History of Propaganda in America
March 12, 2008
The Technology of Dating
February 2, 2008
So I’ve come to the realization that even though I’ve been out of the dating game for 10+ years, the comical highs and lows of dating have remained the same.
There’s just more technology involved.
Nowadays, two adults who may be “interested” have countless forms of communication available to get to know each other – e-mail, instant messaging, cell phones, text messaging, MySpace, Facebook, Match.com, Second Life, etc.
We didn’t have all these things the last time I dated. I’m a 30-something divorced single mother. When I met my now ex-husband in 1994, AOL email had just emerged on the scene, hardly anyone had a cell phone and text messaging was a sociologist’s dream.
Technology certainly hasn’t cured the ambiguity of dating. It has simply led to more kinds of exchanges to misinterpret. Awkward first dates and telephone calls are augmented with heavily-edited emails and carefully-timed text messages.
All this communication is rife with nuances to overanalyze, usually in the company of gal pals and several glasses of wine.
“What do you think he really meant when his text said ‘C U l8r?’ “
It all seems so ridiculous.
As an accomplished, independent woman in her 30s, am I supposed to be using new technology to meet and be courted by eligible suitors? What are my other options? Blind dates? Hanging out in restaurant bars at happy hour to seduce buff construction workers or suited business execs with furtive glances?
Like Bridget Jones says, “I am very busy and important.” Who has time for this? What’s my motivation here?
To answer that question, I came up with a list of five highly un-technological female motivators for dating.
One. The desire to get married. Fueled by fairy tales and Disney marketing, a happily-ever-after romance is every girl’s dream. (Uh, done that. Seven difficult years of marriage followed by an unpleasant divorce. Disney sucks.)
Two. Biological clock. Most women inherently want to nurture something. The lure of pregnancy, cute babies and motherhood is strong. Tick tock. (I’ve already got a wonderful daughter. Best thing I got from my marriage/divorce.)
Three. Security. Money. Comfort. A house with nice furniture and a nice car in the driveway. Marry a man with money, have a baby and maybe you don’t even have to work!
(Whatever. My mother always warned me to never be wholly dependent on anyone, even your man. I’ve got a good job, my own money, my own house, furniture, car and a Blackberry.)
So that leads me to motivators four and five: Companionship and sex.
The prospect of meaningful companionship is a worthwhile incentive to date again in this brave new interactive world. Fortunately, I’m already blessed with a great daughter, wonderful friends and a loving family. But there’s no harm in a woman actively increasing her social network if the new company is good.
As for sex, well, the female libido can be quite the motivator. Especially when, as a 30-something woman, you hit that supposed “sexual peak” and all you have to help you out is technology – that “personal massager” from Brookstone your best friend bought you for your birthday comes to mind.
So I’ve decided to jump back on the dating train. Older, wiser, my unfulfilled expectations in check, I’m ready to embrace all that social technology has to offer. Armed with my laptop, my five email addresses and my cell phone, I’m convinced I’ll be better prepared this time when the pile of dating debris starts forming.
Recently, I asked out my dentist with a finely-crafted email.
He said yes by instant message.
We’re texting now.
Ridiculous.
The Technology of Dating by Marie K. Shanahan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Based on a work at mariekshan.wordpress.com.
Courage!
January 12, 2008
” ‘Courage!’ he said, and pointed toward the land, ‘This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon.’ ”
– from ‘The Lotos-Eaters’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Horse Drawn Carriage Ride
December 17, 2007
Final video project for my Media Imaging & Sound Design class: a 90-second news/feature story with on-air interviews. I did mine on a holiday horse-drawn carriage ride through historic Old Wethersfield, Conn.
Read.
November 18, 2007
A public service announcement I produced for my Media Imaging and Sound Design class. (Music provided by www.freeplaymusic.com).
Architecture Video
November 15, 2007
The assignment: shoot, edit and add a soundtrack to a video that features a piece of architecture. I did my piece on the Phoenix Co. headquarters in Hartford, Conn. The two-sided building is more commonly referred to as the “boat building.” (Music provided by www.freeplaymusic.com)
Journalism is a tough job
October 3, 2007
New York Times financial reporter Diana Henriques, talking to journalism students at Penn State:
“If you don’t want to do this more than you want to do anything else, then don’t, because it’s too hard otherwise.”
Not So Gentle Dental
September 30, 2007
I get to the dentist’s today at 10:30 a.m. I need two fillings. They show me in.
The dentist shoots my mouth up with novocaine and leaves me for a few minutes so it will kick in.
Suddenly, there is a sharp buzzing noise and most of the lights in the office go out.
Machines stop humming. The staff starts talking with heightened voices.
The office has lost power, partial power. Some equipment is working, some isn’t.
I lose feeling in my cheeks. Am I going to have to go home like this and then come back and do it again?
The dentist goes to fiddle with the fuse box. Some lights flicker on and off. The dental assistant begins moving me and my very numb face from room to room to find one where all the equipment is actually powered up and working.
They figure out which room to put me in 10 minutes later.
The dentist finally starts drilling and tells me a story about how he once performed a tooth extraction by candlelight…
That’ll teach me to floss more often…
Coconut says…
June 22, 2007
Never dig a hole deeper than yourself.
Purpose
June 2, 2007
“You do not have to make money. You do have to make a difference.
You do not have to be successful. You do have to be valuable.
You do not have to seek private gain, but it is hoped that you will serve the common good.
It may be harder, more painful to serve the common good, but people are a lot more alive in pain than they are in complacency.”
More places…
April 22, 2007
Other places I’ve visited recently…
Museum of Science, Boston. The Tesla coils in the Theater of Electricity are still way cool.
The Stockyard Food & Spirits – Located in Brighton, Mass., this local steakhouse/haunt worth visiting for the consistently good food and the decor. Check out Al Capone’s bar and the other unusual collectibles and antiques on display.
The Elbow Room, West Hartford Center – Beautiful weather + rooftop patio + friends + really good wine.
Restaurant Bricco, West Hartford Center. We took up residence in the bar at the front of the restaurant. Floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can see and be seen from the street. Order one of the tasty artisan pizzas.
Springfield Museums – Four different museums, a sculpture garden celebrating Dr. Seuss and lots of projects for kids.
Tapas, West Hartford – Super fresh Mediterranean food. Get the hummus platter.
The Traveling Vineyard Wine Tasting Party – Like a Tupperware party at a friends house, except with wine. We tasted 7 different wines and then finished off the night with champagne. Yum.
Funny or Die
April 18, 2007
People can waste incredible amounts of time watching online videos. But some are so ridiculously funny, they are totally worth the time, such as Will Ferrell’s visit from “The Landlord.”
