A Vast Increase of...what?

I recently bought a new phone through Craigslist. I’d take a picture of it, but using a camera to capture a camera…well…I’ll just stick with a stock photo. Getting this phone has caused me to understand even more fully how very easily I can be contacted. Sure I could be had before, but now I have instant notification through email, phone, text messages, three instant messaging systems, Facebook, and probably more. All instant, mind you. I receive an email and my pocket vibrates. You sign onto Yahoo, MSN or Google Talk and I’ll probably be there. An event featuring someone’s kitten’s birthday on Facebook and just somehow, I’ll know and have an RSVP already. Now, I didn’t get the phone to broaden my opportunities to not talk with people. I could open up a Twitter account (another thing which I could have to make my pocket vibrate, but I abstain) to accomplish that for cheaper. Mostly, I just needed a new phone, I like having a calendar on my person so I can mark occasions and I like shiny new toys.

Back before I even had a cell phone, I purchased a PDA in 2003 after my previous one (from 2001) had worn itself out. It was a shiny new toy that kept my minimal high school life in order and was pretty fun to have. (Related note: Never never never EVER buy expensive electronics through retail without a very good reason. Let someone else do that and buy it from them a year later. Related to the related note: Anyone want a six-year-old PDA?)

This just furthers the ability of anyone to figure out what I’m about through the internet. Google Latitude reports my position, their calendar has my schedule, Blogger has my thoughts (which I’m thinking is akin to musing aloud while walking around and taking comments from passersby), and Facebook, Pandora, Google, Yahoo and others all have info on me. And to what end, really? I mean really. At least my phone also fills separate unfulfilled niches in my life because of it’s nigh infinite expandability. I now also have a geocaching capable GPS, a music tuner, a resistor lookup chart, a library, a dictionary, a translator, and a stargazing map all in my pocket. Ironically enough, the only phone call I’ve used it for was to call Thad to test it out when I was buying it. (Update: Kimber did call me, so that was the first)

So in the end, I’ll keep my schedule updated with free food opportunities that I find around campus. Be sure to show up, I’ll post them to the Butterknife Estates calendar.