Slipping Through the Cracks

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Guinn Terry Davis

This week I was inspired by a college mate of mine who wrote a tale of how recounting acts of kindness can be healthier, and less stressful, than dwelling on negative memories. I thought that this was a good thing to post, so I would like to share a story as well. Here’s to you, Jeff…

It was the winter of 1993, January to be precise, and I was in Mobile, Alabama with my parents, who were attending a business seminar. I always loved these weekend functions. After all, I didn’t have to go to the meetings; I could run around the hotel all day at my parent’s expense. Great gig, huh?

Anyways, I was hanging out with a friend whose parents were also at the function. I can’t remember what hotel it was, and I’m not even going to try and guess, but it was definitely a high-rise. I remember this because of the frequent up-and-down elevator trips.

So we were eating at the hotel restaurant when I notice a lot of young, big guys walking around the lobby area. Turns out that they were all college football players who were in town for the Senior Bowl, which is sort of like the NFL Pro Bowl, but on a college level. The best players in the nation come to this game.

Of course, I was at the impressionable age of 11, so college students were pretty much adults in my estimation. And since I was a college football fan, my friend and I decided to get autographs. So we grabbed a sheet of paper that had the roster of all the players in the game (believe I swiped it off a table, but don’t quote me on that).

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Google Translator = Babel?

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Guinn Terry Davis

With the work I do for Demand Studios, I have to perform a lot of research on foreign countries and cities to write about points of interest they have. In the old days (meaning five to ten years ago), it would have been difficult to conduct this research since websites in other countries had their own language on the pages and no English translation.

This is still the case on some sites, but Google has created the handy Google Translator app which allows me to get information on the page without having to figure out what it all means.

However, it has occurred to me that this is only the beginning. It will be within our lifetime that robotic implants will be placed in our bodies that will be able to translate other languages without having to be an expert in linguistics.

People will speak, and we will understand.

Like a sci-fi movie. Is it that hard to fathom? Not necessarily. One reason we love technology is that the convenience it creates in our lives. And understanding everyone in this world would be convenient for everyone. Thus, I believe we will aim to reach that goal.

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Soulmate

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Guinn Terry Davis

I never gave much thought to the purpose of a soulmate in my earlier years. Perhaps, I was focusing too much on being at the next place instead of the place where I currently was.

I’ve always been excited about the future. Imagining what will happen and how great things will be. I think this can be attributed to my personality as a “starter.” I believe there are three types of people in life: starters, middle-people and finishers.

Over the years, I have clearly learned that I am a starter. It goes to explain why I like writing. I love the concept of taking something out of nothing and solidifying it. It explains why I am always interested in who wrote a song or play, rather than the performers who are singing and acting. Also, why when I used to play video games, I would get so frustrated when my character died for the first time.

You see, being a starter has it’s advantages, such as having visions and creativity. But it has cons as well, such as not completing a project to its fullest or getting too comfortable when things are going well.

This is why starters need middle-people and finishers. Vice Versa.

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Who’s Telling the Truth?

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Guinn Terry Davis

Are we ever completely truthful to people?

I realize that this a fairly strong way to start a post, but I went through about ten different beginnings, and this was the only one I thought was was suitable enough. This thought has been seared in my mind for awhile The Truth Will Conquer - well, at least for the past two days – and the urge to write this down was exacerbated when I watched Munich earlier this evening.

For those of you who haven’t seen this film, it’s an espionage thriller based on the true story of the Israeli hostage crisis at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, and the subsequent actions of the Mossad, Israel’s secret service.

While the very essence of espionage films is “who’s telling the truth?”, what set my thoughts in motion was the opening text, which stated the film was based on true events. But on whose account? Steven Speilberg, who directed the film? He obviously wasn’t around to see all of these things.

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Two Random Acts

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Guinn Terry Davis

So I was out on a couple of errands the other day, and one of them happened to be at Michael’s. As I was rummaging through their wares in my pursuit of Velcro (story in and of itself), I was solicited. This man, somehow assumed that I worked for the store Randomness
(maybe it was the black shirt I was wearing, and the tag that said that said Michael’s pinned to my shirt ), and asked me about where he could find something or other (I don’t really remember that part).

I simply told him that I did not work for the store, and was intent on carrying about my business. His response was a strange concoction of placidity and indignation…

“Well, %&*@ you, then.”

To say the least, I was fairly stunned. I would hate to have heard his comments if I would have gotten one of those arts and crafts sticks they sell at Michael’s and started beating him with it, all the while calling him a pinata (my thoughts at the time).

10 minutes later…

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