Technology where it should be?

I am a fan of this question. Often wondering where we really should be with our technology if there were no government restrictions. Then you have to wonder what technology the government has and isn’t sharing with us. So many side topics can be had from this one little question. So what do you think, should we be way ahead of the curve already?

 

I do. Back in ’98, I was saying how there would be magnets in the road and the cars would be pulled along the highways, decreasing all the accidents and giving the passengers freedom to sleep or talk or watch movies. We have the technology as it is visible in almost all roller coasters now. So why haven’t we done this for cars yet? The answer always comes down to money.

 

Doing this would cost a ton of money from either the government or if they sold the road, to private investors. Clearly the government does not want to pay for this. Why not? Wouldn’t it make our roads safer? Wouldn’t it give them an excuse to charge more for the roads? Wouldn’t it also keep track of where we are going? We all know they are for tracking every human in the United States.

 

Every year new tech comes out and you wonder when all of it will finally be affordable for the average person. Obviously we learn the answer to that is not for many many years to come. New cell phones, laptops, net books. All these are coming out with new models in rapid rates and we all want the newest shiny gadget. I am one of those suckers that falls for the propaganda. Sheer will power holds me back from breaking the bank every week.

 

Look at the plasma and lcd screens. They came out with plasma touting it to be the best TV ever and now they say LCD is better. What gives? Pick one will ya!

 

With those examples do you think we are even close to where we should be? Shouldn’t we be flying cars or hover crafts and look like star wars? Shouldn’t we be living in space by now? With all the bright minds we now have you think one of them would solve the mysteries to space travel and teleportation. You think one of them would make a laser plasma rifle that would work or even a light saber.

 

I watched the minority report and wondered when we will be in that era. I just want new technology to come out and make all of our lives easier! It would just be nice for a change to have the government pay us back with something instead of a lousy stimulus package.  

 

My theory is we will never get there. Cars will be stuck to the road burning rubber. People will never live in space and guns will always be shot with powder. When you delve into the facts you notice that too many people would be out of jobs if all those aspects changed. Then we might be in a deeper recession then we are now. So I say keep the tech coming but give us our jobs. Try to find a middle ground for us Uncle Sam so we can survive in peace and happiness. You gave us the right to pursue happiness but have no options of happiness in sight! Give us a glimmer of hope and we shall overcome. Glimmer!

 

Tip of the day: Practice saying no to yourself.  

How to Pop the Question?

What a great question this is. I don’t think that there really is just one way to actually pop the question. Of course there is the traditional get down on one knee and ask her, but then what about the ring in the champagne glass or ring in the cake method. To completely understand the insanity this question causes, one must have gone through it or is currently going through it, as I am. I spend nights and days thinking of the perfect proposal wondering if it’s good enough or how badly is this going to embarrass me. Then Im told that it doesn’t matter how embarrassed you get because you are asking someone you want to spend the rest of your life with a very important question. Umm excuse me but I still want to keep some self pride here!

 

So how and when and why and where? All I can say is do what’s in your heart and listen to her. Spend a good two months listening to her every word and find out what she really really likes. Let’s face it! We guys are terrible listeners so these two months are going to be excruciatingly hard to perform. For centuries we have been performing these extravagant performances and procedures to ask women for their hand. The question I have is, do we really need to? If you think about it, most women like very simple and tasteful things. Of course there are others that want nothing but the best and the most expensive and outrageous proposal. When  you find a great woman, however, you will notice that it is the simplest things that make her happy and that’s what it is all about, making her happy.

 

Going back to the main question, there is no real rhyme or reason to the proper proposal. Maybe you would like to do it sky diving over the Grand Canyon, or even underwater while scuba diving. The point is, you propose in the way you know your sweetie will love it and remember for the rest of her life. The best part of this all, for the guys if you do something that sweet it will stick with you forever as well as making it so easy to remember. In the long run that will save you some headaches and bruises.

 

The one knee proposal is so universal and traditional that it is used always and every time! Can someone please explain to me why? It could be that the guys are getting ready to relinquish their power by kneeling down and accepting their fate. It is the guy’s way of gesturing that he no longer has the power and he surrenders his will and soul to the woman. That could be it or it could be that the woman has always been in control and the men are just now realizing that and thus we get down on one knee from over exhaustion from the past battle. Then they realize that no battles ever fought will be won again. Yes, yes that must be it.

 

When you are finally ready to kneel down and lovingly ask her that question in a way that makes butterflies tickle her stomach, you will know how to do it. Truly, you are not ready for that sort of commitment if you for the life of you cannot think of one act of kindness that she would love. So many people ask, how do you know and many answer, you just do. It is that feeling of completeness and satisfaction that life is going to be amazing with that one girl. It is the feeling that you are willing to leap skyscrapers for her and fly without a parachute to try and save her. No doubt you will do stupid things throughout the rest of your lives but just knowing that you can get through anything if you just stick together gives you that sigh of relief, that is the feeling.

 

That is the best way I can describe the feeling. It is when you feel that feeling, that you are ready for the rest of your life in the real world and with her. Some might call it love some will call it completeness. It makes no difference what you want to call it. Just feel and let the feelings rush over you like nothing you have ever felt before. It wil hit you like a ton of bricks letting you know to come back to reality and do what is right. That’s when the how is answered.

 

 

Tip of the Day: Buy your sweetie flowers and see their reaction.      

Motivation?

You ever have those days where you just do not want to do anything at all? Yea, I bet you have as we all do. Is it a lack of motivation or is it we just want a day off? I find that spring fever hits me more in the summer then it does the spring. I admit I would love to be outside lying by the pool or hitting the links, but we must live in a world driven and relying on money. So we work and work and work not taking many vacation days off and saving them for the holidays.

 

So what do you do to motivate yourself to get through these days that you want to kill yourself as the time passes slowly by? Me, you ask, well nothing. I just watch the second hand tick, tick and tick again until that magic 430 is struck by the hour and minute hand. Then Im free and all of a sudden have a burst of energy.

 

What is it about work that drains people? Can it really be that stressful that you want to do nothing when you get home or you just want to sit at your desk and stare into the abyss? It can’t be, but it is. Every little detail matters most of the time when at work. The way you look, behave, and your mannerisms. You have to constantly be on your guard watching what you do around everyone. You have to make sure you say the right things to the right people, even in a laid back job. Then to add on that you actually have to do work! What has this world come to, where we actually have to work to get things done?

 

Yes, one day robots will take over all of our workload and we will be in charge of just watching them as we waist away in our fat selves, but until that day we have to use our own brains and brawn. Don’t have any brawn? Then you should go to the gym!

 

I don’t know what to tell you in this situation, honestly, having a lack of motivation  really sucks and it sucks when you get so backed up from work you then start to stress more. Fact is, we all get burnt out and that’s just life. What do you do about that? If I had the answer then I wouldn’t be writing this terrible piece here because Im burnt out!

 

Tip of the day: Have some ice cream it seems to make happiness grow   

Virtual Reality a second chance at life?

Many of you have heard of Second Life, the computer virtual reality game/life that lets you pay real money to do, well anything you want really. It is a chance to do the things you always wanted to do but could never do. It is a chance to be who you truly are. However, when that life crosses over into reality, that is when scary becomes tragic.

It is hard to believe that a murder could be solved because of a life on a computer game, but it’s true, a murder was solved because of the Second Life game. A man was so enraged by the happenings inside the game and how his life was becoming nothing like he wanted; he killed the person, the real person who was holding him back in the game. Im sorry, when you get so engulfed in a game that you become irate enough to kill a human being because they are holding you back, then you have serious problems and the so called game needs to be seriously analyzed.

 

That’s not to say that I am against these virtual reality lives. They are a blessing in disguise, for those that can handle it. Would I waste my real hard earned money to make fake money? Probably not, in fact not probably, Hell No! No matter how much life sucks there is no way in hell I would pay real money to make fake money and be rich and powerful in a fake life. Im not sure how some people find that rewarding, but I know myself and real is different then fake. If I want power, Im going to go get it in the real world. Yeah, the real world sucks and it’s tough as all hell to win in it, but that’s the beauty of it. You keep getting up after you are knocked down. You keep rising till you get what you what so determined to get. In the end, life is extremely rewarding for those who gave it their all. If you fail, then you didn’t give it your all.

 

If you want to escape life, then rent a movie, write a book, or day dream! If you so wish to play games that make you feel real, then do that too. By all means knock yourself out, but don’t go taking it so seriously that you are outraged enough to kill someone over it. Remember, in retrospect, it’s just a game!

 

Honestly, what happened to the good ol’ fashioned reading a book and using your imagination? What happened to watching TV to forget about the world? Previously I wrote that TV is making us fat but in this instance I think I will make the exception for you to watch it instead of killing someone else. I did have a great comment on that article made by good friend Jen. She made a good point in mentioned the fact that it is up to your parents and how they raise you. I believe that is very true. So ask yourself now, did your mother raise you to play a game on the internet that gives you a second life and a chance to be happy in virtual reality and not real life? Or did she raise you to accept life and be happy with what you have and to always strive for more? Yea, that’s right think about that.

 

What would your mother think?

 

I should start a new bracelet, WWMT (what would mother think).

Back on track here, I am not discouraging you from playing games or doing whatever it is you like to do on the internet and your computer. What I am saying, is that don’t let it consume your life to the point where it becomes your life. True life is so much better then fake life. You get to touch and feel and smell. A computer can only tell you those feelings; they can’t make you feel them, not yet at least.

 

So I leave you with this today. Ponder what your mother has always taught you. Ponder how happy you are with life and see if you really need a second life to make you happier. Ponder the thought of finding alternate ways of forgetting the world. Finally, ponder life itself, you will be amazed at how long it takes you to figure it out.

 

Tip of the day: Day dream a little, it might make you a tiny bit happier.  

Is Golf a Sport?

This is the proverbial question that has lasted ages and ages among all sorts of civilizations. Back when it was first introduced to the world in Scotland, in 1800s, the rich shunned the low “scum” of the earth for playing such a boring caveman like game. Men with sticks hitting a little ball, chasing it, and then hitting it again into a hole. Not just once but 18 times! Then it was introduced to America in the early 1900s. Golf began a slow ride to fame with the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player. Let us also not forget about the one and only Bobby Jones, who was maybe one of the most outstanding character’s to ever play the game. A brief history on Bobby Jones. He was never a pro, stayed an amateur throughout his career because he loved the game for the game and not for the money. The only man to ever complete the full grand slam, winning all four majors in the same year. Let us also mention the fact that he had a disease that caused to him to lose weight rapidly. He lost 15 pounds in one round! You tell me this is not a sport?

 

I have played golf since I was 8 years old. I have gone from hitting every tree on the course, wanting to go swimming to find my ball like Happy Gilmore, to making birdies and pars! To this day the game amazes me and keeps me sharp. It is not a game that is extremely demanding physically, I agree, but it is extremely mentally demanding. To me that creates so much more stress on the body then say running base to base after hitting a larger ball thrown at you. Don’t get me wrong, to play well you have to be in great shape. For instance, Tiger Woods. You all make fun of him for playing such an easy game and not a sport. How about this for some facts. Tiger Woods can bench over 300 pounds. Runs 6 miles a day with his super model Swedish wife. Yes I said Swedish! Oh yea and is going to be a billionaire by the end of this year. Tell me please, what other sports star do you know is a billionaire? Yea I didn’t think so.

 

You say this game is just for the rich and you may be right. What you fail to notice is that professional golfers also give back the most out of all sports to the community and charities. They raise millions and millions of dollars each year for charities in such areas of cancer, aids, diabetes, and every health issue you can think of. They even have an adopted foundation for kids who live in foster care or have been adopted. That one holds close to my heart. Last tidbit for charities, almost every professional golfer has his own charity foundation that he/she sponsors or co founded.

 

Still not convinced? I would like to see you walk 18 holes, 4 days in a row. The way you play you would probably walk 6 or 7 miles easily. If you hit the ball straight every time you will walk 4 miles. Knowing that you will probably be terrible, I will go out on a limb here and say the 6 or 7 miles of walking for you is pretty low. Then factor in the hills, up and down, side to side. Standing and waiting for the other golfers to go. You are constantly on your feet for over 4 hours. I can see why Bobby Jones lost 15 pounds. Then, after you have factored in all that physically activity, take into account the mental aspect of the game. You miss hit the ball, you get frustrated. You get mad, angry at yourself. All professional sports players will tell you that it is not easy to stay focused for 5 hours.

 

Why is it that every other sport plays golf after they retire? Why is it that it takes them years to master the game? Golf is the only game that you can play well into your 70s and maybe even 80s. So I will gladly say that golf is a sport. A sport full of mental and physical challenges. A sport that builds competitiveness and camaraderie at the same time. Yes ladies and gentleman, as much as you disbelieve it, golf is a sport.

 

Briefly, let’s talk about how Tiger Woods has transformed the game. He took it from a nearly broke franchise and made it a multi-billion platform for all lovers of the game to make a living. He revolutionized the game by opening schools for kids who couldn’t afford to play and teaching them for free. He is the only player to consistently win or finish in the top ten, time after time. Not even Phil “lefty” Mickelson can say that. Let’s just put it this way. Tiger Woods played the US Open, with a torn ACL and stress fracture in his leg.  This is a sport!

 

To conclude, golf is a sport. That’s final. No more debate, no more arguing. If you don’t think it is a sport, I challenge you to get off your lazy ass and go play and then tell me if it is not a sport. I dare you. In fact I triple dog dare you!

 

Tip of the day: Go learn something new about something or someone today and add another wrinkle to your brain!

Are We Fat because of TV?

I thought it fitting to write about this considering it has been nothing but rainy here in the Dc area. We all stay inside and watch TV or play video games or pop in the classic movie when the clouds decide to pour upon us. So, it raises the question, Are we fat because of this?

 

Most baby boomers and older generations will say without a doubt, YES. All of us new kids on the block will say no. Back and forth we go on the seesaw trying to figure out why we are all fat these days. Back in the day, so says your grand parents and parents, they used to play in the rain and the mud until they were dead tired. They didn’t have cell phones to call their friends; they had to walk to the house hoping they were there. Their parents didn’t drive them around to the parks or wherever it is they wanted to go, they had to ride their bikes or walk or even run. So yes, in a sense they kept in great shape as kids and teenagers and maybe even college students. Then what happened to them once they got a job? They got fat, for the most part.

 

America ranks high in the over weight category. Higher then most, most likely the highest. We live free, eat all we want, have portion sizes fit for a king, and then buy that expensive car and TV to keep us occupied. What happened to the running around and playing with our friends? Well, we play video games inside or we watch TV. That doesn’t mean that we are becoming fat because of that, or does it.

 

My mother always made sure I was outside playing whenever I could. She bought a basketball hoop so that I could entertain myself. As an only child I had to well come up with games that may be insane to others but fun to me. So I played baseball against the side of the curb. I would pitch it and try to field it. There were home runs in the game too. I had to use my imagination and occasionally I lost to myself, weird! With that, I stayed pretty fit all through my young days. My eye sight didn’t start going blurry until late in high school when I started watching TV more, and I didn’t gain weight until college!

 

Now, Im not fat or over weight, I am out of shape and not toned. I have a tiny bit of belly fat, which to this day I am ashamed of. I ask myself the question, how did I get this way? With all honesty, it is because TV made me lazy. There are so many good shows and movies to watch that I don’t wan to go to the gym or I don’t want to go outside and play. Also, being a young adult living in an apartment, it is hard to find others that will play basketball with you or throw the ball around. Life is hard!

 

I do not just blame TV or my car for carrying me around. I blame myself for lack of motivation and drive. That is what I think is our fault today. Yes we are trying to be healthier but at the same time, we do not have any drive left to fully take care of ourselves. We are older now and do not want to run around like Looney bins, well some of us don’t, and it is hard to find activities that aren’t boring like the gym.

 

In conclusion, find something outside that makes you do some physical activity that will help keep you healthy. There is always tivo to record your favorite shows and movies, so don’t waste your time in front of that TV. Take a walk with your loved one or your dog. Go to the park and play around on the swing. Just because you are an adult doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. What other people think does not matter. It is only what you think of yourself that does. Be confident and motivate yourself to do what you need to do to have fun and stay healthy. That is all you can ever ask of yourself.

 

Tip of the day: Do one thing fun today  

Swine Flu affecting business!

It has to stop. This swine flu hysteria is going to drive me crazy. The only good coming out of it, is amazing jokes in the office and from friends. Every cough, Uh you have swine flu. Over and over again that’s all we hear and to tell you the truth, Im tired of it. I had a call today from a business man in Japan saying he will not attend our conference because he is afraid to contract swine flu. Are you kidding me? You have a higher chance of getting AIDS in the Dc area then you do swine flu. I don’t know if you feel the same way but it is getting a wee bit absurd.

 

I never in my wildest dreams would have though that a simple virus could affect the business world. It has barely affected my income but can you imagine in Mexico or even Texas. I wonder if anyone is doing the stats on that because I would love to know. Either way, it brings up a great topic of sickness and work hours. Americans have a ton of sick leave and vacation, although not as much as much as the Europeans. We do get paid for these days but in objection to that, how much work doesn’t get done? How much work that needs to now gets behind? If you are in sales you know what I am talking about. If you are gone one day your income for the month could be a lot less then you desire. Each and every hour counts to make that one final call for some good money to stroll in.

 

So how do we keep all that work from piling up? Stay healthy obviously. We as Americans could care less about that. We get our sick pay and go on home and relax even though we aren’t really that sick. It’s not our fault that we are lazy and unmotivated. Is it?

 

Maybe tomorrow I can debate about the laziness of Americans. In short, I apologize for the shortness of today’s issue, but the way the economy is forces me to work every minute to make that income for rent. I apologize and hope that tomorrow’s will be much better.  

Money Utopia

It was very hard for me to think of a topic for today’s discussion, but finally it has hit me like a ton of bricks. The current theme is money and happiness so why not run with it just one more time before breaking into new topics.

 

We all know that money is the root of all evil and that money rules the world. The more you have the happy you are, or so they believe, and the more power you receive. You get that power not by having the money but my bribing people with the money. That is where the evil stigma must come from. Are all people with money evil? Did they all have to conform to the evil terrible ways of life to make all that money? Most likely not, at least that is what I believe. Many of you are saying that is a very naïve answer and you are probably right. However, I choose to see the good in people, no matter what they do. It is a terrible fault of mine as it causes many to walk all over me, but that is the price I pay to believe in goodness.

 

If money is really the root of all evil, then why are so many people that have it incredibly happy? The answer to that is found in the individual. They begin to feel a sense of relief when they see that money matters and stress are no longer a factor in their life. They begin to do the things they love, such as hiking or climbing St Helen or even flying to Africa and helping the poor starving children. The caring giving sides of the rich begin to surface to help those in need.

 

Then there are those few that take their money and keep it to themselves for selfish, piggish, swine flu reasons! Well I tell you this now, start spending the money so this damn economy floats back to a reasonable living. You don’t see the rich being let go from their jobs or standing in the lines for food stamps. You don’t see the rich going to interview after interview after interview, only to be told “No, sorry we already fill the position.” Why don’t you just take that money, you selfish rich fat unhealthy human being, and by something nice for a stranger!

 

See that rant there only applies to the rich who do not give or help others. I know a few people that are wealthy that are doing their part to help as many as they can in this economy. Yes you know who you are so thank you! As for the rest of you, when I outstretch my hand for a dollar bill on the side of 23^rd and G you better give me that dollar! I have a lot of friends who are more then happy to egg your beautiful mansions.

 

Honestly, I don’t think I know one wealthy human that doesn’t give and try to help others. So thank you to all my friends/acquaintances that do their best to help this troubled world.

 

So you ask, what utopia full of money could ever be established? Well, I don’t really know, but in my vivid imagination, I have come up with this Utopia;

 

We are on an island, about the size of Texas, in the Caribbean. It is warm and the sand between our toes is a bit toasty. We run to the cool waters, splashing and playing, while others lather themselves with lotion. It is a beautiful sunny day almost every day of the year. With only about 100,000 or so residents on this island, we are a very small community. We are constantly growing and expanding but know that it will take decades to come close to over crowding our sands. We grow our own food and livestock and eat plentifully. We are all happy and friendly as there is no money in our civilization. Why do we need money? We have all the food, drink, and fun we could ever want. Of course we have our mishaps and crimes but they are taken care of swiftly and effectively. Oh, it would be so nice to lay on the beach after a hard days work rounding up the cattle. No one person has a specific job. We all take turns do various chores to spice up each days work. Who doesn’t enjoy working outside with nature? Well, those that do not work in the only office building on the island. The one sky scraper in the center of town. This office building us used for international relations and business. We give for free the extra food and drink we make to the largest companies, like the US or England. All we take in return is protection, that if we were to be attacked they must come running to our aid as we do not have an army or a navy or an air force. We give extra food and drink to the third world countries that need it, as well. We are a nation of happy farmers and beach goers. That would be the life, governed only by few rules and laws. If you break them, you are kicked off the island never to return.

 

You ask now who would be in charge and that this can’t possibly exist. I agree and I have no idea who would be in charge. Obviously every nation must have on person leading them but in a true utopia you shouldn’t. No utopia will ever be established in our life time nor your kids or grand children’s life time. Our world is headed down a path of destruction and world dominance. We will not have our blessed utopia’s we so desperately need and dream of.

 

I am not sure why I wrote about a utopia today, but it just seemed to come to mind. Bad things happen in life and we all wish that they wouldn’t, so we dream of these elaborate civilizations that are full of happiness. Reality has to hit home eventually and we need to focus on the real life. Money rules this world and we all need to stop being lazy, as I stated before, and start working to fix the problems we caused.

 

I leave you with this question, what one thing can you do today to help the world which in turn will help you?

 

Tip of the day: Pick up a piece of trash you see on the street and throw it in the garbage.