The Selfie

Theories vary on the origin of the Selfie, and I am thinking that I don’t really care where it all started. Add to this that I certainly do not want the background information on the Belfie.  Anyway – as usual I am a little behind (pardon the pun) on all the “latest” whatever…. The point is that I find selfies to be fun and funny on a couple of different levels. I have never taken one, but I might at some point if I can figure out how to do it.

I have done a bit of looking around. I have found that not all selfies are Justin Bieberish – blatantly self-absorbed and sort of sad. Even POTUS has been known to take a selfie – of the group variety. Hmm…that is embarrassing on some level. Yet -- it’s important to note that not all selfies are trying to convince an "audience" that someone is popular, or that contrary to opinion, that the person featured has a life. Sometimes people are just plain having fun and want to share their happiness with friends -- or the world.  That’s nice. It’s fun.

Especially on the funny side of “fun and funny” are those bright bulbs who cannot resist taking and posting selfies while they are committing crimes. Some of their bragging photos have even evolved into selfie videos. What must it be like to be so “into” yourself that you cannot see beyond your own face?  Seriously – those fifteen minutes of fame can be very costly.  They are also funny to those who read about them.  It’s makes the reader feel smart(er).  That’s nice too.

The thing is that like all things “viral”, this phenomenon has developed a life of its own.  There are Selfie Booths, Selfie Poles, and now the CamMe app, the CamMe Photo Booth, The CamMe Fun Shot and, my personal favorite --  Nixie … the wearable drone camera that you can wear like a bracelet so that you can take aerial photos of yourself. It is called a grab-on.  Does anyone else find this to be amazing?  The Nixie grabs-on to your wrist until you need it to verify that you are climbing a mountain or doing something that would warrant an aerial view photo.  You could, for example use it to see the top of your head.  The slogan used by the Nixie folks is “Set your camera free.”  What I wonder is -- how do you get it back?

Sometimes it is all just too much for me. Here I thought I was making huge progress when I figured out how to post a phone photo on Facebook.  Now if I could just figure out how to move photos from my android to my computer so that I could print them more easily or better yet - how to set up my printer to link to a cloud so that I could use WiFi to print from it, I could take a selfie to share my celebration.  Right?  

Just one more thing.... why is it selfie and not selfy? I thought the "rule" was "change the y to i and add es".  I do have trouble keeping up with the latest "trends".  I am thinking that I am not alone in this.  I am thinking that I am in good company.

Unplugged...

As with many words, "unplugged" has taken on new meaning over time. Let's be clear from the very start -- I am not talking about "pulling the plug".  I am talking about living without all the electronic "advantages" of today's world and a bit about at least becoming more selective in how we spend our time. Certainly electronics are wonderful in many ways -- but....

Recently my cable company was "down" for over twelve hours.  (This, of course, will not be reflected on my next bill. I will quietly pay for their downtime, as all their subscribers do. I pick my battles.) Since I had had the "wisdom" to "bundle", this outage meant:

• No Internet or Wi-Fi
• No land line phone service
• No cable TV or Roku, which translates into no Netflix or Acorn TV among other options...  (I so love Acorn TV.  I watch sometimes until I am thinking in a British accent.)   

Anyway -- it was a pause in the action -- like someone pulled the rug out from underneath me. My life changed temporarily. I consoled myself with the fact that I still had electricity and running water. Since my life suddenly had become much quieter, I began to think back to before we had become so dependent upon all things electronic. Seriously -- I never leave home without my cell phone, let alone drive 500 miles without it. Times have changed and continue to change. I am not always good with this. It takes me time to adjust. I still use road maps. I am a map person.

• Remember when we drove without power steering, air-conditioning or ... snow tires? My goodness -- we even stopped to ask directions in those days. Now my Jeep talks to me, and I can't always figure out how to make it stop. 
• Remember when we could never have imagined computers, laptops or video games? Now you can wear a computer on your wrist even when you are taking a shower. Think for a minute about that! Is there no alone time anymore?  
• Remember when we had no TV?  Now I have one in almost every room in the house, and ... TVs are getting smarter.  Some of the newer ones have cameras in them.  So creepy.

All of this is sometimes just too much. For example, I do not want my Amazon order to be delivered by drone...ever.  Please Note:  I didn't even mention online shopping, email, or social media.  Being plugged in means the list goes on and on -- new things every day with new words to describe them. What's trending?  Do you post or tweet?  Both?   Are you familiar with the CamMe app or Nixie, the flying camera that grabs onto your wrist when not in use? It's exhausting.

Anyway --- once I got over the shock of being unplugged, I rapidly "tuned into the silence."  It was lovely.  The quiet was restful. I could hear the sounds of my home in winter.  I read; I wrote with pencil and paper; I had time to think in peace. It made me feel smarter -- not so much on overload. 

Interesting to consider in relation to all this is that my grandkids have no cable TV in their home. It's not that they are totally "unplugged" -- just more than some.  In addition - their electronic time is limited and monitored. I sometimes think about bribing them to sit down and watch TV quietly if only for a few moments. (Is that shameful?) Most often they make up complicated games, draw chalk "murals" on my basement floor, or check out life in the pasture or the boxes in my cupboards. They play with my grandmother's buttons (like I did) and explore the world around them. They have wonderful imaginations. They think.... You know what my 7-year-old grandson said that he wanted for Christmas? He said that he wanted a golden harp and a Master's Degree. Need I say more? Look what happens when you unplug in even some ways? I'm telling you, I listen when these kids speak.  I don't want to miss one single thing. They are fun and funny. It's a double blessing.  

I have, by the way, uninstalled Candy Crush Saga/Soda (at least temporarily) from all my electronic devices, I continue to add/subtract in my head before I use a calculator, and I am self-monitoring my TV selections.  I am still plugged in - but not as much. Yep - it makes me feel smarter.