The Man Who Freed Himself From Email

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/jobs/29pre.html

Cody's Closing - Event cancelled

A cruddy day for bookstore lovers. The august Cody's Books is closing its doors, effective immediately. The company sent out a press release late last night saying the closure is to due financial distress.

I will obviously not be reading there on Monday night. I will show up at the store in case some readers don't get the message. We can get a beer and mourn the passing.

This is what Cody's said:

Dear Colleagues and Friends, We have one or more author events scheduled with you between this coming week and into November 2008 which must be canceled immediately. We've just received word that IBC Publishing, Cody's parent company, is closing our store, effective today, after having determined after years of financial distress that Cody's can no longer continue as a viable business in its present state. Needless to say, this is one of the most difficult times that our company has experienced and the most difficult note I've ever written; canceling any author event is personally heartbreaking for me and my staff especially at the last-minute like this. I am exceedingly sorry for the significant inconvenience and disappointment, as well as for this general broadcast in lieu of an individual note.

I have been so incredibly appreciative of working with you to bring writers and readers together, and remain more grateful than I can say for your support and belief in Cody's over so many years. I've more than my fair share of spectacular memories, thanks to you and your authors.
We are not entirely sure what's ahead, but I hope our paths will cross sometime down the road when the flames subside. My personal contact info: phone: 510-845-6575; email: mytinger@gmail.com

If you have any further questions or concerns about Cody's closing,please contact Mindy Galoob, Cody's General Manager at 510-965-5846 ormindy@codysbooks.com. With thanks and heartfelt regards,Melissa 2201 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley, CA 94704 BERKELEY'S CODY'S BOOKS CLOSES AFTER 52 YEARS Berkeley CA, June 20, 2008 –After 52 years, Cody's Books will shut its doors effective June 20, 2008. The Berkeley bookstore has been a beacon to readers and writers throughout the nation and across the world. Founded by Fred and Pat Cody in 1956, Cody's has been a Berkeley institution and a pioneer in the book business, helping to establish such innovations as quality paperbacks and in-store author readings. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Cody's was a landmark of the Free Speech movement and was a home away from home for innumerable authors, poets and readers. The Board of Directors of Cody's Books made this difficult decision after years of financial distress and declining sales. According to Cody's president, Hiroshi Kagawa, "[It] is a heartbreaking moment…in the spring of 2005 when I learned about the financial crisis facing Cody's, I was excited to save the store from bankruptcy. Unfortunately, my current business is not strong enough or rich enough to support Cody's. Of course, the store has been suffering from low sales and the deficit exceeds our ability to service it." "When I met Cody's 25 years ago, I was a freelance journalist, enraptured by its books and atmosphere. It means so much to me and I apologize to the people who have supported Cody's for not being able to keep this landmark independent bookstore open. Cody's is my treasure and more than that, Cody's is a real friend of Berkeley community and will be missed." Cody's would like to thank all of our loyal customers for their years of patronage. For further information contact: Mindy Galoob, General Manager at mindy@codysbooks.com

Attend Hooked reading- WIN BRAND NEW CAR!

Friends, readers, patrons of Cody's in Berkeley and Book Passage in Corte Madera.

If the fates and fortunes align, we’ll cross paths next week at Cody's on Monday, or Book Passage on Wednesday. I’ll be there both nights around 7, reading from “Hooked." It should be a lot of fun -- replete with a brief reading, questions and answers, revelations about the tradecraft, personally embarrassing anecdotes, and, then, at the end, someone in the audience will, at random, receive a brand new Honda Civic.

It’s going to have everything too: an eight-speaker stereo, leather seats, an all-electric power system, a built-in waffle iron. It’ll be the most extraordinary reading.

So, that’s it, then. I’ll see you there? Right around 7. Please dress accordingly.

I should add one thing. The part about the free car is absolutely not true. A complete lie. I don’t know why I said that. No car. Also, I’m so ashamed, no waffle iron. Candidly, I’m not even sure if there will be snacks at the event.

I’m sorry. I really blew it this time. I hope you weren’t getting your hopes up and picking out dashboard colors for the compact car you will absolutely not be winning. It was a childish come on. Regrettable in every way. But, and this part I assure you is true: there was a reason I did it. I can see that clearly now. I blame The Terror.

Have you heard of The Terror? Has a friend/relative/loved one who is a writer explained the writing craft’s One Truly Great Horrifying Terror?

Well, there is one. One thing that gets a writer quivering even more than writer’s block or “why isn’t my agent calling me back within five minutes” syndrome. The one truly great terror takes place the five minutes before a book reading. The Terror goes like this: THIS BOOKSTORE IS EMPTY AND THE ONLY PERSON WHO IS ATTENDING THIS BOOK READING IS MY WIFE AND SHE’S ALREADY HEARD ALL MY JOKES!

That’s The Terror. It’s universal for writers, or so I’ve heard. For many of us, the fear of an empty book reading is worse than the fear of mortal disease, chiefly but not exclusively because if you get a mortal illness your wife will at least keep laughing at your old jokes (as a complete digression, for you Marin residents who might attend the book reading, Severe Biker’s Rash does not count as a mortal illness, though it might be painful and benefit from a salve).

So, it was to thwart The Terror that I made up the thing about the free car. And the built-in waffle iron. I just wanted to try to get you to show up. But, if you do, despite my childish false promises, I genuinely assure you that we will have a lively discussion, a brief but scintillating reading, and, afterwards, I will use my secret powers to heal all of your illnesses and make you filthy rich.

So that’s it. See you next week. 7ish. What? What’d I say?

addiction - it's no longer just for deviants

here's a story about actual medical diagnosis for tech addiction. you may now commence your 12 steps (the first step is admitting you have a modem...)

http://www.webguild.org/2008/06/internet-addiction-deemed-clinical.php

compulsive cell phone talking --- vegas style

interesting article from Forbes.com on cell phone addiction with one analyst comparing the lure of constant chatter to gambling.

http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/06/15/cellphone-addict-iphone-tech-wireless08-cx_wt0616addict.html

Brian Lam, Gizmodo Editor, The Inaugural Short Attention Span Interview

Today marks the first in a series of "Short Attention Span Interviews." Quick discussions with people who make news, thinkers, leaders, people with opinions, or who can fake it. The topic will generally be the way technology is impacting us, changing us, rewiring us, seducing us, working for us, and so forth.

We are privileged today to have as our guest Brian Lam, editor of Gizmodo (www.gizmodo.com). The site, one of the most viewed on the Internet, is in a fierce battle to be the premier place to find the latest news about new gadgets. The pace at which they gather and present news is formidable.

Brian's title should be FEO - frenetic executive officer. The guy is going non-stop, keeping either one step ahead of or one step behind the technology his site describes. (he's also a thai boxer, which would make for a dangerous combination but he's a darn nice fellow).

A bit more about Brian in this story I wrote about the Always On Culture: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/technology/06sweat.htm

And, herewith, in his own words, the short-attention span interview with Brian Lam:

Q:
What's more addictive: cheese popcorn, or your iPhone (or whatever phone you use)? Compare and contrast (use a different snack food if you'd prefer)

A: iPhone gets a lot more attention than it should, I imagine. I've developed strategies to be a socially functional iPhone user, though. That means that I'll be at a dinner party and mention some wacky youtube video, to the amazement of the crowd. When people say they haven't seen it, I ask if they want me to load it up on my iPhone. Same thing for restaurant decisions, etc. I'd say that there is some counterintuitive logic here about the iPhone helping bring people together, but honestly, I do it sometimes just so I can play with a gadget. So, socially, I am not a tech addict. I want people to hang out with, I'll do that. But when it comes to finding news, I always feel like i'm running through a field of flowers and looking for the nicest ones to pick. Or something like that.


Q: Are human beings evolving to cope with the rapid onslought of digital stimulation? how?

A: I'd say that the brain can comprehend data as fast as we can absorb it by sight, generally, even multiple sources at once. I tried an experiment watching TV and playing video games at once, using two side-by-side TVs, and it worked for slower TV or slower video games. And we can spit out information faster than we can write or speak or type, so there's a limitation there. But the biggest change is that people can multitask a lot better than they could before, or at least they have the opportunities to do so, which I believe contributes to the attention deficit we've got going on in today's world.

Q: Why do you think consumers of news and information like to be updated as soon as possible on the latest developments?


A: I'm not sure. From personal experience, it's a nice feeling to be in the know. I think that a lot of our readers keep up out of extreme interest in the subject, but I bet there's a Pavlovian response to hitting refresh and getting a new nugget of information every 20 minutes.


Q: When it comes to your gadgets, what's the difference between being entertained and informed and being addicted? How do you know when you've crossed the thresshold?

A: I'm actually not addicted to my gadgets. I'm addicted to the information stream they provide. I love my job, and anything that helps me talk to my team of writers and editors across the globe is something I use with extreme frequency in an unhealthy way, some would say. I say that the online world I live in, like a socially awkward teenager playing world of warcraft, is a lot more satisfying and interesting than downing beers at the local pub or walking through the park. Offline, everything is slow motion and painful, by relative terms. For the record, i don't twitter or do much facebooking or anything else. I'm all about IM and email and any sort of online media I can find.

tech makers tame monster of their own creation

story on the onslaught of digital communications in today's new york times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/technology/14email.html?em&ex=1213588800&en=55640a5b320f7f60&ei=5087%0A

Legends reflect on Hooked

One of our addicts emailed us this fine surprise -- a youtube video of Legendary Authors captured on Youtube, discussing Hooked

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT7I3H4QOmM


(brought to you by the fine folks at beema.com)

Addiction stories herein - please top these

A handful of tech addiction tales from FOH (Friends of Hooked)

Matt, I read your email on my Treo last while night driving home from the golf course. Scrolling down through the message as I drove on the busy 19th Ave, I nearly ran into the back of an expensive Mercedes at a stoplight which I hadn't really noticed had turned red...

I'll forgive you this time, but don't do that again! You almost caused my insurance rates to go through the roof....

#2
I saw some monks in the backblocks of Bhutan in the Eastern Himalayas who threw caution and buddhism to the wind in their fight...to get to the one and only working computer to check their emails! I also came close to elbowing one of those monks - out of the way to check my emails!)

#3
Funny, especially since our three kids and I have a game of keeping a tally in the car, "Who is on the phone more while driving, men or women".............the kids think it is about even in our little circle in Highlands Ranch ('burb south of Denver). I personally think the women far out number the men..........you can't drive two blocks without some woman yacking and not paying attention to the road. I, however, rarely talk and drive. But take away my email and I'd be in severe depression............

#4
Now that I've moved back home to DC from Seattle, I'm much closer to family. My Mom and one of my triplet sisters (and her family) live in Richmond, VA, a 95 mile straight-shot down I-95 from DC. I drive down fairly frequently, and depending on the time of day and level of traffic... it takes anywhere from 2-4 hours to make the trip. When I get in the car, it's MORE important to me that my bluetooth headset is charged, than to have my iPod ready to go... as I'm much more inclined to catch up with friends on the phone on the drive down than to listen to music! Only when my bluetooth headset finally runs out of juice (and I mutter obsenities that it has died!) do I finally plug in my iPod to listen to tunes! :)



POST STORIES HERE, OR SEND THEM TO ME AT MATTRICHTEL@GMAIL.COM,
SURELY, THERE ARE FAR MORE TROUBLE CRACKBERRY ADDICTS OUT THERE. SHARE YOUR HUMILIATIONS WITH US. YOU'LL FEEL MUCH BETTER ABOUT YOURSELVES.

Summer byte-byte

Check out Slate's story today on the sun setting on summer as we spend our days indoors tanning by the light of the computer monitor:

http://www.slate.com/id/2193389/

The Butterball Turkey Initiative

We are tech addicts. Email, phone calls, web sites. We sup digital stimulation like Wolf Blitzer does precint returns -- voraciously and often without seeming to actually breathe. Yes, I know the upside. To stay in contact is essentially human. To keep abreast of information is critical for productivity. To obtain baseball scores during a dinner party or romantic evening with your wife is important for the sanctity of the marriage.

But is our compulsive use of our gadgets always so positive?

Two Harvard psychiatrists have coined a phrase for the lure of technology. They call it acquired attention defifict disorder. Their theory basically says that when we check our email, or answer a phone call, or open a new web page, we get a little burst of adrenaline, a "seratonin squirt." Absent such input, we feel bored. So we crave more.

Other psychologists describe the lure in emotional terms. Checking email frequently is a little bit like buying a lottery ticket. You know most of the time you won't get something that interesting. But every once in a while you do, so your checking habits get randomly reinforced. Plus, the shrinks say, no one wants to be the only person in the elevator or at the dinner table not checking a cell phone. It makes you look lonely, like the loser.

There are some astonishing stats about how often we check our devices, but I'll save those for a later post.

Mostly, I want to tell you about the Butterball Turkey Talker. I spoke to her last year while doing a radio interview about Hooked with WGN in Chicago. The host, Alex Goldfayn (his handle is the technology tailor) asked listeners to call in with their personal tales of compulsive technology use. A woman called up and told the story of how she was driving in her car over the Thanksgiving holiday. She grew bored, but didn't have anyone to call. So she called information and got the number for the Butterball Turkey Hotline. The operator answered. And the woman started talking about how her life was going. Never once asked how long you bake a turkey, and at what temperature.

What about you? Are you reading this while driving on the freeway? Are you twittering even now? Am I keeping you from checking a baseball score?

I'd like to hear your stories. And over the next few months, presuming I haven't crashed into a retaining wall talking to the folks at Taco Bell headquarters, I'll post the stories, report some of the new info I'm learning about compulsive tech use, and we'll begin an interesting conversation. If I have crashed into a retaining wall, please tell the Taco Bell operator that I wanted to pass the time, and a burrito supreme.















The question asked by Hooked is whether. You've heard my story. Tell me yours. I'd like to get some sense