Kirk: August 2007 Archives

I was looking through the documents on my computer and came across one entitled "Ruminations," written January 23. Apparently I was quite bored, and felt like writing a short story. I don't remember if I ever even intended for it to be finished; perhaps it was only ever supposed to be a tantalizing beginning. The story, up to the last two sentences, is in fact true. Indeed, I think I actually wrote it while I was sitting on the couch waiting for her to get back, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Anyway, here is the beginning to what I think could be a good story, if I would bother to come up with the rest of it:

Ruminations

I still don't quite know how it happened. I know only that it did happen. At least, I'm sure it happened. Others are markedly less so, but I'll let you be the judge of who is right. I resolve to simply tell it like it is, without any embellishments or omissions.

You see, it all started one day when I went over to a friend's house. She was having some furniture delivered but had to make it to the store to buy something before they closed. She asked me to come over in case they came while she was gone, and I happily obliged.

I sat around listening to music for a while when I heard the distinct sound of a diesel engine outside. Ah, the delivery guys, she'll be excited! Little did I know at the time that something as innocuous as a sofa could truly lead to so much excitement, nor so much terror.

The brought in the sofa, I signed for it, and waited on my friend to get back. The sofa was made of a smooth, soft leather, with a rich smell. The color was a deep, but not inky, black. It had character, but sophistication. The size was perfect for lounging. Three people could sit comfortably on its plush cushions, or as would more often be the case, one could lie comfortably with one's head on the arm rest and feet not quite touching the other arm rest. And so I did. It was a cool night in January, and the sofa had been in the truck for hours, I'm certain. I figured this way I would warm it up by the time she got back. Only, she didn't come back, or she did but I wasn't there, only I was there. If you think you're confused, be glad you aren't me.

I've never before obsessed over a product as much as the iPhone. With expectations so ridiculously high, it would be easy to be at least a little disappointed, but I'm not. The iPhone truly is a thing of wonder. I like that if I have a spare minute somewhere, I can easily listen to a song, or watch a video. Perhaps one of the most amazingly beneficial features is the built-in speaker. I'm not going to carry around my earbuds with me everywhere on the off chance that I'll get an opportunity for some extended music listening. The fact that I can watch a TV show, or video podcast anywhere is great. Moreover, I can share the experience with others nearby. For such a small speaker, it's remarkably powerful, especially if you cup your hand and direct the sound towards yourself.

And then there's the internet. Much has been said of the EDGE network. No, it's not very fast, but in my experience, it's absolutely usable, and I can understand the size/battery tradeoffs involved. I would much rather have a super-thin phone that walked through the internet than a brick that sprints. For my priorities, Apple made the right decision. The browser itself is, of course, fantastic. I really love that I can quickly look up something on Google or IMDB when I'm out and about, or even just on my couch. Also, the widgets are nice to have; I like to keep an eye on Apple's stock price (wishing I had some), and also on the weather.

The decision to use glass for the screen was pure brilliance. As soon as I take it out of my pocket to show people, they always ask, "Don't you have a case for it?" I love to take my keys and rub them across the surface to the shock of my friends and co-workers. It just doesn't scratch. At all. No case necessary.