Tweets

Friday, November 28, 2008

Losing my tweeple

I didn't realize how easy it is to form significant contacts on the internet.  A few months ago I started a twitter account and a few weeks in a fellow twitterer started following me.  I have gotten really used to his posts and valued the funny things he said.  A couple of days ago, I snapped off a couple quick responses that I realized after the fact were probably too sarcastic and that sarcasm doesn't translate well. As soon as I realized this I tweeted off an apology.  Nothing....... days without a tweet from my fellow twitterer.  Finally I went directly to the profile page...clicked on the follow button.  NO!!!! I have been blocked.  Maybe it's really not personal, but it reminds me that the interactions online can be as valuable as the face to face ones but are even more fragile, one misguided comment can lose a friend.

Monday, November 24, 2008

The Big Game

I am not normally a huge footbal fan but this year my dream has finally come true.  For years I have joked that I was going to get a PHd (actually more likely I will get an Ed.D) from the U to go along with my B.S. from the Y which would mean that during the big rivalry game her in Utah I would always be a winner, Well, this year I got my wish, with my new job I now work for the U and so....my team won!

I have to admit though, I fill just a little isolated here at the U

Monday Musings: Is Religion Technologous or is Technology religious?

I wrote a few weeks ago about my talk during church about media. Well, I bumped into a talk on TED about how religion is technology. Most people would disagree with that because of a narrow definition of technology. Most people perceive technology as electronic gadgets, but my favorite definition of technology is:
"A product or process that is used to: solve problems, meet opportunities, fulfill curiosity or extend human abilities"
Using this definition religion is without a doubt a technology it is a process that extends human abilities. I am able to do more with religion than without it.

This gentleman's discussion was interesting particularly given the context. It was given in 2003. After the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. but before the launch of the Irag phase of the war on Terror.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

To Eat or Not to Eat (A response to Oh, Honestly

My fellow blogger was asking about kids eating habits, and wonders just how picky they are.

You can see her post here. But I have to say, her kid sounds pretty normal. My little boy goes home everyday after kindergarten to spend the afternoon with Grandma. Every day he wants to eat "grilled cheese sandwiches" He hasn't had anything else for lunch for weeks. Last night though, he got hungry for dinner, on the menu:
  • Rice and Black beans (Dominican Style cooked together)
  • Pollo guisado (Chicken stewed with tomato sauce)
  • A slice of leftover pizza.
Pretty good meal for a 5 year old.

By way of other humorous comments from kids, during dinner little boy had to tell me: Dad, today I saw a yellow slug bug, but I was alone, so I hit myself.

I guess, I really should not have taught them that game.

image from : http://www.flickr.com/photos/lowcola/

Monday, November 17, 2008

Monday Musings: Cafeteria Religion?

I have heard this phrase bandied about in one way or another for years.  I have heard people say too that the Gospel is not a Smorgasbord.  Zealous people generally speak of following all of God's words.  This becomes very complex and requires a level of faith I am not sure I yet have.  I recently listened to a TED talk regarding this and this individuals opinion was ultimately the opposite, that we should take a cafeteria approach to religion and that we must pick and choose what parts of the Bible we follow.

I am troubled a lot by this myself being faithful and honestly believing that I should be willing to follow all that God asks me to do and being a skeptic and regularly analyzing the world around me as critically as I know how.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

I'm a PC???

Ok, PC stand for Personal Computer, whether that is a Mac, Dell, HP, Acer, Commodore 64 or a TI-80.  PC stands for Personal Computer, it may not be politically correct, but that is what it the initials mean.  I use a Mac now, but I was a proud Microserf for years.  In fact I prided myself on adopting the Microsoft Technology.  I had a conflicted relationship with them because of their market dominance, but I actually like their products and they work, despite complaints about them their products actually are pretty darn good and they respond pretty well to the consumers.

The Mac vs. PC commercials made me laugh and I really wanted to get a Mac even though I hadn't used one since the late 80's in high school.  I do find it supremely ironic though that the commercials avoid a direct attack on Windows, by referring to the stodgy out of touch computer as a PC, but wait.... the Mac is a PC.  Remember! PC stands for Personal Computer no matter whether it runs Mac OS, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux or some other operating system.

Even though I liked Apple's ideas and products I found that when I went out to buy my first real mp3 player, it made more sense not to buy an iPod because I found one with better features for a lower price that was compatible with more formats.  So for a time I was an unbaptized convert to the Church of Mac, but now having joined the congregation, I find I am a heretic, and a blasphemer because I want my Windows back.

Now, (three years after Apple launched the Mac vs. PC campaign) Microsoft is fighting back with "I'm a PC"  So apparently this is supposed to inspire me to admit I like Microsoft.  Cause everyone wants to dress up like characters from TRON.  Uh Oh, I just revealed myself cause no one but a PC would know that this guy is dressed as a TRON character.  Oh well.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Do you want fries to go with that shake? Part II

Ok, a bit back I posted about my silly experience at Carl's Jr. I was convinced then it was just one employee following their instructions to the letter, but just for fun I wanted to let you know what happened when I went back.

I ordered:
  • Bacon Guacomole Six Dollar Burger (Buy One get one free)
  • Bacon Swiss Crispy Chicken Sandwich (Buy one get one free)
  • Big Hamburger
  • Double Western Bacon CheeseBurger ($1.00 off)
This time the Manager was taking my order and again I was asked?:

Is that to stay or to go?

Ummm... just for fun here's the breakdown if I had chosen to stay and eat that food all by myself
Yup over 5000 calories and 2000 grams of food( That's 2 kilos or 4.5 pounds)

Sunday, November 9, 2008

I miss this blog...

Man, I miss this blog.  I have filled up a basket full of ideas to blog about and I have some great photo's but no time.  My last blog post was the day before I found out I had to have my online class up and launched a full week before I thought I did.  So I have spent the last few weeks getting that up. 

I find it sort of ironic that I am teaching and Internet Safety Class online, but it's been fun.  I have already gotten some very good ideas and responses.  One person commented that Internet Safety is kind of like swimming safety.  I can fence in the pool, guard it, watch it and teach kids the dangers of the pool, but probably the best way to keep them safe is to teach them to swim.  I would also argue that it's a lot easier to teach them to swim if I am in the pool with them.

It's amazing to me how powerful it is to have my own personal voice through this blog.  Even though I know no one is actually reading it.

Well, I have stayed away from the political stuff partly becuase I am not very Partisan, and partly because I find myself so conflicted.  I have a lot of friends and neighbors who are very Republican and they are saying things like:
  • "What's going to happen now?"
  • "Maybe he'll surprise us all and be great"
  • "After 8 years of a living a nightmare, I have woken up to find my dreams have finally come true"
Well, my opinion, for what it is worth.  I honestly believe the last 8 years have been largely difficult, but not nightmarish.  It has been hard, but I don't feel like the world has been approaching doom.  I also don't think we are approaching doom now either.  Barak Obama will probably do a fine job as President and will have to deal with the cards dealt him, just like all past President's before him.
My faith lies in the people of America.  We are a people who, by and large, are honestly concerned with having good in our lives and the lives of our neighbors.  There is more tolerance, respect and a better standard of living for the average person throughout the world today than there was a hundred years ago for those same people.  Yes there is still a lot of inequity.  The poor are still poor, but if you look at the quality of life or all people I believe it is better.  There are lots of doomsayers, but if we can see one thing through history it is that life prevails.  Humans, adapt and we succeed.  Do I have worries and concerns and feelings of doubt?  Yes!!! but overwhelming all of that I have a fundamental confidence in the basic goodness of people as a whole