SolitaryRoamer

Resurrecting the literature blog

Hey remember that literature blog I used to update on occasion? The one I haven't updated in nearly two years? That's OK; I had almost forgotten about it myself.

But guess what? It's back. I needed some inspiration for my writing and I get that from reading the words of great writers. If nothing else this will allow me to type these powerful words and have them in my memory that way. And it gives me easy access to them through the blog.

So check out The Epiphany of Truth. You should be able to see in the column to your left. My new posting is about "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy.

The future of news in 140 characters or fewer

So … blogging. It now seems so … ancient. I’ve been blogging for more than four years now. I first heard the term about five years ago. It’s still new to some people but in the technological evolution it’s already antiquated.

Even social networking sites like MySpace are washed up (or as Drew Barrymore’s character in “He’s Just Not That Into You” says, it’s the “new booty call”) and Facebook is transforming into a hybrid of its former self and Twitter.

Yes, Twitter. It’s all the buzz. I’ve been hearing it for months now but I figured it was just the latest technical fad to come and go. Then President Obama gave his first address to Congress and we began to hear the reports about members of Congress embarrassing themselves with tweets from their Blackberrys during the address.

Wait, did I catch that right? Members of Congress are using Twitter?

Then I heard something that scared me even more. John McCain was giving an interview via Twitter. Was this the same John McCain who told us only a few months ago during his presidential campaign that his staff was teaching him how to go online? That same guy? The one who made the previous president’s comments about “the Internets” seem almost intelligent when it comes to technology.

That did it. I had to Twitter.

I actually signed up for a Twitter account back in January before I attempted to go to the president’s inauguration. But I didn’t see the mystique. It was basically a Facebook update and I was already doing that.

But if John McCain was twittering, I had to twitter.

So I downloaded a new Twitter app for my iPhone that gave me a few more features than the free app I had been using. I was pleasantly surprised to see a function that allowed me to see all the tweets within my immediate area. And the function that showed trends — popular tweet subjects — was even more fascinating.

I was able to follow the nation’s reaction to Jon Stewart verbally slaying CNBC’s Jim Cramer on “The Daily Show,” which was almost as entertaining as — and slightly less awkward than — watching the interview itself.

When I heard a few editors at work were considering implementing Twitter like a few other Gannett papers I started to take it more seriously. When the Seattle P.I. announced its conversion to a digital-only product Monday I knew it was an absolute necessity for me to follow this technological revolution as closely as possible.

My industry is dying. The P.I. is the largest paper yet to quit printing a physical product and switch to a digital-only format. I have a feeling more newspapers are headed that way more quickly than I would like. I’ve been nervous about a career in journalism since college — not knowing how the Internet would change journalism. I’ve even more nervous now.

But if I’m on board with Twitter and the groundwork that led to it and whatever will come next I’ll have a better chance of successfully making my way through this emerging digital news industry.

The future of the news industry is here and it’s being delivered in 140 characters or fewer. Look for me under username BrianPassey at Twitter.com.

Inauguration blogging

If all goes well within a few hours I will be blogging live from the inauguration of Barack H. Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America. I'm so glad I get to see this event in person. However, my blogs will be on my work blog, Backyard Ramblings, which you can find at the top of the column to your left or by clicking on this link.

Watch my work blog

I'm currently in Salt Lake City covering the LDS General Conference once again. Later today I'm heading up to Idaho to visit my parents and my grandma. Then on Thursday my mom and I are flying to Hawaii for a week. I'm likely going to be blogging about many of these adventures on my work blog, Backyard Ramblings. You can access those blog posts in the top section of the column to the left of this post or by following this link.

Nearing a goal

My lack of blogging here continues but my blogging for TheSpectrum.com continues as well. I’m still hoping to blogging a bit more here but in case of my absence I’ve added a new feed from my work blog to this one. You can find it in the left-hand column under the heading “Backyard Ramblings.”

However, I haven’t mentioned in that blog that I finally secured tickets to Hawaii. My mom and I will leave on Oct. 9 for a week on the Big Island, which means I’ll be there for my birthday Oct. 15. Since Hawaii is my last state to visit it also means I’ll reach my goal of visiting all 50 states by the time I turn 30.

Now I need to come up with a new goal. I’m considering a few including visiting all the national parks. I also hope to drive the Alaskan Highway at some point. Then there’s the list of international destinations, which include Italy, Iceland, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Thailand.

"Feels like I'm coming home"

Yeah, I'm a terrible blogger. Actually, I have been blogging regularly, but for the work blog I mentioned in the last post.

Life is still really busy. But we finally have a features editor and I'm actually on vacation now, visiting my family in Rexburg. And my sister, Becca, is here too so that's even better. I might try and blog more this week since my parents now have wi-fi. But then again, I might not. We'll see. But in the meantime click on the above link and check out the work blog, including plenty of photos. It's mostly about travel and outdoors, even if the travel is only around to the various towns of Southern Utah for work.

Check it out ...

My former city editor, Ed Kociela, just started his own Web site featuring many of his columns on politics, pop culture and other topics. He's a great writer and it's obvious that his writing comes from the heart. Check out his site and his blog.

So, today was a tough one at work. After two stories fell through for our Sunday centerpiece for the features section I had to take one for the team. I had to spend all afternoon in Zion National Park, taking photos of the fall colors and writing about how it's a great time for Southern Utah residents to check out the park. Sometimes it's a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

Also, I'm heading to Vegoose tomorrow. Stay tuned for details and photos.

My Expanding Empire, part two

I decided to celebrate my birthday today by finally creating my third blog. I’ve been paying for the ability to have three blogs hosted through Typepad since I started What Do You Hear in These Sounds? on Sept. 24, 2005. I could never figure out where my focus should exist for this third blog, though.

While falling asleep last night it came to me. I would write about literature, featuring my collection of quotes from books I have read and how that writing has inspired me, both as a writer and a human being.

So I officially announce the creation of my third regular blog, The Epiphany of Truth. Let me know what you think (all three of you who read this). I hope you enjoy it and that an occasional entry will be as inspiring to you as the basis of that entry was for me.

As for my birthday, it was much better than last year, which I spent completely by myself. I got a variety of phone calls, e-mails and text messages from family and friends, went to church and had dinner with my cousin, Morgan; her husband, Jeremiah; and their adorable 2-year-old daughter, Mya.

Sleepless nights and headaches

I’m currently going through a crazy, no sleeping, tension-headache-all-the-time phase. It’s no fun. But I’m waiting for word on whether I get my dream job or not. There is a features writing position open at The Spectrum and it’s basically the job I would want to do if I could have any job in St. George (except for being a novelist and/or children’s book author).

Though I’ve been scouting for a position with the features section or St. George Magazine for more than a year, I’ve been pursuing this job specifically since I first found out my friend, Kelsey, was leaving more than six months ago. As soon as it was out in the open that she was leaving I immediately began telling the editors I was extremely interested in the job. It’s the job I feel I was born to do.

But now, suddenly, there is competition and the thought that I might not get it is killing me. I’ve been planning my life for the next few years around getting this job. And the thought that it might not happen really scares me because I really need a change. I don’t just want any change — I want this change.

I officially interviewed for the job today and it seemed to go well. But that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Now I may not find out about the job until Wednesday. I think these may be the longest five days of my life. Only waiting on my mission call seems to compare to this.

As a side note, during one of my sleepless nights I added some more music reviews to What Do You Hear in These Sounds? and changed around my photo galleries to the left. I took photos from the “Scenics” album, added some new photos and formed two new albums: “Scenic Utah” and “Across the USA.” There will be more photos to come.

"Could It Be Another Change?"

As you can hopefully see, my blog looks quite a bit different. If you can’t see the major color change please do a hard refresh. On a PC hold the CTRL and F5 keys at the same time while viewing this. On a Mac hold down the command (apple) key while hitting the refresh button on your browser.

The new green look is in honor of spring and in honor of turning over a new leaf with the advent of springtime. I’ve decided I need to be a little more responsible about some things and exercise a little self control and exercise a little … period. Last month I began cooking at home more so I would have healthier (tofu and veggies, baby) and less expensive meals. I ate fast food today and it grossed me out just trying to swallow it. I need to curb the wild spending spree I’ve been on since, well, since I got hit by the car, pretty much. I need to start exercising more, or, as I said above, exercising at all. I’m considering taking up yoga, but I’m not sure about it just yet. And I need to start sleeping more. I have a really hard time letting go of each day because there’s always a blog to write or a chapter to read or a film to watch. But it’s no fun doing those things if I can’t keep my eyes open. Also I need to probably stop swearing about Dubya so much. He could really help me out by resigning from office, though.

So, welcome to my new, healthy blog. I still like purple, but the last color scheme just seemed too weak. And it was near impossible to read any of my links. So, let me know what you think.