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A Circle’s Past Perfection is a Modern Imperfection
“When and how should technology be utilized? How much personal information is too much information? Have we crossed the line of no return? Has the human race finally come full circle with its development, innovation and necessity for information technology?”
–“Technology Coming Full Circle?” on Jimmy’s Daily Planet from December 7, 2016
The excerpt above is from a Jimmy’s Daily Planet blog post from December 7, 2016 that was inspired by the first trailer for the movie The Circle that stars Tom Hanks, Emma Watson and John Boyega. Given the ever-increasing dependency (and apparent willingness) on the part of advanced societies to insert technology into seemingly every aspect of our daily lives, the questions above are left wanting at a somewhat alarming rate and moment in time. And The Circle aims to not only cover, but actually answer these critically important inquiries with truths we may not be prepared to discover.
Adapted from the 2013 novel by Dave Eggers with the same title, the two cinematic trailers for The Circle confirm I’m not the only person who fears that innovators (and some fans/consumers) of new technological advancements have possibly never seen any films or read any books related to science-fiction or robots or the rise of machines. I’ve been saying for many years that we’ve been (as shocking as it reads) “big brothering” ourselves. Truly incredible, isn’t it?
Ladies and gentlemen, there’s even a popular CBS show called “Big Brother” that involves recording people interacting in a surveillance house. And it’s a hit show.
It must be stated that many (possibly countless when all of recorded history is concerned) technological inventions can and have greatly propelled us forward to better places. Absolutely no argument there. We need innovative technology to help us. “Help us” are the key words here. However, these select (and amazing, in some respects) advancements do not provide blanket approval for every single new innovation that presents a new camera and form of surveillance. The second trailer for The Circle, released just hours ago online, will present this modern dilemma with, hopefully, consequential introspection.
“Some people simply view a circle as full and some people simply view a circle as empty.
Time will tell for this cinematic Circle.”
–“Technology Coming Full Circle?” on Jimmy’s Daily Planet from December 7, 2016
Let’s see if the second trailer adds clarity for the cinematic destiny of The Circle.
The theatrical release date for The Circle is April 28, 2017. Until then, good luck trying to find all the cameras.
Hint: There may be too many to count…
FIFA: What is Your Malfunction?
As my old club soccer coach famously yelled to me across the indoor pitch after I made my very first mistake with my new team, “Boy, what is your malfunction?”
Read the quote below and you’ll understand why I opened with that priceless soccer memory.
“An initial stage of 16 groups of three teams will precede a knockout stage for the remaining 32 when the change is made for the 2026 tournament.
The sport’s world governing body voted unanimously in favour of the change at a meeting in Zurich on Tuesday.”
–BBC Football Online
Shocking? No. Sad? Yes.
Most importantly: Will the World Cup evolve into a better tournament through this expansion effort in 2026? No.
As has been recently discussed in more depth on Jimmy’s Daily Planet back on December 28th (Participation Trophies…for Adults?), the competitiveness of the World Cup will suffer with this expansion. Additionally, FIFA, which is governed by the new president Gianni Infantino, has voluntarily prolonged the embarrassing era with its overarching reputation of bribery and corruption.
To Mr. Infantino and the soccer federations, however, perhaps the influx of money will (again) be enough to quell legitimate concerns of dedicated fans around the world of lessening the competitiveness and difficulty of simply qualifying for the golden opportunity of competing on soccer’s grandest stage.
The future of 48 teams in a World Cup is set to become reality. It’s happening (insert groans here). And those who will argue that this addition of a dozen teams will be superior to the current model with 32 teams were also likely arguing for the Microsoft Zune over the Apple iPod way back when…
On that note: Do you own a Zune? Just because something is new doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better. There can be unforeseen (and very easily seen) malfunctions that occur with its users.
Lucky for me, my aforementioned malfunction was a solitary bad pass. FIFA’s malfunctions will have much more serious, enduring consequences.
SOS (Sigi’s Outta Seattle)
(Sigi Schmid)
Unlike Frasier, Sigi Schmid will sign-off from Seattle without a shelf full of awards.
Sigi Schmid, the now former head soccer coach of the Seattle Sounders (and mid-season, no less) will now be afforded an intriguing future that could very well pin his resume beside Jürgen Klinsmann’s resume. At 63 years of age, Mr. Schmid, barring an unknown physical condition/restriction or family issue, has many years left to lead a soccer club.
Or national team?
On the plus side, Mr. Schmid compiled a team in the Columbus Crew that had a few familiar names (foreign and domestic) and nearly an entire roster of virtual unknowns that put together one of the best MLS Cup runs in the league’s history. That championship, the first MLS Cup for the Crew, was hoisted with fanfare in 2008 in Los Angeles. And fans remember that special title from eight years ago.
On the negative side, his teams in Seattle, while filled with young and excitingly promising talent, was mostly just that: promising. On a further negative note, Mr. Schmid’s squads are typically anchored by a foreign star near or slightly above his prime. Consider that arguably the greatest dilemma for the USMNT (United States Men’s National Team) is transitioning from the current/older roster of players from the past two World Cups towards a revolution of youth and unknown chemistry, so to speak.
Could Sigi Schmid find his creative stroke circa Columbus Crew 2008 again?
Possibly.
At the same time, recall Sigi Schmid failed to win the MLS Cup in Seattle with the Sounders with all the money and resources thrown his way. And winning the MLS Cup was the purpose of his hire.
This debate will slowly intensify and U.S. Soccer has to move fast to determine if results and style against the best national teams in the world hold any significance in maintaining or appointing the USMNT head coach. U.S. Soccer can illogically stick with Mr. Klinsmann (when an artist paints a frustratingly repetitive and dismal future for an audience craving optimism, hire a new artist) or fire and then hire a new manager with an exciting and dynamic vision with a proven record of success at either the club or with a national team at the highest level.
Interestingly, the word “fired” hasn’t been used to describe the “parting of ways” between Sigi Schmid and the Sounders organization. Perhaps Seattle’s MLS brass foresaw a firing as a self-admittance and declaration of going 0-8 at trying to win the MLS Cup. Was it just bad luck? Note that this kind of streak didn’t exist when Sigi Schmid managed the massive Columbus Crew. Maybe that was then and this is now?
As Frasier Crane would say, with authority, wit and his piercing glare, “there are no accidents.”
We’ll have to wait and see if U.S. Soccer executives agree with that psychological diagnosis whilst eating tossed salads and scrambled eggs.
P.S. Frasier’s logic also applies to current USMNT head coach Jürgen Klinsmann.
There’s No Coming Back From 4-Nil
Argentina 4 – United States 0 (played in Houston, Texas)
The same roster, the same “tactics” and the same result.
If Jürgen Klinsmann isn’t fired now, when?
The Jürgen Klinsmann Experiment reached its peak level of misery last night. The Copa América Centenario semifinal loss against Messi & Co. should’ve lit the final piece of wood in the fire beneath Mr. Klinsmann’s seat. Hopefully, the incompetent senior leadership at U.S. Soccer will finally act accordingly. The group responsible for hiring and firing has yet another opening (and possibly the last and best chance) to finally fire Mr. Klinsmann based on uninspired performances lacking purpose and creativity and drastically unrealized expectations throughout his 5-years as USMNT manager before the United States devolves towards a third consecutive underwhelming World Cup.
The United States is far better than what they’ve shown under the management of Mr. Klinsmann and five years has been more than enough time.
As Americans have proven for 22 years since this country hosted the World Cup and started Major League Soccer two years later, the United States is excited for this growing sport and are ready to see its best eleven take a step towards respect on the world’s best fields. In fact, the ambition should extend to being feared. That’s not happening. Perhaps surprisingly, the impatience in the USMNT is not rooted in enduring necessary growing pains, but instead in the Groundhog Day syndrome.
Living the same day/watching the same underwhelming team over-and-over-again isn’t fun.
At least the movie has Bill Murray.
One criticism that cannot be kicked at USMNT head coach Jürgen Klinsmann is inconsistency. Mr. Klinsmann has been, to a fault (or two or three), relentless in his approach and supposed vision. As has been written about and examined many times on this blog, U.S. Soccer needs to move on from its current manager, most of its roster, current style of play (there’s a style of play?) and hire a manager with a proven track record of success at the highest club or national team level.
A list of potential replacements will be the focus of a separate blog post.
Jürgen Klinsmann, given time, was supposed to build and mold a USMNT that could compete with the best in the world. Last night was Mr. Klinsmann’s litmus test five years in the making. When he started with the USMNT in 2011, genuinely competing against Argentina and the like was the main reason for his hiring. Hosting and playing the second best team in the world (Germany is still the best), hands across America quickly covered the faces of the game’s discouraged viewers.
Not again…
Yes, Messi was Messi (whose beautiful assist and subsequent free kick strike made him his country’s all-time goal scorer) and Argentina played very well, but the Americans didn’t even make the game competitive. The first Argentinian goal, headed past a visibly startled Guzan in the third minute with Beckerman day dreaming nearby, was a perfect encapsulation of the match: Argentina was ready at every touch of the ball with spontaneity and vision, while the Americans couldn’t decide whether to pressure or back off, play or watch.
The end result was a comprehensive 4-nil domination by South America’s footballing royalty.
Like Lavezzi, U.S. Soccer needs to use its head or Groundhog Day could get Russian subtitles in a couple years.
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