Tag Archives: The New Yorker

What Are You Reading?

Photo by George W. Ackerman

At the moment, I’ve got a couple of books going, Darrin Doyle’s The Girl Who Ate Kalamazoo and The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I’m halfway through the former and just starting the latter, but I’d already recommend both. I’m also reading a friend’s manuscript pages (part of a “manuswap” with pages from Cam Hanson), and I just read two fascinating profiles in the July 11-18 New Yorker The first is about Jaron Lanier, a pioneer of virtual reality technology, who is critical of social networking, how it’s “dehumanizing and designed to encourage shallow interaction.” The second is about Sheryl Sandberg, who left Google to become Facebook’s COO and is a champion and mentor for women who want to advance into executive positions.  

So that’s me, what about you? What are you reading these days? And in what format? Are you old-school like me, reading actual tangible books and magazines, or have you embraced the future and get your news online, keep a storehouse of books on an e-reader?

My Job Interview With The Internet

Photo by Alex Handy

Thank goodness I didn’t need the Internet’s permission to put up my new website and blog. But what if I did? Well, it might go a little something like this…

Internet: So what have you got for me?

Bryan: Okay, it’s a—

Internet: FYI, speak in 140 characters or less, or I’m catching z’s dude.

Bryan: I have this new website with a blog page, a way to establish a—

Internet: OMFG! :O You gotta see this video! A baby just ate a cat. ROFLMAO! 

Bryan:  —a web presence. I’m a writer. A novelist and a screen—

Internet: You got content. I got content. You show me yours, I’ll show you mine.

Bryan: Exactly. I’m posting excerpts of my stuff—

Internet: Plug in your e-reader, or go wireless if your computer’s into virtual sex, I don’t care. Download, upload, use me, abuse me. And I’ll return the favor. BFWB, right?

Bryan: I should admit up front I’m kind of a purist. I still prefer my books in a tangible form.

Internet: JCOATW. You probably read actual newspapers and magazines too.

Bryan: Is “yes” the wrong answer?

Internet: Hey, I read The New Yorker, big deal. Okay, only the cartoons, and only the ones with naked people in them. They should put more of those in. Something about cartoon naked people… 

Bryan: So, as I was saying, my website has a page for each of my—

Internet: Memes? Animated New Yorker cartoons with the naked people?

Bryan: No.

Internet: Too bad. I’d like to see that. How about a montage of shots from the Royal Wedding combined with the audio of that drunk kid in Florida who wrestled a lawn mower?

Bryan: Would I have a better chance with you if I did?

Internet: BOOMM. What’s trending right now? Babies eating cats, J-Beeb’s prison tats, Facebook’s Provisional Government in Libya. Are you still here, NOOB?