Comments on: Riding, Choices and Getting Things Done

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:19:40 +0000

irondad: I like the bird dog/bloodhound analogy. Making intuitive leaps are what I'm often searching for and need time to prepare for. They don't happen out of thin air.

Thanks for posting your thoughts. They're helpful.

By: irondad

irondad — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:23:47 +0000

Welcome home, my friend. It's where you belong. A true Warrior needs only a sharp sword and a willing steed. A true Poet needs only a sharp quill and a willing steed.

Alone with my thoughts I am actually more efficient. Think of a bloodhound versus a bird dog.

A bloodhound goes from point A to B to C, never skipping a point. Which is what the handlers want, but is also slow.

A bird dog sniffs the wind and makes intuitive leaps towards the source of the scent. Not being tied to a "process" or a "data machine" the prize is secured more quickly.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:09:31 +0000

Schnarpsel: The concept of slowness is hard to get your head around. The Vespa helped and I had already been down that path photographically when I made a conscious decision to use a big wooden field camera. I knew it's physicality would force me to work more slowly.

Slower isn't necessarily better but it is definitely different and yields a different experience. For me the slower experience is more useful and powerful. Most of the time.

Professionally I don't always have the option to work that way and can certainly work in a faster mode. But when I have a choice I find the more deliberate method gives better creative results.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:05:34 +0000

Circle Blue: I first became aware of too much information while working through the Artist's Way book with some friends. There was a week where you were not allowed to read anything. No cereal boxes, newspapers, websites, etc. I made an exception for work --email, reports, etc, but nothing else.

After the first day I was crawling out of my skin because I read so much, take in so much info outside of what I need for work.

The second day was horrible -- like going through some sort of withdrawal. What was really weird is if you had asked me if I read a lot I would have said no. Turned out I read things constantly --labels, signs, billboards, ads, news, web.

Without that flow of information you are left with yourself and your thoughts. Ugh.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:01:46 +0000

Bryce: No ice or cold drinks from the iPhone. At least not that I could figure out.

My new phone cost $29.95 and works fine. I'm hand with it and have only dropped it once!

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:00:36 +0000

Joe: I wouldn't say words come to me as child's play. It's more as if some ideas are more alive than others. And the more I write, the more practiced I get at expressing them. Or something like that.

As far as gadgets go, the older I get the less enthralled I am with them. I see their utility and use them but not with the wild gusto of years past.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:58:25 +0000

Jack Riepe: So far I have just had relaxed rides with the phone in my pocket. I can never hear it ring so it might as well be off.

But then, you are a natural magnet for experiences and they just flock to you. I saw it first hand in Bloomsburg. I need to write that story.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:57:06 +0000

American Scooterist Blog: (Harv) Long time since I've seen you post here.

Losing a phone could be a liberating experience. Like opening a new checking account or having your computer die with nothing backed up -- just start over from scratch. A rebirth.

I liked your recent post about the heat of Vegas and how a rider has to assess their limitations in hot weather. A recent ride in 100F and humid air brought me close to mine.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:53:12 +0000

poppawheelie: (Grumpy old man) Sounds as if you and I have the same sort of attitude towards technology. I have to admit I waver at times but continued experiences of losing myself in the toys brings me back once again to a simpler set up.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:51:24 +0000

David Masse: You're right about being able to do practically anything on the iPhone. For me that was the probably. I was always doing something with the iPhone.

The sixties are sort of fuzzy for me. I remember some things but not with the raging clarity of the 70s.