Give in to distraction

My new office is positioned so that all of the voices from the customer service staff out in the cubicle farm is funneled right in. This afternoon the noise started building up, distracting me, so I turned on and turned up my stereo. I keep it turned to 87.9, WOSU, our local classical music station. Some nondescript piano music was playing and that did the trick.

But soon they announced they'd be playing the 'New World' Symphony by Dvorak. It is a piece of such beauty and wonder that I knew it would prove more distracting than the noise from outside my door. As the largo began, I found I could do nothing but close my eyes and feel the deep, heartbreaking music wash over me. Ah! Ah!

From outward appearances I'm a cool and unemotional fellow, but that's only the facade. Oh my, the sweet pain of this new world. What loss, what unimaginable loss?

This music isn't a distraction - it calls me to complete focus, complete attention.

The Hitchhicker's Guide Is Not A PDA

My friend Patrick over at Macinstuff is trying to wean himself from his Palm.

Macinstuff: A Week With My iPod As PDA (Part 1)

I've already done it - it didn't happen on purpose. I just don't use the thing anymore. I was a very early adopter and used my original Palm Pilot for everything. But now, not so much.

I've discovered that I no longer use my trusty (not rusty) old Palm IIIc. It sits on my desk, in its cradle and I sync it But I don't carry it any more.

Of course, I must quote Douglas Adams: "Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small, unregarded yellow sun. Orbiting this at a distance of roughly ninety-eight million miles is an utterly insignificant little blue-green planet whose ape-descended life forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea."

I don't use my iPod as a PDA either. Frankly, I don't use anything to carry around my calendar. But I do have most of my contacts on my phone. I do use a Moleskine notebook, but not for the mundane - that's where all of my research for my current play project is.

You know why I think I don't use my Palm much anymore? I don't want too be that organized. I can see my schedule on my computer screen - that's enough. I don't really get out of the office much, so if you want to meet with me, call me at the office and I'll set up a meeting. Other times, eh.

As to digital watches, another "eh". I'm thinking about getting a pocket watch and start wearing vests.