Tripod: Weekly Survey

LIVING & TRAVEL

3/8-3/14: What's your favorite medium?
Imagine for a moment that you took a wrong turning off the information superhighway and got stuck on a desert island. You can only take one medium with you -- which one would it be? And within that medium, what one thing would be essential?
31% Text (a good book)
22% Music (favorite CD)
8% Video (TV, film)
39% The Web (can't live without my multimedia)

Here's what you had to say:

Jimsan - Interesting: when I was in Arabia, I was in this situation. Problem 1: No access to telephone lines--the web was unaccessible. Problem 2: Movies and TV were censored. Videos were usually taken at customs--a censored movie/TV is often worse than nothing (e.g., on Arabian TV the kiss scene in the cartoon version of Sleeping Beauty was cut--no wonder the Arabs can't make sense of western culture, the climax and denoument are missing from the stories.) This leaves books. Some were confiscated, but most weren't on the list of subversive material. They have the advantage of portablility, and they don't rely on phones and electricity. I spent alot of time with Thomas Merton and the Tao. If I was stuck in another desert or desert island I would bring the same. Your sense of well being takes serious hits--it's not only stressful and denigrating, it's extremely boring. Anything that helps keep your spirits up is welcome.
dbrady - The Buddah's original words on finding the self.
whip - The Kama Sutra! Why? Because we're gonna get out of here!
melissaj - The Portable Nietzsche
TheLizard - I would have to have the Neverending Story so that I could keep myself occupied forever!
trav2 - The Bible
LonnyB - Tripod for sure, and its liked links.
Waterboy - The Dragon Lance Saga
Sparky - "How To Get Off A Desert Island"
micki - Hi there, sorry but there's one medium you forgot to mention: Radio! I listen a lot to both talk and music, AM/FM and educational. It's what I would opt for since it's currently my fave along with the Net of course! And then there's shortwave which allows one to hear the world...
Jubilation - I'd have to say the Web...although I have no idea how I'd get access on a desert island. If I can't have the Web, then I'd want either my Beatles Anthology CDs or The Firm by John Grisham. I've already proven I can go without TV for months at a stretch -- I'm in college!
FooFyter - I can't live without my Footos.
cramos - Anything by John Grisham
Brown - The web because then you would not be so alone becasue you could talk to others and maybe find away to get of the island.
Ltesluk - Pilgrim: The Bible. Music we can make -- with voices, sticks. Video/film -- with one book (and a Living One, especially) our imagination can be inspired. The web is great BUT not a necessity.
digitalg - "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" by Mark Twain
cracker - American Motorcyclist
Cade - "Labyrinths" by Jorge Luis Borges
mjustman - How about "none of the above" ... the peace would be VERY welcome.
circuitrider - No guarantee of electricity -- so, I'd have a book. It would have to be the Bible.
dutch - If we're being really practical...a cookbook. If not ...the HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy is always good for a re-read.
eben - An endless supply of drawing paper, and some drawing pencils with a whole lot of graphite!
YURIY - THE WEB!!!
ducttape - All I would need is a dozen rolls of duct tape, and the Red Green book on how to make ocean liners and beer holders with ductape and command island elements.
aiwa - All I need is a web browser running on a powerful laptop powered by the sun, with a built-in cellular phone to give me access to the web.
christabel - I guess the Web beats all of the above, as all of them can be found there in one form or another.
granby - Kenny G
kpr3227 - I think I would Have to choose the Web, although if it were a desert Island, how did the internet connection get there?????????
jtb - The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
BlueMango - No Contest! You didn't say the island was uninhabited, however, since it is described as a "desert island" I would assume that survival would be the major occupation of it's inhabitants, probably making them not very nice people. I would have to have William Goldring's - Lord of the Flies.
swish - nin..pretty hate machine for music or willy wonka and the choclate factory for a movie
Copper - Well, I'm with Jeremy! Trek rules!!!! (I'd just have Geordi beam me up!)
sfoley - Foo Fighters -- Foo Fighters
paulor - I would take the Web, 'cause I could be in touch with a lot.
MFisher - None of the above. I'm an art major. I gotta have my paint... However, if I was to get a book, then I probably would agree with GenesisParty (We're talking O S Card, right?). I could pretty much live without TV. I mean, I can already predict newscasts and elections before they happen. It's not like things ever really change THAT much... Somewhere people are screwing each other over, and the good that happens in the world doesn't get noticed... It would be hard to go without music, but if I could find a couple coconuts to bang together, then I'd probably be okay.
Elisabet - The web would allow me to read books, listen to music, but most important of all, communticate with others!
pmaddox - Book: The Holy Qu'ran
mjc243 - Well to me, reading all the available choices, you are not going to get off the island anytime soon. The Web is worthless without a computer! I could live for years though reading Redwall or any books by Brian Jacques!
gr8erday - "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare"
jesster - I'm absolutely enamored with the music that Chris Norman and the Baltimore Consort record. The Beauty of the North by Chris Norman is absolutely phenomenal. Chris is the finest flute player I have ever heard. The Baltimore's recording La Rocque and Roll is terrific as well. It is French renaissance music. I'm a musician, so even thought the Net could provide me with more, I'd choose a CD anyday. It would certainly keep me entranced for awhile -- and if I ever grew tired of it, I could always analyze the chord progressions, and make my theory prof happy!
chanticleer - "Far Away So Close", and the X-files Can't live without my x-phile fix! The Avengers reruns would be nice too.
Jadie - Since the web provides so much info, I'd have to take a CD. Provided that said deserted island had plenty of wild hemp growing, I would definitely take Pink Floyd - The Wall.
Kimmy - The book would be Keri Hulme's "The Bone People". I could sing to myself, don't need tv, and I'm quite sure I could live without the web (but don't test me on this one).
tony - I'm torn between a books and music. I think that I would probably bring music and write my own novel in the sand. The disc I would bring is The Roots "do you want more?!!!??!" or anything by A Tribe Called Quest.
Jon_G2 - Gotta have the web. First, I can e-mail EMS, the police, president, vice-president, and so on. Next, I can't go on more than 4 days without my Internet account at my fingertips.
Lakean - I want my cake and I wanna eat it too. With the web I can have it all and never be lonely. But the one book I would have to have is "The Day I Became an Autodidact" by Kendall Hailey.
Chrono - With the web I could read a book, listen to music ,and watch some TV.
BlueFrog99 - I would not be able to live without the Net! Well, maybe. But you can get books off the net and watch movies and listen to music. So, in other words, we should all live inside computers!
Chasworth - Lord of the Flies.
Ace_of_Spades - Aerosmith -- Toys in the Attic.
cp707 - I would go nuts without my music!
Fatrick - You gotta have the internet. You can get any music (essential to me) you want.
October - umm... well the Web is one entity, such that it in itself would be extremely essential.
krisann - Definitely the web. With the web you don't have to choose one book or one cd, you get it all.
GenesisParty - The Seventh Son Series.
TYOUNG - With the Web, I can email somebody for help and I can remain in touch with the rest of the world.
Kane7 - Disney's The Lion King -- It's won of the best movies ever made.
PColeman - My guitar. I could entertain myself for a lifetime with it.
RRodkey - I have to have my chat rooms.
bpeabody - With the Web, you can have it all. Isn't that the point. If it's a question of information the Web is clearly the way to go. Although, aesthetically, you can't beat hunkering down with the NY Times.
MDARNTON - For practical reasons, I would choose the TV and film. Assuming I had CNN and network news, I need to be connected. Even though I'd miss my beloved books, I do love my CNN.
Roos - On the web I can watch movies, read books, and listen to the music I want, Plus, I can get someone to rescue me.
ccdavis - Can't live without my multimedia!
earthcrone - If I could take the Web with me, the choice of a book/CD/film would be unnecessary, because with the Web I have it all! I can read the texts of probably thousands of great books, hear music (at least samples) of every variety, see some pictures that move and keep up with every episode of my favorite TV shows, play whatever games I enjoy (word games, trivia, role-playing, puzzles), but most importantly, I would NEVER BE ALONE! There would always be people to talk with, from "hi, how's the weather" to discussions of philosophy, ethics, psychology, science, semantics, and on and on. I would never lack for assistance, either. I could receive psychological counseling, medical advice, recipes for whatever grows on the island ("365 Ways to Cook Coconut"), how to catch fish and harvest clams, whatever I asked for. Hey, how would that be any different from being the Web right now!?! Well, I wouldn't have to worry about supper burning upstairs while I was doing research, or car pools, or the dogs needing to be let out, or... where IS this island? It's sounding better and better! On the other hand, if I were to be restricted to one and only one THING, I guess I'd take Douglas Adams "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy", especially if it came with its own towel.
kennyo - With the Web I could have just about everything I needed. (Hopefully there would be a palm tree there for food and drink).
beatie - I think it's a tie between The Blues Brothers, Ferris Bueller, and Fast Times. Even though I've watched them trillions of times, who wouldn't laugh when Jeff Spicole says "This new schedule is like, sooooo confusing."
Scoop1 - The Off Spring
Miffy - A long one.
Walker - The medium I'd take with me is my aunt Sarah, or books -- despite my technowonderilia, books give more.
rosvicl - Stalking the Wild Asparagus--I haven't even read it, but if I'm stuck on a desert island, I don't want to starve to death.
JeremyD - I can not live with out my star trek. Plain and simple.

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