Topic: Life

So, Let’s consider: Getting and staying Tech Savvy 0

Posted by on in Health, Hobbies, How To, Internet, Laptops and Tablet PC's, Life, Living, Making Life Better, Self Improvement, Technology Trends And Directions



So, Let’s consider: Getting and staying Tech Savvy

As the old addage goes: The only thing constant is change. The days of pencil, paper and protractor are quickly being replaced by every day tools the likes of which we first saw in Dick Tracy in the comics decades ago. The little toys that Diet Smith Industries came up with back then were the tools which we’re finding to be becoming standard and indispenseable items of today and tomorrow.

Now I have to confess, I’ve been in computers for over 45 years, and I still learn stuff every day. So, I’m writing this basically directed towards those of my generation and the one before as many of us now have to use these new toys as requisites to getting through our daily lives!

Once one learns what’s out there, where it is and how to use it, you’ll find your life can be very positively impacted. For many that are retired, living alone, etc., it is also a great way of rebuilding your life social and communication structure. The factors that lead to isolation for many can be replaced by the simple tools like FaceTime, Facebook, and other video and social applications. Even though you’re several time zones away, you’re basically in the same room. But, you don’t have to be retired to use and want to use these resources!

Learning about and how to use basic consumer technologies can help you keep current on events. You will no longer have to depend on Tom Brokaw, Huntley, Brinkley or any of the rest. It’s there for you to just got get and very current if not in real time. Your biggest challenge will be in selecting from the crowd!

This also lets you connect with other people that share your hobbies and interests. Explore new hobbies, places to go, and many other things of interest. The educational resources are amazing and many of them are free – and these are everything from simple how to’s to MIT and other university classes. They’re just a web browser or google(www.google.com) away! Had a nagging question that you just can’t find the answer to? Google it!

So how can you find and learn of these resources if you don’t know what, where or how?

Well, ask someone else or ask a kid. Kids are totally immersed in this world. Have them show you what they’re finding and using. And, by “kid” that also applies to high school, college and adult “kids” as well. Don’t feel you have to reinvent the wheel as chances are someone has done that already!

Get your feet wet! Take a class on basics. Libraries are a great resource for this and they can also tell you who are the good resources in your area to learn from. Sometimes this is a local civic group, club, community college, church group or university.

Don’t be afraid the ask the “dumb questions”. Many of us have found that they’re the best kinds of questions to ask. You’ll also find that Coursera and Udemy classes are really great places to start on many topics.

Use online resources like YouTube (www.youtube.com). This resource is loaded with how-to’s on most anything you’d ever want to know about or how to do. It’s also loaded with music and videos to just watch. And it’s free just for the browsing.

Search for it. Using search engines like google can make your life so much easier. Just go to the search line and ask you question. Keep it simple and then refine it details as you learn and see your options. For example you could enter “beekeeping” on the search line, and sit back as you get back and get inundated with responses. Then you’ll learn things like using “beekeeping mite control” and other ways to refine your search questions. And a “How do I…” is always a good way to start. If you’re looking for more advanced responses, try scholar.google.com.

As with the other parts of life, crawl before your walk, before you run. So, start small. Don’t feel you have to conquer the world with your first google search! Buy do get in there and play. The more you play, the more you learn. The more you learn the better your life will be.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let’s consider: Sometimes you have to do what’s right…regardless of what the rules are. 0

Posted by on in Doing what's right, Life, Living, Making Life Better



So, Let’s consider: Sometimes you have to do what’s right…regardless of what the rules are.

There’s a story that’s told about a school teacher that took a small fish out of the fishbowl he had in his classroom and left it on the desk beside the bowl and let it flap around. Before he left the room, he admonished the class that if anyone left their seats during his absence that they would be severely punished. And then he left.

All the children sat and watched as the fish flopped about gasping for air. None left their chairs for fear of punishment.

Finally, a little a little girl in the back jumped up from her chair and ran up to the floundering fish, replacing it in the bowl and giving it life. She was the only one attempt to aid and rescue the fish versus watching it die.

In time, the teacher returned to the room and informed his students that the fish had been a lesson for them. That the fear of getting in trouble should never stop you from doing what’s right or coming to the aid of someone in need.

Sometimes you may have to challenge and even oppose authority and group think simply because it’s the RIGHT thing to do.

Never forget this little parable.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let’s consider: You Start Dying Slowly 0

Posted by on in Family, Life, Living, Point(s) To Ponder



So, Let’s consider: You Start Dying Slowly

You Start Dying Slowly

You start dying slowly
if you do not travel,
if you do not read,
If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.

You start dying slowly
When you kill your self-esteem;
When you do not let others help you.

You start dying slowly
If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths…
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.

You start dying slowly
If you avoid to feel passion
And their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten
And your heart beat fast.

You start dying slowly
If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job, or with your love,
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,
If you do not go after a dream,
If you do not allow yourself,

At least once in your lifetime,

To run away from sensible advice…
So start living….my dear.

Start living.

–Martha Medeiros (in “A Morte Devagar”)

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's consider: How really deadly IS this corona virus?? 0

Posted by on in Corona, Covid-19, Health, Inside The Beltway, Let's Consider..., Life





So, Let’s consider: How really deadly IS this corona virus??

It is the strangest and smartest virus I’ve ever heard of.
It’s very dangerous the way it spreads.
It is so mysterious the way it lurks in schools, but then dies at Home Depot and Lowes. It can wreak havoc in churches; praying people are exceptionally vulnerable!
Although it’s Mind-boggling how it vanishes when people stand close together holding signs, destroying businesses, homes, property, monuments, etc.
Yet, standing to watch a marathon or a concert triggers its wrath.
It is sneaky. It can spread when buying clothes at Kohl’s but not at Target.
It is non-alcoholic. It can’t spread when you are buying beer.
It lives for two days on Amazon boxes, you must wait 48 hours to touch them but, it can’t survive on Dunkin Donuts coffee cups, so enjoying a hot cup of joe is safe.
Taco Bell can’t take your money directly from your hand, BUT they can take the same money directly from the cup that you put it in while paying at the drive through. Maybe it’s scared of plastic cups?
It is the most curious thing, how it lives on basketballs, baseball bats and ballet bars, but dies on WWE ropes and Walmart shopping carts.
It is spread by hair stylists, dog groomers, and dentists, but not by bank tellers, cashiers, and fast food workers.
It’s so smart. It won’t bother the first 10 people but it knows when the 11th person shows up so be careful if that’s you.
It even knows what you want vs what you need.
If you want a massage or your nails done it is very actively on the prowl and not even a mask can stop it. But If you need a plumber, it is weak, and a mask will keep it away.
It also seems to be most dangerous after 5:30pm so businesses must start to close before the virus comes out and wreaks havoc upon the populations.
Whoever heard of such a smart sneaky virus?!?

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's consider: Just what are they all talking about??!! 0

Posted by on in Cell Phone Stuff, Consumer Electronics, Let's Consider..., Life, Safety





So, Let’s consider: Just what are they all talking about??!!

It wasn’t that long ago that we all used to keep a few nickels, dimes or quarters (depending on how old you are) in our car to be able to make calls from a pay phone when we needed to. Those were the days when you could go down the aisles of the grocery without running into or better yet being run INTO by some idiot that was more intent on talking on their phone than dealing with the issues at hand. You could stand in the queue at the poney express office and get through the line quickly as you didn’t have to wait for some asshole that was at the counter and more intent about talking on their damn phone than taking care of business and letting the rest of us behind them take care of business as well.
Then there’s the idiots that are more intent on talking on their cell phones than driving safely! That’s one of my biggest peeves! They’ll pull out in front of you, take their time with driving because the phone call is much more important than anyone else on the road or better yet, more important that traffic safety!
Used to be we’d look at people talking to themselves and realize we’re dealing with someone that’s just not totally mentally with it. I’m reminded about this every time I go to my local Walmart and see all these idiots walking around talking to an ear plug…if indeed they actually have an ear plug on.
I applaud all the municipalities that are creating hands free laws, I just wish they’d enforce them better.
I’m still at a total loss as to just what is so important that people risk not only their own safety but that of many others on the highway. Clearly, in most cases, they’re totally oblivious to their surroundings and totally intent on what’s going on in their ear.
Wise up, people! Hang up the phone AND DRIVE! Hang up the phone and GET YOUR SHOPPING DONE!
I’m waiting for cases of “shopping rage” to start showing up where people get pissed off to the point that they grab the phone from the idiots in front of them in line or at the counter that are more intent on talking than conducting business, and end the conversation or worse yet throw the offending person’s phone on the floor. Frankly, I’d kinda welcome it in a few places.
Folks, I’m not against cell phones or using them. But PLEASE be judicious and considerate of others and your own safety when you do. There are no conversations that are that important.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's consider: How can you have a safe online shopping experience during the holidays and the rest of the year? 0

Posted by on in Christianity, Christmas, Let's Consider..., Life, Prevention, Scammers





So, Let’s consider: How can you have a safe online shopping experience during the holidays and the rest of the year?

So, once again, we find ourselves in the last week or 2 before xmas and it’s time to hit the internet and see what we need to buy. Or, you could be one of the smart ones that is doing their shopping earlier to make sure that things actually arrive when they’re supposed to… Then again, you could be shopping in the middle of April for some items that you need and you want to make sure you’re not going to get snookered (yes it’s a word!) online by some nepharious website, pricing scheme, or some other schemer that isn’t in your best interest.
So, What are a few things we can do to having a fighting chance on the wild world web? Let’s take a look at a few:

Watch out for false advertising.

Does it sound too good of a deal to be true? It just might be. Also be aware of look alike web pages that are designed to look just like the real thing. Watch for subtle differences like name changes or misspellings and always be careful for being redirected to another web page when you think you’re buying from something authentic.
Look over the website carefully.

Only shop on secure websites.

By secure websites, I mean sites that don’t send all your information in the clear for everyone to monitor. A secure site’s url will begin with HTTPS:// ….not just HTTP://…. And, NEVER use your credit card on a site that isn’t using a HTTPS page nor give any of your personal information on a page that’s not HTTPS protected. If you’re not familiar with a site that you want to use, checkout their BBB profile at BBB.org.

Is your antivirus current?

If your antivirus protection isn’t current don’t even think of shopping on the net until it is. By not protecting yourself you leave yourself open to all kinds of problems from non-secured sites and those sites that love to go phishing for your personal information.

What are the return policies?

Frankly, there are those that will buy anything and everything on the net. Frankly, I’m a bit more picky. Especially for clothing, if I can’t see it and feel it and know that it’s going to fit I don’t want to buy it. This is one of the reasons I like JC Penney brick and mortar stores over anyone’s web page. And when I buy cloths or other things over the net, it’s because I know what I’m buying and it’s what I’m looking for.
BUT, not everyone is that hard core when it comes to buying stuff on the net and, face it, there’s going to be times when you either get the wrong stuff, wrong size, wrong colour shades, etc., or you just don’t like the damn thing and want to send it back! Make sure you can and how you can BEFORE you buy. Many major chains with a web presence will let you bring a return into the local store for return or exchange. Frankly, I really like this option. Yet for some others, you’re going to have to call their return center is some 3rd world country to get a return authorization and instructions…and hope you can understand what they’re saying.

Always pay by credit card!

Many issues and problems with returns can be easily dealt with if you paid with a major credit card. If the vendor isn’t responsive to your issues, just call the card company and talk to them about the transaction. It’s amazing how fast a vendor will return your call when they get a complaint from a credit card company, especially when they realize that their transaction is being canceled. Also, a credit card protects you from other fraud potential issues, currency exchange manipulations if what you’re buying is in a different currency than your own, etc. And I said CREDIT CARD….do NOT use a debit card or wire someone funds unless you REALLY know and trust the target. Getting problems fixed with those types of transactions can be a lot harder to do…at least to do to your satisfaction.

What’s the price and are there any special promotions going on?

Everyone’s going to claim they have the best price of the item because they want your sale. Do your own research. That’s what Google’s for! Further, it’s normal and regular for vendors to have seasonal sales, loyalty awards bonuses, etc. Look for them. When they exist, avail yourself of them!

Watch out for phishing scams.

These generally come in the form of unwanted or unsolicited emails sending you to a website that you may have never heard of. Caveat emptor! And, in a big way! Some of these may claim to have something free just for you, or have just what you’re looking for. BE CAREFUL. Search engines and web trafficking monitors can and do keep track of what you’re searching for and buying. This information is available for a price and it can and will be used in marketing schemes against you.
Be careful about unwanted phone calls from high pressure people that have exactly what you’re wanting. Especially if you’ve never heard of them and more so if they’re calling from off shore on a poor quality phone connection. Chances are their name’s NOT Joe and they don’t work for State Farm!

Those emotional appeals for donations.

Well, I’ve covered this before, but, be prepared for all those phone calls and the tonnes of junk mail from every worthy cause that thinks you should be donating to them. Frankly, I have my own list of charities that I support each year and I’m not opposed to adding to them if and when I find something I want to support. And, neither should you. However there’s a few things to be aware of:
Watch out for the hyper emotional appeals. These are intentional and designed to maximize your wallet emptying.
Does the charity disclose how it’s using your donations? If not, then don’t give them anything.
Watch out for charities that may sound like a well known and trusted one, but aren’t. Name similarities abound like apples in the summer, make sure you aren’t getting one with a worm in it. The BBB’s wise giving alliance (www.give.org) is one of many good places to start looking to verify a group you may not be familiar with.
Fortunately, the world is generally full of good people wanting to do good business and help their fellow man, regardless of the time of the year. Yet following that old Reagan adage of “Trust but verify” is always a good policy to have.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's consider: 'Tis the Season – for Shysters 0

Posted by on in Christmas, Holidays, Hope, Let's Consider..., Life, Making Life Better





So, Let’s consider: ‘Tis the Season – for Shysters

Well, it’s that time of year again… Somewhere shortly after the last of the fireworks have gone out on the 4th of July and and frequently by July 5th, you’ll start seeing every store from Walmart to your local drug store starting to bring out their xmas schlock and reminding you how few days it is until “Christmas”. And they’ll be pounding that drum until the champagne starts flowing on New Year’s Eve. Forget that there’s 6 months of holidays yet to come and that the historical and Biblical records are overly clear that the overly marketed fat jolly elf of December 25th has nothing to do with the birth of the Christ Child, you’re going to be inundated with all kinds of crap that you just can’t live without buying for “The Season”…history and logic be damned.
Along with these shysters will come a more sinister group of shysters that just as predictably show up every year wanting your money. These are the shysters that have prey on the good hearted people wanting to help others. These are they shysters that tell you how much good your donation to their cause is going to do for the world. How blessed you will be once your fork over your cash to them and their cause celeb or foundation or whatever buzz word will get you to part with your money. And, of course, little to none of your cash will get to where it’s supposed to go.
Now, I’m not stupid enough to not fully understand that there’s an abundance of well meaning and credible organizations of good will towards mankind out there, but there’s just as many organizations that are more interested in their own good will than helping the homeless people down the street.
This season I would encourage you to be generous with your giving, but I would also encourage you to be vigilant with whom you give to. Giving to help others not only shouldn’t be just one day a year, it should also be to those methods and organizations that actually are interested in doing good for their fellow man versus lining their own pockets, and that do so throughout the year as well. Preferably ones with a good existing record of having done so in the past.
Remember, the homeless guy down the street needs as much to eat on September 30 as he does on December 25th.
This year, please be generous, but also, be smart about your giving…and remember that generosity is needed 365 days a year.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's Consider: Walmart's latest bout with mental disorders 0

Posted by on in About As Dumb As It Gets, Family, guns, Let's Consider..., Life, Walmart





So, Let’s Consider: Walmart’s latest bout with mental disorders

In case you’ve been under a rock today, the great minds of yogurt at Walmart have once again capitulated and kowtowed to the liberal sychophantic and psyhopathic minds of the liberal media and every other political cause by deciding to not sell any firearms ammo any more. According to them, for some deranged reason, they think this will in some way reduce gun violence in America. Let’s take a look at a few things.
In 2018, according to the Gun Violence Archives, 340 deaths were due to mass shooting. Oh, by the way, ALSO during 2018, according to MADD, 10,874 people were killed by drunk drivers.
So, in support of the liberal anti-gun movement, they think that removing all ammo will reduce shooting deaths. I really have to wonder how that’s going to sell in Chicago…
What’s interesting and totally counter to their new corporate policy is that they’re still insisting on selling as much beer and wine as they can in clear SUPPORT of the 10,874 drunk driving deaths. So, just what and where are their real priorities? Reality or kowtowing to political correctness in the media? Is anyone at Walmart REALLY THINKING???
Does anyone at Walmart have a spine?
The next thing I expect them to do is stop selling auto parts to help reduce highway deaths….
Let’s think further: in a drunk driving event: the drunk driver is blamed – NOT THE BEER; in a boating accident the boat captain is blamed – NOT THE BOAT; etc…. The only exception to this is firearms… MAYBE society needs to wake up and put blame where it REALLY belongs…on the heads of the criminals!

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.



So, Let's consider – Interviewing yourself 0

Posted by on in Career, Family, Friends, Life, Making Life Better, Self Improvement





So, Let’s consider – Interviewing yourself

Of all the stuff I read and have to read, I find that a good interview is amongst the most interesting, enjoyable and enlightening types of articles. I read interviews in things as diverse as Parade, business and trade journals, food and social journals and there’s always the gold standard of interviews – Playboy.
Now interviews can vary in terms of focus from a profiling, business centric, solution centric and may other ways that the author/interviewer is attempting to skew the direction of the article. The ones I enjoy the most are the ones that profile a person and tell me about them, their history, likes, dislikes, priorities, goals, etc. They can also make one think about their own directions, values, history, decisions, etc.
Now chances are, very few of us are ever going to be interviewed for a magazine article, but I was wondering what it would be like to interview my self and how I might answer the questions I see being asked others a lot. Frankly, I’m going to cheat a bit, I’m only going to ask the questions and let you answer the questions for yourself, as if you were being interviewed. If you like this idea and some of the questions, you may find this concept useful at a party or as an ice breaker for a social event.
So here goes and I hope you come up with the right answers:
How did you end up in the occupation or line of work that you’re doing?
What skill sets would you like to acquire or improve on?
What’s your favorite part of the day?
What is the largest lesson you’ve learned in your life?
The game I still play is?
The best gift I ever recieved was?
What one thing can you not live without?
Who has had the greatest impact(s) on your life and the decisions you’ve made?
What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current occupation? Why aren’t you doing it?
What would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
What trends are most impacting your life?
What is your most favorite word?
What is your least favorite word?
What is your favorite curse word?
What’s the first thing you do when you get home each day?
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
What profession would you not like to do?
What’s the first thing you do when you get to the office or work place each day?
What do you like to hear? What’s your favorite sound?
What is your idea of earthly happiness?
To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
Who are your favorite fictional heroes?
Who are your favorite characters in history?
Who are your favorite heroines in real life?
Who are your favorite fictional heroines?
Who is your favorite painter?
Who is your favorite musician?
What quality do you most admire in a man?
What quality do you most admire in a woman?
What is your favorite virtue?
What is your favorite occupation?
Who would you have liked to be?
What’s the one thing that most people don’t know about you?
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? Did you follow it? Did it work?
If you had infinite money, what would you buy? Why?
Who’s your favorite composer or musical artist?
The last movie you saw was?
What was the Best movie you’ve ever seen?
What’s the best book you’ve ever read?
Where would you like to live?
What’s your guilty secret pleasure?
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
If you were stuck on a desert island, what three items would you want?
What’s the nerdiest thing you’ve ever done?
What do you value most in your friends?
The biggest trend affecting what I do is?
What are the biggest challenges that you are facing?
What accomplishment are you the most proud of?
Who are your favorite fictional heros?
What do you like to do in your spare time?
What natural gift would you most like to possess?
What’s your favorite part of the day? Why?
Where do you see your life going?
What will be your next “big thing”?
What historical figures do you most despise?
What event in military history do you most admire?
What was the best decision you ever made?
What was the worst decision you ever made?
What is your favorite color?
What is your favorite flower?
What is your favorite bird?
What decision in your past would you like to have a “do over” on?
What place would you like to visit and haven’t?
What do you like on your pizza?
Boxers or briefs?
Favorite ice cream? Least favorite ice cream?
What person in history would you like to have lunch with? Why?
How would you like to die?
How would you like to be thought of?
Where would you like to be buried?
What should they write on your gravestone?
Think of a few I missed? I’m sure there’s many. Add them to your list and see where the answers take you.
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.


So, Let's consider: "The early bird gets the worm…" 0

Posted by on in Family, Food, Life, work





So, Let’s consider: “The early bird gets the worm…”

OK, I know that this phrase is used, perhaps over used, in efforts to get people off their asses and moving in an efford to achieve some task(s) completion(s).
But, NOBODY ever thinks of this phrase from the perspective of the hard working little worm!
Think about it. Here you have Mr. Worm, he’s living a dark and dirty life under ground, probably has several hundred kids to feed and on top of that, he has to work the grave yard shift because work in his part of the world is hard to find.. SO, what happens to this hard working worm? You guessed it, after a long night of digging in the dirt to feed his family, he gets eaten by some damn bird that just happens to wonder by while he’s on his way home…
Now, I ask you, what kind of a life is that? Working hard all your life only to be gobbled up by some damn bird at the end of your shift, early in the morning, while you’re dragging your butt off to bed…. This clearly shows no appreciation or understanding for those of us that have had to work the night shift on any kind of regular basis!

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.