Mason

I found this on William Gibson's Blog (found at http://www.williamgibsonbooks.com/blog/archive.asp), and just had to re-post it: Thursday, October 14, 2004 posted 9:37PM President Bush goes to an elementary school to talk about the war. After his talk, he offers to answer questions. One little boy puts up his hand and the president asks him his name. "I'm Billy, sir." "And what's your question, Billy?" "I have three questions, sir. Why did the US invade Iraq without the support of the UN? Why are you President when Al Gore got more votes? And whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden?" Just then the bell rings for recess. Bush announces that they'll continue after recess. When they return, Bush asks, "OK, where were we? Question time! Who has a question?" Another little boy raises his hand. The president asks his name. "I'm Steve, sir." "And what's your question, Steve?" "I have five questions, sir. Why did the US invade Iraq without the support of the UN? Why are you President when Al Gore got more votes? Whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden? Why did the recess bell go off twenty minutes early? And what the heck happened to Billy?"

i recall talking to my brother many years ago. we were discussing whether it would have been more fun to be born in the distant past or the distant future. the argument basically was that it would be fun to learn to use swords to fight, but it would suck not having glasses (both of us would be pretty much blind without correction).
he was always the strong advocate for having lived in the past. i am coming to realize now just how much i appreciate all of the modern amenities, and how much more there will be to enjoy in the future. just yesterday i was walking down denny hill with my ipod playing in my ears with my vibrate capable phone in my pocket so that if anyone i know in the world wanted to reach me for a conversation they could in seconds. the air was warm, cars were rushing by on the busy street taking people wherever they wanted to go.
but more than that, ubiquitous connection to the internet is reshaping my life and the lives of everyone i know. how different would my life be had i been born today instead of 27 (almost 28) years ago? i can't imagine staying in touch with my grade school friends with instant messaging and e-mail, or playing computer games with friends in middleschool from our various houses while talking over secure servers to plot the downfall of our virtual enemies. but it's happening today.
someone was telling me about a movie called "thirteen" i believe, which was written by a thirteen year old girl about life in the modern era for children her age. clearly they are not children by the old standards; they learn from the internet everything their parents are reluctant to tell them about, thus they learn skewed views on the subjects since there is no guidance. an example from what i have heard about the movie is that these barely-teenagers have sex parties; things imagined by them to be normal since you can find the source material anywhere on the internet without even having to search it out.
truly the information age is blossoming like a djinni let loose from it's bottle (or pandora's box being opened, depending). i'm ready to take the red pill and see how far down this rabbit hole really goes.

this is the big day
we will fly to europe soon
i am excited

we start in london
we stay for four nights; five days
then we head to france

paris is the start
we begin like tourists there
near the eiffle tower

after that we look
try to find a decent spot
we can stay the night

ken has a friend there
we will meet up with him then
his name is cyrill

we will take small trips
to champagne and burgundy
i want to buy wine

then we catch a train
headed down to italy
venice; carnival

florence we don't know
but we think we'll make it there
this part is unplanned

we end in milan
happens to be fashion week
we had never planned

from there we fly home
it will be feb twenty six
must recuperate

we will take pictures
i got a digital elph
four megapixels

i will try to post
the url for the site
where we'll have the pics

please, all, wish us luck
we head out for the unknown
sure to meet our fate

we bring the world something new
as each day brings the grass its dew
you look at me, i look at you
and we know

we paint the town in black and green
the whole world is our movie screen
too close to touch our senses keen
and savage

we whisper in the morning air,
"it's springtime!" every look a stare
our movements echo everywhere
we're strangers

but strangers are the best you see
we have no forced conformity
i can love you, and you can love me
we've freedom

and from the clouds nature will send
a rift in space that has no end
and inside you and i shall spend
eternity

i need no bread nor wine to live
just happiness, that you can give
as long and old as i may live
i love you