Let me start with wishing everyone a Merry/Happy holiday season and prosperity for the coming New Year. Normally, I'm not a proponent of saying Happy Holidays; but, at work as some of us were departing we started reeling of the "list" of Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, and one or two others, I replied with, "Hence, 'Happy Holidays'." Have I evolved?
About three months ago, I was listening to the radio and heard a news story about one of the car companies developing a sensor that would detect when a child is left in the car. When I shared this with some of my co-workers they said, "Sounds like a good idea." To which I replied, "Are you kidding?" Let's think about this for a minute, or two.
I have two grown children, so I went through that period of taking the children out on errands. NOT ONCE did I ever "forget" and leave them in the car-NEVER! A sensor to detect I have forgotten there is a living being that is my flesh and blood is in the car with me-really?
Ok, sorry. The moment the news story finished the issue of evolution popped into my head. So, as a society, we are over 100 years of having automobiles (Karl Benz, 1885) and a Google search yielded that it takes anywhere from 100,000 to 1 million years for species to evolve. Obviously, the time frame falls a bit short to observe any advances; but my point is, we appear to be going backwards. As a species, if something about my environment has changed (our reliance on cars), and there is some aspect of my life impacting my species (kids traveling with me in the car), and we're moving in the direction of relying on a device to remind me? Seems we're losing a step. Just sayin'.
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Monday, August 27, 2018
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
MISSING: PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
I have something to say because...I've been thinking.
The worst part about a sliver is that it comes unexpected; and, in part, contributes to how they get under our skin so deeply. I'm driving home from errands, listening to news, minding my own business when the "sliver" drives itself under my "skin." The news story was about Apple addressing issues of excessive phone usage by their customers. Initially, I find myself thinking, "Good deal. They actually know that people spend too much time with their face in the phone (or ipad)." The news story goes on: Apple is discussing an app that will help people curb their phone usage. WHAT!!!
I hope everyone realizes what the core issue is. In case you don't, it's about personal responsibility. I could go on about Apple, but Apple is not the problem-satan is the problem; and we're letting him slowly turn up the "heat" until, as a people, we are no longer capable of doing things for ourselves. I want to say, the worst part is...these things are presented as "advances" in convenience or safely. And in a way they are, but due to a lack of discernment on our part we can't see the corrosive nature in what's being presented.
Oh really!
"Smart" meters to gauge your electricity usage. Really. I need the electric company to monitor my usage.
Technology in cars to "help" me stay in the middle of the lane. Really. I need the car company to
"help" me drive.
Cookies (I don't mean the sweet kind) that are thrust onto you computer in the name of "helping" drive advertising to you that is useful. Really. I need some computer to help me "find" advertisements that will be useful.
Not to mention the way Facebook mines your data; why? To be more helpful? Really?
The Democratic National Committee platform (that document that says what they stand for). Read it and look at how much they believe the Government is responsible for taking care of you (it's not their responsibility - it's yours).
From the Preamble:
"We believe a good education is a basic right of all Americans, no matter what zip code they live in. We will end the school-to-prison pipeline and build a cradle-to-college pipeline instead, where every child can live up to his or her God-given potential."
Okay, let's break this down and practice some discernment:
"We believe a good education is a basic right of all Americans," Who's "we"? The Democratic party. When were they put in charge of determining what the basic rights are? Did we vote on this as a country? Am I against everyone having an education? No. That's not the issue. If everyone has a right to an education and the government is providing it, who's going to pay for it? Does anyone know the annual budget for the Department of Education? $68 Billion!!! 68 divided by 50 = 1.3. HELLO! Get rid of the Department of Education, delegate responsibility to the states (where it belongs) and the Federal Government is off the hook for $68 billion. NEXT!
"We will end school-to-prison pipeline" Now, I know there are many who are in this situation, but listen to the language. No qualifiers like "many", or "inner city" and the use of the word "pipeline." Come on man!
"and build a cradle-to-college pipeline instead" Pipelines cost money. This clearly indicate the government wants to pay for it. I ask you, what goods or services does the government provide that raises revenue for our government? Don't know? NOTHING! The governments only source of revenue is taxing the American citizen.
"where every child can live up to his or her God-given potential." Really? They're going to reach their God-given potential by sitting in classroom that average 30 students, have little to no physical activity, and learn nothing in the way of a skill (remember home economics, auto mechanics, and shop).
I could go on, but this document is literally hundreds of pages long. Let me challenge you to start opening your eyes and start looking for "it," start questioning "it."
The worst part about a sliver is that it comes unexpected; and, in part, contributes to how they get under our skin so deeply. I'm driving home from errands, listening to news, minding my own business when the "sliver" drives itself under my "skin." The news story was about Apple addressing issues of excessive phone usage by their customers. Initially, I find myself thinking, "Good deal. They actually know that people spend too much time with their face in the phone (or ipad)." The news story goes on: Apple is discussing an app that will help people curb their phone usage. WHAT!!!
I hope everyone realizes what the core issue is. In case you don't, it's about personal responsibility. I could go on about Apple, but Apple is not the problem-satan is the problem; and we're letting him slowly turn up the "heat" until, as a people, we are no longer capable of doing things for ourselves. I want to say, the worst part is...these things are presented as "advances" in convenience or safely. And in a way they are, but due to a lack of discernment on our part we can't see the corrosive nature in what's being presented.
Oh really!
"Smart" meters to gauge your electricity usage. Really. I need the electric company to monitor my usage.
Technology in cars to "help" me stay in the middle of the lane. Really. I need the car company to
"help" me drive.
Cookies (I don't mean the sweet kind) that are thrust onto you computer in the name of "helping" drive advertising to you that is useful. Really. I need some computer to help me "find" advertisements that will be useful.
Not to mention the way Facebook mines your data; why? To be more helpful? Really?
The Democratic National Committee platform (that document that says what they stand for). Read it and look at how much they believe the Government is responsible for taking care of you (it's not their responsibility - it's yours).
From the Preamble:
"We believe a good education is a basic right of all Americans, no matter what zip code they live in. We will end the school-to-prison pipeline and build a cradle-to-college pipeline instead, where every child can live up to his or her God-given potential."
Okay, let's break this down and practice some discernment:
"We believe a good education is a basic right of all Americans," Who's "we"? The Democratic party. When were they put in charge of determining what the basic rights are? Did we vote on this as a country? Am I against everyone having an education? No. That's not the issue. If everyone has a right to an education and the government is providing it, who's going to pay for it? Does anyone know the annual budget for the Department of Education? $68 Billion!!! 68 divided by 50 = 1.3. HELLO! Get rid of the Department of Education, delegate responsibility to the states (where it belongs) and the Federal Government is off the hook for $68 billion. NEXT!
"We will end school-to-prison pipeline" Now, I know there are many who are in this situation, but listen to the language. No qualifiers like "many", or "inner city" and the use of the word "pipeline." Come on man!
"and build a cradle-to-college pipeline instead" Pipelines cost money. This clearly indicate the government wants to pay for it. I ask you, what goods or services does the government provide that raises revenue for our government? Don't know? NOTHING! The governments only source of revenue is taxing the American citizen.
"where every child can live up to his or her God-given potential." Really? They're going to reach their God-given potential by sitting in classroom that average 30 students, have little to no physical activity, and learn nothing in the way of a skill (remember home economics, auto mechanics, and shop).
I could go on, but this document is literally hundreds of pages long. Let me challenge you to start opening your eyes and start looking for "it," start questioning "it."
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