Wednesday, September 17, 2008

725. Existential GPS

As I've said too often, I love my iPhone. But it's not perfect: some apps crash, the calendar isn't as good as on my trusty old Treo, and it hasn't yet learned how to copy and paste. That's OK; I'm patient. It's young, brilliant, and lovely, not yet seasoned but full of potential. I can wait.

It is, however, a bit confused. At certain times of day, from a few different locations in my apartment, it thinks I'm in Texas. Not just anywhere in Texas, but a very specific spot on Town-to-Market Road outside of Houston. It's offered up the name of the closest pharmacy to Town-to-Market Road, and told me there are no restaurants in a 5-mile radius. According to the satellite photo on the GPS Google Map, there's nothing much in that spot except a road, a field, and what look like storage buildings.

I wonder: is someone on Town-To-Market Road outside of Houston at this very moment checking a new iPhone after a long day of work hauling farm equipment, and wondering why it thinks she should go see a movie at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas or check out a hot new restaurant featuring photos of clowns on the wall?

Are we ever really where we think we are?

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I am not the only one pondering the philosophical implications of the iPhone. Here's Rabbi Marc Wolf of JTS on Parashat Ekev:

Since I am a self-professed “techno-junkie,” it took considerable restraint to wait the year for the second-generation iPhone to be released. ...

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On another matter: Matt Damon speaks for me. Bravo.

4 comments:

Babz Rawls Ivy said...

Are we ever really where we think we are?

What a question! I think you have given us a revolutionary thought to ponder. Right up there with who am I?

I am with you and Matt Damon. I am just hoping that the silence from the intelligent people means that they will come out in droves in November.

alto artist said...

Interestingly, after I posted this I updated my phone software to the newest version-and now it knows I'm on the Upper W. Side! So maybe this is a sign, and means I'm getting closer to knowing where I really am, as well...

Joining you in praying for peoples' intelligence come November.

--aa.

Regina said...

Well, I seem to have a handle on where I am at the moment I am thinking about it, but then again... :)
As for S.P.- ditto.

alto artist said...

Moment to moment is great--I aspire to that!

--aa.