The other day I read an article in The New Yorker about TikTok, and I decided to download the app and see what it's all about. Basically it's a video platform loaded with short, harmless snippets of people dancing, goofing off, performing tricks, stuff like that. It's like YouTube in microbursts. You don't choose what to watch -- instead you just scroll down and the app's algorithm delivers videos it thinks you might like.
It's kind of fun, but I find that my attention span is longer than the videos on offer. Sometimes I want to see more, but all I get is a few seconds. (And sometimes, of course, I don't want to see certain videos at all.) The super-brief format is a little jarring.
Anyway, I'm not sure how much I'll watch it. But having it on my phone makes me feel very hip. These kids today!
Olga has been funny about her walks this week. She didn't want to go out Thursday morning at all -- and it was a perfectly nice day. But yesterday, with a fine gray drizzle coming down and me already running late for work, she decided she not only wanted a walk but wanted a long walk, down the high street through the center of West Hampstead. (The tent is still there, by the way.) I made it to work on time, but only barely -- and I had to bring my cereal on the tube and eat it at my desk because I ran out of time for breakfast at home. (I added the milk once I was at work!)
I finished Demi Moore's book yesterday. That woman was raised by wolves! Her parents were unbelievable -- the alcoholism, the fighting, the rootless wandering from place to place. I've heard of plenty of people with a bad family situation, but I think hers might take the cake. She writes about dating Emilio Estevez in the '80s (a relationship I'd forgotten entirely, if I ever knew about it) and how eye-opening it was for her to spend time with his family because they interacted, talked about things, had relatively stable relationships. I did enjoy her recollections of the movies she made. I guess she saw the book as an opportunity to tell her story in her way, rather than allowing the tabloids to tell it for her -- and I can see how she'd want that.
(Photo: A van on Abbey Road in St. John's Wood.)
Were The Beatles in that van - waiting to be photographed on the zebra crossing?
ReplyDelete"What will we call the album John?"
"I was thinking Zebra Crossing."
"No way man! Let's go with Paul's idea."
"Abbey Road."
"It will never sell with a name like that!"
I had not heard of Tik Tok and from your description, I think I'll take a pass on it. I had the impression that Demi Moore was pretty wild in her youth and now I know why. It's a good thing she was able to make something of her life. I love the blue van with the yellow door.
ReplyDeleteNo thanks on TikTok. I'm definitely not hip.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what's up with Olga?
Demi's book is a good reminder that none of us know what a celebrity's life was like. It's easy to judge without the facts. Easier to understand when we know some of them.
TikTok doesn't sound like an app I would use. Actually I don't use any apps and mostly use our iPhone for music. Yikes, I'm old! Sad story about Demi Moore's life.
ReplyDeleteThe critters can't tell us what and why they want something but they can be very persuasive.
ReplyDeleteI thought TikTok was an app for putting funny things into photographs like dog ears and noses on people's faces, that sort of thing. that's how unhip I am. I didn't think Minnie would want to walk last evening since the cold front blew in and it was still windy. she did though but it was a very fast walk and once headed home I could barely keep up with her. suited me.
ReplyDeleteYou are very hip. You're the only Tik Tokker I know.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of Tik Tok, but I'll pass on it. I think Olga is awesome. My Pogo wants things when he wants them too. And yup, I do what he wants when he wants it. Sigh, amazing what we do for our fur babies. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDeleteI believe Tik Tok is a Chinese app. Based on that and your description, I'll avoid it. I think I had read somewhere that Demi wanted to write her own story before some tabloid writer decided to do it. It still sounds relatively tabloid. Good review, though. (Uh, there's a little drizzle of milk at the corner of your mouth.)
ReplyDeleteI've seen some Tik Tok videos but am puzzled as to what the furor is. Maybe I've seen ones that aren't good? I don't know.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about Demi Moore's childhood. It makes me look at her in a different light.
U are
ReplyDeleteI’ve seen Tik Tok mentioned before but didn’t know what it was. So thanks for enlightening me!
ReplyDelete