mikeZellers.blog

Monday, August 08, 2005

my favorite things...

i know, material possessions are overrated. one will never find happiness in them. it is the people in our lives and our relationships that matter.

ok, i've gotten that out of the way...

why is it that some things are, well, just things, and some seem to take on a personality of their own. in other words, some things we like, or find useful, and some we love... i realize i am starting to sound like a mac user here, but there are some things that seem to go beyond the call of duty. i read a recent book called "emotional design" by i forget who (google it..) whose premise was that making people like an object is key in making a an object functional...style is substance in a way - the argument goes as follows - things we like we are willing to invest the time and effort to figure out - we overlook their flaws, etc...kind of like how it works with people...the difference between, say a cooper mini and my chevy tracker...as someone said, mini coopers always make you smile...

anyway, some of my favorite things: nintendo ds - a birthday gift yesterday - a handheld videogame console - you use a stylus on a touch screen - as well as dragging a finger across the screen, or even blowing on the mic - far different than the typical gta videogame experience - and full of inventive games - such as warioware touched and feel the magic...

my new toshiba laptop - big screen - nice keyboard, great speakers - is it a laptop, or home entertainment system...oh yeah, and wireless internet....

the ipod...yes, Minnie, herself....

my bike, skates, etc....

and my cheap nikon coolpix held together with duct tape. in a way, i want a better camera, in a way i don't...irrespective of the financial issue, in one respect a better camera would give more control to me and most likely lead to better photos...on the other hand, there's something to be said about working within limitations and producing satisfying photos with a cheap camera...


last, but certainly not least, the noodle bowls that gina made - esp. when they are filled with my wife's best dish - her tofu noodley thing...

it's ok to be materialistic sometimes- what are your favorite things?

my 2 photos went for a total of $48 at last week's auction - i am pretty pleased about that...

rip peter jennings

5 Comments:

At 4:41 AM, Anonymous sharon said...

my favourite thing in the whole world= my ipod, without which, i. will. die. Even though it's a 3rd gen and I could easily upgrade to the 4th, but somethign about it just stops me from doing it... somehow.

at least until the warranty's run out anyways :)

 
At 9:56 PM, Anonymous Emily said...

I've learned the hard way not to be too attached to things, but the things that I can't live without is my laptop (at least, a laptop) and my offline journal.

And I'd feel very sad if anything happened to my gecko before her time, but I don't really consider her a thing.

 
At 12:19 PM, Blogger artgirl said...

this book sounds interesting being that i make functional objects, i.e. noodle dishes. i read that a functional object is not complete until it is used. the interaction between maker and owner is crucial to the process.
i'm attached to my artwork, not mine but what i own. and my cds. cannot live without them.

 
At 1:10 PM, Blogger Mike said...

here is a link to the book
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0465051367/qid=1123607231/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7090680-5324702?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things
by Donald A. Norman

I am interested in design re:software... both the user interface of applications and web pages and the "design" of their internals... but that design interest has kinda crossed over to me so that i am at least somewhat interested in the design of "real" things...

 
At 9:04 AM, Blogger Karen Zipdrive said...

My favorite things:
A faded Levi cowboy shirt
A couple of paintings
A Cartier watch
My 300 lb. regulation Gym quality ab cruncher and triceps dip machine
My Macintosh
80 pairs of assorted shoes
My two cats

 

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