Like a puppy who doesn’t want to let go of an old sock, I’ve dived into investigating this whole podcasting thing out. That’s what I’ve heard intellectuals do; before they try anything, they read about it first…or so I’ve read. Anyway, I bought this book which had some good information on podcasting itself and actually had something to say about content and format, the two things that I find lacking in other books I’ve seen. The one format I’m most interested in right now is the beercast, where you get together with some friends down at the local pub and just capture what’s happening there, get all the good bits and publish with appropriate music and such. Otherwise I’m looking at a combo show, maybe a little interview, a little story, some news, commentary…but that seems like too much. I don’t know if there is a beercast in the cities, but that would be pretty cool. Actually, it would be closer to a pubcast (patent pending on the name).
Anyway, while looking for podcasting books, I noticed something about myself; I have the attention span of a gnat. I’m fine when I’m out somewhere and there’s not much around resembling the flickering shiny lights and whirly thingamabobs that can catch the corner of my eye, but I’m most susceptible when I’m in full view of that most dangerous of objects, a television, primarily a flat-screen with HDTV and projecting a sporting event involving a local team. This devil-object is highly distracting, but even when not around the so-called “boob-tube”, I still get distracted easily.
The YTBNG can attest to this, owing to the vast number of conversations I’ve had with her lately resembling something close to this:
“So I was going to work the other day and this guy in a banged up Mazda came across and … (insert long pregnant pause and pursed brow) … did you see that thing?”
Most frustrating when I get into a loop of these things involving short sentances, completely devoid of the ending object to what my rambling story was about. The YTBNG’s second most used phrase to me directly happens to be “finish your sentance”, and is a source of slight frustration with her. (The number one happens to be “I’m hungry” uttered right around 6pm if we haven’t eaten something by then–it’s purely a timing issue. Swiss engineers could set their finely precision watches by her stomach clock as it is unerreringly accurate.)
Thus, I’ve found that I’m much more cogent if I write, and the more I write, the more I find that my concentration is pure and I can finish thoughts. If I do stray, I have this handy written reminder of what I was just talking about and my thought train is easily back on track. Knowing this, I should concentrate on speaking much more like my writing. However, I think that would be disasterous in some ways. I heavily edit my own work, even taking journal entries through multiple passes to clarify and expand, trim and cut. Using this as a guide, most people wouldn’t hear anything more from me than a few grunts and see my furrowed brow as I find the near exact phrase I want to get across. Maybe people wouldn’t mind that, me being silent and not spouting irrelevancies.
Fat chance, won’t happen.
2 Responses to “Soft Focus”
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Amen, son!! This mom can attest to the “attention span of a gnat” at times but the attention span takes on a whole different persona when a TV is in the neighborhood. Of course, the “TV mood” is an inherited gene as his father has the same affliction. Laura, you have my sympathy. I haven’t found a cure for it yet but there may be one some day; however, I don’t think there’s high priority in the research field for this disease. Ah, well, we love ya’ anyway.
The diversion of the TV is, of course, dynamic, owing to what happens to be on at the time. If there is a good hockey game on, good luck with trying to get through to me which likely will only happen under the direst of circumstances. However, if we’re talking competative ice dancing or some chick drama, I have been known to have the concentration of Tibetan monks.
It’s all relative.