Texting Is A Distraction
New research reveals some very interesting facts about text messaging among teens in the U.S. and some of the numbers are staggering. According to the study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, the average girl sends 80 texts per day (30 for boys) and 87% of teens say they sleep with or near their cell phones.
All of this texting certainly raises serious concerns. Texting and driving, sexting, texting during class, the invasion of texting into academic work, and the complete destruction of the English language are certainly legitimate concerns (though that last one is an exaggeration in my opinion), but I am concerned about a couple of other issues. I want to write about one of those issues today.
The Myth of Multi-Tasking
If you are like me you have grown very attached to at least one personal computing device. These devices – computers, smartphones, even our televisions – have the ability to do more than one thing at a time. They are literally “wired” to work that way.
Unfortunately, our minds do not appear to be wired that way. I’m sure the subconscious mind has a way of thinking of solutions to problems while we focus on other things which is probably why people have learned to “sleep on” things, but I am referring to something else. Most of us have tried to imitate computers by attempting to focus on more than one task at a time. This, I think, is a huge mistake.
Others have written about and discussed this subject, but the point I’d like to make today is that texting is another attempt to multi-task (in some cases). There is nothing wrong with having a conversation with someone via texting but it is another thing to send and respond to text messages all day long while attempting to focus on other things.
Frankly, the sheer amount of time spent texting scares me a little. Many of us don’t realize how much of our time is wasted in the physical act of stopping to text, followed by texting itself, followed by switching back to what we were doing – just in time to receive a reply. Sending 80 texts per day is bound to consume more time than it is worth.
More importantly, we are constantly drawing our attention away from something else we should be doing. It is not so much about which task is more important. I have no doubt that sometimes the thing I should be doing is texting but sometimes I should be doing something else – and NOT texting (or doing anything else). While trying to write this very short piece I was distracted by text messages more than a dozen times.
AT&T – FAIL!
Every time I’m involved in a discussion about failed customer service it reminds me of my experiences with AT&T Wireless. And every time I wish I’d my experiences in a public place so I could give out a link and not have to talk about it anymore.
Today I spent an hour and seven minutes on the phone with AT&T to fix something that should have taken just a few minutes and I’m convinced, once again, that AT&T could not provide worse customer service if they were purposely trying to do so.
So, I’m here to detail the story of these fails so I no longer have to talk or write about them again.
Read more
Two Cents Each
- In Manhattan, Preparing for Kindergarten Admission Test
- This is simply ridiculous!
- Geeks Drive Girls Out of Computer Science | LiveScience
- Girls do seem to shy away from CS careers and that is unfortunate, but this "study" has not found the answer. I've not read anything quite so silly on livescience in a long time.
- E-books spark battle inside the publishing industry – washingtonpost.com
- Is anyone else growing tired of old school companies trying to stop innovation instead of finding a way to adapt?
- 100 Skills Everyone Should Master | Mighty Girl
- I don't think every item should be on the list but it's a great list anyway.
- Your guide to better chopstick etiquette (mostly Japanese) | Just Hungry
- A great list of tips if you want to use chopsticks properly. It does not explain "how" to use them but how to use them properly.
Happy Holidays!
Are you offended that I didn’t say Merry Christmas?
According to statistics posted on the website of the Wish Me A Merry Christmas Campaign, 53% of Americans are offended when greeted with Happy Holidays.
I have to tell you that I am a little surprised by this. I’m not sure I trust the statistics in the first place but that seems like an awful lot of people. Are people really offended by this? I understand why people prefer “Merry Christmas.” I prefer that myself and I’m very pleased when people say it, but I’m not offended when people say something different.
Another statistic on the website states that nine out of ten people think it’s okay to say Merry Christmas. Saying Happy Holidys is a good way to keep from offending the one out of ten. If more then five out of ten are offended by this effort, do we drop in in favor of offending the minority? I think the answer is no. People who are offended by Happy Holidays simply need to lighten up. If it doesn’t exclude you, don’t be offended by it. Simple as that.
I just think people misunderstand the spirit of Happy Holidays. I know many people are worried about the war on Christmas, but I don’t think that is what this is about. Americans celebrate at least five different holidays in the space of five or six weeks. Happy Holidays is a way to acknowledge all of these holidays at once. Is there really something offensive about inclusioin? Years ago my friends and I used to say Happy Hanukwanzmas. Would that be better?
The merits of the campaign itself are a different issue entirely for me. When I first stumbled onto this site I was very irritated – mostly because of my thoughts above – but I came to see some merit in the idea or at least in a modified version of the idea. I do think more retailers should offer a friendly Merry Christmas under certain circumstances. A great example is when I stop to purchase my tree every year. It would be downright silly for the clerk to wish me Happy Holidays when I am clearly in the act of celebrating a specific holiday.
On the other hand, my experience tells me that this campaign could do without the buttons. I tend to say Happy Holidays sometimes, but I’ve found that people almost always respond with Merry Christmas if I say Merry Christmas first.
Merry Christmas!
Great Site: Understanding Science
I’ve been planning to share this site whenever I was in the mood to talk about science.
After yesterday’s post, this seemed as good a week as any.
One of my biggest concerns is that our high school students are graduating without a proper understanding of science and the scientific method. I’m especially concerned for students of Christian high schools, but also for Christians in non-religious schools, and for all high school students. I’m sure some schools do a better job than others, but I think we should be diligent about teaching our own children and doing the best we can to share with other students and parents.
COPUS: Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science.
Dear Friend of Liberty
Last week I mentioned that I’d received a letter from Liberty University. Today I’d like to comment on that letter.
I’ve debated this for a couple of weeks now and I’ve decided to comment on the letter paragraph by paragraph. I will post the letter in full at the bottom of the post for those of you that want to read it first.
Dear Friend of Liberty,
I hope this letter finds you well and prosperous. I am writing to you today because, quite frankly, I need your help.
It does, thank you. With what can I help?
For nearly three decades, proud Americans like you have helped us grounded in the conservative Christian values that Liberty University was founded to support and defend. With the recent election of Barack Obama as President, radical left-wing activist groups are energized and seeking to use big government to mute the conservative voice. Few groups are more sinister than Americans United for Separation of Church and State and its misguided leader Barry Lynn.
What? I am ever frustrated with the labeling of others as radical and with the idea that radical is a bad thing. Were our founding fathers not radical?
and sinister? What makes a AU sinister? They stand up for freedom and the separations of church and state. Many on the extreme right subscribe to the notion that our country was not founded on the principle of separation which is probably where the term sinister comes from, but they are sadly mistaken. Our nation was indeed founded on that principle and I firmly believe it is one of the factors that has given us our prosperity (along with the entrepreneurial spirt most anyone must possess to have picked up and moved to another country).
Recently, Lynn, an ACLU lawyer turned reverend, seized on a fundraising opportunity when the university told a LU Democrat Club it could not use LU’s name and money in promoting some of its causes. The Democrat Club and its staff sponsor had refused to cut ties with the National Democratic Party, which supports abortion-on-demand and same-sex marriage.
First of all, what’s with the “an ACLU lawyer turned reverend” comment? What is that supposed to convey?
So, he was a lawyer for the ACLU. Good for him! We need good lawyers in the ACLU. I don’t agree with everything they do (and I’ve written about that before) but they stand up for freedom and that is a good thing. This is another thing that used to frustrate me about Dr. Falwell. The first time I heard him make a derogatory comment about the ACLU I was genuinely confused.
So, Lynn became a reverend. In my experience I’ve known many pastors who had been called to ministry after another career. Make no mistake, Falwell’s comments are meant to make the average “friend of liberty” think that Lynn can’t possibly be a “good guy” if he worked for the ACLU.
LU thought the Democrat Club’s allegiance to the Democratic Party was a direct contradiction to core Christian values held dear by the university, which is both pro-life and pro-traditional marriage.
This is where things get a little difficult for me to explain. I have NO problem with a university hiring employees who subscribe a a statement of faith, but university’s SHOULD NOT hold positions on issues. Once again, I DO support the right of the university to require employees subscribe, but a university is designed to be a place of education. Education by nature must be liberal. Student’s must be taught in an environment that is open to different positions.
I am also NOT saying that all material be taught as though it is on the same moral ground. I FULLY SUPPORT the right of any private university to teach students different positions and for students to learn what university leadership believes, but students should never be restricted from educational activities simply because university leadership disagrees with the political affiliation.
Lynn’s weapon of choice is the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, a federal agency which he often uses to pistol whip those who disagree with his radical, liberal political agenda.
Really? Is this any way for the chancellor of a university to speak of someone else? I’m not the biggest fan of Lynn’s but to say he uses the IRS to “pistol whip” anyone who disagrees with him? And there you go calling him a radical again as if that were a bad thing. The science department at LU teaches that the earth is less than 10,000 years old. I can think of few things more radical.
In this case, Lynn’s assertion is that LU, in limiting the use of its name and money, had violated its non-profit standing. His goal is to have LU stripped of its tax exempt status by the federal government.
I don’t know if Lynn has a case here. My suspicion is that he has, but this is an open and shut case in my book. I don’t think any of us should pay taxes but since we do I don’t think any institution should be exempt from those taxes. There is too much abuse of this. Religious institutions and other non-profits should pay taxes like any other institution (well, no they shouldn’t but you know what I mean).
Personally, I find such assertions and petitions for federal involvement in curbing religious freedoms a disturbing trend as we move closer to a more intrusive and socialized federal government. in fact, AU’s actions are un-American. If a school like Liberty University can be required to endorse and support abortion rights and same-sex marriage, then how can we continue to call America “a free country”?
Wow, this is packed full of goodness.
I wholeheartedly agree that “federal involvement in curbing religious freedoms” is disturbing. I’d argue that federal involvement in anything is disturbing but unfortunately we’ve crossed that bridge already, haven’t we? So, why are so many on the right set on granting the federal government the right to restrict behaviors as personal as sex and reproduction? How is that not disturbing?
AU’s actions are un-American? LU wants to tell students to break ties with one of two political parties in this country and AU’s attempt to stop that is un-American?
Is LU being “required to endorse and support abortion rights and same-sex marriage?” I didn’t read that anywhere. First of all, one of these rights is already guaranteed by ruling from the Supreme Court but that doesn’t mean LU has to support even that one. What has always made America great is the right to disagree. Restricting the rights of someone to have an abortion is a crime as it should be but disagreeing with that is not. Allowing students to believe does not require the university agree.
“[H]ow can we continue to call America ‘a free country’?” This is the point I’ve been trying to make. America is founded on principles of individual freedom and the separation of church and state. Students must be given the opportunity to associate with any political party they want. THAT is what makes America free.
My father taught millions to stand and fight when they knew in their heart they were doing what was right.
One of the things I admired most about Dr. Falwell. No matter how much I disagreed with some of what he stood for, I admire that very much and always will remember him for it.
I think it’s time for Christian conservatives to stand up against left wing political bullies like Barry Lynn. If we don’t stop him now, your church or your family could be his next political target. I hope you can send a financial gift of $15, $25, $50 or $100 to help us fight for the heart of America.
Calling names again. This argument might be relevant if Mr. Lynn was attacking LU’s right to teach a certain religious position, but we are not talking about that here. LU is telling students they cannot associate with a political party. This is similar to LU’s efforts to stop the formation of a Greenpeace chapter on campus when I was there. They simply cannot call themselves “Friends of Liberty” if they restrict the rights of their very own students.
In closing, I must say that this whole episode bothers me as a Christian as much as it does as an American. Jerry Falwell Jr. is following in his fathers footsteps by stating in so many words that a Christian cannot be a member of the Democratic Party or support certain candidates and/or political positions. I find this upsetting in a way that I find hard to put into words. I know very many devout Christians who are Democrats. I know many who are pro-choice, myself included. I know many who support human rights for homosexuals, myself included. I also know many who support positions I disagree with. I can be very arrogant from time to time but I would never be so arrogant to tell those people that they are not really Christians. Do I run around telling people that no Christian in his right mind should have voted for George W. Bush? Well maybe but I don’t question their faith over it, do I? 
Dear Friend of Liberty,
I hope this letter finds you well and prosperous. I am writing to you today because, quite frankly, I need your help.
For nearly three decades, proud Americans like you have helped us grounded in the conservative Christian values that Liberty University was founded to support and defend. With the recent election of Barack Obama as President, radical left-wing activist groups are energized and seeking to use big government to mute the conservative voice. Few groups are more sinister than Americans United for Separation of Church and State and its misguided leader Barry Lynn.
Recently, Lynn, an ACLU lawyer turned reverend, seized on a fundraising opportunity when the university told a LU Democrat Club it could not use LU’s name and money in promoting some of its causes. The Democrat Club and its staff sponsor had refused to cut ties with the National Democratic Party, which supports abortion-on-demand and same-sex marriage.
LU thought the Democrat Club’s allegiance to the Democratic Party was a direct contradiction to core Christian values held dear by the university, which is both pro-life and pro-traditional marriage.
Lynn’s weapon of choice is the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, a federal agency which he often uses to pistol whip those who disagree with his radical, liberal political agenda.
In this case, Lynn’s assertion is that LU, in limiting the use of its name and money, had violated its non-profit standing. His goal is to have LU stripped of its tax exempt status by the federal government.
Personally, I find such assertions and petitions for federal involvement in curbing religious freedoms a disturbing trend as we move closer to a more intrusive and socialized federal government. in fact, AU’s actions are un-American. If a school like Liberty University can be required to endorse and support abortion rights and same-sex marriage, then how can we continue to call America “a free country”?
My father taught millions to stand and fight when they knew in their heart they were doing what was right. I think it’s time for Christian conservatives to stand up against left wing political bullies like Barry Lynn. If we don’t stop him now, your church or your family could be his next political target. I hope you can send a financial gift of $15, $25, $50 or $100 to help us fight for the heart of America.
God Bless You,
Jerry Falwell Jr.
Weekly Link Roundup
- Stanford offers free downloads of its iPhone development class | Software | iPhone Central | Macworld
- A great way to learn iPhone programming
- Recent gopher Bookmarks on Delicious
- Wow, it's been at least ten years since I browsed gopher.
- 8 Year-Old Entrepreneur Makes Plea For Job – Business Opportunities Weblog
- What a cool little kid!
- Tarjeta de dentista :: Cuarto derecha
- Very creative design idea.
- Garlic Shrimp and Scallops Recipe (by Jeremy Zawodny)
- Rachel Sutherland, 2006 The Other Half of Famous Twins | GetBack Retro Images, Video, Games and Trivia
- HugeURL
- Totally useless site but good for quick laugh.
- Talking Points Memo | Frightful Kindle
- I love the Kindle app for iPhone but I like the Kindle better. The "non-backlitness" is a big plus for me. I spend a lot of time in front of a screen so the more I can get away the better. The iPhone app is very cool for "having my books with me" all the time. I carry the Kindle a lot of places but I carry the iPhone everywhere.
- Twitter / mcuban: can't say no one makes mon …
- Haha, good point
- "60 Minutes" freaks out over Conficker. Where's John Hodgman when you need him? | TV Barn
- "Maybe tonight, a lot of 50-plussers will update their security software or lock up that wi-fi they've been sharing with the neighborhood. I suppose that's all for the good. Still, I wonder if anyone bothered to inform Lauren, the 30-trying-to-look-like-22-year-old featured in those Windows ads, that her $700 Windows box could get infected with Conficker — but a Mac, or a PC with non-MS-manufactured Linux as the operating system, can't?"
- BBC NEWS | Magazine | Death and my daughters
- A moving story about dealing with death.
- BBC NEWS | UK | England | North Yorkshire | Missing chef website investigated
- I was in the hospital with third degree burns on 22% of my body when I was a junior in high school. A local convenience store placed a can for donations in the store. I know they collected donations – people told me and it was a high traffic store. I never saw a dime of those donations!
- Perfect Running Pace Revealed | LiveScience
- "Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison now have an explanation for this state of running nirvana, and we can thank our ancestors and some evolutionary biology for it."
A New Crop of Scientists Are Using Their Children as Research Subjects – NYTimes.com
Apparently, some scientists use their own children as test subjects in the name of science.
At a birthing class, Dr. Sinha, a neuroscience professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stunned everyone, including his wife, by saying he was excited about the baby’s birth “because I really want to study him and do experiments with him.” He did, too, strapping a camera on baby Darius’s head, recording what he looked at.
— A New Crop of Scientists Are Using Their Children as Research Subjects – NYTimes.com
I love science as much as anyone, but this is very disturbing to me. Does anyone NOT see an ethical issue here?
Roe v. Wade
Two days ago marked the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. I think it’s safe to say that no other Supreme Court ruling has spurred so many into active protest and support. Millions of people call themselves pro-choice and millions call themselves pro-life. Thousands march ever year in Washington in what they call the March for Life and thousands more march and act in support or protest of this ruling.
With the election of our new President, this ruling is again at the forefront of the minds of many. Barack Obama co-sponsored the Freedom of Choice Act and stated that he would sign it as his first act as President, which has millions of people furious and frustrated. I’ve read summaries of FOCA written by supporters and detractors, but I have not read the bill myself yet. As such, I cannot say that I support it. It seems to raise issues regarding states rights which complicate the matter in my mind. I will have to save that discussion for another day.
But on the matter of a woman’s right to choose, I’ve made up my mind. I can’t pretend that this issue doesn’t leave me conflicted, but I believe in freedom. I think abortion is a terrible thing and I’d like to see fewer abortions this year than there were last, but I have never believed it is an issue for government to decide. Those who march against the right to choose, like to talk about the “slippery slope.” I don’t see any other way to look at anti-abortion laws as dangerously slippery. Reproductive rights should be protected at all costs. Any government big enough to tell you that you cannot have an abortion is big enough to tell you that you must!
I know many would argue that the this right infringes on the rights of the unborn. I understand this argument, but I think this is similar to other judgement calls that need to be made in a free society. Stripping a woman’s right to choose places her freedom in the hands of government as well as others with a stake in the matter – parents, extended family, etc. This must be placed in balance against the rights of the unborn child. This is one of those issues that is a no-win situation. In many cases, a young woman is in grave danger when it becomes public that she is pregnant.
I don’t have the time to spell out all of my thoughts on this controversial and complicated subject. This is a heated debate and I don’t want to inflame the emotions of those with whom I disagree. Along with my thoughts on FOCA, I will have to make time to write at length about this issue, but on this day close to the anniversary of Roe v. Wade I wanted to make two of my opinions clear.
One, I am pro-choice. I strongly support the right of a woman to decide what happens in the matter of her own pregnancy.
Two, I am pro-life. I strongly believe that abortion is always a bad decision. I would argue that even in the case of rape, incest, and the life of the mother – abortion is not a good solution. It is a terrible thing.
So, how do I reconcile these disparate views? I remind myself that this discussion takes place on two levels – personal and societal. On a personal level, I believe abortion is wrong. I don’t want to see any woman have an abortion. I’d like to say that I have enough respect for others to allow them to make this choice without judgement from me, but on the issue I strongly disagree. On a societal level, the issue is different. It is not whether abortion is a bad thing, it is whether any society has the right to force a life-changing choice on an individual.
I’m Back
After a year and a half of doing other things and ignoring this place I am finally back. I thought I was done with this but I decided I missed it.So, I’m back!
I’m Back
As many of you know, September is a busy month for me, but I’m back.I have some old drafts to clear out.
Good Work Son!
My son tied for 2nd place on the verbal section of the test given by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.News in pdf or check Google’s HTML version.Good work Billy!
Google Maps
Tell me this is not cool!The night it was announced my son and I began brainstorming what we should try. We came up with about two dozen ideas and decided I should try about 8 of them.Here are two maps I threw together as a learning experience. They are not finished yet, but it shouldn’t take much moreUPDATE: I forgot to post the links to the maps. This one actually works. It may not work well, but you can actually do searches. I have to click on one of the panel items to make the map show, but I am looking into that. This one is a mock up of the next one I’d like to finish. It doesn’t work yet. I plan to pull all the data and store in on my server.
I’m Back
Well, it’s been a while since my last post. I was planning on posting about some of my previous work, and I got distracted fooling with my link blog. Then I wanted to post all about that and Google announced its API for the maps. How cool is this?!!So, I have been busy (obsessed) with doin’ the Google maps thing. Loads of fun!Some quick updates:
- Mom is all moved in to her new place. Billy did get a chance to visit Famous Daves (Terri and Becky did too) Billy was accepted to the People to People program. Becky graduated from Kindergarten Billy graduated from 6th grade. He won several academic awards and the PTF award.
If I read his name one more time…
When Doug Brien missed two field goals to blow our game against the Steelers this year I was quick to defend him. After all, you can’t blame a whole game on the kicker. Can you? It is his job to kick that ball between the posts, right?Anyway, my daughter got me this great Jets desk calendar for Christmas. It’s the kind with a little rip-off page for each day. I love it, but…I am officially sick of Doug Brien.
- February 11
- Doug Brien was named the AFC’s special-teams player of the week after kicking 2 field goals, including the game winner in overtime, in the Jets’ 27 – 24 victory over Oakland in week 10 of 2003.
- May 2
- While with San Fransisco in 1994, kicker Doug Brien recovered a fumbled kickoff that helped the 49ers forge a big first-quarter lead over Dallas in the NFC title game. San Fransisco went on to win that game, then the Super Bowl.
- May 14/15
- Kicker Doug Brien’s 105 points in 2003 fell just 1 short of his career best. For what team did he score 106 points in 2000? Ans: – New Orleans
- June 2
- In what two games did Doug Brien kick 3 field goals in 2003?
- I could not care less!!!
Happy Birthday Dad
Yesterday was dad’s birthday.Mom decided the kids should do something special in memory of him. We all got some flower seeds to sprinkle in the yard or garden. We also got some helium balloons to ‘release.’ It was very nice. We all arranged to do it at about the same time since we could not all be together. Becky drew a smiley face and wrote “Happy Birthday PopPop” on one of her balloons (and one of Billy’s). She said that would let PopPop know that we were saying “Happy Birthday.”I miss you very much, Dad.We all do!
Quite A Weekend
You may or may not know that I’m not really a handyman. This weekend I had the opportunity to do some things I don’t normally do.1. measure trim2. hammer nails3. go to home depotHavin’ fun.
Missing You
I never like being away from the family. I can go to work for 12 hours and not really mind, but as soon as I leave to go do something that’s not really work (especially if I have to spend the night away), I miss them. Love you guys. See you tomorrow.
Babysitting
Right now I’m sitting in the parking lot at Home Depot. The kids are watching a muppets DVD. Brian and Jennifer have to pick something out. There happens to be a wireless network in range here called ‘orange’ and the key is ‘depot.’ Interesting. I couldn’t obtain an IP addy though. I wouldn’t do such a thing anyway, so I’ll post this later.
Famous Dave’s
Finally paid a visit to famous Dave’s for some St. Louis ribs. Fantastic stuff! Can’t wait to take Billy. He’s a big fan of ribs. Maybe if Billy comes with me to help Mom move.After the ribs, we went to Circuit City to get a router and card so we can set up the wireless for Mom at Brian’s.
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This website is simply a place for me to express my opinions. I post my thoughts on faith, family, freedom, and fun. -
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