Sit in the park and listen to music

New York City has some wonderful parks and I have to admit, the recent improvements in Washington Square Park have made it much more comfortable.  Saturday was a crisp, sunny day and I wandered into the park and  heard the notes of a grand piano.  A guy was playing to an enthralled crowd.  I sat and experienced a great mini-concert and left a dollar in a black plastic bucket on my way out of the park.  There is absolutely no way this could be the same in a digital world.  I guess you could record video of the event, and it might be interesting, but how could you simulate the rays of the Sun falling on your cheeks, the breeze, the crisp chill in the air, and feel of the stone bench?

Now let's fast forward to  today's New York Times, it seems that the city officials have fined the outdoor piano player several times for playing too close to a monument.  It is a sad day when an artist bringing joy to so many people is committing a crime.

Keep a handwritten journal

It is ironic that I am writing this using my laptop and Blogger.  Most of us can benefit greatly from regular old-fashioned hand-writing.  Writing is part of my job and I have adopted the latest technology and use it regularly, however I do find some big problems with using computers to write.

One big problem is the "one-screen dilemma".  If I am working on a long paper, the computer really cripples my favorite writing style, being able to flip through papers, to shuffle them around, to jot down notes, circling and underlining.  I can really only do this with paper, pencil and pen.  It is very inconvenient to scroll back and forth trying to find out what you have already written.  Maybe if there were multiple pieces of digital paper that might help.  I also find that writing is physically too easy on a computer and as a result it is very easy for garbage to spew out without much thought.

One way to counteract some of the negative aspects of writing on a computer is to continue to do the analog things that come more naturally to humans.  Writing with a pen or pencil on paper is a much richer sensory experience.  It also forces more thoughtful consideration of what you want to write.  You have to slow down and think more deliberately so that the physical effort you put forth is not wasted.  I find that the more I write by hand, the more productive I am with my computer assisted writing.  It does take awhile to get used to writing by hand.  It is shocking that the muscles used and clarity of the handwriting can deteriorate so much.

I wonder what the future holds, with Apple's attempt to eliminate keyboards and the promotion of voice input, and gestural control of computers.  Will future generations lose the ability to write by hand and with a keyboard?  What would happen to our language if people stop writing?  It could turn out that only a select few scholars will retain these skills that we take for granted. 

I have a feeling that humans will not be content with a digital, virtual world, and that there will be a new age, probably far in the future where humans will move beyond bits and bytes.  Maybe qubits will be the next revolution but it will probably be something we haven't even yet imagined.  

Improve your memory

An interesting side-effect of information technology is the increasing reliance of humans on machines for memory.  I rarely even bother to try and memorize things.  Instead I rely on Google to look up information or my stored phone numbers in my cell phone.

Is this really a good thing?  Our brain is an unbelievably powerful memory machine, and we really should cultivate, service and keep it in good shape.  One way to do this is to learn more about human memory.  If you are interested, check out any of the books by Tony Buzan.  Some first steps are to learn how to memorize a list using the "Roman Room" method.  If you get hooked then the next step is learning the first 100 numbers using the Major system.  The key to memory is associating  and linking images to the objects that you wish to remember, using your creativity and all of your senses,.

Learn how to make good coffee

Many people spend a fortune of coffee from Starbucks and other specialty coffee shops.  A nice analog activity is to learn how to make your own excellent coffee at home.  Once you have done this, you can get a good thermos and bring your gourmet coffee anywhere you like and save big bucks.

Good coffee requires three things:

1)  A supply of high quality coffee beans
2)  A good coffee maker machine
3)  An understanding of how to care for the beans and how good coffee is brewed.

Good sources of whole coffee beans

We purchase beans from

1)  Stumptown Coffee Roasters http://stumptowncoffee.com and
2)  Counter Culture coffee http://counterculturecoffee.com

The Coffee Machine

After trying many different machines, the best so far has been

The Moccamaster by Technivorm

We recommend the machine with the heat plate and a glass carafe.  You will also need a good quality grinder and we purchased the Moccamaster grinder.

How to make coffee

Make sure your beans are fresh.  You should be able to inhale from a bag of beans and be transported to coffee heaven.  There should be no harshness at all.

Use fresh, filtered (not distilled) cold water.  Follow the directions for your grinder and machine.  Once the coffee is done, transfer it into an insulated, thermos (preheated with hot water).

Once you have your coffee making technique down, you will never spend good money for rocket fuel or muddy water again.

Stay tuned for "How to make espresso".

Go a day without email

Sometimes pleasure and happiness results from the absence of something such as pain, or email.  An excellent analog activity involves cutting yourself off from email for at least 24 hours.  Normally I can't do this, but thanks to the greed of American cell phone companies, it is fairly easy to cut yourself off from the Net when traveling abroad.  In place of email, try walking aimlessly or read a book (a real analog book made of atoms and not bits).  You'll be surprised how enjoyable the absence of cyberspace can be.

What's the difference between analog and digital? Let's look at some clocks.

Some of you may be wondering why this blog is dwelling on all things analog.  What IS the difference between analog and digital?

Information can be represented in two main ways:  in digital or analog form.

The easiest way to explain the difference is to look at clocks.  Take a look at your computer or cell phone, and somewhere on the screen, you will see a clock.  My clock is in the lower right corner of the screen and it reads:

10:00am

This is a digital clock.  The time is represented by discrete units or values, i.e. hours, minutes and seconds.

Now take a look at this analog clock, in which the time is represented continuously by the movement of hands and various other parts, and not in discrete units:

The pictures show a famous clock called the Orloj Astronomical Clock, that is located in Prague, Czech Republic.  The clock was installed in the tower in 1410.  The history of the clock is fascinating and you can find out more here:  http://orloj.com/

If you ever get a chance to visit,  and arrive at the clock on the hour, you will see an amazing procession of figures in the two windows above, finished off by a golden rooster popping out above to crow in triumph.

THIS is an analog clock and it is way cooler than any digital clock I've ever seen.

Climb a mountain

Sounds crazy doesn't it?  Believe me, there are plenty of mountains available from small ones of around two or three hundred meters (800 to 800 ft) to Mount Everest at 8,848m (29, 029 ft).  If you are out of shape, as many of us are, a good way to start is with a daily walk.  Once you are comfortable with a brisk walk, of at least 30 minutes a day, challenge yourself with some hikes.  Visit a National Park such as Acadia National Park

Jordan Pond in front of the Bubble Mountains

Get yourself a guide to the park and start with some of the easier rated trails, and as you gain confidence and strength, you can start taking on some actual mountains.  While you are hiking, use all of your senses, observe plants, animals and insects.  When you get back to your hotel or bed and breakfast, go out and get some field guides to trees, flowering plants, birds, minerals, etc.

A Monarch butterfly on its flowery perch

Read about the history and geology of the park.  Immerse yourself in the amazing world around you.

You will find that hiking can clear your mind and strengthen your body and refresh your spirit.  Picking your way up or down a challenging trail requires dexterity, strength and endurance and you will be surprised how quickly your hiking skills and knowledge develop.

As you take up increasingly difficult challenges, visit a store such as EMS, REI and talk to the staff.   Browse and pick up small items of equipment, books and maps that will enable you to accomplish even more challenging hikes.  If you are in the Northeast, your next step after Acadia could be the High Peaks of the Adirondacks.  The Adirondack Mountain Club has a lot of helpful information.

The Adirondacks

Those 46 beautiful mountains could provide you with years of enjoyment.   Another great hiking spot is the White Mountains in New Hampshire.  If you are in good shape and want a true challenge, consider participating in the annual "Seek the Peak" event that involves climbing one of the most challenging mountains around, Mount Washington.

The final push up Mount Washington during the Seek the Peak event

It all starts with a few steps, one after another, and before you know it, you will be exulting on the peak of a mountain, breathing the fresh air and taking in panoramic views of our Earth.