2016 Fall November 18 Friday

51 degrees this morning.  No walk 

Forecast is for a “freeze warning” and a low of 30 degrees tonight!  Winter weather may finally arrive, although they aren’t forecasting any snow etc.  

I am not ready for snow, or cold weather for that matter!  

I always notice the difference in my morning when I miss my walk  I always feel a lot aware and creative after I take my walk.  

Thanksgiving coming up, brings back memories of other Thanksgivings.  Some of my earliest memories are of Thanksgiving events. 

I kind of wonder why Thanksgiving was set on a Thursday instead of Friday, but I am glad they did since it has turned into a 4 day holiday! 

It is rather odd that eight of the eleven holidays are in the time from Nov. 11 to the 3rd Monday in February, basically in three months.  (Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year Day, Martin Luther King day and Presidents Day).  

Listening to my book on lectures on “Great American Literature”, the lecturer noted that most of the books of early American Literature are about men or boys.  

Apparently it was noted during that time also because last night on Jeopardy I learned that  “Little Women” was written when a publisher asked the author to write a book about woman!

We usually tape Jeopardy and watch it as we can.  While I probably wouldn’t do well in actual Jeopardy, it is relatively easy (for the most part) to come up with the answers at home.  Of course there are still many answers that I think “how in the world do they remember that!

I have been having strong dreams again, this is one from yesterday.

11-17-17:

Dreamed I was at some kind of party or gathering in a big house.  

The house was designed for “private parties” and the party was upstairs.  

Don’t remember what type of party or what type of event it was.  .

Left and came back and then was difficult to turn on lights or find the party.

I went out again, and came back after trying to decide whether to come back or not.

The ground was frozen, like it was very cold.

Went in and several servers were giving out free boxes of Crackerjacks .  I opened mine and wondered about spelling them on the floor.  

Woke up.

Very  strong dream, what I remember is only a small portion of it.

That’s it for now, Friday, November 18, 2016.  

2016 Fall November 17 Thursday

65 degrees this morning, walk 36:23 minutes

Temperature has varied wildly the past several weeks, 65 degrees this morning.  I really didn’t know how to dress for my walk!  

It actually got up to 87 degrees yesterday so it is just as difficult to decide how to dress during the day, although from about 50 degrees to 115 degrees, I dress about the same , at least for work anyway.

High wind this morning, which probably partially accounts for the relatively slow walk time, although most of the time it didn’t bother me.  I  may have just been slow this morning for whatever reason. 

Today is my Dad’s birthday.  He would have been 110 years old if he was still living.   

The “Lectures on Great American Literature” audio I am listening to started this morning on Stephen Crane and  “The Red Badge of Courage”.  

Of course I had read that several  times.  In fact, it was the first complete book I ever read on an iPhone and that was on an iPhone 3, so it has been a while.  

The Red Badge of Courage is a “public domain” book.

For some reason I didn’t know (or remember) that he had written short stories.  He died at what seems a young age (29) to have accomplished so much.  He died of TB. 

I’m not sure when I first read the book (probably an excerpt in a a literature book) but it had quite an impact on me.

He actually never fought in a war, and many veterans advised him The Red Badge of Courage had “gotten it right”.

I forgot to mention on Veterans Day, it was  30 years ago on Veterans Day, 1986 that I got my first “PC Compatible” desktop computer.  The sales person advised me I could “wait until I needed” a hard drive!  

I didn’t wait too long before I got a 10 MB hard drive, which everyone felt was big!  

I’m not sure what I thought about the future of computing, but I was happy with the size of the herd drive I had.  For then, it was ok.

For some reason this season seems to be the time I buy “milestone” computers.  I bought my first laptop on Christmas Eve and my first Apple computer shortly after Thanksgiving.  

While science fiction forecast what we have not, I’m not sure if I really believed I would see it

There is still a lot of work to be done, there are too many problems  with computers, phones and the internet etc.

I haven’t researched more apps on the iWatch.  I continue to learn the basics of it  

I think one of the  real values of it is the “tapping” it makes on your wrist to remind you etc.  It also is easy to send short text messages on it.  I hope to find a “sleep app” and a “pulse app” that looks reliable and not too hard to learn.  

It also is surprising how soon you get used to just looking at your wrist for the temperature etc!

That’s it for now, Thursday, November 17, 2016.

2016 Fall November 16 Wednesday

2016 Fall November 16 Wednesday

52 degrees this morning, walk 34;55 minutes  

Any time I decide to watch something on tv, I say thank goodness for DVR’s etc.  Commercials, “happy talk” etc. has taken over tv a substantial amount.  Much of what isn’t advertising is “advertising” disguised as news.

I really wonder how long advertising can continue to support tv, the internet, magazines, sports stadiums etc. 

Of course it is like professional sports, the few (relatively speaking) who watch them are subsidized by everyone else in the form of higher prices, high cable tv costs etc, not even counting the cities who force persons who rent cars and hotel rooms to pay excessive taxes to support stadiums etc. they will never benefit from.  Seems like that should be illegal.

Listening to an analysis of the writer Henry James.  Someone again that I have never read and probably never will read.  

The lecturer did make an interesting point that may explain why I don’t always like the “film” version of books, especially if I read the book first.

He noted that “visual language” is much different from “written language” and it is difficult to translate “written language” into “visual language”.  

It may be another aspect of what I was discussing yesterday, perhaps a slight difference between “audio language” and “written language”.

I expect that “audio language” is closer to “written language” than  “written language” and “visual language”.  

Maybe that is why I frequently don’t “get” movies, maybe I am lacking in visual language skills, or, more likely, just lack of understanding, or maybe people are reading stuff into it and are projecting themselves on the book or movie.

It could be that, in the time of Henry James etc., the only way they could bring up some subjects was in the guise they did. Probably a lot of  truth in that.

One big exception to the “not liking the movie after reading the book”, is the book “Girl on a Train”.   I’m not real sure if I would have understood the movie if I had read the book first.

For some reason all of my major programs (the Mac equivalent to Microsoft Word etc.) are “off the dock”.  Very odd.  Also very frustrating!  

The Apple Store is moving back from it’s “temporary” store to it’s new “renovated” store, so I doubt if I can get any help there.  

I am now outside of the 3 year window to get telephone help, so maybe I can find something on Google.  

Middle of the week.  I am looking forward to next week and a 4 day weekend!

“Graduated” from the Citizens Police Academy last night.  It was educational, and interesting and worth the time, but I will be glad to get  my Tuesday nights back!

That’s it for now, Wednesday, November 16, 2016.

2016 Fall November 15 Tuesday

44 degrees this morning, walk 35:03 minutes

Thanksgiving is only a week and two days  away and only one and 1/2 months left in 2016!   

Now we will start making excuses like “we’ll do it after the holidays!”. 

I had a lot of things I was going to do “before the Holidays” that won’t happen, at least “before the Holidays”.   

I finally got rid of several “vampire” expenses of things that just keep renewing.  Not a lot of money ($45 per month), but it adds up.  Also just makes me feel good that I cancelled the items.  

One was something I just don’t need anymore, (data on iPads) the other was a contact/reminder/task program that I reduced to “free” status, since all I used was the services that were with the “free” account level.  

I think it is kind of like avoiding having “stuff” around, it is just one more thing you don’t have to worry about.  I have one more “vampire” magazine I have to cancel and then that will be it.

I think the “automatic renewal” is really insidious and they ought to advise you of cost increases and renewal periods so you can make a conscious decision to renew or not renew.

I am reading more and more information from historians etc. that reinforces  my feeling that we are living (or will be living) in a “Nazi Germany” political situation.  There is a “leader” who blames everything on minority segments of society and if you disagree with him you are “wrong” and he didn’t can’t take responsibility for any mistake

What is so bad is he is appointing zealots and nuts who are worse than him and get off on the feeling of power and will go to extremes to destroy the “opposition”.  

It will be a scary four years, and even worse when people start to realize he “over promised”.

Of course, what is worse is the “vice bully” and the zealot who are in the succession lines are even worse than the big bully. 

I was thinking this morning about the difference between “listening” to a book or article and “reading” it.  

Some books, I enjoy listening to more than I would enjoy reading, and, in many cases I wouldn’t “read” the book I enjoy listening too.

The reverse is also true.  I get sent a couple  of Newsletters that are really interesting and thoughtful to read. 

However, I probably would never “listen” to them, but I enjoy reading them and going back and looking at some of the main points.

One, that I just got a copy of, is a “trends” newsletter that is very interesting to read.  What is good is it simulated me to look up more information about the “Trends” they review.  I’m not sure if they are right, but it is interesting to read.

The other Newsletter is one persons thoughts on world events and what he expects to happen.  Again, he is interesting and encourages more thought.  I first read it with skepticism

and then try to think about it as “what if he is right!”.  

Anyway, there i no way I could just “listen” to those two Newsletters!

That’s if for now, Tuesday, November 15, 2016.

2016 Fall November 14 Monday

52 degrees this morning, walk 34:14 

Read an article about “design” yesterday.  It was interesting to read how “design” can affect the perception of a product or service either in a negative or positive sense. 

Our perceptions are based on a lot of cultural icons or thoughts, and so the concept of “design” may not be international or global.  (I’m not sure if the article actually said that, that was my perceptions.)

It is strange how a company will pay millions of dollars for a new “design” of a trademark or whatever, and so many times don’t see the obvious defects that made the trademark a laughing stock and the new, very expensive, trademark is immediately pulled from the market.

Kind of “the emperor has no clothes” concept or that only the Joker can tell the King the truth and King (the company in this case) didn’t bother appointing a Joker so he will know the truth, etc.

Perhaps “group speak” or “if you pay enough money it has to be good” fallacy.

Anyway, the thrust of the article was that design is important.  The title appeared to indicate that perhaps the importance of changing design had been taken to extremes.  

As usual, something different works, so the mob gathers and takes everything to extremes.  

Listening during my walk to lectures about “American Literature”.  I just finished listening about “Tom Sawyer” and Huckleberry Finn” and “Pudd’nhead Wilson”.  

Again, I have read the first two (I don’t recall reading the 3rd) and there was many aspects I certainly missed when I read them, although actually I was aware of a lot of the aspects he mentions.

I remember a teacher saying that Mark Twain became a “bitter old man” and it was reflected in his writing (true).  

Anyway, the impact it had on me was I decided I wasn’t going to become a “bitter old man” and I think the comment the teacher made had a lot of influence on me as I aged and I was determined not be become a “bitter old man” who saw only disappointment in life.

Of course, it was true that Mark Twain became a “bitter old man” and he writing deteriorated because of it or at least reflected it so his humor was no longer good.

When we lived in Memphis, every time I went over the Mississippi, I thought about floating down the Mississippi on a raft.  It would have been quite a journey.  

I would look at the river and wonder how in the world they would float down there on a raft.  

The “Great American Literature” course is now going into Henry James, someone I don’t think I  ever read (except for maybe excerpts) and am not really familiar with.  I have read about him etc, but know very little of his writing, so it will be interesting to learn about him.  

Again, I will probably never read any of his works, but at least I will have some acquaintance with his writings.

Surprised to note that my “iWatch” had 82% battery when  I put it on the charger last night.  

I decided not to use any of the “sleep” apps yet, none of them had a really good history of reviews.  I’m not sure what comes first, the “chicken or the egg” so to speak, but I am not going to take a chance on an app that may be malicious or a “spy” app, especially considering the national government we have now or at least that is coming in!  “1984” is finally here!

That’s it for now, Monday, November 14, 2016.

2016 Fall November 13 Sunday

44 degrees this morning, walk 35:25 minutes.

I gave the iWatch a good battery test by accident and it passed with flying colors.  

I accidentally left the watch on overnight, so when I put it on the charger, it had been on for over 24 hours, it had gone through two “walks”  (which supposedly the GPS  uses the battery more) and when I put it on the charger this morning, it still had 52% battery left!

That will actually work fairly well, since it takes about 2 hours to fully charge the battery and it normally is about 2 hours after I finish my walk before I need it.  I shower etc., do my journal, take a nap etc., so it is a natural cycle to get my watch recharged.  

I believe I forgot and left my watch on since I normally “change” watches during the day before I got my iWatch that I wear all the time.

I had an “exercise watch”, an “informal wear watch”, a “somewhat more dressier watch and a watch I wear when I dress up.  I usually ended up changing watches at least 4 times a day. 

The only problem with the iWatch is I like my other watches and I don’t want to not wear my watches.  I will need to figure that out.  

I can always wear two watches either on one arm or one on each arm.  I especially like the watch Aliene gave me when we got married (which is the one I wear when I dress up).  

I have always liked watches and have had to restrain myself from buying watches, since I can only wear one a time.  

I know there are times I won’t want to wear the iWatch, when I am doing certain types of work etc.  Also there will b certain times I’ll want to wear the “somewhat more dressier“watch and there are times when I’ll want to wear the “best” watch, when I probably will wear the iWatch on my right wrist”.  

Anyway, I am very pleased to find the battery is so strong.

Reading an article about how all of the “stuff” the “Baby Boomers” accumulated is having a hard place finding a home.  The children/grandchildren don’t want it and there is really no market for it.

So many people are dealing with having to dispose of artifacts (or at least “things” that have been in the family for generations and no-one wants them and they hate to give them to thrift stores or whatever.

The actual story was about people retiring and “downsizing” and simply have no place to put their stuff they have accumulated or that they got from their parents.  

Many people have a more minimalist view of material things, so there isn’t much of a demand for such things any more.  

Part of the story revealed how some children suddenly were “gifted” these “things” they had no desire for.  

I remember seeing some people “downsize” and end up with a home full of stuff they didn’t want to get rid of.  

I can understand their dilemma, I believe the best thing is to just not accumulate.  I have really avoided buying “things” the past few years since I realize after a while “things you own” may end up “owning” you!

That’s it for now, Sunday, November 13, 2016  

2016 Fall November 12 Saturday

41 degrees this morning.  Walk 34:43 minutes

Waiting to see if this will be a “record year” for the latest “first frost”.  Still about a month to go.  

Right now it is 38 degrees, which is getting close!

Saw something on Facebook this morning that was depressing.  Some idiot had published something that the incoming president had “declared burning the flag to be treason”.  

What is even worse, 21,000 people “liked it”.  Sick. even though I don’t know if they were all “likes”, since there were many “anger” responses also.   

Soon anyone who doesn’t agree will have to wear a star and not be able to own property. Nazi Germany, here we come.

For the first time ever, I “de-friended” the person who sent it to me and reported it to Facebook as a false news story, and asked not to see any more such stories.

Of course, there are two sides to not seeing the stories, it doesn’t raise my blood pressure or waste my time being angry, but also I don’t know what the idiots are thinking.  

Treason for burning a flag is insane.   I would have thought it was satire, except the same person had sent similar trash.  

Anyway, if I don’t have it on my Facebook page such trash isn’t taking up room that it shouldn’t be taking up.  

In a way I feel somewhat uneasy about not receiving such information, but I don’t see why I should wast my time.   

I have learned a lot of the “surface” stuff about the iWatch, now I will need to dig deeper.  

I am considering wearing my watch while I sleep to get details about my sleeping.  Still undecided about that. 

My next major apps are probably going to be a “sleep analysis” app and an app that keeps track of my pulse all day.  

I have learned to depend a lot on the “reviews” of an app.  I decided to stay away from the apps with “too few reviews” or with a very small number of reviews.  

The iWatch has a one minute (you can repeat itI) “Breath interlude”.  Actually it is beneficial.  Not that I couldn’t do it without it, but it reminds of it and kind of leads you through a “guided mindfulness” of breathing.  It sounds rather strange but it does work.  It tells your heartbeat after you are done.

It also has a reminder to “stand” at least once an hour.  Again, it sounds rather strange but it does work.

The Holiday is over and the regular weekend is here.  It was nice to have an “extra” day!

That’s it for now, Saturday, November 12, 2016

2016 Fall November 11 Friday

55 degrees this morning, Walk 35:10 minutes

A 3 day weekend, thank goodness  As I have mentioned before I love “Holidays”.  While it isn’t like that now, a “vacation day” for me wasn’t all that much since I still got phone calls etc..  Now it isn’t quite the same, but i still feel the internal pressure to check e-mail etc and generally keep up.

Veterans Day today.  While I am a Veteran I don’t feel like I really did that much (except 4 years of my life) compared to others.  

About to the point of canceling my physical newspapers.  For one reason, I have very strong negative feelings about supporting the local newspaper with even a penny when the the editorial page continually attacks what I believe and encourages actions that I believe are destroying the city and state. 

I have to admit the local paper does not appear to allow the editorial opinion to influence he news paper, but I’m sure it does.

The Wall Street Journal used to be fair in their stories, but now they are allowing their editorial opinion to influence their stories, so it may be time to cancel my subscription on it anyway.  

The problem with internet news is that they allow the advertising to take over, and it is almost impossible to read them.  (This is not so for some of the sites, such as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal)

As I have mentioned before, I think I’ll put a long “vacation stop” on the papers and see how I get along.  One problem is I really enjoy the physical Sunday New York Times, and I hate to give  that up.

I really wonder why big companies are always asking you to donate to THEIR charities?  When I read about them going millions to political candidates etc. I don’t have any reason to donate to THEIR charities.  They even beg you for money as you check out (of course, I just always say “no”, I donate to my own charities).  

I thought about that because every time I put a “vacation stop” I am asked to donate the paper to a charity etc.  Sure, I am sure it goes to a charity!  

I noticed the hogs (lobbyists, companies etc.) are starting to gather at the public trough.  They already are crowing about a “mandate” (where is that?, he didn’t even win he popular vote) to reduce taxes on the rich, increase taxes for the lower income and shovel money to private companies and allow (encourage?)  big business, drug companies, banks etc.  to openly screw consumers again .  Sickening.  

I read where many of the lobbyists, special interest groups etc. will “helpfully” provide new laws etc. that of course give them special favors etc. 

I really notice a comparison with Hitler in the latest presidential campaign.  Scapegoating minority groups (“it’s all their faultI), outrageous lies and juvenile behavior.  He is already starting to revert back after trying to show some class for a day or so after the election.

I always see Veterans Day as some kind of marker that it is the start (somewhat) of the “Holiday Season” and definitely means the year is almost over and a new year is beginning. 

That’s it for now, Friday, November 11, 2016.  

2016 Fall November 10 Thursday

40 degrees this morning.  Walk 34:15 minutes 

Not sure if there is any relationship between my walk time and the weather this morning!  I think that is a record, although I haven’t checked.

One thing about the iWatch, it keeps the exact distance.  On the iPhone, the mileage I walked could vary about .2 of a mile either way. 

The iWatch keeps it exactly and it has been the same each day to the .10 of a mile.  

When I saw the 34:15, my first thought was I had “cheated” and forgotten to walk part of the route, but I walked exactly the same distance, so the faster walk was valid.

I really have no idea why I walk fast some days, slower on others. Normally I can feel it when I am slow.  Have varied as much as 2 minutes either way.

Santa Claus is here!  I saw my first Santa Claus yesterday.  He actually looked kind of lonely (it was mid afternoon on a weekend).  I saw the big guy come in myself.

Also heard Christmas music in the store, got in my car and heard Christmas music on the radio, XM already has at least one Christmas station with only Christmas music!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, I love it. I like Christmas decorations, Christmas music, Santa Claus, everything about it.  

Every year I think I will list to Christmas music in July on Internet radio, although I never do.  

I don’t blame the businesses, I think something like 75 % of some of their profits come from the Holiday Season (I may be wrong on that and of course it will vary based on the business.)

I am disappointed that it now looks like the Hedge fund, private equity and drug company thieves are going to have a field day ripping off the government and the American public without any oversight whatsoever from the government.  

Also, it looks like the same incompetents who destroyed Kansas and this state will now be doing the same thing at the national level.  

I am sure they will do an excellent job of it.  

Seems like they would learn, but I saw a picture of some Kansas incompetent politician  with  a big ass kissing grin just  at the thought of how they can  shovel tax money to his friends and political supporters and try to stuff their stupid, idiotic  policies on Americans at the national level.  I don’t think they will have much luck at that.  

Kind of like this state, where they brag about a ‘tax cut” of $36 per year for persons making minimum wage and $1,000 per for their buddies and friends who make over $200,000 per year!  Meanwhile schools fall apart, public services deteriorate as they brag about all the “incentives” business gets!

I just figure “what goes around comes around” as they say.

"There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will." - Epictetus

That quote kind of leaped out at me.  Of course, there is always the decisions of what is “beyond of our will”.

That’s it for now, Thursday, November 10, 2016.

2016 Fall November 9 Wednesday

53 Degrees this morning. Walk, 36:30 minutes (estimated, forgot to stop the stopwatch)

Unfortunately, due to a malfunction on the computer I lost my post this morning.

The way I write my posts, I can't really recreate it since it is strictly flow of thoughts.  

Who knows, it may be for the best!  

What seemed to happen is the new programs refused to open.  I"m sure there is a simple explanation.  

When i tried to get the other programs to open, I lost my post, much to may dismay.  

Now that the iWatch stores all of my "walk data", I hate to forget to stop the time, since it will leave an aberration on the data.  Maybe it will help me to remember to shut off the watch when I end my walk!.  

Sometimes I am so buried in my own thoughts or listening etc., I just forget.

Elections are over, thank goodness.  

In this state, it seems the same people who created the problems get re-elected.  

I don't think term limits help, I think they just stop people from running and encourage people who do run to "grab what they can" while in office since they don't have any reason to worry about the future.

I think the idea was the term limits would stop State Legislatures from worrying about getting re-elected and they would make good long-term decisions.  Didn't happen.

The voters didn't approve several "State initiatives", including the attempt by big agriculture to get special privileges, one that would give teachers raises (that was good) but also made a huge slush fund for colleges.

Maybe the State Legislature will develop some courage and provide decent raises for teachers (and all state personnel) instead of being cowards.

Running out of time, so will keep this short.

That's it for now, Wednesday, November 9, 2016.