Day 23 – 25 – Adam and Eve, Prophecies and Earthly Resurrection

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The subjects for yesterday, today and tomorrow are what if Adam and Eve had not sinned, what biblical prophecies are being fulfilled today and earthly resurrection.

You’re probably wondering why I’m combining these three days. Well as I have said previously I’m not a religious person at all and never have been. Even if I was a religious person I have learned that there are certain things that you just don’t talk about openly to the public because everybody has different views and to me religion is something personal. It is your choice to believe what you want and I’m definitely not a fan of being told what to believe and that I’m going to go to hell if this or that.

So with that said I’m going to keep this simple and very general. Maybe someone that is religious will take offense that I didn’t take the time to elaborate but that’s okay they are allowed to feel that if they choose.

If Adam and Eve had not sinned then the concept of earthly resurrection would be fulfilled because they would have lived forever in Paradise on earth. Assuming earthly resurrection is a biblical prophecy then I just covered all three subjects in one sentence. If it is not a biblical prophecy then the Bible has been rewritten so many times by so many people with so many interpretations that I just made earthly resurrection a prophecy. At least I didn’t say it’s the end if the world!

Day 22 – Travel Visions With No Rules

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The subject for today is if you could go anywhere today, where would you go?  There are no rules or budget.

This is easy for me because I have always wanted to go to Italy so naturally I would go on an amazing all inclusive Italian vacation.  I asked ‘Thee Google’ for the best Italian vacations and I found it interesting that the first package I saw was ‘Italy for Chocoholics!’.  It is an 8 day package that includes the EuroChocolate Festival and a grand finale of a chocolate massage.  That sounds amazing!

But there are no rules or budgets which means once I’m in Italy I can do several of these packages I see on this website as they all sound amazing!

Day 21 – 10 Minute Oil Change

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The subject for today is 10 minute oil changes and why they are never 10 minutes.

I have just learned that unless you go to an honest mechanic that you know personally anything a big company tells you is just their way of getting customers and then ripping them off.  It is all a game for them to make that initial attraction by advertising these things and then once they get the customer they will just screw them left and right and suck the money out of you.

So it probably is not a lie when they say 10 minute oil change but that does not factor in the time it takes to do the following:

  1. Greet you and suck you into their trap
  2. Try to sell you other things that you didn’t ask for
  3. Have you sign your life away
  4. The time your car sits there waiting its turn
  5. The time it takes for them to wrap up with their previous customer…

It’s almost like a not so classy love affair with someone that gets around and someone that is playing hard to get…the initial attraction, the exchange of words, the flirting, the teasing, the intimacy and then they move on…the intimacy may have taken 10 minutes but it took a long time for that sleaze to get you sucked in…

P.S. I am Sorry Not Sorry for feeling this way about service departments at car dealerships

Day 20 – Online vs. Brick-and-Mortar

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The subject for today is online versus brick-and-mortar.

I will talk about 3 different categories of this: shopping, banking and education

Shopping

For me this just depends on what you are buying.  Clothing and shoes are things that I physically have to try on as I have all different sizes depending on the brand and style.  When I say this people tell me they have great return policies but I just don’t have the patience for that when I can just go to a store and try things on and buy them.  I guess I can understand if it is something you have tried on already and you find it online for cheaper and you buy what you saw physically.  I know many retail stores have started the price match concept but I have not seen this for clothing stores.

For non-clothing merchandise I know I love Amazon and use it all the time…especially now that they have added same day shipping.  Most of the time I am able to find things cheaper on Amazon or online in general.  Many times there are online coupon codes which are a benefit to online shopping.  Online shopping also allows you to research your product and read reviews.  I know the same thing can be done with physical stores but you would have to make a second trip after you do your research.

I do like supporting local businesses so I will always do that but I will most definitely continue my online shopping habits for the conveniences it gives me.  I can shop at the comfort of my own home when the stores are closed.  During the holidays I can avoid the crazy people.  The only thing I know I won’t do is become lazy and pay more online because I don’t feel like going to the store….then I would just be a crazy person 😉

Banking

I know recently this has become more popular where people are banking with banks that do not have physical locations and are only online.  I looked into this when I was looking for a new bank but something about it just didn’t seem right.  Then you also have the online banking with places that also have physical locations.  This has definitely become the norm these days with everything such as filling out loan applications, check deposits, paying bills, etc.  I know I definitely don’t go into the bank much since I get direct deposit for my paychecks and if I do need to deposit a check I do it online.  I also take advantage of paying things online.  The negative to this is I feel like I have become dependent on having my check card or credit card and rarely have actual cash on me.  I know most places have other options besides cash but there have been times that I needed it.  I definitely find the conveniences in the online aspect of banking but like the option of going into the bank also.

Education

This is an area which I think I will always prefer a physical location where you go to class and interact with the teacher and other people.  Yes having an online option for some things is nice but for everyday education I don’t like the concept of online.  I like to go into class and be in the presence of other people wanting to learn and inside the classroom and be in the environment that the professor/teacher is creating.  I think this helps me learn more and be more motivated.  Online classes seem weird to me and I am afraid that this is the direction that things are taking more and more each day.  As it is okay to have some online classes for certain things I hope that this always remains an option and not the only choice.

The online world is nothing that can be stopped and it will just become bigger and bigger but it kind of frightens me…

Day 19 – Childhood Moment

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The subject for today is memorable childhood moment.

I am not sure why this day has stuck in my head for this many years but I always remember it.  This memory is when I was living in Iran around 1982 and we had just gotten the first snow of the season.  I had woken up to this scene and I remember being so excited and that there were clothe hanging outside to dry which were frozen.  I remember it being clothe that my mom had knit and the color navy blue sticks in my head.  Maybe the details are not correct but that is a memory that to this day gives me a good feeling.  When we start getting cooler whether it pops in my head.  It reminds me of my childhood…

Day 18 – Music

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The subject for today is the 10 greatest songs of all time and my 10 favorite songs of all time.

Music is a huge part of my life, I listen to it all the time…driving, working, going to sleep, getting ready, etc.  When people ask me what kind of music I like I never know what to say.  I like anything that is good and grabs me whether it be rock, pop, country, classical, hip hop, folk, alternative, etc…. Doesn’t matter.

I have many favorites and it was hard to think of the top 10 but here are 10 songs that spark up a memory or feeling for me:

  1. Kiss Them For Me – Siouxsie and the Banshees
  2. 3rd Cross Salute – Falling Forward
  3. Dreams – The Cranberries
  4. Fade Into You – Mazzy Star
  5. Careful – Ashes
  6. Bizarre Love Triangle – New Order
  7. Vent – Eidolon
  8. Smile – Nat King Cole
  9. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
  10. Bullet Proof Soul – Sade

The top 10 positions from Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time:

  1. Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
  2. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
  3. Imagine – John Lennon
  4. What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
  5. Respect – Aretha Franklin
  6. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
  7. Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry
  8. Hey Jude – The Beatles
  9. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
  10. What’d I Say – Ray Charles

Day 17 – Smart Cars

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The subject for today is all the technology in cars now and whether it is good or bad.

When I was younger I watched the jetsons all the time and thought to myself wow how amazing would that be to fly over traffic like that.  At the rate technology is going these days the idea doesn’t seem as far fetched haha

I don’t own a car with any of these but here are my thoughts on some:

  1. Navigation systems – this is something I find useful as I can get lost very easily…I’m a little challenged in that department 🙂
  2. Backup camera – I’m not sure how I feel about this one.  I think the concept is nice that you won’t crush something or someone but I think I would be paranoid that it’s not working properly.
  3. Self parking – I’m pretty sure I would be paranoid about this too
  4. Driverless cars – not here yet but uhmmm yeah not feeling it

Here are some things I do have which I think are great:

  1. Tire pressure monitoring
  2. Airbags
  3. Automatic windows
  4. Automatic locks
  5. Air conditioning
  6. Etc…

I think you get the picture I am simple and don’t need all the bells and whistles in my car.  Yes technology can be great but most is not needed and I think can be a distraction..

Day 16 – Political Brainwash

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The subject for today is why politics is so divided and why we can’t meet in the middle.

I have never been too into politics and even today I’m not too involved.  To me politics is all about power and most don’t even listen to what is being said.  Politics is also something that is incorporated into your home growing up.  It’s almost like a brainwash where many don’t even know what they are supporting so long as it is their political party.  They don’t even take the time to listen to what the other says and immediately judge the opposite party.

Meeting in the middle would have to obviously come from the running parties.  It would have to include compromises which means that each would have to give up the feeling of power.  Even then it would be a hard task because they would each be fighting for their “belief”.  You have to think that the people that are running during elections are part of the group I mentioned above that have been brainwashed since they were little.  They are already thinking on behalf of their parents beliefs.  I wonder if they even listen to what they are saying themselves.  I’m not going to say that is the case for ALL but a majority.  I dread election season because of all the nonsense back and forth he will do this and he will do that and I won’t to this and I will do that.  It’s like a high school popularity contest.  I think they should let kids run before they get brainwashed…some pure thinking!!

Day 15 – Always Connected

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The subject for today is what does it mean to always be connected and whether it is good or bad.

I touched on this subject a bit with yesterday’s post on technology and kids.  We live in a society that is obsessed with technology.  The average person wakes up and checks their phone before even getting out of bed.  The average person checks their phone every 5 minutes to see what someone posted or to see what people commented on their post or to check e-mails, etc.  The average person is constantly updating social media on a play by play of their daily activities.  This has become the routine of lives all around the world.

Before all this technology you had to connect to the internet and then check your e-mails.  There was no such thing as free Wi-Fi in every corner you turn.  You worked and came home and you didn’t have work e-mail connected to your phone.  You didn’t need to go online to see what someone was up to and you called them up to talk.  You didn’t self diagnose yourself when you got sick by going online for hours and going to bed thinking you were dying.  You didn’t go online to check one thing and next thing you know you spend 4 hours on pintetest or Facebook or instagram.  Always being connected has turned this society into workaholics, media obsessed, anti social, paranoid, etc.

We did just fine without all of this so I know we can survive without it.  Sure it has it’s conveniences but we need to learn to shut it off and not be connected ALL the time…

Day 14 – Technology Haze

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The subject for today is kids getting introduced to technology much sooner these days and whether that is good or bad.

I have a love/hate relationship with technology.  I studied computer science so obviously I’m fascinated by it and use it daily for my job.  Looking back from when I got my first desktop computer with a dial up internet connection to now it blows my mind how each day technology advances.  I think it has done some amazing things and brought so many conveniences to the world but I also think it is deteriorating some aspects of life.

From the perspective of kids being introduced to it I think it has its benefits but if not used properly it could be incredibly dangerous.  I know in schools it has done wonders for kids with special needs or kids that can’t communicate.  It has served a very important purpose in getting kids to communicate by other means when they are not verbal.  There are some amazing websites and apps that I firsthand saw work wonders for my own kids.  Both my girls have developmental delays and it took lots of working with them and some amazing teachers and therapists to get them where they are today and technology was definitely used to assist.  The way technology is advancing in the world I think there is no choice but to introduce it at school as we live in a very digital world.

The flip side though is when outside of the education it gets used for everything else like communication, entertainment, etc.  When you look around at the kids today how often do you see them without their phones in their hands?  How often do you see them not watching TV? How often do you see them not glued to some electronic device?  This is where it gets dangerous because it is turning kids into zombies that stare into screens for everything.  Hanging out sometimes means seating around each other each looking down on their laps or hands in a trance.  They have become obsessed with social media as a means of communication.  There is little human interaction and that is kind of scary.  Sadly this does not stop at kids and you see it at all ages.  I know I see it just in my family when we gather around.  It’s all around us unfortunately.

I know I can’t control it all the time but for my kids there is no use of electronic devices after 6 PM during the week, which includes tablets, TV, laptops, etc.  I see drastic differences in their behavior when there is too much of it so it has been very beneficial doing this.  I can see though as they get older I won’t be able to limit it as much because they will need to use it for homework but that is at least for educational purposes.

I try not to think too much about what the future will bring in regards to technology but at the same time I worry what the world will be like when my kids get older.  All I can do is make sure I am in the presence of my kids with as much interaction and only allow the technology when it is absolutely needed…