Nicholas Carr in Hickory.

Another fine day in Hickory, NC.  In spite of the fabulous weather with temperatures in the 70s and gentle breezes on a sunny day, we went out to LRU to take part in their Visiting Writers program, now in its tenth year.  

Tonight’s speaker was Nicholas Carr, author of The Big Switch: Rewiring the World, from Edison to Google” and “Does IT Matter?” .  He is in Hickory tonight to speak about his new book “The Shallows:  What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains”.  The program was recorded to be rebroadcast tomorrow morning on WFAE, Charlotte, at 0900, and was MC’d by Mike Collins. 

Carr was fresh from his second encounter with Stephan Colbert last month http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/01/nicholas-carr-on-colbert_n_632304.html

and he talked with Collins about the book, its implications and the messages it carries for all of us.

He pointed out how the current emphasis, especially in education, on teaching children facts and answers is reinforced by the internet’s constant shifting of topics.  Carr says this leads to an actual restructuring of the brain cells by the reinforcement and neglect of different neurons involved.  Contemplative thinking, introspection, and the ability to mentally reflect become lost along with our abilities to concentrate our attention.  Carr also pointed out how this negatively affects our long-range memories, and our abilities to differentiate between trivia and important concepts.  Then he talked about how psychologists believe that we now tend more so than in the past to seek information that corresponds with our beliefs and to reinforce those beliefs rather than use new information to learn and grow.

On the way back we stopped in Bistro 127 for a couple of their craft beers and a really good margherita pizza.   Bistro is in the process of developing a new brewery in Hickory, the Loe’s Brewery.  We tried two of their new presentations a Loe’s Pale Ale and a Loe’s Amber Ale.  I preferred the Amber which I found to be an interesting experience with a variety of tastes and complexity.  The Pale was more straightforward, a bit like a lager with a couple of surprises.

Then back home to the doggies.  Another enjoyable day in Hickory.