I have to be honest most of the material I think of for blogging here is brought up by things I hear on the radio while at work.
SO with that in mind…
I was listening to a certain program lately, the guest on the show was talking about food companies using “human embryos” to create “genetically modified” foods and spices.
Once I got past the “eww factor” I immediately thought of the movie Soylent Green (“The green crackers are PEOPLE!”) and then right on the heels of that I thought of “how to serve mankind” (“It’s a cookbook, It’s a cookbook!”).
That triggered an interesting thought process. It occurred to me that it seems that science fiction has had more of an impact on the culture of our society than any other literary or movie source out there.
There are very few people I can think of who don’t get it when you say “beam me up” (Star trek) or “Luke, I am your father.” (Star wars).
Try using references from Mark Twain or Charles dickens and most people will probably look at you cross-eyed. Even Shakespeare doesn’t get the play that Captain Kirk does.
I thought that was an interesting point and wanted to share it with you. But more than that this Blog is one I want to use to prompt discussion.
What do you think?
What phrases or quotes do you prefer?
Please let me know.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Lists for marriage
I would like to preface this article with the statement that this is meant for people who are ready to seek out their future spouse. While I believe there is nothing here that I would not be willing to discuss with my daughters the subject might be a little heavy for some parents. Please proceed with caution.
I was thinking recently… hmm how many times have I used that phrase? Maybe I ought to make it my catch phrase… ANYWAY… recently it came to mind that a lot of people out there might not be as prepared to get married as they think they are.
What I would advise you all to do, those of you who are looking for a significant other i.e.: spouse, is that you make sure that you are compatible.
That is to say, make sure that you and your intended are on the same wavelength regarding certain aspects of your lives.
For example, I love my wife and I am very happy to be married to her. I should have considered how she felt about martial arts before we got married though. Frankly she really isn’t interested in them and she will not consider even trying them to see if they would suit her. On the other hand I am not much of a thrill junky when it comes to roller coasters, and she loves them greatly.
These are situations with which we each have had to deal; and deal with them we have. But could we have saved some grief if we had considered that ahead of time?
Some potential situations we did address, I remember being confused when she asked me how I liked to do things regarding brushing my teeth. Specifically she wanted to know do I squeeze the tube from the bottom up or do I squeeze it in the middle. Apparently this was important for her to know, she did not want to risk being married to a heathen middle tube squeezer. After all they are so crude don’t you know.
Just Kidding.
But the point was she was trying to look for possible conflicts in order to head them off. And that was very wise of her.
I think we all ought to do that. But I also think we need a list of things that are important to us things that we can go to a prospective mate and say, “how do you feel about this?”
Please do not limit yourself either! Don’t decide that there is something that you feel is too embarrassing to share with your future mate. After all you are planning to spend the rest of your life with him/her and believe me eventually the subject will come up.
Do you like to wear men’s underwear for pajamas? Ask him if he is ok with you borrowing from his dresser. Chances are he will actually be turned on at the site of you in his boxers. But you need to know now not later.
Do you really hope she will wear silk teddies to bed every night? Ask if she is up for it. It may be that she prefers flannel because well darn it, it just gets WAY to cold at night.
Maybe you like to brush your teeth while hanging upside down in the doorway. You better get that info out there before your wedding night when she freaks out because, to her eyes, your doing a vampire impression before bed.
And that does need to go all the way to the bedroom (or not if that is your quirk). Now don’t get me wrong here.
I believe in God and Jesus and I do not, will not and can not condone premarital or extra marital sex (or any other form of sexual immorality). BUT there is a need here to know what you are getting into, and the best way to know is to talk about it.
Do you wonder what it would be like to experience sex in the shower? Ask your future “maybe lover” how s/he feels about it.
Think that you might want to try oral sex? Make sure that will be ok with him/her.
What about any number of other possibilities, Special fantasies, dreams or wishes. Maybe you want to “experiment” with some weird or kinky stuff? Clear those decks before you get tied up with someone. (I do not mean literally… unless that really is your thing.)
As a society we need to realize that sex is out there, and it is one area where you can really get screwed up. I have seen it. I know of a lady who went through several relationships never really feeling satisfied with her love life. In part because she was not careful with her sexual feelings. She never got to the point to realize what she wanted and to tell her future mate/s. All that led to infidelity (in one relationship at least, the blame was on both sides). It cost her more than one marriage, and it harmed her child too.
Speaking as a man I can tell you that we are inundated with sex, worse for many of us is that it comes from all sides.
Now some people will make the mistake of thinking that I mean outside pressures only, but no I mean ALL sides inside as well as out.
We have hormones raging inside us wanting to experience a feeling of release and that comes from… SEX.
That is the inside pressure, we also see it all over. Not just in pornography either. There is literally NO way to escape from the whole sex thing.
It is in the movies we see, it is in the books we read, it is taught at school, our peers talk it about, it is on TV
It is EVERYWHERE.
We cannot escape it and sometimes we even seek it because, heaven help us, it is so addictive and it makes us feel so good!
The release of sexual pressure brings all kinds of other release with it. Stress reduction, emotional and physical. It releases endorphins that make us feel good, even giddy. And frankly like a junkie we can crave that feeling.
But because of all the conversations we have in school, at work, while playing a friendly game… wherever. And because of all the pressure society throws at us we have ideas of what we want to try. We need to make sure that our prospective wives or husbands also are open to trying those things too.
Now as a father of girls I want to briefly talk to you ladies.
If your guy/man reads this and comes to you saying, “Hey baby I wanna try oral sex!” or something else like that, first of all do not blame me for the corny approach, that was all him.
Second of all, if that is not your thing, feel free to say, “I am not interested in trying that.” He may find this to be a “downer”, especially if he DID start out with that corny line. But first you need to respect yourself and you also need to respect him.
Third of all even if you are interested in what he is proposing WAIT until you are married. You can say something like… “ Hey that sounds like something I would like to try but it will need to wait till I am married to you.”
While you are at it this is an EXCELLENT time to talk about what you want and what he wants to try sexually.
By the way, if I might digress here, do NOT use this as a point to pressure him into marrying you. Be honest with him and with yourself. Trapping someone in a marriage because you think that’s what you want is not the answer… you have got to know!
Guys… HINT, HINT!!! Read what I just wrote to the girls. Do not pressure your potential wife to do something she isn’t interested in, and really do not try to make her do it right now. Wait for it, respect her, and respect yourself.
Save it for the honeymoon. But you do need to have this conversation at some time. Maybe it could start out with a little, “hey I am curious, what would you think of the idea of oral sex?” keep it light at first, believe me it will get heavy enough as you go on.
Do this in a way that is innocent and by the way, if you start to feel your control slipping STOP the conversation. You do NOT want this to turn into a loss of control which you will later regret.
Instead you can change the subject, after all there is more to life than sex. And there are other things that can trip you up in life. Talk about money, is she a spender? Is he? Do you like Chinese food? Does he hate it? Do you like Mexican food? Does she fear to eat Mexican because it might “make her gassy”?
These are things that it is good to know. After all if you like the Hawaiian style pizza and she prefers pepperoni ONE of you is going to be unhappy, and that can be almost as bad as the sex thing.
Parents, I want to approach another angle to this, one that I have, so far, neglected. You may be thinking, “boy I didn’t know this could be such a problem. I will take away my son’s/daughter’s t.v. watching privileges.”
The thing is if it isn’t the TV, then it is the movies.
You take away the movies and it is the computer.
You take away the computer and it is the books s/he is getting at the library.
You take away the books and it is their peers in little league, boy scouts or girl scouts.
You take away the extra curricular activities and it is the friends and classmates at school.
You put them in a Christian or magnet school? That changes nothing.
You homeschool them and it is the social networking you have to develop to socialize them.
It is in their youth groups at church. It is SOMEWHERE in their lives.
Like I said these pressures are literally everywhere. S/He has questions and you need to have the answers.
OR you need to make sure you surround them with people who have good answers. The proper answers.
Sexual immorality is very damaging. And I believe that a lot of people fall into that trap because they have not really thought it all the way through. They have not come to terms with what they like or who they are and instead they live a life that is forced on them by society.
I once read about people who are “asexual”. They have no desire to have any kind of sex at all. A lot of “regular” people interviewed for the article simply could NOT fathom the idea. They had no concept. Some of those “regulars” asserted that it just “couldn’t be true” and that the “asexuals” were “denying their real emotions.”
After reading the article myself I had absolutely no doubt that these people were exactly as they claimed. (Odd as it might seem to me…) but if those “regulars” had, had their way those people would have been forced into something they were not made for.
If they did not have a strong sense of self they might have been led into a lifestyle that would have made them miserable and left them trying one thing after another to try to make up for their supposed inadequacies.
In our society today we have a large amount of people who do not know who they are, emotionally, physically or spiritually. And we do them a disservice in not allowing them to find out for themselves instead forcing them into molds we (meaning society) make for them.
Again, for the record, I am not condoning any aberrations.
It is possible, I think, that some people are led to sexual deviance simply because society tells them “hey you don’t like that? Then you must be one of them.” (Substitute what you will for “that” and “them”)
Anyway those are my “profound” (shnork) thoughts on the subject of preparing for marriage. I hope that when you do get married you have a full and happy life, with the husband/wife who makes your life whole as I have done myself.
I was thinking recently… hmm how many times have I used that phrase? Maybe I ought to make it my catch phrase… ANYWAY… recently it came to mind that a lot of people out there might not be as prepared to get married as they think they are.
What I would advise you all to do, those of you who are looking for a significant other i.e.: spouse, is that you make sure that you are compatible.
That is to say, make sure that you and your intended are on the same wavelength regarding certain aspects of your lives.
For example, I love my wife and I am very happy to be married to her. I should have considered how she felt about martial arts before we got married though. Frankly she really isn’t interested in them and she will not consider even trying them to see if they would suit her. On the other hand I am not much of a thrill junky when it comes to roller coasters, and she loves them greatly.
These are situations with which we each have had to deal; and deal with them we have. But could we have saved some grief if we had considered that ahead of time?
Some potential situations we did address, I remember being confused when she asked me how I liked to do things regarding brushing my teeth. Specifically she wanted to know do I squeeze the tube from the bottom up or do I squeeze it in the middle. Apparently this was important for her to know, she did not want to risk being married to a heathen middle tube squeezer. After all they are so crude don’t you know.
Just Kidding.
But the point was she was trying to look for possible conflicts in order to head them off. And that was very wise of her.
I think we all ought to do that. But I also think we need a list of things that are important to us things that we can go to a prospective mate and say, “how do you feel about this?”
Please do not limit yourself either! Don’t decide that there is something that you feel is too embarrassing to share with your future mate. After all you are planning to spend the rest of your life with him/her and believe me eventually the subject will come up.
Do you like to wear men’s underwear for pajamas? Ask him if he is ok with you borrowing from his dresser. Chances are he will actually be turned on at the site of you in his boxers. But you need to know now not later.
Do you really hope she will wear silk teddies to bed every night? Ask if she is up for it. It may be that she prefers flannel because well darn it, it just gets WAY to cold at night.
Maybe you like to brush your teeth while hanging upside down in the doorway. You better get that info out there before your wedding night when she freaks out because, to her eyes, your doing a vampire impression before bed.
And that does need to go all the way to the bedroom (or not if that is your quirk). Now don’t get me wrong here.
I believe in God and Jesus and I do not, will not and can not condone premarital or extra marital sex (or any other form of sexual immorality). BUT there is a need here to know what you are getting into, and the best way to know is to talk about it.
Do you wonder what it would be like to experience sex in the shower? Ask your future “maybe lover” how s/he feels about it.
Think that you might want to try oral sex? Make sure that will be ok with him/her.
What about any number of other possibilities, Special fantasies, dreams or wishes. Maybe you want to “experiment” with some weird or kinky stuff? Clear those decks before you get tied up with someone. (I do not mean literally… unless that really is your thing.)
As a society we need to realize that sex is out there, and it is one area where you can really get screwed up. I have seen it. I know of a lady who went through several relationships never really feeling satisfied with her love life. In part because she was not careful with her sexual feelings. She never got to the point to realize what she wanted and to tell her future mate/s. All that led to infidelity (in one relationship at least, the blame was on both sides). It cost her more than one marriage, and it harmed her child too.
Speaking as a man I can tell you that we are inundated with sex, worse for many of us is that it comes from all sides.
Now some people will make the mistake of thinking that I mean outside pressures only, but no I mean ALL sides inside as well as out.
We have hormones raging inside us wanting to experience a feeling of release and that comes from… SEX.
That is the inside pressure, we also see it all over. Not just in pornography either. There is literally NO way to escape from the whole sex thing.
It is in the movies we see, it is in the books we read, it is taught at school, our peers talk it about, it is on TV
It is EVERYWHERE.
We cannot escape it and sometimes we even seek it because, heaven help us, it is so addictive and it makes us feel so good!
The release of sexual pressure brings all kinds of other release with it. Stress reduction, emotional and physical. It releases endorphins that make us feel good, even giddy. And frankly like a junkie we can crave that feeling.
But because of all the conversations we have in school, at work, while playing a friendly game… wherever. And because of all the pressure society throws at us we have ideas of what we want to try. We need to make sure that our prospective wives or husbands also are open to trying those things too.
Now as a father of girls I want to briefly talk to you ladies.
If your guy/man reads this and comes to you saying, “Hey baby I wanna try oral sex!” or something else like that, first of all do not blame me for the corny approach, that was all him.
Second of all, if that is not your thing, feel free to say, “I am not interested in trying that.” He may find this to be a “downer”, especially if he DID start out with that corny line. But first you need to respect yourself and you also need to respect him.
Third of all even if you are interested in what he is proposing WAIT until you are married. You can say something like… “ Hey that sounds like something I would like to try but it will need to wait till I am married to you.”
While you are at it this is an EXCELLENT time to talk about what you want and what he wants to try sexually.
By the way, if I might digress here, do NOT use this as a point to pressure him into marrying you. Be honest with him and with yourself. Trapping someone in a marriage because you think that’s what you want is not the answer… you have got to know!
Guys… HINT, HINT!!! Read what I just wrote to the girls. Do not pressure your potential wife to do something she isn’t interested in, and really do not try to make her do it right now. Wait for it, respect her, and respect yourself.
Save it for the honeymoon. But you do need to have this conversation at some time. Maybe it could start out with a little, “hey I am curious, what would you think of the idea of oral sex?” keep it light at first, believe me it will get heavy enough as you go on.
Do this in a way that is innocent and by the way, if you start to feel your control slipping STOP the conversation. You do NOT want this to turn into a loss of control which you will later regret.
Instead you can change the subject, after all there is more to life than sex. And there are other things that can trip you up in life. Talk about money, is she a spender? Is he? Do you like Chinese food? Does he hate it? Do you like Mexican food? Does she fear to eat Mexican because it might “make her gassy”?
These are things that it is good to know. After all if you like the Hawaiian style pizza and she prefers pepperoni ONE of you is going to be unhappy, and that can be almost as bad as the sex thing.
Parents, I want to approach another angle to this, one that I have, so far, neglected. You may be thinking, “boy I didn’t know this could be such a problem. I will take away my son’s/daughter’s t.v. watching privileges.”
The thing is if it isn’t the TV, then it is the movies.
You take away the movies and it is the computer.
You take away the computer and it is the books s/he is getting at the library.
You take away the books and it is their peers in little league, boy scouts or girl scouts.
You take away the extra curricular activities and it is the friends and classmates at school.
You put them in a Christian or magnet school? That changes nothing.
You homeschool them and it is the social networking you have to develop to socialize them.
It is in their youth groups at church. It is SOMEWHERE in their lives.
Like I said these pressures are literally everywhere. S/He has questions and you need to have the answers.
OR you need to make sure you surround them with people who have good answers. The proper answers.
Sexual immorality is very damaging. And I believe that a lot of people fall into that trap because they have not really thought it all the way through. They have not come to terms with what they like or who they are and instead they live a life that is forced on them by society.
I once read about people who are “asexual”. They have no desire to have any kind of sex at all. A lot of “regular” people interviewed for the article simply could NOT fathom the idea. They had no concept. Some of those “regulars” asserted that it just “couldn’t be true” and that the “asexuals” were “denying their real emotions.”
After reading the article myself I had absolutely no doubt that these people were exactly as they claimed. (Odd as it might seem to me…) but if those “regulars” had, had their way those people would have been forced into something they were not made for.
If they did not have a strong sense of self they might have been led into a lifestyle that would have made them miserable and left them trying one thing after another to try to make up for their supposed inadequacies.
In our society today we have a large amount of people who do not know who they are, emotionally, physically or spiritually. And we do them a disservice in not allowing them to find out for themselves instead forcing them into molds we (meaning society) make for them.
Again, for the record, I am not condoning any aberrations.
It is possible, I think, that some people are led to sexual deviance simply because society tells them “hey you don’t like that? Then you must be one of them.” (Substitute what you will for “that” and “them”)
Anyway those are my “profound” (shnork) thoughts on the subject of preparing for marriage. I hope that when you do get married you have a full and happy life, with the husband/wife who makes your life whole as I have done myself.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Am I analog, Or digital?
I recently had a series of experiences which made me think of this post.
A few weeks ago my daughter was asking, “what is your earliest memory?” Then a few nights ago while I was listening to the radio the host said that he came from an analog generation and kids today are raised in a digital generation.
The two concepts merged in my mind and I thought about it musically. One of my memories from my childhood was of me getting up VERY early in the morning and going to the living room and listening to a record on my portable little turntable in the corner of the living room. (I liked a “story” record titled the ballad of Hector the stowaway dog.)
And then I thought about the way we have listened to music over the course of my life. I was listening to records when I was a child then when I was a youth Walkman’s were all the craze (and “boomboxes”) But there were also 8 tracks still floating around. Then in the ‘80s we started seeing C.D.’s coming into our awareness and now we have mp3’s and digital music.
I thought that it was interesting that within my lifetime there have been so MANY changes in the way we listen to music. (And watch movies and communicate.) But as I thought about it I realized that there has been more change in the past thirty years than there really has in the 100 years before that.
Think about it. When I was a child, things were a LOT different than they are now. Car seats were little more than an automotive booster seat, now they are practically self-encapsulated modules, which only need a little adjustment to be space fairer worthy. (They need to be enclosed the rest of the way and have an oxygen pack.)
The idea that you could tell what gender your baby was going to be was tantamount to witchcraft, and while people thought we would have flying cars by now they really didn’t consider how they might be fueled.
Nowadays we have “Eco friendly” cars like hybrids, we have sciences and arts that would be totally foreign in concept to any of us IF THEY WERE PRESENTED TO US BACK THEN.
We can download a song to our computer or I pod or I phone or whatever.
I remember the only way to get those songs individually as a young man was to hope the radio would play it and I could record it with a tape deck. Of course I could always go out and buy the tape in the music store.
And that’s another thing what about our shopping? I remember we had a few options for shopping when I was a kid. We could go to J.C. Penney or Sears or Montgomery wards, and if they didn’t have what we wanted… well maybe they could find it in a catalog to get it for you.
NOW??? Oh hey let me look at Amazon (or Ebay or …) and wham bam thank you… and here it is. You might have to wait a few days but there it is.
With digital it is even more instant. Want a song? Click it’s yours. How about a book? Well with your Kindle or nook (or other device) again click there you have it.
I know that in other post/s I have praised some of these devices but really there was something enjoyable in the wait, the anticipation would be almost as pleasurable as the owning.
With the old ways, even if they could order it, it still would take a few weeks to get to you. Weeks of dreaming what it would be like to open the box to take out the ____________ (fill in the blank), and then to use it. If it was clothes to wear it, if it was music to listen to it if it was a book to read it…!
So I really understand what the guy on the radio was saying. My dad, God rest his soul, Never had the chance to see a digital player. (But he did have quite the collection of 8 tracks once). And I have to wonder… there are entire generations of people who didn’t see any real significant changes in technology like this.
For a couple of generations the only real option people had for storing and archiving their music was records or phonographs. Another generation had the added potential in audiotape.
But in just MY own one generation we went from records and tape through to an mp3 small enough you could mistake it for a pack of gum. (Or smaller).
Now that is pretty amazing. But it does bring up a concern for me. Oh not a worry really but… well, My children will never remember what the world was like without Blue rays (let alone D.V.D.’s) they will never realize what a party line was, at least not like you would if you experienced it. And they will not get to know the ticklish anticipation of waiting for that special something you ordered to get there.
That last sentence reminds me of the scene in the Music man, where the whole town is crowded in the street singing “the Well’s Fargo wagon is a coming”. But really that is what we are leaving behind. Is it good? I don’t know for sure.
I miss records and the memories, which spring from the pops and hisses of the needle in the grooves. I would love to own a record player still today. And it kind of makes me sad to think that A LOT of my experiences are now only going to be “shared” by “history buffs” but on the other hand music has NEVER been so portable.
And it is really nice, as I get older and I want to use my time more wisely, to have the opportunity to get what I want to read or hear NOW instead of waiting for it.
Well Que sera sera. I suppose that the future will be just as amazing. I can’t wait.
A few weeks ago my daughter was asking, “what is your earliest memory?” Then a few nights ago while I was listening to the radio the host said that he came from an analog generation and kids today are raised in a digital generation.
The two concepts merged in my mind and I thought about it musically. One of my memories from my childhood was of me getting up VERY early in the morning and going to the living room and listening to a record on my portable little turntable in the corner of the living room. (I liked a “story” record titled the ballad of Hector the stowaway dog.)
And then I thought about the way we have listened to music over the course of my life. I was listening to records when I was a child then when I was a youth Walkman’s were all the craze (and “boomboxes”) But there were also 8 tracks still floating around. Then in the ‘80s we started seeing C.D.’s coming into our awareness and now we have mp3’s and digital music.
I thought that it was interesting that within my lifetime there have been so MANY changes in the way we listen to music. (And watch movies and communicate.) But as I thought about it I realized that there has been more change in the past thirty years than there really has in the 100 years before that.
Think about it. When I was a child, things were a LOT different than they are now. Car seats were little more than an automotive booster seat, now they are practically self-encapsulated modules, which only need a little adjustment to be space fairer worthy. (They need to be enclosed the rest of the way and have an oxygen pack.)
The idea that you could tell what gender your baby was going to be was tantamount to witchcraft, and while people thought we would have flying cars by now they really didn’t consider how they might be fueled.
Nowadays we have “Eco friendly” cars like hybrids, we have sciences and arts that would be totally foreign in concept to any of us IF THEY WERE PRESENTED TO US BACK THEN.
We can download a song to our computer or I pod or I phone or whatever.
I remember the only way to get those songs individually as a young man was to hope the radio would play it and I could record it with a tape deck. Of course I could always go out and buy the tape in the music store.
And that’s another thing what about our shopping? I remember we had a few options for shopping when I was a kid. We could go to J.C. Penney or Sears or Montgomery wards, and if they didn’t have what we wanted… well maybe they could find it in a catalog to get it for you.
NOW??? Oh hey let me look at Amazon (or Ebay or …) and wham bam thank you… and here it is. You might have to wait a few days but there it is.
With digital it is even more instant. Want a song? Click it’s yours. How about a book? Well with your Kindle or nook (or other device) again click there you have it.
I know that in other post/s I have praised some of these devices but really there was something enjoyable in the wait, the anticipation would be almost as pleasurable as the owning.
With the old ways, even if they could order it, it still would take a few weeks to get to you. Weeks of dreaming what it would be like to open the box to take out the ____________ (fill in the blank), and then to use it. If it was clothes to wear it, if it was music to listen to it if it was a book to read it…!
So I really understand what the guy on the radio was saying. My dad, God rest his soul, Never had the chance to see a digital player. (But he did have quite the collection of 8 tracks once). And I have to wonder… there are entire generations of people who didn’t see any real significant changes in technology like this.
For a couple of generations the only real option people had for storing and archiving their music was records or phonographs. Another generation had the added potential in audiotape.
But in just MY own one generation we went from records and tape through to an mp3 small enough you could mistake it for a pack of gum. (Or smaller).
Now that is pretty amazing. But it does bring up a concern for me. Oh not a worry really but… well, My children will never remember what the world was like without Blue rays (let alone D.V.D.’s) they will never realize what a party line was, at least not like you would if you experienced it. And they will not get to know the ticklish anticipation of waiting for that special something you ordered to get there.
That last sentence reminds me of the scene in the Music man, where the whole town is crowded in the street singing “the Well’s Fargo wagon is a coming”. But really that is what we are leaving behind. Is it good? I don’t know for sure.
I miss records and the memories, which spring from the pops and hisses of the needle in the grooves. I would love to own a record player still today. And it kind of makes me sad to think that A LOT of my experiences are now only going to be “shared” by “history buffs” but on the other hand music has NEVER been so portable.
And it is really nice, as I get older and I want to use my time more wisely, to have the opportunity to get what I want to read or hear NOW instead of waiting for it.
Well Que sera sera. I suppose that the future will be just as amazing. I can’t wait.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Kindle-icious
Relatively recently I got a Kindle.
At the time of the purchase I was a little bit leery but they enticed me with one simple statement; “you can store up to 3,000 books on it.”
That sounded like a good deal to me. See here is the thing I am a rapacious reader, I LOVE to read!
And the thought of having access to several books at once STRONGLY appeals to me.
I have been known to go through a book a day (literally) and some books only take me a couple of hours.
I must say I am very pleased with that aspect of the Kindle! I hear a lot of people complain about the idea. “oh I like the tactile sensation of a book, the paper the contrasts…” (My mom) or “who wants to read that many books at once? Besides it must be hard to read in the sun.” (a radio talk show host).
I want to address my mom’s point. I like the sensation of turning the pages and I will admit there is something very satisfying about closing the back cover on a book you just read. And yes these things are slightly lacking on a Kindle. BUT I do NOT like having to fight with a book because it was bound to tight and keeps trying to close on me. I do NOT like having to glue my paper back books together because the bindings break too easily. And I do not like how after a few hours my thumb starts to hurt trying to hold a book open while I am totally engrossed in it.
I also don’t like when I reach a point where I am really into the book and then I drop the book or I put my book down and the kids knock it down and lose my place.
All these points that I do NOT like are negated in the Kindle.
As for the, “who wants to read that many books at once…”
Let me use this scenario, I am going on vacation to visit my wife’s family in New Jersey… I want to take along something to read. What will I want to read for the week that we are there? I might want to read Sci-Fi or a western or a mystery. Do I want to carry 14 or 15 books in my luggage? NO!!! But with a Kindle I can carry all of these and more so I have some choice.
More than that I can find “hard to find” or “out of print” books easily, I can instantly find the sequel to the book I just read and I can do it all without having to wait an interminable time or wasting my gas trying to get to the bookstore.
I also like that I can receive newspaper subscriptions/magazines wherever I am.
It is lighter to carry and easier to deal with. It is just like reading a regular book in appearance and I have yet to find a really glaring problem.
The battery lasts a long time on a charge, and over all I think it is a great device to have handy. I would change a few things though…
(1) I would make it lighted/light-able for nighttime use.
(2) I would give people the option to customize the pictures that are on the screen when it is in standby mode.
(3) I would automatically include a protective cover. (It costs $140.00 give me something to protect my investment.)
(4) I would like to see the “5-way” buttons easier sized for someone like me who’s fingers are not the size of a molecule.
So there you go. That is how I feel about it.
At the time of the purchase I was a little bit leery but they enticed me with one simple statement; “you can store up to 3,000 books on it.”
That sounded like a good deal to me. See here is the thing I am a rapacious reader, I LOVE to read!
And the thought of having access to several books at once STRONGLY appeals to me.
I have been known to go through a book a day (literally) and some books only take me a couple of hours.
I must say I am very pleased with that aspect of the Kindle! I hear a lot of people complain about the idea. “oh I like the tactile sensation of a book, the paper the contrasts…” (My mom) or “who wants to read that many books at once? Besides it must be hard to read in the sun.” (a radio talk show host).
I want to address my mom’s point. I like the sensation of turning the pages and I will admit there is something very satisfying about closing the back cover on a book you just read. And yes these things are slightly lacking on a Kindle. BUT I do NOT like having to fight with a book because it was bound to tight and keeps trying to close on me. I do NOT like having to glue my paper back books together because the bindings break too easily. And I do not like how after a few hours my thumb starts to hurt trying to hold a book open while I am totally engrossed in it.
I also don’t like when I reach a point where I am really into the book and then I drop the book or I put my book down and the kids knock it down and lose my place.
All these points that I do NOT like are negated in the Kindle.
As for the, “who wants to read that many books at once…”
Let me use this scenario, I am going on vacation to visit my wife’s family in New Jersey… I want to take along something to read. What will I want to read for the week that we are there? I might want to read Sci-Fi or a western or a mystery. Do I want to carry 14 or 15 books in my luggage? NO!!! But with a Kindle I can carry all of these and more so I have some choice.
More than that I can find “hard to find” or “out of print” books easily, I can instantly find the sequel to the book I just read and I can do it all without having to wait an interminable time or wasting my gas trying to get to the bookstore.
I also like that I can receive newspaper subscriptions/magazines wherever I am.
It is lighter to carry and easier to deal with. It is just like reading a regular book in appearance and I have yet to find a really glaring problem.
The battery lasts a long time on a charge, and over all I think it is a great device to have handy. I would change a few things though…
(1) I would make it lighted/light-able for nighttime use.
(2) I would give people the option to customize the pictures that are on the screen when it is in standby mode.
(3) I would automatically include a protective cover. (It costs $140.00 give me something to protect my investment.)
(4) I would like to see the “5-way” buttons easier sized for someone like me who’s fingers are not the size of a molecule.
So there you go. That is how I feel about it.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Ooopssie
I realize that there has been a hiatus from my blog/s of late.
I would like to apologize for that hiatus.
Really there were a number of contributing factors including the break down of all the computers in our house, and a lack of motivation on my part.
The good news is I am back; and while I may not be to strenuous about posting to my blogs for a while at least you know I am still here and I will be trying to get my words out there again.
I would like to apologize for that hiatus.
Really there were a number of contributing factors including the break down of all the computers in our house, and a lack of motivation on my part.
The good news is I am back; and while I may not be to strenuous about posting to my blogs for a while at least you know I am still here and I will be trying to get my words out there again.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
OF PUBLIC SERVANTS AND HOLIDAYS:
Today I want to talk about the people who make life worth living.
I know the title is a little misleading in this but what it means is our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, ambulance techs and EMTs, the doctors and nurses, the security officers and the power workers… in short all the people who work every day of the year so that you can be warm and safe and have the nicer things.
See I think we don’t think about them often enough. Remember I said they work every day, that is the crux of the whole thing here… EVERY day.
When you’re kids are out trick or treating, and you are at your party/ies, they are standing by to keep the predators away, while you are sitting around your thanksgiving feast they are waiting for the call to come rscue you from the food you are choking on or to save you from your stupidity in trying to deep fry your turkey, when you are around your Christmas tree opening presents they are ready and willing to come out to save your home from burglars or fire.
And while all these things are going on they are also out there making sure you have the electricity to see by in your house or to light your ornaments, they are guarding your place of employment so you have somewhere to go back to work at after you are done with your frivolity. Often they are sacrificing time with their own families and friends in order to do this.
The thing is, we never really think of them. We don’t think about what they are doing until they drop the bell for a few minutes or we have to rush a loved one to the ER or we need someone to come and save us from our folly. Then they see US when we are in the worst circumstances possible, in the midst of crisis and fear.
And we seldom appreciate them for what they do. We rail at the policeman who in stopping the crook knocked over our snowman.
We scream at the doctor or nurse in the ER because we HAVE to know what is going on with the loved one who was brought in with third degree burns because of the stupid deep fryer. We berate the firefighter/s who took too long to get to our house to save our favorite Christmas ornaments.
So this holiday season I am asking you to go out of yourself. Think about the “public servants” around you in your life.
And not just the ones I listed here, all of them have thankless jobs where we are to ready to gripe and complain about them and we seldom offer any encouragement.
Think of your child’s school interactions, get a present for the teacher for Christmas yes, but don’t forget the bus driver who got your child to and from school safely all this time.
Think about the school nurse the classroom aid and the principle.
What about your mail carrier? Maybe he or she could use a lift of encouragement with a Christmas card just for them, and a small gift would be nice too. (please check if there are any restrictions against gifting first though.)
If you see a police officer regularly (or even better the security officer at your work) bring him or her a thank you note for the safety they provide in your everyday life.
Let these people know they are valued for the service they give. Let them know that they are not laboring in vain.
I am sure if you think of it you can come up with ideas too for things you can do to let them know how you feel.
I know the title is a little misleading in this but what it means is our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, ambulance techs and EMTs, the doctors and nurses, the security officers and the power workers… in short all the people who work every day of the year so that you can be warm and safe and have the nicer things.
See I think we don’t think about them often enough. Remember I said they work every day, that is the crux of the whole thing here… EVERY day.
When you’re kids are out trick or treating, and you are at your party/ies, they are standing by to keep the predators away, while you are sitting around your thanksgiving feast they are waiting for the call to come rscue you from the food you are choking on or to save you from your stupidity in trying to deep fry your turkey, when you are around your Christmas tree opening presents they are ready and willing to come out to save your home from burglars or fire.
And while all these things are going on they are also out there making sure you have the electricity to see by in your house or to light your ornaments, they are guarding your place of employment so you have somewhere to go back to work at after you are done with your frivolity. Often they are sacrificing time with their own families and friends in order to do this.
The thing is, we never really think of them. We don’t think about what they are doing until they drop the bell for a few minutes or we have to rush a loved one to the ER or we need someone to come and save us from our folly. Then they see US when we are in the worst circumstances possible, in the midst of crisis and fear.
And we seldom appreciate them for what they do. We rail at the policeman who in stopping the crook knocked over our snowman.
We scream at the doctor or nurse in the ER because we HAVE to know what is going on with the loved one who was brought in with third degree burns because of the stupid deep fryer. We berate the firefighter/s who took too long to get to our house to save our favorite Christmas ornaments.
So this holiday season I am asking you to go out of yourself. Think about the “public servants” around you in your life.
And not just the ones I listed here, all of them have thankless jobs where we are to ready to gripe and complain about them and we seldom offer any encouragement.
Think of your child’s school interactions, get a present for the teacher for Christmas yes, but don’t forget the bus driver who got your child to and from school safely all this time.
Think about the school nurse the classroom aid and the principle.
What about your mail carrier? Maybe he or she could use a lift of encouragement with a Christmas card just for them, and a small gift would be nice too. (please check if there are any restrictions against gifting first though.)
If you see a police officer regularly (or even better the security officer at your work) bring him or her a thank you note for the safety they provide in your everyday life.
Let these people know they are valued for the service they give. Let them know that they are not laboring in vain.
I am sure if you think of it you can come up with ideas too for things you can do to let them know how you feel.
Monday, November 1, 2010
IT’S MY PARTY I CAN CRY IF I WANT TO
So last week we celebrated Megan’s birthday. (for just about the whole week.) Her Grandpa came to visit (for the whole week) we planned a big party, and we (she) opened presents.
After all you only turn 5 once right?
I was struck by this song and it’s lyrics during her party though, when she lost the second game of musical chairs and had a meltdown. Tears flowing freely and unashamedly down her face, she decided she didn’t want to play musical chairs anymore.
This caused me to think. I have had a few bad birthdays in my life; some of them I would dearly love to change. Is this a trend that she has inherited from me? Is this just a natural issue with birthday parties (so stressful they cause us to break down when we are young) or what?
Now I could attribute it to selfishness; But I am more inclined to believe that this is a stressful situation which a younger person hasn’t got the skill sets to deal with, and so an emotional overload happens.
Of course THAT causes me to wonder; Does this mean that she will be less able to cope with stressful changes than a peer who handles a party like this more calmly? I certainly hope not.
I know there are moments in my life when I have not been as calm as I ought to have been, I have overreacted, and gone ballistic and I have broken down in tears too a time or two.
Of course part of my problem is that I tend to dwell! And I could still tell you in detail most of my bad birthdays and what made them bad. It would be harder for me to tell you what birthdays I have enjoyed.
Well I guess that means I hope that she doesn’t take after my negativity, but I do come by it naturally. I am human and most humans seem to have that streak in them.
Oh well, maybe the next party will be better. She has a new skill set now. She’ll know what is coming up next time an event like this happens.
Until then I hope you all have a great day.
After all you only turn 5 once right?
I was struck by this song and it’s lyrics during her party though, when she lost the second game of musical chairs and had a meltdown. Tears flowing freely and unashamedly down her face, she decided she didn’t want to play musical chairs anymore.
This caused me to think. I have had a few bad birthdays in my life; some of them I would dearly love to change. Is this a trend that she has inherited from me? Is this just a natural issue with birthday parties (so stressful they cause us to break down when we are young) or what?
Now I could attribute it to selfishness; But I am more inclined to believe that this is a stressful situation which a younger person hasn’t got the skill sets to deal with, and so an emotional overload happens.
Of course THAT causes me to wonder; Does this mean that she will be less able to cope with stressful changes than a peer who handles a party like this more calmly? I certainly hope not.
I know there are moments in my life when I have not been as calm as I ought to have been, I have overreacted, and gone ballistic and I have broken down in tears too a time or two.
Of course part of my problem is that I tend to dwell! And I could still tell you in detail most of my bad birthdays and what made them bad. It would be harder for me to tell you what birthdays I have enjoyed.
Well I guess that means I hope that she doesn’t take after my negativity, but I do come by it naturally. I am human and most humans seem to have that streak in them.
Oh well, maybe the next party will be better. She has a new skill set now. She’ll know what is coming up next time an event like this happens.
Until then I hope you all have a great day.
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