Monday, April 15, 2013

Twitter, or 'The Reason I Might Get Fired'

I am the only person who feels like there is no limit to the amount of time that can be wasted on Twitter? I open up the app on my phone, and the first thing I do is scroll through my timeline. If the time-wasting was contained to this, I could live with it. That is to say, I could remain a highly efficient and engaged member of my class, workplace, social circles etc.

But it doesn't stop there. No. Never.

Next, I hit the discover button (#) and the time suck really begins. Articles about an IP address in Vatican City downloading porn, a bunny with a pancake on it, Miley Cirus "twerking". The distractions are freaking endless, and what's worse? They are insanely freaking entertaining!

What's to be done?

There are a few things I have tried to do to minimize my Twitter time-wastage:

1. Only surf Twitter on the toilet. It may make bathroom breaks at bit longer, but at least it doesn't detract from any actual work or learning.

2. Only follow people who share constructive items. Keep all the dumb sh*t out of your feed and leave it to that horrid (#) button.

3. Pick days to leave the phone at home. Easier said than done, but so necessary.

How do you deal with your Twidiction? Let us know below.


Thursday, April 11, 2013

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish!

It is with a mildly heavy heart and a nominal amount of trepidation that I write this post. This is my final post on this blog. It is not, however, the end of this blog - not by any means. (Read on!) Two weeks ago, I was contacted by someone who expressed an interest. After some discussion, I have agreed to turn over the reins (so to speak). My personal involvement with 'A Season of Mists' will cease soon after I publish this.

Why relinquish this bastion of randomness? First and foremost, I haven't been doing much here of late. My personal rule of thumb is not to write if I don't have anything interesting or positive to say. Most of what I would have written these past few years would fail on one or both counts. I could claim a lack of time, but that would be a poor, thinly veiled excuse and I have tried my best not to lie to you. Second, while I have a strong sentimental attachment, I wouldn't mind seeing someone else put this place to good use. It's a little sad to see it languish, particularly given the zeal I had during the first few years (i.e., "the law school years").

I began this blog because I wanted to write. I had a desire to share my thoughts with whoever would listen. (And I had a new laptop and an internet connection in classes.) The direction remained largely amorphous barring two recurring series (Top Ten Lists and movie reviews) and the odd popular post (e.g., these two about Pop Rocks). Some of what's here is personal and some is personal commentary. I think the blog grew to become the kind of sounding board I still use in my head today - part of the running commentary of my mind. And during a particularly stressful time in my life (law school), it functioned very well as stress relief. There's something profoundly cathartic in the simple act of sharing.

I haven't decided if I'm going to attempt another blog or something different like a website. It's still largely the case that I don't have a single topic to focus on and the web has become rife with content. It's no longer necessary for me to publish a blog with my own running commentary - Facebook is the place for that particular narcissism. But we shall see. I try not to rule anything out and I suspect that my love affair with quasi-public speaking has not yet run its course.

Should anyone wish to contact me, the e-mail address still holds - AgtShadow [at] gmail [dot] com - and my name should still be here (somewhere).

Before I go, there is one last task remaining. Thank you, dear reader, for your time and interest. I am very appreciative that you chose to share some of your time with me and my insanity. It is not that I expected or demanded an audience, but that I am truly grateful for everyone who found any of my ramblings of any interest. Completely inadvertently, this blog led me to some interesting places, including a law professor's recommendation and randomly meeting a reader (another law student). My hope is that it also led you to some interesting places of your own.

The world is far bigger and weirder than any of us can hope to appreciate. Here's hoping we meet again!