2024 03 19
It used to be things were messy. These days, everything is clean, sleek and easy! Of course, this isn’t the case, we’ve just become better at hiding the messy bits behind a fascade.
The Disneyfication of America, if you will. Apple is a shining example. PCs used to be complicated until Apple made it easy. All the system files and folders are hidden behind a digital curtain which you can only peek behind if you know the secret access door. We don’t trust you with those files. It’s plug and play! Granted, this approach makes a lot of sense and has been wildly successful. It is the better way—until it’s not. Until your system has crashed and you now don’t know a thing about it and are therefore reliant on the Genius Bar to come to your rescue and free your important business documents from digital purgatory.
Today, I walked to work after being unable to charge my electric vehicle for reasons unknown. File a service request and move on. It’s a fun car, though! Not a button in sight!
Arriving at work, I go to turn on some music but my fancy wireless speakers don’t work because the Sonos app can’t update and is stuck in a doom loop of saying it needs to update, followed by a failed update with no further information. File a service request and head to the daily photo blog to vent about it.
In a way, it’s a nice reminder that while things may appear orderly and structured, there’s still a mess behind the scenes.
Don’t becomes fully dependent on the Genius Bar. Stay messy.
-Clayton
Damaged car situation somewhere in Chicago. September, 2023. © Clayton Hauck
It used to be things were messy. These days, everything is clean, sleek and easy! Of course, this isn’t the case, we’ve just become better at hiding the messy bits behind a fascade.
The Disneyfication of America, if you will. Apple is a shining example. PCs used to be complicated until Apple made it easy. All the system files and folders are hidden behind a digital curtain which you can only peek behind if you know the secret access door. We don’t trust you with those files. It’s plug and play! Granted, this approach makes a lot of sense and has been wildly successful. It is the better way—until it’s not. Until your system has crashed and you now don’t know a thing about it and are therefore reliant on the Genius Bar to come to your rescue and free your important business documents from digital purgatory.
Today, I walked to work after being unable to charge my electric vehicle for reasons unknown. File a service request and move on. It’s a fun car, though! Not a button in sight!
Arriving at work, I go to turn on some music but my fancy wireless speakers don’t work because the Sonos app can’t update and is stuck in a doom loop of saying it needs to update, followed by a failed update with no further information. File a service request and head to the daily photo blog to vent about it.
In a way, it’s a nice reminder that while things may appear orderly and structured, there’s still a mess behind the scenes.
Don’t becomes fully dependent on the Genius Bar. Stay messy.
-Clayton
2024 02 28
Having something to look forward to is a big part of my being in a good mood. Is this blog something to look forward to?
Constraints are a big part of creativity. Forcing one to figure it out often leads to better work. Big budget movies are often crappy… because they had budget to do whatever they want! Decisions were made without much consideration. It’s easier to make something good out of nothing than it is to make something good out of everything… the guerrilla approach. The underdog often has more motivation and is scrappier. America can’t defeat Afghanistan; America can’t defeat Vietnam; America can’t defeat Palestine not because we lack the resources but because we lack the will (and also they are undefined, losing battles to begin with). The only reason we attempt these wars in the United States is because we have too many options, therefor they sound like reasonable solutions.
Rusty old car I’ve been photographing for well over a year now because it never moves and nature is slowly reclaiming. Chicago, Illinois. February, 2024 © Clayton Hauck
Having something to look forward to is a big part of my being in a good mood. Is this blog something to look forward to?
Constraints are a big part of creativity. Forcing one to figure it out often leads to better work. Big budget movies are often crappy… because they had budget to do whatever they want! Decisions were made without much consideration. It’s easier to make something good out of nothing than it is to make something good out of everything… the guerrilla approach. The underdog often has more motivation and is scrappier. America can’t defeat Afghanistan; America can’t defeat Vietnam; America can’t defeat Palestine not because we lack the resources but because we lack the will (and also they are undefined, losing battles to begin with). The only reason we attempt these wars in the United States is because we have too many options, therefore they sound like reasonable solutions.
Why did I segue into talking about war again? Let’s get back to obsessing over AI taking my job! Oh yeah, so this is why I’m in a crabby mood these days.
Chin up.
-Clayton