Re: Quit [now definitely O/T]

[Kieren MacMillan]

Hi Craig (et al.),

> I must say that the "faster" thing is a typical United States  
> behavior.

Whether or not it started in the USA, it's a worldwide phenomenon  
now.  =)
[Disclosure: I'm Canadian.]

> Our markets and media constantly barrage us with "time" issues.

I think maybe "convenience" is a better word to describe what our  
culture really [apparently] prizes, since "convenient" implies both  
"faster" (time) and "easier" (effort) — and, usually,  
"cheaper" (cost), at least in the short term.

I'm constantly fascinated by the fact that people will pay more for  
lower quality (e.g., cellular phones ALWAYS sound worse and cut out  
more often than land lines, yet cost far more to own/operate).  
Furthermore, our culture now prizes digital downloads (regardless of  
price) despite the obvious drop in aural/visual quality. [I still buy  
all my music on CD, and all my movies on DVD.]

> It has effected how we eat, think, commute

Ironically, most people have MUCH longer (and slower) commutes now  
than they did years ago — my commute, fortunately, is only about 10  
seconds from breakfast room to composition studio.  ;)

> As a 50 year old composer, a guy that will take 3 months to write a  
> saxophone concerto

Good for you!
Although I do [out of necessity] compose quickly from time to time  
(e.g., my writing partner and I completed our last musical in about  
2.5 weeks), the really good stuff takes time, "space", and focus.

Cheers,
Kieren.