The older I get, the more I find beauty in simplicity. Simple isn't always beautiful, but excess is usually ugly. I noticed this recently because my generous and well-dressed friend Bouncing Innocence gave me a new necktie. I expressed my gratitude by complaining that I had nothing to wear with it, so it would sit in my closet unused. As it turns out, this was the wrong response.
Neverthelesss, it was a clear sign to me that I have a need to control my environment, and that can best be achieved by keeping things simple. Even as (or perhaps because) my worldview has grown more complex and shaded with greys, I find that clean lines and clear space are all the more irresistable. I love to straighten, streamline, and most of all, consolidate. Nothing is more quietly annoying to me than having three umbrellas when I only need one. Call me old-fashioned, but I'll take a phone that works well over one with 6,000 ringtones. Finances are hard enough to track without superfluous accounts and cards. I want it all in one place. I believe in K.I.S.S.: keep it simple, stupid.
Which is why I can't understand people who include their email address in their email signature. Some of these signatures are longer than the email body, but that doesn't stop them. Is there any conceivable scenario in which this qualifies as useful information? Any conceivable purpose for this extra line?
While we're at it, can someone explain to me why hotmail requires you to type in your whole email address as a login? Why can't they do it like yahoo, where you only have to enter your username? Isn't the part about "@hotmail.com" sort of a given? It's only a few extra letters, but as far as I can tell this is just another reason to hate Microsoft.
Posted by aokie at January 25, 2006 05:03 PMyeah, man, i love gene simmons.
Posted by: erin at January 27, 2006 03:29 PMyup.
Posted by: kathyj at January 27, 2006 03:59 PMAbe, is that why you prefer to keep your chest and back shaved?
Also, you have to @hotmail because MSN also hosts @msn.net and several other domains.
And as bad as people's e-mail signatures, even worse are people who reply and refuse to delete previous e-mails, especially when you get 4 or 5 replies stacked up.
Also, I hate it when you have two umbrellas because we don't get to share one in the romantic mist.
Posted by: jeremy at January 27, 2006 04:11 PMAbe, you need to get into Catpower "You Are Free" album. sweet sweet sweet.
although, in light of your post, I hesitate to suggest new music to you. there is something that seems profoundly complex in all this sound I put through my ears, same with the extra tasks that go with overcommitment. but I must say that deleting emails, brushing my teeth, and putting away my pajamas are all primary pleasures of mine.
I think a whole passal of your siblings will make a showing at your bowling bash. no word yet on whether we'll visit Andrew Wyeth too.
I wrote a haiku about your cleaner for my creative writing class:
A bottle of bleach
Pocked with a dark gray fungus.
Who’ll clean the shower?
chances are we'll talk sometime.
see, i told you everyone would be impressed that you saw cat power live.
"what's the difference between a snowman and a snowwoman?"
Posted by: erin at February 7, 2006 09:11 AMokay. i'll romove my email address from my signature. thanks for pointing that out.
Posted by: jonathan at February 8, 2006 12:22 PMjeremy, re: microsoft, i figured it was something like that. that doesn't mean i have to like it, though.
charlotte, that's a lovely poem. you should make more.
"play the f-ing chords, dude! quit diddling."
Posted by: abe at February 11, 2006 11:25 AM