So yes, in the program and process of self-reappraisal and reassessment, massive technological changes have occurred.
1) after many years of adamant refusal, outright hostility, and sheer stubbornness, I have a cell phone. a shiny blue-ish blackberry pearl.
This is a fun though somewhat dangerous implement. Whereas previously, all my phone calls went to my computer, now all my electronic doings go through my phone. The former was good for me, but when someone calls me and I e-mail them back, it doesn't help them. In fact, it only seems to really help me keep myself harder to reach. While this has been an essential component my my own personal mystique, it puts a damper on the social life. Now, I'm perhaps too in communicado.
2) as a consequence thereof, my web presence has blossomed. In face, the "phone" has been a better internet tool than anything. First, the glories of open source have allowed me to integrate my google accounts (including this blog), my desktop (or laptop, as you like), my thunderbird e-mail client, and my blackberry. So whereas on my handheld, once I stopped using windows the calendar was a stand-alone, now my calendar is synchronized with my phone, my computer, and my gmail / google calendar.
3) the social aspects, particularly the being-more-in-touch thing, has been fabulous. Not terribly telephonic, I suppose, but the phone has my gmail, my nd account, blog access, twitter, gtalk for im's, plus a custom facebook app.
4) yes, I'm on facebook now. And it seems that this is actually where all the socializing at ND occurs, even on the graduate level. Kind of odd, but putting me in touch with lots of people in lots of ways. Even finding very old and lost friends.
5) and twitter, which proves I'm cool. I may be late to the whole phone thing, but still (sort of, almost) bleeding edge with the microblogging bit. Not only do I get updated on the doings of the small set of uber hip techsters like the mean one and Barak Obama, Eamon Duffy seems to have a microblog. I assume it is that Duffy, since there is nothing posted there.
