What technology can't replace

I'm not the ultimately techie-type but I am a fan of gadgets. I'm not totally sure whether it's the perks you get from actually having the device or I'm simply being the constantly unsatisfied me. What makes us yearn for something state-of-the-art is seeing it in the hands of others. It's no longer that delighting when you finally own one for yourself. True that. I am so engrossed with gadgets and how they allegedly simplify life. Allegedly, for it remains an irony to me. The complexity of these programs that our folks find difficult to learn defeats its very purpose. It reminds me of how the camerlengo in Angels & Demons accused Science of exploiting humanity by finding answers to the mysteries of life that God did not want us to trespass. Simplifying life through these electronics is something like that. But I must admit, life is just so much easier now.

I find pleasure in everything that makes life easy and instant. The iCloud, external hard drives with 1 terrabyte of memory that can store a deck equivalent of DVDs and music albums, Supersurf plans giving you internet access anywhere 24/7,  Blackberry apps that answer texts for you while you're behind the wheel, GPS, you name it. But there is one thing, one thing that isn't better nor the same. Books. :(

eBooks, iBooks, whichever. Reading straight from an electronic device just feels so uncanny. There's no artistic feel to it at all. What I loved about books is not just the content. There is that mesmerizing feeling when you arrive at a bookstore and start judging books by their covers (oh yes I do). The distinct smell of its pages, old from new, bookstore fresh from  booksale stock. The excitement in flipping every page as you reach the climax of the story. How it matters if it's hardbound or paperback. None of those are present when reading with iBooks and I just can't lose the question mark above my head seeing people so fascinated with this app. But, there are times when you have to settle. Being currently unemployed, I simply can't afford to spend what's left of my money for leisurely reading. I have stooped down and now I'm building myself a virtual wonderland.

And there goes the Castle books I blogged about earlier this month. I'll get the hang of it.