool ides, but from it, sent me to this site, which seems to be another version of YouTube. I had no idea this site existed, but it looks to be in the same spirit of YouTube. I guess it goes to show that YouTube has become the Kleenex of user-generated videos.

I've got a long way to go. So, on to the fun stuff. But, before I do, I need to give myself a lesson in brevity when it comes to my writing.

New England's golden boy Tom Brady has apparently done it again. A few week's ago it was revealed that his ex was pregnant with his child. Now, he''s done it again with is current Victoria's Secret lady. Even's the man's sperm are the stuff of legend. ESPN's DJ Gallo sits down with a few.

Finally, I never intended this to deal much with politics, but our beloved governer continues to slip-up.

Web 2.0

My intentions in starting this blog was to help myself figure out my thoughts and opinions on Web 2.0. Before forming an opinion on anything, it goes without saying you at least need a fundamental understanding of what is you are actually trying to opine about. This video is the best illustration I've come across of what the second generation of the web is.



However, what really stuck me about that video was two responses to it. This one really embodies the dilemma I seemed to be faced with.



And this response (which I link to, lest this post becomes lost with video), embodies the title of this blog. The Internet and Web 2.0 have done wonders for enhancing communication globally, and giving people the opportunity to have a voice that's heard. However, I still maintain that a vast majority of these voices are talking just for the sake of being heard. Healthy discussion and debate are one thing, opening up your mind's sphincter for the sake of "participating is only contributing the Web 2.0 shit soup. Present company included.

Four is Greater Than Five

Three day weekends are always welcome, but the inevitable shit-storm that encompasses the hectic flow of the ensuing cram four days of work into five has beat me down.

Tough sledding at work these days. Aside from the regular urgency that is the PR world,we're still in the midst of '07 planning, which has its obvious stresses. Add in that it's also performance review season sprinkled with regular life, and you've got a craptastic bouillabaisse. Good times. Fortunately, I've had visits to the ever-satirical despair.com to humor. The idiom that it's difficult to comprehend how insane some people can be. Especially when you're insane, has been my guiding principle this week.

Remember that mini-controversy regarding the Massachusetts governor from below? You'll be happy to know it blossomed into a full-blown one this week. He's off to a great start.

Tuna at Outback...huh?

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to with this blog. In the meantime, and keeping in the spirit the true spirit of the blogging world, I thought I'd update you on some nonsense while I battle my annual winter bout of bronchitis.

Saw a commercial for Outback Steakhouse the other advertising their new Ahi Tuna. Ahi Tuna, now at the Outback. I always try to stick with the tried and true idiom of never eating seafood anywhere unless you can see the ocean. Sure, you can stray, but rare tuna at the Outback...I'd rather avoid the time on the throne that is sure to ensue.

I jumped on the Sirius bandwagon thanks to a wonderful Christmas gift from my wife. I'm not sure how I lived my daily commute without it For one, its nice to have the Howard Stern option again. I was never a huge Stern fan, but do find him assuming and have always respected what he does every morning. From what I've heard so far, he's better than ever in the satellite realm. What's really struck my chord lately comes from a recent programming update where the added a channel dedicated solely to 90s alternative/grunge...its been like a trip through the summer of 1994 for the last couple of days. Good times. Of course, it's also made me realize that I've reached an age where I'm listening to my generations version of classic rock.

There's a mini-controversy simmering in Boston around new Governor Deval Patrick's choice of transposition...a fully loaded Cadillac which is costing the tax payers $1200 a month. The irony of course comes from this promise on Patrick's website where he promises his administration will "As the state replaces its vehicle fleet, for example, new purchases will be hybrid or other fuel-efficient vehicles. "

Not even two months in, and he's already broken one promise. Still, he's better than the last guy, who recently shocked no one by kicking-off his presidential campaign in Michigan, with hardly any mention of his last job.

That' s all for now, but I'll leave with this wonderful story regarding a newborn and a mother's sweatpants.

I love Twister, but Bill Paxton is a tool...

Everybody has thier list of movies they will always watch when they come upon it while flipping through the channels. I have to imagine, I'm one of the few for which Twister fits the bill. Yes, I know this movie is nothing more than a glorified thrill-seeker movie, and not a very a good one at that. But, it hold meaning for me because of when I saw it.

My buddy and I took to seeing this in the theater when it came out in May of 1996. Normally, no big deal, aside from one small detail, it was the last movie I saw while still a college student.

We saw it the week before graduation, stoned to high hell as was often the case back then. See, having a few beers and getting stoned was an event in college. Part of the romanticism lied in the fact the dropping money on a movie was considered a big night out back then. But, it also represented the carefree nature that encapsulated the all the freedoms with none of the adult responsibilities that was college. And for me, this represented that last bastion of freedom.

So, when I came across it tonight, I watched it in its entirety because it allows me to live vicariously though myself 11 years ago. Good times indeed. And yes, Bill Paxtons dialogue sucks evens more with the time passed, but Phillip Seymor Hoffman still rules.

Here's My Dilemma...

I created my first blog four years ago, so by blogging standards, I stand right at the cusp of when blogging started seeping into the mainstream. My first blog was nothing more than an online journal uses primarily to rant about the displeasure with my career. I was pretty steadfast in keeping it up to date for nearly two years before I lost interest (the reasons which I'll get to shortly).

Around the same time I created a second blog with the goal of chasing my dream of becoming a syndicated columnist. Basically, it was a more in-depth extension of my first blog used to published full-length columns. I maintained this regularly as well, amassing over 30 columns in a two year period before letting it die as well. Sure, real life intrusions had a lot to do with my stopping. Namely, several job changes and becoming a father. But my main reason in doing lie in my disenchantment with the blogosphere itself. As more and more people were blogging about the same mundane stuff I was, I begin to realize that the art of writing, or more so, the romantic idea of being a "writer," became diluted for me. What good was thinking I had something to say, when millions of others were doing with same. It became too mainstream for me, and I lost interest.

The blog search engine Technorati estimates there are some 60 million-plus blog in existence these days. Of course, there are also estimates that upwards of 75 percent of these blogs consist of only one post. In other words, blogging as become a novelty for most, or, as the title of this blog suggests, have become similar to assholes, everyone has one.

But, blogging as also become a recognized form of journalism, and, this, more than anything not only blows my mind, but creates a dilemma for me. As a practitioner of public relations, this influence of blogger as journalist as caused most in my profession to rethink the traditional way of practicing PR. No, the press release hasn't gone by the way-side...yet, but the need to figure out ways to engage bloggers, is something I've yet to quite nail down. Let alone trying to come up with the right form of when, who and how to engage bloggers who constantly are taking negative shots at the clients or companies I represent.

Case in point, there is a notorious blogger (who shall remain nameless for fear of my job) who exhibits constant disdain for my current employer. His vitriol is unmatched at times, and while he often formulates his attacks in what I sometimes find to be an amusing manner, the damage he does hurts my employer. And, we can't engage him because it fly back in our faces. I know, because a colleague tried it once and was skewered.

But, I digress. My main dilemma remains, I can't decide where I stand on the whole next generation of the Web. This whole world driven by user-driven content and community interaction is one I yet to come close to fully understanding. But, my opinion doesn't matter, because it is happening, and what I need to figure out is if i want to be a part of it. Is technology truly killing the human experience? Is this whole notion of community moving us to interact with people of common interest that we are effectively going to create a society that is far more segregated than ever before? These are the things that keep me up at night...and as foolish as that is, I'm starting to think I need to talk about it more. But, I need to embrace it before I can form a concrete opinion. I need to seek out people with the same idea as the above; to embrace what the current world is, before I can debunk it.