I was in the garden department at Wal Mart the other day and what do I see on the shelves but an artificial Christmas trees. On my facebook today my niece posted a holiday underwear ad from Kmart. Its September 14th. We have barely finished back to school and we are already starting to see Christmas merchandise in the stores.
There are some Christmas merchandise that I don't mind namely Christmas craft and sewing items, If you want to have those things in time for the Christmas season than its a good idea to start now, especially if your free time to work on those things is limited.
What does bother me is ready made Christmas items. Why do we need to see Christmas in stores months before the holiday season is upon us? Christmas has become this massive commercial endeavor that stores bank on to bring in a large portion of their yearly profit. Christmas used to be simple celebration where people made things for each other and focused on being together with family and friends instead of how much money should we spend on everyone. For those who were Christian it was a commemoration of the birth of their savior. Even when Christmas was instead the celebration of the winter solstice, the celebrations focused on friends and family and the joy of knowing that the days would once again get longer and Spring would return.
Now our stores begin stocking holiday items for Christmas and Hanukah earlier and earlier. The Christmas season used to officially start the day after Thanksgiving here in America, now we are beginning to see Christmas sales not just Thanksgiving day but days before Thanksgiving as well.
Kids channels are crammed with commercials about the latest and greatest toys now that the kids are back in school so they can anticipate all the things they could get for Christmas. Charities are starting to gear up for the holiday drives because people seem to be more generous in the Christmas season. The thing is these charities need funding all year round.
Instead of the commercial and charitable giving free for all at the end of the year shouldn't we have the attitude of giving all year round. With our children they hear they have to be good or Santa won't bring them any gifts starting in November. What do you tell your children the rest of the year to get them to behave? Christmas is often referred to as the spirit of giving originating in the idea of the gift brought to the young Jesus by the Wise Men from the East. Why can't we have that spirit all year round. There are so many worthy charities for families, sick children, homeless, poor etc. Personally I wish I were a billionaire just so I could give money to the charities I find most worthy all year long.
Christmas can be a wonderful time for sharing with friends and family and giving to those in need, but I wish that more people would be just as generous outside of the holidays. I wish that commercial endeavors were not so focused on the mighty buck that they take away the special feeling that comes with Christmas.
Unless you are celebrating the spirit of giving year round then September is just to early to start the town criers calling Christmas is only 18 Fridays away. Christmas has been lost to the advertisements, lights and pretty packages. Instead of a time of joy and friendship it has become a major stressor as we strive to give bigger and better than our neighbors and to buy just the right toy so that our children are not disappointed. If only people would revolt against the stores and go back to a simpler and more joyous time.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Live everyday as if you will lose a loved one tomorrow.
I read this very touching story today. Expectant parents were told that their unborn child would not live long after birth. They chose to continue the pregnancy, but this is not an anti-abortion article. What this couple decided to do was to do all the things that they would want to do with their child before it was born. They created a bucket list for their unborn child and spent the months of the pregnancy joyfully doing all the things on the list together celebrating the short time they will have their child. The time for delivery is quickly approaching in October and the couple finished the bucket list on September 6th. They now have pictures of all the places on the bucket list to help them remember the time they have had together.
Most of us have friends and family that we hold dear. Do we take for granted that they will be there the next day? Do we postpone get togethers and celebrations for work or trivial things? Do we tell those closest to us how much they mean to us? I have thought about a bucket list ever since the movie the bucket list came out. Instead of fun things and exotic places I propose that a bucket list should be comprised of people and things to do with those people that will enrich their lives. Those are the memories that will remain when one of you are gone.
Most of us don't know when our time on this planet is over. Death can come suddenly or slowly.
I hadn't seen my Father in 10 years when he passed away because we had moved clear across the country. We did share phone calls though. My Father had some routine surgery to repair a hernia that they thought was the cause of some pain that he was having. He got through the surgery just fine, but in the next few weeks he went downhill fast. I had several conversations with him over those weeks and had my last one the day before he was admitted to the hospital on a Wednesday. He was taken off life support the following Sunday. I was so grateful that I took the opportunity to tell him I loved him before he passed. I did it not knowing he would be gone so soon.
I try to tell my children and spouse I love them daily and we spend time together even though we now have busy teenagers. Our adult children are more difficult to keep in contact with but we do our best. We have photos and memories of all the things we have done together. I have memories of my sons military graduations and time with him in South Carolina while he is in school. I have memories of trips with my Mother and try to do my best to stay in touch with her when she is not traveling.
The exotic trips and once in a lifetime experiences might be something desirable to some but to me unless I am doing them with someone special it has no real meaning in my life. Life is precious and short. We would do well to remember that and not take any moment of our lives with our friends and family for granted because life can change in a moment.
Most of us have friends and family that we hold dear. Do we take for granted that they will be there the next day? Do we postpone get togethers and celebrations for work or trivial things? Do we tell those closest to us how much they mean to us? I have thought about a bucket list ever since the movie the bucket list came out. Instead of fun things and exotic places I propose that a bucket list should be comprised of people and things to do with those people that will enrich their lives. Those are the memories that will remain when one of you are gone.
Most of us don't know when our time on this planet is over. Death can come suddenly or slowly.
I hadn't seen my Father in 10 years when he passed away because we had moved clear across the country. We did share phone calls though. My Father had some routine surgery to repair a hernia that they thought was the cause of some pain that he was having. He got through the surgery just fine, but in the next few weeks he went downhill fast. I had several conversations with him over those weeks and had my last one the day before he was admitted to the hospital on a Wednesday. He was taken off life support the following Sunday. I was so grateful that I took the opportunity to tell him I loved him before he passed. I did it not knowing he would be gone so soon.
I try to tell my children and spouse I love them daily and we spend time together even though we now have busy teenagers. Our adult children are more difficult to keep in contact with but we do our best. We have photos and memories of all the things we have done together. I have memories of my sons military graduations and time with him in South Carolina while he is in school. I have memories of trips with my Mother and try to do my best to stay in touch with her when she is not traveling.
The exotic trips and once in a lifetime experiences might be something desirable to some but to me unless I am doing them with someone special it has no real meaning in my life. Life is precious and short. We would do well to remember that and not take any moment of our lives with our friends and family for granted because life can change in a moment.
Friday, September 12, 2014
CPS can be overzealous in taking children from parents
We hear it more and more often CPS has stepped in and taken a child away from its parents for a dumb reason or with little evidence of wrong doing. There is the story of CPS taking sick children away from their parents when doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with them in Virginia. They finally received a diagnosis and before the children could be taken to the hospital to be treated CPS stepped in and removed them from the parents. During their removal one of the children broke and ankle and it was left untreated for 6 weeks until the parents got the children back. The children are now in therapy for trauma suffered by being removed from a loving family.
Today the story in our local area goes like this. Mom leaves sleeping child with father. Father makes sure all the locks are locked before laying down to take a nap. Roommate leaves the house leaving locks undone without letting father of child know. Child wakes up and gets out of the house. Father wakes up to find child missing. Police had picked him up and now Father is charged with child neglect and can't see the child. How many parents have had their 2 year olds get out of the house before you realized the child could open the door? I know that I have, when it happened I immediately got in the car, drove to Wal Mart and bought childproof door handles. This is not neglect, its a simple mistake that is easily remedied once a parent is aware that your child can now open doors. This parent was not allowed to show that he was willing to fix the problem before CPS stepped in and took the child away. This Father did his due diligence and locked the doors before taking a nap. It was not his doing that the doors were left unlocked nor was it the Mother's. It was unfortunate circumstances that led to the situation.
CPS is an organization without checks and balances. They don't have to have proof that the child is in imminent danger. With CPS it only takes someone's opinion that a child is in danger. If you are taken to court by CPS you are not allowed to present evidence disputing CPS's claims or take the stand in your defense. CPS doesn't have to give assistance that is actually beneficial to the family they can actually take services that are actually helping away and replace them with services that are not. CPS workers do not have to have a psychology degree, a medical degree of even a degree in social work but yet they are allowed to make decisions regarding situations where that knowledge is absolutely necessary to make an informed opinion. If they consult someone with those qualifications they don't have to take their knowledgeable opinion seriously.
For years there has been screams for reform in the CPS system to no avail. There have been cosmetic changes but no real change that allows parents the rights to defend themselves or to give some kind of check or balance to an agency that can take children from parents at will. In the eyes of CPS if a parent is accused they are guilty. In a criminal court you are innocent until proven guilty, in a civil court the defendant has the burden of proving themselves innocent, but with CPS proceedings you are guilty and not allowed to prove yourself innocent. Some people would say that this is necessary to protect children. The truth is without a major change in the system innocent children are being harmed by the people who were meant to protect them. The children who should be removed from homes are being kept in their abusive families and children who need to be kept with their families are being removed and put in abusive foster care. Parents are afraid to parent worried that they might be accused of being abusive. Parents are not being allowed to make medical decisions they feel are best for their children because CPS steps in if a medical professional doesn't agree with the decision.
The United Nations are trying to get the US to allow a treaty where the UN gets to decide what is best for disabled children and not the parents. Parents rights are being trampled on at every turn. When will it end. Will we stay quiet until our children are taken from us at birth and raised in government facilities as a matter of policy? The school days are getting longer taking our children from us longer. In order to go to school you have to have certain shots and a school physical before they will let your child attend. Shouldn't medical decisions be between medical professionals and the parent and not mandated by the government? Parents make the ultimate sacrifice to give up their lives to raise the next generation, shouldn't they be applauded for that?
Yes there are bad parents out there but they are the minority. There does need to be a system where a child can be removed from a dangerous situation. The problem lies with the governments definition of injury, neglect and dangerous situation. Until those definitions allow for parents to be imperfect and make honest mistakes without fear of losing our children, then they are an agency out of control.
Today the story in our local area goes like this. Mom leaves sleeping child with father. Father makes sure all the locks are locked before laying down to take a nap. Roommate leaves the house leaving locks undone without letting father of child know. Child wakes up and gets out of the house. Father wakes up to find child missing. Police had picked him up and now Father is charged with child neglect and can't see the child. How many parents have had their 2 year olds get out of the house before you realized the child could open the door? I know that I have, when it happened I immediately got in the car, drove to Wal Mart and bought childproof door handles. This is not neglect, its a simple mistake that is easily remedied once a parent is aware that your child can now open doors. This parent was not allowed to show that he was willing to fix the problem before CPS stepped in and took the child away. This Father did his due diligence and locked the doors before taking a nap. It was not his doing that the doors were left unlocked nor was it the Mother's. It was unfortunate circumstances that led to the situation.
CPS is an organization without checks and balances. They don't have to have proof that the child is in imminent danger. With CPS it only takes someone's opinion that a child is in danger. If you are taken to court by CPS you are not allowed to present evidence disputing CPS's claims or take the stand in your defense. CPS doesn't have to give assistance that is actually beneficial to the family they can actually take services that are actually helping away and replace them with services that are not. CPS workers do not have to have a psychology degree, a medical degree of even a degree in social work but yet they are allowed to make decisions regarding situations where that knowledge is absolutely necessary to make an informed opinion. If they consult someone with those qualifications they don't have to take their knowledgeable opinion seriously.
For years there has been screams for reform in the CPS system to no avail. There have been cosmetic changes but no real change that allows parents the rights to defend themselves or to give some kind of check or balance to an agency that can take children from parents at will. In the eyes of CPS if a parent is accused they are guilty. In a criminal court you are innocent until proven guilty, in a civil court the defendant has the burden of proving themselves innocent, but with CPS proceedings you are guilty and not allowed to prove yourself innocent. Some people would say that this is necessary to protect children. The truth is without a major change in the system innocent children are being harmed by the people who were meant to protect them. The children who should be removed from homes are being kept in their abusive families and children who need to be kept with their families are being removed and put in abusive foster care. Parents are afraid to parent worried that they might be accused of being abusive. Parents are not being allowed to make medical decisions they feel are best for their children because CPS steps in if a medical professional doesn't agree with the decision.
The United Nations are trying to get the US to allow a treaty where the UN gets to decide what is best for disabled children and not the parents. Parents rights are being trampled on at every turn. When will it end. Will we stay quiet until our children are taken from us at birth and raised in government facilities as a matter of policy? The school days are getting longer taking our children from us longer. In order to go to school you have to have certain shots and a school physical before they will let your child attend. Shouldn't medical decisions be between medical professionals and the parent and not mandated by the government? Parents make the ultimate sacrifice to give up their lives to raise the next generation, shouldn't they be applauded for that?
Yes there are bad parents out there but they are the minority. There does need to be a system where a child can be removed from a dangerous situation. The problem lies with the governments definition of injury, neglect and dangerous situation. Until those definitions allow for parents to be imperfect and make honest mistakes without fear of losing our children, then they are an agency out of control.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Reflections on September 11th.
Today is a day marked by tragedy for many but a day of celebration for others. For me I have a mixed situation. I am an American and do mourn the tragedy that hit our country in 2001. I also have reason to celebrate this day. Today is my mother's wedding anniversary. Today is my foster son's birthday and today is the anniversary of buying our first home.
It has been 13 years since terrorists took a new tactic against the Western threat. What have we learned in that time period? First of all after the initial wave of patriotism Americans went back to their apathetic lives. They decided they were willing to give up freedom, rights, and privacy in the name of safety and then wonder how the government can get away with monitoring our phone calls, emails and social media usage. They decided that it was better to pull out of an unstable Middle East and reduce our military than it was to reduce unnecessary sending. American's decided that it was more important to focus on social issues at home than to focus on economic growth and the security of our borders.
13 years have see many changes to our country, but remember change isn't always good. We have a record number of people who are on welfare and either unemployed or underemployed. Taxes are on the rise and wages are either stagnant or lowering. The cost of living is increasing at a rate higher than most workers wages are. The country is more divided now than before the civil war.
We take one day a year to remember the innocent lives lost to a terrorist attack. We especially remember those who ran to the burning buildings to help instead of running to safety. 13 years have past and yet we have court battles over what should be included in the 9/11 museum. Some want to exclude anything to do with faith even though faith was a major component in getting through the fear in those first days after the attack. There are those who don't want the clothing of the seals who
got Usama Bin Laden included in the exhibits. There was a fight over what should be done with the World trade center site and it took over 10 years to finish it.
In my humble opinion we have learned nothing from the last 13 years. We allow other entities to take away our sovereignty even thought we created that entity to begin with. We allow illegal immigration to continue unchecked. We continue to police the world and give out aid right and left when our own domestic troubles are overwhelming. We have allowed our financial position to become so weakened that it won't take violence to overturn our country just the right hostile takeover in the business world. We continue to rely on Middle Eastern oil instead of drilling off shore in our own country or having a pipeline from the resources of our neighbors to the north. All the other superpowers have toppled since World War II and we are in danger of the same fate. The rising Superpower is communist or socialist in nature and we are trying to adopt those ways. Our government is no longer by the people and for the people its now by the special interests and for the special interests.
It has been 13 years since terrorists took a new tactic against the Western threat. What have we learned in that time period? First of all after the initial wave of patriotism Americans went back to their apathetic lives. They decided they were willing to give up freedom, rights, and privacy in the name of safety and then wonder how the government can get away with monitoring our phone calls, emails and social media usage. They decided that it was better to pull out of an unstable Middle East and reduce our military than it was to reduce unnecessary sending. American's decided that it was more important to focus on social issues at home than to focus on economic growth and the security of our borders.
13 years have see many changes to our country, but remember change isn't always good. We have a record number of people who are on welfare and either unemployed or underemployed. Taxes are on the rise and wages are either stagnant or lowering. The cost of living is increasing at a rate higher than most workers wages are. The country is more divided now than before the civil war.
We take one day a year to remember the innocent lives lost to a terrorist attack. We especially remember those who ran to the burning buildings to help instead of running to safety. 13 years have past and yet we have court battles over what should be included in the 9/11 museum. Some want to exclude anything to do with faith even though faith was a major component in getting through the fear in those first days after the attack. There are those who don't want the clothing of the seals who
got Usama Bin Laden included in the exhibits. There was a fight over what should be done with the World trade center site and it took over 10 years to finish it.
In my humble opinion we have learned nothing from the last 13 years. We allow other entities to take away our sovereignty even thought we created that entity to begin with. We allow illegal immigration to continue unchecked. We continue to police the world and give out aid right and left when our own domestic troubles are overwhelming. We have allowed our financial position to become so weakened that it won't take violence to overturn our country just the right hostile takeover in the business world. We continue to rely on Middle Eastern oil instead of drilling off shore in our own country or having a pipeline from the resources of our neighbors to the north. All the other superpowers have toppled since World War II and we are in danger of the same fate. The rising Superpower is communist or socialist in nature and we are trying to adopt those ways. Our government is no longer by the people and for the people its now by the special interests and for the special interests.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Lazy appraisers can cause problems with home purchase or refinance.
Today's blog is just a rant so feel free to skip it. We are in the process of buying a home with a VA loan. We were scheduled to close this coming Friday. Then the appraisal threw a wrench in the works. I am not too upset by the repairs required except that repairing siding is cosmetic and removing the remnants of a pumphouse is something we would have done eventually but to require it to be done before closing is ridiculous because it doesn't affect the structure.
Here is where my rant comes in. The house we are buying is almost 3200 sq feet on a 20,000 square ft lot. Other houses of similar size on smaller lots are selling around 275,000. We know this because we looked at those houses. The city assessed the house at 252,000. Cities usually assess low. We were purchasing the property at 245,000. The appraisal came in at 241,000. Everyone involved is quite puzzled at this value. The appraisers excuse was that there were no comparable properties in the area because the house we are purchasing is larger than any other in the neighborhood. There were houses in the subdivision smaller in building and lot size that sold for 250,000 in the last 6 months. The houses that were used in comparison were half the lot size and no where near the neighborhood.
He took a 280,000 house and knocked of money for a different neighborhood, fencing, appliances added money for other things and then took off 9,500 for the house not conforming to the neighborhood. I would understand if the house were smaller in size but it is not it is the largest on the street. The house sold for 235,000 just three years ago which means that the house has only gained less than 3% value in 4 years when house values in the are average at least 2% raise per year. All because the appraiser didn't look at city assessment or in homes sold less than a mile away and basing value on the average price per square foot.
Bottom line we are in danger of losing the house. The sellers were at the break even point at the 245,000 price. With the additional repairs and a lowered sale price to fit the appraisal they are looking at having to pay money to get out of the house. Money they don't have. We agreed to paying for all the materials if the current homeowners could do the work. The sellers are saying that unless the commission for the two agents go down half a percent each that they are unable to complete the transaction. We have two weeks left on the 60 day notice we give on our current residence and we had to jump through some hoops to get our daughters enrolled in school where they are currently. If this purchase doesn't come through we are up a creek without a paddle.
Moral to the tale when getting an appraisal get referrals from friends who recently got a good appraisal don't just use the mortgage companies person.
Here is where my rant comes in. The house we are buying is almost 3200 sq feet on a 20,000 square ft lot. Other houses of similar size on smaller lots are selling around 275,000. We know this because we looked at those houses. The city assessed the house at 252,000. Cities usually assess low. We were purchasing the property at 245,000. The appraisal came in at 241,000. Everyone involved is quite puzzled at this value. The appraisers excuse was that there were no comparable properties in the area because the house we are purchasing is larger than any other in the neighborhood. There were houses in the subdivision smaller in building and lot size that sold for 250,000 in the last 6 months. The houses that were used in comparison were half the lot size and no where near the neighborhood.
He took a 280,000 house and knocked of money for a different neighborhood, fencing, appliances added money for other things and then took off 9,500 for the house not conforming to the neighborhood. I would understand if the house were smaller in size but it is not it is the largest on the street. The house sold for 235,000 just three years ago which means that the house has only gained less than 3% value in 4 years when house values in the are average at least 2% raise per year. All because the appraiser didn't look at city assessment or in homes sold less than a mile away and basing value on the average price per square foot.
Bottom line we are in danger of losing the house. The sellers were at the break even point at the 245,000 price. With the additional repairs and a lowered sale price to fit the appraisal they are looking at having to pay money to get out of the house. Money they don't have. We agreed to paying for all the materials if the current homeowners could do the work. The sellers are saying that unless the commission for the two agents go down half a percent each that they are unable to complete the transaction. We have two weeks left on the 60 day notice we give on our current residence and we had to jump through some hoops to get our daughters enrolled in school where they are currently. If this purchase doesn't come through we are up a creek without a paddle.
Moral to the tale when getting an appraisal get referrals from friends who recently got a good appraisal don't just use the mortgage companies person.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Sad tale when adult children are more concerned with their inheritance than with their elderly parents happiness.
I saw a very sad internet story today. The story is about a newlywed couple. This couple has had a unique friendship for the last 10 years. They seem to be quite happy together. So what is the problem? Is it that they are bi-racial? Is it that they don't know what love is? No the couple is 95 and 96 years old. The woman has a legal guardian because there was fear that she might have some dementia. The child who had legal guardianship thought the marriage was a good idea and the couple live with her and her husband. So why is the court system involved? Simply put some of the other children were worried that the marriage would confuse the distribution of the woman's $475,000 estate.
The other children who were not involved in the decision to allow the marriage complained to the court and the court decided that the marriage should not have happened without the courts permission. Why the woman was not a ward of the court. The legal guardian of the woman agreed the marriage was okay and cares for the couple in her home. The court also decided that it might not be in the best interest of the woman to automatically terminate the marriage. So the court terminated the guardianship by the woman's daughter and made her a ward of the court making a lawyer her legal guardian. The court thought the marriage might be okay if a postnuptial agreement saying the man couldn't inherit were signed but the couple thinks this is ridiculous.
This couple is 95 and 96. They have many health problems related to advanced age. Its not like the man would go right out and spend all her money if she died on him. In fact its more likely that he would follow her shortly after. The only reason this was ever taken to court was because someone was worried they wouldn't get their inheritance. How awful is that to know that your children are more interested in your money than your happiness in your final years.
This newlywed couple like to dance to music and have actually helped to improve each others help just by being more active together and having companionship. They have been friends for 10 years and decided to take the next step and enjoy their final years together. Shame on the court for even thinking of stepping in. They had no reason to do so. The legal guardian did have the right to grant the woman's desire to marry.
This court case was a frivolous waste of the court's time, but because money was involved I guess they decided it was okay to step in. I could see a problem if there was a 20 or more year difference in ages and that the man might be taking advantage of the situation but there is only a 1 year difference and they have far outlived the average life expectancy. They could live to be a ripe old age of 113 but that is not likely. Its more than likely that they probably don't even have a year together left. Why are people so selfish?
If I were this couple I would work with the new guardian(lawyer) to draw up a new will giving 3/4 of the money to charity and the last quarter to the child who actually cared for the couple.
The other children who were not involved in the decision to allow the marriage complained to the court and the court decided that the marriage should not have happened without the courts permission. Why the woman was not a ward of the court. The legal guardian of the woman agreed the marriage was okay and cares for the couple in her home. The court also decided that it might not be in the best interest of the woman to automatically terminate the marriage. So the court terminated the guardianship by the woman's daughter and made her a ward of the court making a lawyer her legal guardian. The court thought the marriage might be okay if a postnuptial agreement saying the man couldn't inherit were signed but the couple thinks this is ridiculous.
This couple is 95 and 96. They have many health problems related to advanced age. Its not like the man would go right out and spend all her money if she died on him. In fact its more likely that he would follow her shortly after. The only reason this was ever taken to court was because someone was worried they wouldn't get their inheritance. How awful is that to know that your children are more interested in your money than your happiness in your final years.
This newlywed couple like to dance to music and have actually helped to improve each others help just by being more active together and having companionship. They have been friends for 10 years and decided to take the next step and enjoy their final years together. Shame on the court for even thinking of stepping in. They had no reason to do so. The legal guardian did have the right to grant the woman's desire to marry.
This court case was a frivolous waste of the court's time, but because money was involved I guess they decided it was okay to step in. I could see a problem if there was a 20 or more year difference in ages and that the man might be taking advantage of the situation but there is only a 1 year difference and they have far outlived the average life expectancy. They could live to be a ripe old age of 113 but that is not likely. Its more than likely that they probably don't even have a year together left. Why are people so selfish?
If I were this couple I would work with the new guardian(lawyer) to draw up a new will giving 3/4 of the money to charity and the last quarter to the child who actually cared for the couple.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Do we rely too much on technology?
Today I heard two disturbing things. First yet another electronic payment system for a store chain has been hacked and second there is a new robot in the works. The first is disturbing because it shows just how vulnerable our electronic information is. The second because this robot is being called the family robot. It can take family pictures, help you have Skype conversations when there are too many people to fit in the screen by moving the camera to the speaker, order take-out, interact with your children like a nanny, record voice messages, turn on lights and electronics when you ask it to and it has the capacity to learn and adapt as well.
Why do I find this disturbing? Well we already rely heavily on technology. You can't purchase anything at the store or even get gas if the power is out. That means there is no manual way to do these things and if the power is out long term then we can't even purchase what we need. No one carries cash anymore. They swipe their visa debit cards leaving them vulnerable to hackers such as from Target last Christmas and more recently at Home Depot. Our children are taught to research using the computer instead of using books from the library. We are seeing more and more publications only published electronically.
Our school district has started a program where instead of sending notices home they want to do all communication through text messages and email. A couple of years ago they started this bring your own device to school allowance. Then they proceeded to plan lessons around the use of these devices even though not all students were bringing devices. In fact many classes are asking for thumb drives on their supply list because students are being required to do their assignments electronically.
How many times have you had to wait while a computer processed something during a transaction when it would have happened quite a bit faster if the information was done manually. Computers where meant to make things easier, but how often have computer programs taken a simple process and made it 10 times more difficult( kind of like new math).
Kids no longer talk face to face with other people or go outside to play, they are too busy texting, using social media or playing video games. I sat in a room with my niece and her husband and they were having a conversation using their computers instead of talking to each other and they were in the same room together.
My kids think they are so deprived because we didn't buy them smart phones or even get them their own cellphone. We will be changing that this winter because one is already driving and the other will soon follow, but we will only get them basic phones that will text no data. My kids were limited to how much time they could spend on the computer and we didn't always get the latest video game systems. I made my kids write out their papers in a rough draft before they typed it out for their teacher. We wouldn't let them use calculators for basic math at home even if they used them at school. They learned how to go to the library to physically do research. Our family is an exception. When I was working in the Real Estate field 20 years ago we had computer programs where we entered the information and the computer filled out the legal documents for us, but my boss insisted that I learn how to do it manually first. This was a good thing. When the power went out we could still do our jobs.
Technology can be a good thing but when do we cross the line of too much technology? Could we have possibly already crossed that line as we lose touch with face to face relationships. There was a picture circulated on facebook labeled the real zombie apocalypse and it was a picture of a group of teens walking together all focused on their phones. I got my 1st cell phone 7 years ago. I have it instead of a home phone. I keep it with me at all times not so I am tied to it but so that if my car breaks down or if there is an emergency with my daughters I have it with me. I do not have a smart phone or a touch screen. In fact when I go looking for a basic phone with just a text keyboard I have a very difficult time finding one.
It has been proposed that October 4th be an annual disconnect day where you do not use electronic devices for communication. I think this is a good thing. I hope that there are a lot of people who will participate.
Why do I find this disturbing? Well we already rely heavily on technology. You can't purchase anything at the store or even get gas if the power is out. That means there is no manual way to do these things and if the power is out long term then we can't even purchase what we need. No one carries cash anymore. They swipe their visa debit cards leaving them vulnerable to hackers such as from Target last Christmas and more recently at Home Depot. Our children are taught to research using the computer instead of using books from the library. We are seeing more and more publications only published electronically.
Our school district has started a program where instead of sending notices home they want to do all communication through text messages and email. A couple of years ago they started this bring your own device to school allowance. Then they proceeded to plan lessons around the use of these devices even though not all students were bringing devices. In fact many classes are asking for thumb drives on their supply list because students are being required to do their assignments electronically.
How many times have you had to wait while a computer processed something during a transaction when it would have happened quite a bit faster if the information was done manually. Computers where meant to make things easier, but how often have computer programs taken a simple process and made it 10 times more difficult( kind of like new math).
Kids no longer talk face to face with other people or go outside to play, they are too busy texting, using social media or playing video games. I sat in a room with my niece and her husband and they were having a conversation using their computers instead of talking to each other and they were in the same room together.
My kids think they are so deprived because we didn't buy them smart phones or even get them their own cellphone. We will be changing that this winter because one is already driving and the other will soon follow, but we will only get them basic phones that will text no data. My kids were limited to how much time they could spend on the computer and we didn't always get the latest video game systems. I made my kids write out their papers in a rough draft before they typed it out for their teacher. We wouldn't let them use calculators for basic math at home even if they used them at school. They learned how to go to the library to physically do research. Our family is an exception. When I was working in the Real Estate field 20 years ago we had computer programs where we entered the information and the computer filled out the legal documents for us, but my boss insisted that I learn how to do it manually first. This was a good thing. When the power went out we could still do our jobs.
Technology can be a good thing but when do we cross the line of too much technology? Could we have possibly already crossed that line as we lose touch with face to face relationships. There was a picture circulated on facebook labeled the real zombie apocalypse and it was a picture of a group of teens walking together all focused on their phones. I got my 1st cell phone 7 years ago. I have it instead of a home phone. I keep it with me at all times not so I am tied to it but so that if my car breaks down or if there is an emergency with my daughters I have it with me. I do not have a smart phone or a touch screen. In fact when I go looking for a basic phone with just a text keyboard I have a very difficult time finding one.
It has been proposed that October 4th be an annual disconnect day where you do not use electronic devices for communication. I think this is a good thing. I hope that there are a lot of people who will participate.
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