I was watching the Big Bang Theory the other day (side note: really good show, great for nerds, I like it dispite its sitcom nature), and I just happened to check Twitter during a commercial. Actually, to maintain my geek cred, while my wife was fast forwarding through commercials on the Tivo. Anyway, a friend mentioned how he was looking forward to watching BBT later tonight. I started to reply to him to tell him that it was good. The show came back on, but instead of returning my attention, I finished tweeting.

So, I missed a few moments of a show because I was tweeting about how good the show was instead of actually watching it.

All this is trivial, yes, but this might be a trend. Is talking/posting/tweeting/IMing/emailing/discussing events becoming more important than the actual events? During Obama’s address to Congress, all people were talking about were the Congressmen tweeting during his speech, and drown out some of the message and importance of the actual event. If anything marginally exciting happens in the world, places like Twitter and Digg light up.

Is the meta now more important than the data it describes?

I got in the elevator with a stranger the other day. Quite a harrowing experience in itself, to be sure. He looked a little bummed out, for reasons unknown. He opened with the standard “how’s it goin’?”, but with such a dejected tone that I was caught off guard.

“Not bad, yourself?” I replied.

He hemmed and hawed a moment, then said something so significant that I tweeted it as soon as I could so I wouldn’t forget.

“Some people aspire to be average.”

Perhaps it was just the mutterings of an odd guy with a few life problems. But at that moment, it struck me as one of the most kick-in-the-pants inspirational statements I’ve ever heard. Sort of a “don’t end up middle aged and mediocre like me”.

I’m trying to aspire to something above average.

With services such as Twitter and Facebook, do boring people like myself even need a blog anymore?

I think I enjoy filling my Netflix queue more than the actual movie watching.

I suck at fantasy football.

I went to Jared.

It’s getting cold. Frost in the mornings. Sad.

I’ve read more in the past six weeks than I had in the previous year. Yet another bonus to riding the bus to and from work.

Does my house smell like a dog to guests, but not to me because I’m used to it? Am I one of those “pet people”? I think no.

I’ve started going to the gym again. In case you haven’t been to a gym in a while, yes, the old people still walk around the locker room naked for an uncomfortable amount of time.

I take back any lieniency or sympathy I might have portrayed in my last post. McCain and Palin have turned their campaign into something aweful and disgraceful. They are inciting hatred, and doing nothing to quell it. They instilling fear and terror, and doing nothing to temper it. They are responsible for the calls of violence at their rallies.

McCain needs to put an end to this runaway train of fear, hate, and proposed violence. If he does not, what kind of a leader does that make him?

I know I said I wouldn’t talk politics, but I couldn’t resist.

Keith, as always, laying it down.

I almost feel sorry for Sarah Palin. That constant deer-in-headlights look is kind of sad. She’s woefully unqualified for the position, and it just becomes more obvious every day. But then I realize how important this election is, and there’s no time for feelings, only time to do what is right. No time for someone who’s answers are either read directly from the talking point cue cards, or are inane drivel conveying no real thought at all.

Sarah Palin is Joe Six-Pack, just like she says. Why would you want an average person in the White House? Don’t you want someone who is incredibly smart, composed, and educated? Don’t you want someone who is elite?

Anyway, I’m not sure how much I’ll post on politics in the next month. I’m not going to change anyone’s mind. I’m just hoping that common sense prevails.

Burn After Reading is a very odd movie. Simultaneously funny, strange, violent, and a little sad. Mostly funny, though. Go see it.

Just thought I’d drop by my neglected blog to comment on the outstanding weather we’ve had this summer. Honestly, I can’t remember a summer that has been as pleasant as this. I could get used to this. Unfortunately, autumn will be here all to quick.

I was very disappointed to learn that Obama had voted for the recent FISA bill, which essentially extends the government’s ability to skirt the 4th Amendment. He had said he would not vote for the retroactive immunity clause, which, when that amendment came up for vote, he did not. However, immunity was part of the final bill, for which he voted Yes. Not only is this a horrible bill that will erode our personal liberty even farther in this country, but he said one thing and did another.

I’ve never been disappointed in a politician before. They all seemed like liars and scoundrels anyway, so I didn’t really expect much. In many was Obama seemed different. He was someone we could get behind. He was someone that inspired me, which, in a political context, was really a first for me.

Is Obama still that driving progressive voice that will bring about sunshine and happiness for all? I’m not so convinced now. I still think he is a strong candidate, and is certainly better than McBush. Unfortunately, I’m just not as gung-ho as I was a week ago. I am on his side, but he will need to work more to get my vote come November.