The Connected Age

Like many people of my generation, I find great amusement at the almost obsessive attachment many young people have to their phones and other devices. I love all the memes and videos of those who either totally miss everything that is happening around them, or hilariously crash into the real world while staring at their screens and stumbling through life blindly. Last night, I got a wake-up call that even I am not totally free from this affliction.

The wife and I were planning to fire up Hulu and watch an episode of one of the new shows we missed earlier this week. First, I had to finish the YouTube video I had found to help me get past the latest Boss battle in the game I am currently playing (Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, for the curious ones). Two minutes later, I’m cursing at my TV because my FireStick says I have no internet connection. While Patti patiently attended to the cats, I plugged and unplugged the WiFi extender, the router, and then, the computer, only to discover that we had no internet anywhere in the house.

So, no way to watch the program we had missed. On to Plan B. Couldn’t check my email, so I thought I’d just use my cellular data and check Twitter and Facebook. I was surprised to see that my phone was showing only one bar and then the dreaded No Service message. No internet and now, no phone service? OMG! I was cut off from the entire world! What could I do?

My game apparently needed to update from Steam and so I couldn’t play that. About half the games on my phone require an internet connection, so that ruled them out. No Netflix. No Amazon Prime Video. No Vudu. Couldn’t listen to music because IHeart Radio, Pandora, or Spotify would all fail to connect. I was beginning to panic. I honestly had no idea just how connected I had become myself.

So, I fell back on my training as a grown-up and I coped. Since I’m surrounded by piles of books I am still meaning to read, I survived. (Even though the book, I am trying to finish at the moment is on my IPad. I know, more technology!) I spent some time reading, then I actually went to bed at a decent hour and got a good night’s sleep. By the next morning, my internet and phone were back to normal, and I was once again connected to the world.

Now for the reality check. You really can survive without the internet. And your phone. At least for a few hours anyway. So, here’s a bit of free advice – sometimes it’s okay to unplug (even on your own), despite the steady pull of this connected age. I might even try it myself every now and then.

Climate Change From the Perspective of a True (Non) Believer

I don't believe that the sky is falling. I don't believe the world will be gone in 12 years. Honestly, I don't believe much of anything proclaimed by the Left these days.

I'm pretty old and for most of my life, I've been listening to the environmentalists scream and rant and rave and cry about the horrible things we're doing to our planet. I even remember those corny films from the 70s that we used to watch in Health and Science classes. Doom and gloom brought to you by 16mm projector.

Back then, we were warned about a new Ice Age that was coming, and if we didn't IMMEDIATELY stop doing whatever it was we were doing at the time, we were all going to die! A few decades later, it was the opposite and Global Warming was a foregone conclusion. All the ice at the North and South poles was going to melt and the oceans were going to rise and we would all drown. If the heat from all the holes we were putting in the ozone layer didn't cause us all to spontaneously combust first.

Ok, let me be serious. As a Christian, I do believe that we should be responsible in taking care of the world created and gifted to us by a loving Creator. On the other hand, the absolute hubris of those who believe we puny humans have the actual power to destroy a planet amazes me. Sure we can (and often do) turn our houses, cities, states, countries, etc. into pig sties, but do we really think we can kill an entire planet? Don't know if I believe that one.

The biggest issue I have with all the Climate Change freaks is that the United States alone cannot fix the planet. (Again, hubris.) With China and others all across the world polluting way beyond our means, it is foolish to think that signing some worthless global climate deal and crippling our economy in the process (while those other countries make little or no attempt to fulfill their obligations) is a realistic answer.

The Liberals, of course, have all the answers. AOC and her New Green Deal are ludicrous if you bother to look at the actual details of the proposal. Very expensive and totally unworkable. I guess if the whole country decided to "Go Amish" we could become a third world country and maybe “save” the planet long enough for Russia or China or somebody else to take over the US and kick us all out. Other than that, I guess we just need to make all those cows quit farting. Or run and hide like Chicken Little.

Normalizing the Abnormal

Whenever I use the word normal, I feel compelled to add, in jest, the caveat “Whatever normal is.” Seriously though, as much as I detest the overuse of labels, there really is a normal, and I frequently wonder if our biggest problem in society today is our failure to acknowledge that fact.

As much as I hate (not really) to once again blame Liberals, they really are responsible for this one. I may not agree with their message, but I have to give them credit for their dedication and persistence. In face of facts, they are bound and determined to normalize the abnormal in our society.

Let me back up a bit and provide a basic definition as a starting point. According to https://www.dictionary.com/, normal is an adjective meaning “conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.” Pretty obvious, right? Unless you believe the lunatics on the Left. Here’s their definition from https://www.urbandictionary.com/: “a word made up by this corrupt society so they could single out and attack those who are different.” Of course, even they have to follow up with a second definition that actually makes sense, “a statistic based upon a majority.” Or in other words, the common, or usual, or regular standard.

Let’s use a word from their own definition - majority. If something is the norm or the standard, then it must be what the majority of people would consider to be the usual or regular thing. Take for example, the LGBT movement. If less than ten percent of the population is homosexual, then ninety percent, a clear majority, are heterosexual. The transgender population is estimated to be less than a third of a percentage point. (https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/visualization/lgbt-stats/?topic=LGBT#density) Statistically, these people are clearly not the norm, the common or usual standard. And there’s nothing wrong with that. They are a small minority and they are not the norm. So what?

But the Liberals, with their biggest ally, the media, want us to believe that these people are common everyday “normal” folks. Sorry, statistically, they are not. I wrote something a while back (misunderstood by many readers) entitled “Crapping Rainbows.” The point of that particular blog was to show how the media is pushing an agenda to normalize these fringe groups. If you believe the media today, you would think that the LGBT folks make up half the population. They don’t. They are not the common or usual standard. And again, that’s okay.

Why don’t we just accept the obvious? Some people are different. They are rare and unique. You might say individual. And aren’t we all? Maybe it’s time we started accepting people for their individual selves and stopped trying to make them out to be just like everyone else. Let’s stop trying to make everything and everyone “normal” and just learn to appreciate the differences that go with being a part of the human race.

Labor Day, Part 2 - Another Look

Last week I wrote about Labor Day, a celebration of the contributions and achievements of the American worker. To stay positive, I cut out all the political comments which resulted in a pretty short message, but that’s okay. Here’s the rest of the story.

Despite the absolute crazed hatred of the President by the media and the Left, the economy is booming and unemployment is lower than ever for many segments of our population, particularly women and minorities. Black and Hispanic unemployment is at record lows. These are great reasons to celebrate and praise a growing number of American workers!

The reality, however, is that there are still way too many people in our country who are not working. Unemployment is supposedly 3.7%. A lesser known stat, the Labor Force Participation rate is 63%. (Basically 37% of the civilians who are able to work are actually not working or looking for work.) So, which statistic is accurate? Mark Twain is often quoted as saying “There are three kinds of lies – lies, damned lies, and statistics.”

The truth is that both statistics are true and they represent good and bad news. It’s good to see the low unemployment figures, but it’s also sad to think that there are so many non-working people in our country, as many as 96 million. (https://money.cnn.com/2018/01/10/news/economy/95-million-out-of-workforce/index.html) Sadly, these are Americans between the ages of 16 and 64 who are healthy and able, but have given up on even looking for employment. That’s a staggering number.

It also explains why there are so many people on welfare, in one form or another. Why work when you can live off the government and the sweat of others? Statistically, “21% of Americans participate in at least one government assistance program.” That amounts to over $445 billion in welfare programs in the US, which includes 79 different programs. (https://www.lexingtonlaw.com/blog/finance/welfare-statistics.html)

Now, I have no problem with the government using tax dollars to help the unfortunate, but that seems somewhat excessive. Especially if 96 million of those people are choosing not to work. Or if those people are not even citizens of this country. “63 percent of households headed by a non-citizen reported that they used at least one welfare program, compared to 35 percent of native-headed households.” (https://cis.org/Report/63-NonCitizen-Households-Access-Welfare-Programs) I know some of those people are in desperate need of assistance, but we’re talking about money that is being taken from tax-paying workers. American workers.

Sadly, it will only get worse, unless we do something. Every one of the Democratic candidates for President can hardly wait to give away more “free” stuff. Meanwhile, hardworking American citizens are footing the bill. So, while a lot of non-workers and non-citizens are lining up for their “free” stuff, many US workers are still paying more than their fair share for programs for which they never seem to qualify. One way or another, the middle class always seems to get a bill in the mail.

If you raise people’s taxes (as all the Democrats propose) to give them “free” healthcare, or college tuition, or a universal basic income, or whatever, then it’s not really free, is it? It’s a losing proposition and the biggest losers are always the working class. So now, even more strongly I say, hats off to the American worker! Labor Day was great, but maybe one day of praise and appreciation is not enough. So, once more - Thanks for all the hard work!

Labor Day – A Time for New Beginnings

Well, it’s the first Monday in September, so that makes it Labor Day! So what exactly does that mean? Other than an extra day off from work or school, many people have no idea what the holiday is all about. Honestly, I didn’t really know myself.

A federal holiday since 1894, Labor Day is a celebration of the American worker. (You can read all about it at the History Channel’s webpage https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/labor-day-1) Promoted by the unions at a time when hours were long, wages were low, and conditions were brutal, the idea was adopted by several states before becoming a national holiday when it was signed into law by President Grover Cleveland.

Strikes and walkouts and protests had become increasingly common (and violent) and Congress acted to appease the labor unions and honor the working men and women of the country. It was a small gesture, but a meaningful one that has lasted. Thankfully, the other issues have been improved upon as well. Laws are in place to protect against the abuses that prompted the rise of the unions long ago.

Today, most Americans just appreciate the break, the “unofficial end of summer.” The older generation can remember starting school after Labor Day, and the holiday also signaled the beginning of many fall sports’ seasons. Even fashion was affected – “no wearing white after Labor Day” – right? Whatever the day means to you, most of us see it as a fresh start of sorts. And don’t we need those on occasion?

But seriously, hats off to the hard-working Americans who certainly deserve a day off now and then! So, enjoy the day and let’s remember to pray for our country, today and always.

A Wrinkle in Time – The Book, the Movie, and the Memories

Somewhere around the latter part of my elementary school days, I first read A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Even then, I was quite the reader, so more than likely I read it a few more times over the next several years. For most of my adult life, I have proclaimed it to be a great book and one of my all-time favorites.

Cut to 2019. While scanning Netflix recently looking for something to watch, I came across the latest Disney movie version and a few days later had a brief conversation about the book and movie with my brother. We both agreed that the book was wonderful, and though neither of us had seen the movie, we both agreed it was probably terrible. (At least that was the opinion of most of the reviews I had read.)

Cut to the present. I’ve re-read the book and watched the movie. Of course, I have. What else does one do when you’ve talked about a book? You read it. And then, you go and watch the movie to compare it to the book. Right? So, here’s my (now) informed opinion on them both.

First, a word of caution. Reading a children’s book as an adult is a bit tricky. (Probably the best way is to read it aloud to your own child.) Be prepared. As is probably true for any book written for a young audience, it has a pretty simple and straightforward plot, and as an adult, I liked it, but I found myself wondering what had so captivated me about the book when I had first read it.

I suppose as a pre-teen, I loved the adventure, the idea of the kids saving the parent, the magic of jumping around the universe to different planets, etc. Even though I couldn’t appreciate the  wonder at my current age, I will say that I maintain all my fond memories of the book and I’m sure that it played a large part in fueling my love for reading that hasn’t been diminished by time. So, despite my waning enthusiasm, I would still highly recommend the book to the appropriate young audience.

And the movie? Well, again, not great, but still worth the watch? I’m on the fence. Honestly, it suffers in comparison to the book (as always, because “the book is always better” Can I get an Amen from all the English teachers out there!), but it’s not as bad as some critics have rated it. It is still a good tale of adventure with an upbeat ending, and there were some great moments, but overall, there were some problems, as well.

First, although it follows the plot of the book, the screenwriters felt the need to add several ridiculous scenes that do nothing but distract. (Did we really need the Mean Girls subplot? Or the silly tree/tornado scene?) The bigger crime (IMHO) is the way they failed to stay true to the characters, and I don’t mean their appearance. (Many people were bothered by the movie portraying the Murrys as a multi-racial family. I was fine with the casting and the acting was solid, but the writers made several characters into very different people, especially the three ladies. Mrs. Whatsit (the nicest one in the book) becomes somewhat mean and sarcastic. Mrs. Who (smartest, most knowledgeable) is now a moron who can’t even speak on her own. Mrs. Which (most powerful, mysterious, and frightening) is shown as a sweet, gentle, grandmotherly type. And her make-up and costumes? Just bizarre, to say the least. And why make Charles Wallace an adopted child in the movie?

Anyway, I could go on, but I won’t. As I said before, the movie did have its moments, and the music and some of the visual effects were good, but I’m rarely satisfied with movie adaptations of books I like. And by the way, how come no one ever told me the book had 4 sequels? And now I’ve gone and gotten too old to truly appreciate them!

Working at the Hotel

So, here’s the thing. I really do like people. After 35 years in the field of education, some private, mostly public, as a teacher, coach, and administrator, I spent a few years in retirement (otherwise known as poverty) while trying to establish myself as a writer.

Not exactly sure how to evaluate that one! I have successfully kept a blog going for the last year and a half, and I have published three books, so I guess I would at least have to give myself a passing grade. Maybe we’ll just grade this one on a Pass/Fail basis and call it a day!

Anyway, in search of part-time employment to supplement my Teacher Retirement annuity, I stumbled upon my current position working at the front desk at a local hotel. It’s an interesting job, and to return to my original thought, it’s mostly interesting because of the people.

First, let me mention my boss and my co-workers. Having worked for some truly difficult people in the past, I must say my current boss is great! (For the record, Sharon Williams, my principal at Pine Forest Christian Academy is still #1 – Best Boss Ever!) The other hotel staff members are also wonderful to work with and overall, I think we have a fantastic team. Again, having worked with difficult people, I can truly appreciate my current co-workers. You guys are the best!

So, now for those pesky guests! Is there anyone who has ever worked in any form of customer service and not encountered those unhappy miserable souls who complain about every – single – solitary – bleeping thing? Of course, we have guests like that here at the hotel, but honestly, they are the exception, rather than the rule. Therefore, I will say truthfully that greeting every guest with a smile, showing courtesy, doing whatever I can to ensure they have a pleasant stay, and other such assigned tasks are the easiest parts of my job. Because, I guess I just like people!

So, I have great conversations every day with travelers from across the state, and the country, and occasionally even from other countries. I get to hear interesting tales, in interesting accents, of the daily lives of people whom I would never otherwise encounter. During check-in, I strive to be quick and efficient, to allow our weary travelers to settle in and rest, but at breakfast and other times, most of our guests are eager to talk, and they seem to enjoy the attention and the chance to visit with those of us who live here. And I greatly enjoy their stories. And who knows? They might even show up in a book some day!