They have a lot of Buddhas over here.

It's dope.

I dreamed I was in a math class.

It was horrible.

With much fanfare the Xbox360 has been announced. Microsoft VP J Allard had a lot of good things to say. I especially liked this quote in regards to their direction:

"Look at the Internet, it's not powered by a bunch of networks and hardware, Cisco routers, IPV4, TCPIP, HD TV, and SSL. This is just a litany. Most of these technologies are just hacks. They're not actually that good -- none of them are the superior protocols, products, or implementations. The real power came from human energy. The power of the Internet was that readers became writers. It was the fact that any Tom, Dick, or Harry could pick up a dial up connection and compete with any of you guys. They could compete with the Wall Street Journal, they could compete with The Onion. It was catalyzed by the technology, but it was realized by the consumers." [Xbox 360: The Design]

Of course it remains to be seen how much of a lesson they've really learned from Blogging. They haven't shown anything substantial enough to say one way or another. Meanwhile they're still throwing out quotes like this in regards to the Xbox 360 name:

One survey taker said, "Um, the first time I kissed my girlfriend on a Ferris wheel." Another responder said, "I love music. The word 360 makes me think of vinyl. Another said, "The first time I landed a kickflip on my skateboard." Another said, "When I exchanged rings with my husband in our vows, and I understood the significance of the ring, you know, a lifetime commitment." The answers, the team learned, were wildly different because of the unconventional name. But they all connected with a theme -- they were all emotional, personal experiences that evoked joy. [Xbox 360: The Design]

My first instinct is to doubt the validity of those quotes (MS has a history of putting sketchy user testimonials out into the world). Regardless... does anyone in a real setting connect an understanding of the significance of marriage to the number 360? I doubt it. A more likely connection is to all the other meaningless numbers attached to the end of previously purchased consumer electronics.

Allard was dead on when he said that the "real power" of the internet isn't in the technology, but the "human energy". Allowing users to participate in games (not just interact with them) is very exciting. But it means understanding that the power of the internet also isn't in the clumsy forced emotional associations by marketing hacks. Sliding those bullshit associations (xbox 360 is sublime happiness) out into the world via an exec with good media training is modern manipulation at it's finest. And counter to creating empowered consumers.

The thing about blogging is, once you stop for a bit it's hard to know where to start back up again.

But the stopping has been good. Not just from blogging but less internet and the associated technologies too.

It's all moving so fast these days. That's no secret. What isn't as well known is that there's a tipping point when it comes to keeping up. Eventually all that information begins to distort perspective. Taking the time to step back is hard. Then when you think you are, your scale is so far out of whack that you haven't really moved much at all.

Which is to say, I'm going to Thailand next month. Two weeks or so on the beach and in the jungle then another week in bustling Bangkok.

I can't hardly wait.