Skip to main content

Want

Complex.  Unavoidable.  Omnipresent.  Our ultimate shortcoming?

That was one of the themes in the movie we recently watched titled 'her'.  It is a not so far off science (hence not fi)  story of a somewhat depressed story teller (yes it is his job or more accurately a letter writer - an extension of hallmark cards) who finds companionship of a more than technical and cerebral kind with his computer's operating system.

It is both ironic and logical that he is shown in an almost non operating state - somewhat devoid of interest in life following his separation and impending divorce of the girl he had loved.  Then he finds his operating system.  It is a software based incarnation that is capable of learning moods of its owner.  Through some parallel storyline we find that the people all around him are all coping with life's challenges and ultimately a defining event or episode called 'marriage'.

Human want for things tangible and not is root of what causes all the mood swings and having a computer that could ideally be devoid of angst or desires of its own or so he thinks could be an ideal partner.

But alas like all things utopian there is no such thing..at least for this screenplay with the OS deciding to also start harboring jealousy and pain and longing as part of its learning not to mention her ability to be non monogamist throws our protagonist for an infinity loop.

I guess we just need to accept our shortcomings and goings and be in it for the long haul.

Comments

  1. in a marriage, both need to accept their shortcomings..there's the nub.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Back in DC

This time for a tech conference in the realm of what else? AI. But applied to an oft neglected space called Knowledge Management. The latter is a community of practice that focuses on analyzing, organizing and making available reams of data that have been gathered over time by various functions within an organization for anyone in the company to utilize. This function or process is ripe for applying AI agents (or agentic AI framework) and optimize for better outcomes. It was informative. More rewarding was getting acquainted with folks who practice this craft as well as learning of what they see in the corporate or public sectors. Since the venue was Washington DC it also afforded me the chance to take evening strolls albeit the weather was trying. With wind chill in the single digit it still is a glamorous place to perambulate through history absorbing what this country has been through since its founding days. I was able to visit the place Lincoln was killed along with his monument t...

Costa Rica

 Our first foray into Central America. That elongated isthmus that forms the geographic boundary between two vast continents of North and South America. Specifically landing for NYE 2026 in San Jose, Costa Rica. Capital city for this region that does not have its own army, instead relying on its big bro the Estados Unidos to the north is a metropolis of approx. 500K people. Largely wilderness and with both a Pacific and Carribean/Atlantic coast the country is rich in bio diversity. In Spanish it means the rich coast so named by Columbus landing in early 16th century and being mesmerized by the local tribes sporting gold jewelry.   Our stay included visiting the foothills of a large strato volcano called Arenal and enjoying the naturally heated thermal baths for a while.  Lunching amidst lush forest and watching indigenous species of avian noise makers fly overhead. Toucans, some sort of pea hens, multiple song bird species completed the spectacle. Iguanas and a lonel...

Charges attract

It is said that opposites attract meaning people with contrary viewpoint sometimes find chemistry to be together.  But I'm referring to a modern twist where people are merely attracted towards a common place because their uber communication device aka smart phone is about to die.  The charging station. From airports to hotel lobbies or even bathrooms, when in need they are attracted to this power outlet like moths to a flame or a junkie to a needle. A whole new business of supplying these hyper connected folks is now born whose lifesaver product is a backup charge. Asian tourists perpetually carry a phone sized battery pack stuck to their latest Apple phone updating their status to folks in Hong Kong or Shanghai or Bangalore as they pose for selfies with weird facial expressions and fingers pointed out in a letter V. Vain? PS:  I dis'charged' my blogger duties making this insightful observation as my phone is about to breathe it's last and my flight gets call...