April 24th, 2010 by Walt
I was just perusing Ars Technica and found an enlightening article about Internet Addiction. It seems that an experiment with college students depriving them from all forms of media, including TV as well as cell phones and the Internet showed signs of actual addiction.
I can vouch about seeing many (an uncomfortable number, actually) of young folks who can’t seem to resist texting constantly. They may put their phone down to do something that requires both hands and look like they are having separation anxiety, even though their phone is in plain site (or in their pocket).
I guess my statement about today’s society dreading an Internet outage more than a simple power failure of years gone by has come true.
My excuse? I’m a geek who loves to fiddle online!
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October 19th, 2008 by Walt
Vote by all means!! Here’s why:
Even if you don’t like the candidates you should go cast a valid write in vote. Do not stay home in protest as you will simply be ignored.
Example:
Candidate “A” wins with a little over 50% of popular vote, while candidate “B” comes in second with a bit under 50%. You know the news will be all about how “A” had a bit over 50% and “B” had a bit under, but they won’t be spending a lot of time on the fact that only half of the registered voters bothered voting.
That’s right, the 50% that stayed home will simply be glossed over. At most, it will be mentioned in passing; but no emphasis will be made on the fact in most cases.
If the 50% that would have stayed home goes and casts valid write in (No, Donald Duck, etc. votes don’t count!), then the winning candidate will win with about 25% of popular votes. They will know that 75% of the country wanted somebody else. Figures like this cannot be ignored or passed over.
Simply take the responsibility to cast a valid write in; neighbor, school shop teacher, whoever is eligible to be in the office in question.
You may hear that write ins “thin the votes” or something like that… I say “???”! You are making your opinions known in a way that cannot be ignored. Yes, the popular vote percentage is lowered significantly, and that puts the message loud and clear to the winning candidate that there is no comfort margin at all in feeling that half the country is behind them.
You may also feel that it will make no difference as to who wins, but you can still lower the percentage comfort margin in a way that can’t be ignored.
Voting is a right that not every country enjoys; take advantage of that right and go vote, even if you don’t like who is running. Make your voice heard whether you vote for an established candidate or submit a write in!
Tags: community, Politics, Voting
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December 24th, 2007 by Walt
As an almost too late post, I wish everybody a very merry Christmas. This Christmas season really snuck up on me this year!!
Please remember the real Reason for this season is not stores finally making a profit for the year, but our Saviour’s birth. If it were not for Him, there would be no Christmas season, much less Salvation. We all stumble and fall way short, but He gives us hope if we only believe in Him and let him lead our loves
Those who have not experienced His love, cannot appreciate what this season really means.
Let us also look at His death and resurrection, too, as it ties in directly with his birth. If it were not for Him dying on the cross and rising from death on that third morning, the birth we celebrate on Christmas day would be meaningless.
There is a lot more to this time of year than we normally think there is.
Merry Christmas for the real meaning of this season!!
Tags: Christmas, Faith
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June 21st, 2007 by Walt
I was talking with a friend this morning, and he mentioned that his family and some friends had put together an idea to supply (with proper permission) his son’s platoon in Iraq with fire resistant T-shirts. These are special T-shirts that have fire resistance woven into the fabric, and the shirts still breath, wick sweat for cooling, and anything else natural cotton can do.
I mention this as I constantly read people harping on how wrong things are, but never mention any cures other than maybe that the people in control are idiots, criminals, etc. ad nauseum. I bet they would run several miles from any idea that may actually help those in harm’s way.
For those who are so strongly against our men and women dying, their simple rhetoric on how bad things are is without merit without bringing solutions to the table. Sending vitally needed items to our troops tells them that we support them, even though we may not agree with why they are there
Our troops need to know that we do support them personally, no matter what we feel about the politics of why they are there.
Bottom line, let them know that we do care about them at a personal level, and try to do something to prove it.
Tags: military, support our troops
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June 16th, 2007 by Walt
I knew of her passing shortly after she died, but have not been able to put the words together until now (maybe not even now).
She was born to Presbyterian medical missionaries while on mission at a Presbyterian hospital north of Shanghai China. She knew nothing except for Christian mission work, and had planned to become a missionary herself. That is until she met Billy Graham, a student at Wheaton University. Even though Billy was studying to become a Baptist minister, she refused baptism by immersion, and remained Presbyterian.
Ruth was strong willed, and would not waver a bit from her interpretations of God’s Word. Billy often stated that she was the best Christian he ever knew. She helped him with his sermons, often giving advice on how to improve them. She was also his advisor for many things, including seemingly good (even supposedly God-oriented) plans that would have netted them quite a bit of money, but she could see through the worldly intentions, and fortunately he listened to her wisdom.
In a day and age of so-called “Christian” evangelists, both Billy and Ruth stuck to their roots. Nothing fancy went on, she was married in a homemade wedding gown, and made most of her clothes, and she and Billy lived in a log cabin built from used logs from cabins torn down. Finally, she and Billy built their own house.
Their influence on all five children is obvious, as well as that influence carrying down to their grandchildren.
While I am thankful for having known of her (and his) true Christian lifestyles, I am sorry for not having met her in person, but know that that will be rectified at some point in the future in Heaven.
Here is a link to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. There is also a memorial for Ruth Graham on the site.
Tags: Faith, people
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