Apple Watch Watch

I bought myself an Apple Watch for Christmas.  At least that's what I told myself and others, I really didn't need a reason other than I've wanted one for a while.

When wear-able technology first became available to consumers, I wasn't a fan.  I couldn't get past what people were doing with their Fitbits, something I thought was a fad (mostly correctly) and an intrusion on others' lives, namely mine.

Over the past couple of years, I've noticed how my kids have used their Apple Watches.  There did seem to be a definite convenience to getting a digital notification by a simple vibration on the arm, and being able to disseminate its importance with a quick turn of the wrist.  Plus, it was so much more than a Fitbit, since it integrates with Apple Store apps.

Of course, for those who feel they must use it for health reasons, it includes a fitness monitor that lets the wearer know if they're being active enough.  While I don't use that feature, it's fine for others who need the motivation.  More importantly, it lets the the owner share that information with other Apple Watch users upon request and acceptance, which lessens the chance anyone will share that unneeded info with me!

One of the more recent concerns I had about the Apple Watch was the unusual feeling of having something on my wrist.  I hadn't worn a watch regularly for a couple of years, and saw little future reason to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Turns out that wearing a watch is like riding a bike, and I picked it up again without even thinking about it.

So thumbs up for the Apple Watch.....another technology product I didn't know I needed until Apple invented it and told me I needed it.

What's Wrong With Merry Christmas

The holiday season is upon us, with lots of helpful Santas, and a few scattered Grinches.  It also means we're all going to be exposed to another useless argument about saying 'Merry Christmas' as opposed to the more generic 'Happy Holidays' or 'Seasons Greetings'.

I grew up in a super-conservative Christian area.  There was / is no controversy about this issue there; one was / is expected to say Merry Christmas lest they be identified as an outsider.  I imagine this is true for most of the U.S. fruited plain, which is vastly rural and Christian.

But once you've lived in a more populated area, and have plenty of non-Christian friends, the lines get blurred.  I'm much more likely to say Happy Holidays now, not because political-correctness requires it, but because it's easier.  It covers more bases, and I simply don't have to think about it.

The other day, I asked my non-Christian neighbor about his thoughts, not only on Merry Christmas, but other traditions such as Christmas trees and presents.  A native of India, he said he thought nothing of it.  He certainly was not offended in any way.  Unlike me, he came from a religiously diverse country, and everyone there respected others' traditions.

I'm not offended by anyone who wants to say Merry Christmas, but I am offended by those who would expect it of me, or that think it's the only holiday greeting that should be posted on public property.  Those people are close-minded, and ironically, not being very Christian when it comes to respecting others and their faiths.

Just accept my secular holiday greeting if you get it, as I would accept a non-secular one, and let's move on.

No Thank You

Thanksgiving-time is here, and so is my 9th annual list of things for which I am not thankful.  You can get to the prior lists by starting here or by using following the Thanksgiving label on the blog.

As usual, the following list is in no particular order:

Charging my technology devices.

Confederate statues.

Office workers who don’t clean up after themselves.

Invitations to things I don’t want to attend.

Fake (Fox) News.

The first snowfall, and all of the others that follow.

Sexual harassment deniers who’ve had multiple independent claims against them.

Confirmation bias.

Those who forward their confirmation biases on social media dozens of times a day.

The excessively slow pace of college and professional baseball games.

Christmas advertisements and music before Thanksgiving.

Hurricanes.

No Thanks Again

Here's my 8th annual Thanksgiving list of things for which I am not thankful.  You can get to the trail of prior lists here or by using the label 'Thanksgiving' on the blog.

As always, this list is in no particular order:

Donald Trump.

People with low IQs.

Fake news, and those on social media who swallow it.

Electronic dance music, and the mostly no-talent celebrity DJs who play it.

Injuries to star players on your team.

The Zika virus.

Christmas lights that are illuminated before Thanksgiving.

Christmas lights that aren't taken down until the Spring, or never.

Kanye West

Fuel pumps that ask multiple questions before allowing you to pump fuel.

'Interviews' on the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

People with the overwhelming urge to discuss their personal life without prompting.

The Meaning Of Christmas (Gift Exchanges)

I can't let the holiday season go by without an annual complaint about the bastardization of some Christmas tradition.  In 2012, and again in 2013, it was Christmas cards.  In 2014, it was Christmas songs.

This year, it's about Christmas gift exchanges.  I'm mostly referring to an event where an inane gift is blindly purchased to be given to another family member or co-worker, without an idea of what the receiver might actually want.

(I want to note that I have disdain for ANY type of co-worker gifting, often couched in the name 'Secret Santa'.  It doesn't matter it it's known what that person may want, because you can be sure most workers don't want feel as if they are being forced to spend time and money buying a Christmas gift for a randomly chosen co-worker.)

Growing up, it was a common practice for a family member to draw a sibling's name and buy a gift for that person.  This was a simple process, and the person could actually find out what the recipient wanted, and buy something useful.

But that wasn't good enough for my generation to pass on to their kids.  No, we had to invent a silly, more elaborate gift exchange process, one that included extended family and co-workers and had no requirements related to practical gift-giving.

Blind gift exchanges may seem like fun to some folks (read: women), but what is the actual outcome?  Time and money being spent on 'gifts' that are very unlikely to be used by the recipient.  And to achieve that ridiculous outcome, people need to sit around for an hour or so watching undesirable presents being opened by others.

Stop the madness!  Everyone would be much better off to open up their windows and throw the money spent on gift exchanges out onto the street, where perhaps a needy person could get some benefit from it.

But at least we are all honoring the birth of the Savior, right?

Do You Hear What I Hear (I Hope Not)

It's Christmas time, and as much as I'd like to vent again about the lack of understanding and effort when it comes to Christmas cards, this year I want to say something about Christmas songs.

Generally speaking, I don't have a problem with Christmas songs on the radio or in stores.  Sure, they start too early in the year, but it gets you into the spirit, I can appreciate that.

But why do I keep hearing so many old songs that are sung by long-ago-dead people?

For example, if I hear another Karen Carpenter rendition of Home For The Holidays I'm going to puke.  Same goes for anything by Burl Ives.

In fact, this goes for any artist who's been dead for over 25 years, with the possible exception of Nat King Cole singing The Christmas Song.  I don't think anybody can perform that song any better.  (A quick reminder: Tony Bennett isn't dead yet, so anything by him is also OK.)

To put it another way, I don't really want to hear traditional Christmas songs that were recorded 30 or 40 years ago.  There are plenty of songs that have been recorded by contemporary artists, assisted by the best instrumentation / sound that today's digital recording technology can bring us.

In conclusion, if I'm listening to Christmas music, I want to hear traditional Christmas songs by contemporary recording artists (with Nat King Cole occasionally sprinkled in), and rotate those singers out once they kick the bucket.

Otherwise, make it a Silent Night.

On Turning 50

I turned a half-century old this week.  Just a few quick thoughts about it so far:

* You know how the build-up to Christmas Day is often more spirited than Christmas Day itself?  That’s how turning 50 was for me.  The actual day was a little bit boring, at least in comparison to the build-up.  That may have been due in part to the day falling on a Monday.

* I feel like I suddenly have society’s permission to lower the bar in how I live life.  If I want to exercise less, if I want to take more time off, if I want to be less social, etc., age 50 means I can do all of those things without being as harshly judged.  That said, I have no intention of doing any of those things yet.

* Mentally, I still feel much younger than 50.  (Physically, not so much, but mentally I do.)  Plus, I hang out with a lot of people who are a few years older than me, which makes me feel even younger.  I’m not sure age and attitude are correlated, but if they are, I’m in good shape.

* AARP discounts.  A choice to play from the senior tees.  These aren't bad things.

The Meaning Of Christmas (Cards) Redux

Post-Thanksgiving week begets my annual rite of deep thought over this year's holiday letter.  Last year,  I wrote about how this is a task I willingly take up, while not hiding my disdain for those who make virtually no effort.

This year, I've realized the near-deadbeat Christmas card senders don't deserve all the disdain.  I need to reserve some of it for another group - the total-deadbeat Christmas card senders, and those who send cards to them.

Yes, in the past week I've come across a couple of families that say they enjoy getting Christmas cards, but don't send any themselves.  I don't understand how either of those things happens.

I'm happy to send out holiday greetings, but there is definitely a quid pro quo.  If I don't get even a lame Christmas card over a two year period, the non-sender isn't going to get one from me.

Yeah, I know, the whole Christmas card ritual should not be a burden, nor a contest. However, for those who choose not partake of it, even in a minimal way, you're missing an opportunity to share information about your family with non-Facebook people who might care.

The Meaning Of Christmas (Cards)

In the past couple of weeks, we've received our share of Christmas cards from family and friends.  I generally enjoy this annual ritual, and for many years our family has put forth an above average effort to send not only a card, but a themed-letter with highlights of the past year, along with a short personal note.

On the other hand, the Christmas cards we receive fall into two general categories: Those that include a picture with a form letter, and those that are simply a pre-printed family picture.

I acknowledge that lots of people don't think much of the Christmas form letter.  I get that, it can be kind of lame, and include all kinds of unnecessary information.  But as silly as that sounds, at least it's something. Which brings me to today's touchy subject.

I have little regard for those who send only a pre-printed picture as their so-called Christmas card.  Sadly, this has become the norm for the greetings we receive, and that trend has been growing ever since it became easy for people to make the pre-printed picture card several years ago.

If all someone cares to send me for a Christmas greeting is a once-per-year family picture, why bother?  If you're unwilling to give more than the minimum effort, just send it to me another time, when you aren't so lazy, er, I mean busy.  Hell, you can even send it electronically in an email, or tell me about a picture you posted to Facebook; it's all the same to me.

To all those family and friends who send me nothing but a pre-printed picture card as a Christmas greeting, I have a Christmas gift for you, something to make sending your Christmas greetings even easier:  Take me off of your Christmas card list.  If our relationship doesn't mean enough for you to personalize your greeting, then I assure you, it doesn't mean enough for me to care about getting an annual picture of your family/pet/vacation.

Just save the stamp, or better yet, donate the postage to charity.  That's a better way to show someone how much you care.