don’t stop me if you’ve heard this before you spend too much time looking
before you spend too much time looking
before you spend too much time looking at your phones smartphones are killing a
at your phones smartphones are killing a
at your phones smartphones are killing a generation screen technology is
generation screen technology is
generation screen technology is destroying civilization well I’m here to
destroying civilization well I’m here to
destroying civilization well I’m here to tell you today much more of the same
tell you today much more of the same
tell you today much more of the same actually but with a different premise
actually but with a different premise
actually but with a different premise smartphones are killing curiosity is
smartphones are killing curiosity is
smartphones are killing curiosity is what’s happening today
what’s happening today
what’s happening today now I’m not someone who doesn’t like
now I’m not someone who doesn’t like
now I’m not someone who doesn’t like technology in fact I love it I teach
technology in fact I love it I teach
technology in fact I love it I teach with it you heard them say that I’m a
with it you heard them say that I’m a
with it you heard them say that I’m a professor of video production in
professor of video production in
professor of video production in television history and filmmaking in
television history and filmmaking in
television history and filmmaking in fact just last week I was sitting
fact just last week I was sitting
fact just last week I was sitting watching the world series on my
watching the world series on my
watching the world series on my television set with football on
television set with football on
television set with football on picture-in-picture I had my tablet going
picture-in-picture I had my tablet going
picture-in-picture I had my tablet going where I was watching a TV show I was
where I was watching a TV show I was
where I was watching a TV show I was typing emails on a computer and sending
typing emails on a computer and sending
typing emails on a computer and sending text messages so yes I had five screens
text messages so yes I had five screens
text messages so yes I had five screens going simultaneously
going simultaneously
going simultaneously I love screens and I didn’t want to miss
I love screens and I didn’t want to miss
I love screens and I didn’t want to miss a thing but here’s what I miss here’s
a thing but here’s what I miss here’s
a thing but here’s what I miss here’s what we miss when this happens the
what we miss when this happens the
what we miss when this happens the curiosity the inquisitiveness the
curiosity the inquisitiveness the
curiosity the inquisitiveness the jumping down the rabbit hole that
jumping down the rabbit hole that
jumping down the rabbit hole that curiosity allows us and that smartphones
curiosity allows us and that smartphones
curiosity allows us and that smartphones and other new technologies have now
and other new technologies have now
and other new technologies have now squashed I’ll give you guys an example
squashed I’ll give you guys an example
squashed I’ll give you guys an example when I was in high school but in 1993 I
when I was in high school but in 1993 I
when I was in high school but in 1993 I remember this was my brother had come
remember this was my brother had come
remember this was my brother had come home for college break for a weekend and
home for college break for a weekend and
home for college break for a weekend and he and I had a bunch of friends going to
he and I had a bunch of friends going to
he and I had a bunch of friends going to see a new movie that had just hit the
see a new movie that had just hit the
see a new movie that had just hit the theaters called Dazed and Confused so we
theaters called Dazed and Confused so we
theaters called Dazed and Confused so we go to see this movie
go to see this movie
go to see this movie and I heard a song that I’d never heard
and I heard a song that I’d never heard
and I heard a song that I’d never heard before and it totally gripped me
all right all right all right
all right all right all right hey man you still driving into Houston
hey man you still driving into Houston
hey man you still driving into Houston in the morning get those Aerosmith
in the morning get those Aerosmith
in the morning get those Aerosmith Tickets you damn right
Tickets you damn right
Tickets you damn right evening ladies oh nice
evening ladies oh nice
evening ladies oh nice you need me pick you have a couple yeah
you need me pick you have a couple yeah
you need me pick you have a couple yeah – cool
hey man you sure I’m okay in here oh
hey man you sure I’m okay in here oh yeah man you’ll be okay look if anyone
yeah man you’ll be okay look if anyone
yeah man you’ll be okay look if anyone starts messing with you just play cool
I had never heard this song before and
I had never heard this song before and in 1993 I had to do what you had to do
in 1993 I had to do what you had to do
in 1993 I had to do what you had to do during those times when he wanted to
during those times when he wanted to
during those times when he wanted to learn about that song which was sit in
learn about that song which was sit in
learn about that song which was sit in the movie theater till after the credits
the movie theater till after the credits
the movie theater till after the credits rolled while you got to see where that
rolled while you got to see where that
rolled while you got to see where that song came from so while my brother and
song came from so while my brother and
song came from so while my brother and his friends made fun of me for sitting
his friends made fun of me for sitting
his friends made fun of me for sitting in my seat afterwards they went out into
in my seat afterwards they went out into
in my seat afterwards they went out into the lobby i sat there waiting to see who
the lobby i sat there waiting to see who
the lobby i sat there waiting to see who signed that song
signed that song
signed that song I knew it sounded like Bob Dylan and the
I knew it sounded like Bob Dylan and the
I knew it sounded like Bob Dylan and the credits read Bob Dylan hurricane so this
credits read Bob Dylan hurricane so this
credits read Bob Dylan hurricane so this is pre-internet I go home that night I
is pre-internet I go home that night I
is pre-internet I go home that night I asked my dad do you know this song
asked my dad do you know this song
asked my dad do you know this song hurricane have you ever heard of this my
hurricane have you ever heard of this my
hurricane have you ever heard of this my dad proceeded to tell me the story of
dad proceeded to tell me the story of
dad proceeded to tell me the story of Rubin Carter a boxer from New Jersey
Rubin Carter a boxer from New Jersey
Rubin Carter a boxer from New Jersey where we were from who had been arrested
where we were from who had been arrested
where we were from who had been arrested and spent almost 20 years in prison for
and spent almost 20 years in prison for
and spent almost 20 years in prison for a triple murder he did not commit I had
a triple murder he did not commit I had
a triple murder he did not commit I had to get the song
to get the song
to get the song this is pre-internet how do you get a
this is pre-internet how do you get a
this is pre-internet how do you get a song you have to go to the record store
song you have to go to the record store
song you have to go to the record store you go to the record store and hope they
you go to the record store and hope they
you go to the record store and hope they have the CD desire on which hurricane is
have the CD desire on which hurricane is
have the CD desire on which hurricane is found of course the first record store
found of course the first record store
found of course the first record store didn’t have it so I had to go somewhere
didn’t have it so I had to go somewhere
didn’t have it so I had to go somewhere else a second record store to find the
else a second record store to find the
else a second record store to find the CD I found it paid the 17 dollars for
CD I found it paid the 17 dollars for
CD I found it paid the 17 dollars for the CD got the song finally listened to
the CD got the song finally listened to
the CD got the song finally listened to it over and over again then I learned
it over and over again then I learned
it over and over again then I learned that Rubin Carter had written an
that Rubin Carter had written an
that Rubin Carter had written an autobiography while he was in prison and
autobiography while he was in prison and
autobiography while he was in prison and this is my summer reading before I went
this is my summer reading before I went
this is my summer reading before I went to college reading Carter’s memoir none
to college reading Carter’s memoir none
to college reading Carter’s memoir none of this would have been possible if I
of this would have been possible if I
of this would have been possible if I just googled it if I just Shazam it or
just googled it if I just Shazam it or
just googled it if I just Shazam it or wikipedia’d it and found out in five
wikipedia’d it and found out in five
wikipedia’d it and found out in five seconds oh that’s a Bob Dylan song I
seconds oh that’s a Bob Dylan song I
seconds oh that’s a Bob Dylan song I would have moved on to the next song the
would have moved on to the next song the
would have moved on to the next song the next thing in my life but now I was
next thing in my life but now I was
next thing in my life but now I was invested now I was on a journey from the
invested now I was on a journey from the
invested now I was on a journey from the movie theater to my home to the record
movie theater to my home to the record
movie theater to my home to the record store to the library to my basement
store to the library to my basement
store to the library to my basement where I was reading that book all summer
where I was reading that book all summer
where I was reading that book all summer I’ll give you guys another example of
I’ll give you guys another example of
I’ll give you guys another example of this curiosity this happened around the
this curiosity this happened around the
this curiosity this happened around the same time I was discovering classic rock
same time I was discovering classic rock
same time I was discovering classic rock music for the first time and any of us
music for the first time and any of us
music for the first time and any of us who’ve discovered music realized when
who’ve discovered music realized when
who’ve discovered music realized when you hear a song like that
you hear a song like that
you hear a song like that first time you think you almost wrote it
first time you think you almost wrote it
first time you think you almost wrote it because it means so much to you and I
because it means so much to you and I
because it means so much to you and I heard this one powerful chorus and it
heard this one powerful chorus and it
heard this one powerful chorus and it put me down the rabbit hole once again
put me down the rabbit hole once again
put me down the rabbit hole once again [Music]
[Music]
[Music] a whiter shade of pale I Procol Harum
a whiter shade of pale I Procol Harum
a whiter shade of pale I Procol Harum so I hear that chorus as the Miller told
so I hear that chorus as the Miller told
so I hear that chorus as the Miller told his tale and my curiosity was piqued
his tale and my curiosity was piqued
his tale and my curiosity was piqued again folks this is mid-1990s this is
again folks this is mid-1990s this is
again folks this is mid-1990s this is pre Google this is pre Shazam he
pre Google this is pre Shazam he
pre Google this is pre Shazam he couldn’t hold up your phone and find out
couldn’t hold up your phone and find out
couldn’t hold up your phone and find out what that song was I wanted to know who
what that song was I wanted to know who
what that song was I wanted to know who the Miller was and what was this tale of
the Miller was and what was this tale of
the Miller was and what was this tale of which he was speaking so I talked to
which he was speaking so I talked to
which he was speaking so I talked to people again I talked to my parents I
people again I talked to my parents I
people again I talked to my parents I talked to my brother I eventually made
talked to my brother I eventually made
talked to my brother I eventually made my way to my English teacher who told me
my way to my English teacher who told me
my way to my English teacher who told me hey the Millers tale comes from
hey the Millers tale comes from
hey the Millers tale comes from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales we’re reading
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales we’re reading
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales we’re reading it right now in class so we weren’t
it right now in class so we weren’t
it right now in class so we weren’t reading the Millers tale so I went on my
reading the Millers tale so I went on my
reading the Millers tale so I went on my own journey to read it and I realized
own journey to read it and I realized
own journey to read it and I realized why we didn’t read it in class if you’ve
why we didn’t read it in class if you’ve
why we didn’t read it in class if you’ve read the Millers tale you know this is a
read the Millers tale you know this is a
read the Millers tale you know this is a story replete with alcohol sex and
story replete with alcohol sex and
story replete with alcohol sex and flatulence as a 16 year old boy I’m
flatulence as a 16 year old boy I’m
flatulence as a 16 year old boy I’m thinking this is everything I love this
thinking this is everything I love this
thinking this is everything I love this well come to think of it even now as a
well come to think of it even now as a
well come to think of it even now as a 40 year old any story that has drinking
40 year old any story that has drinking
40 year old any story that has drinking farting and sex you’ve got my attention
farting and sex you’ve got my attention
farting and sex you’ve got my attention none of this would have happened if I
none of this would have happened if I
none of this would have happened if I had just gone to a quick google or
had just gone to a quick google or
had just gone to a quick google or Wikipedia search but instead now I was
Wikipedia search but instead now I was
Wikipedia search but instead now I was invested I was invested in learning more
invested I was invested in learning more
invested I was invested in learning more about this particular song because I
about this particular song because I
about this particular song because I read this story I talked to people about
read this story I talked to people about
read this story I talked to people about it and I allowed myself to just fall
it and I allowed myself to just fall
it and I allowed myself to just fall into this so what are the implications
into this so what are the implications
into this so what are the implications when we don’t allow ourselves to be
when we don’t allow ourselves to be
when we don’t allow ourselves to be socially curious what are the
socially curious what are the
socially curious what are the consequences when we are those people
consequences when we are those people
consequences when we are those people who sit around the dinner table and
who sit around the dinner table and
who sit around the dinner table and someone has a question and says hey who
someone has a question and says hey who
someone has a question and says hey who won the 2000 World Series in Major
won the 2000 World Series in Major
won the 2000 World Series in Major League Baseball or who is the actor
League Baseball or who is the actor
League Baseball or who is the actor who’s in that movie with
who’s in that movie with
who’s in that movie with girl who did that other thing and then
girl who did that other thing and then
girl who did that other thing and then there’s somebody who always whips out
there’s somebody who always whips out
there’s somebody who always whips out their phone answers that question right
their phone answers that question right
their phone answers that question right for us and then the conversation changes
for us and then the conversation changes
for us and then the conversation changes let’s instead try and change that
let’s instead try and change that
let’s instead try and change that paradigm let’s put those phones away
paradigm let’s put those phones away
paradigm let’s put those phones away talk to the person next to you ask them
talk to the person next to you ask them
talk to the person next to you ask them those kinds of questions the movie Daisy
those kinds of questions the movie Daisy
those kinds of questions the movie Daisy confused ends with Matthew McConaughey’s
confused ends with Matthew McConaughey’s
confused ends with Matthew McConaughey’s character and his three friends driving
character and his three friends driving
character and his three friends driving to Houston to pick up tickets for an
to Houston to pick up tickets for an
to Houston to pick up tickets for an Aerosmith concert notice the movie
Aerosmith concert notice the movie
Aerosmith concert notice the movie doesn’t end with them at the concert
doesn’t end with them at the concert
doesn’t end with them at the concert it’s the journey not the destination and
it’s the journey not the destination and
it’s the journey not the destination and coincidentally that she’s lyric life’s a
coincidentally that she’s lyric life’s a
coincidentally that she’s lyric life’s a journey not a destination comes from an
journey not a destination comes from an
journey not a destination comes from an Aerosmith song which was released about
Aerosmith song which was released about
Aerosmith song which was released about a month before the movie Dazed and
a month before the movie Dazed and
a month before the movie Dazed and Confused came out and if you don’t know
Confused came out and if you don’t know
Confused came out and if you don’t know the answer to the question I would be
the answer to the question I would be
the answer to the question I would be more than happy to tell you it was New
more than happy to tell you it was New
more than happy to tell you it was New York Yankees who won the World Series in
York Yankees who won the World Series in
York Yankees who won the World Series in the year 2000 thank you
the year 2000 thank you
the year 2000 thank you [Applause]
”
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