Internet speak

Since I was having trouble editing the columns when writing through my nook, I 
thought I would give it a try using my IPod Touch. 
 
I don't want to be the cool (or whatever the term is now) old guy; but I would 
like to try to understand and keep in touch with the younger generation. 
 
That is a small part of why I have  Facebook and Twitter accounts. 
 
To me they are interesting ways to keep up with the country and world. But it 
seems like lately, especially on Twitter, it seems like a new "language" is 
developing. 
 
I have seen different symbols being used when people send   out Tweets. The only 
one I can remember right now is #.  I have absolutely no idea what it means. 
 
If anyone who reads this understand what the different symbols mean could you 
explain them to me. (ocalarob@gmail.com) 
 
It makes me wonder if every generation has had things they don't understand 
about the younger generation? Until now I always thought that was a myth. 
 
I guess this is another sign that I am getting old. 
 
Sent from my iPod 

Random football thoughts

It didn't occur to me until today that I could write about football. 

So I didn't take notes. I will do that next weekend but for today 

this is from a shaky memory.
 
I remember when the Bucs drafted QB Josh Freeman that a lot of the 

"experts" thought is was a bad decision. I disagreed with them

then and I still do.

My only problem is he takes parts of games off. It'fun to watch

him perform great in the 4th quarter like he always seems to do

but it will catch up to him eventually.

I didn't get to watch the Bucs vs Lions opening week, probably due to blackout 
restrictions, but I was surprised that RB LaDamian (?) Blount only had 25 yards 
rushing. As they showed this week Tampa needs to have aa lot more production 
from him. 
 
•I saw a couple of real nasty injuries this week. A Florida St. RB/WR (this is 
when notes are needed) received the secon ugliest lokking injury I have seen. He 
was tackled in such a way where he knee/lower leg was bent in a way it was never 
intended to bend. 
 
A Tennessee RB almost had his leg bent as badly. Both injuries reminded me of QB 
Joe Theisman injury on Monday Night Football that ended his career. That injury 
almost made me sick. 
 
•Finally, am I the only one wgo hates it when a network has a camerman on an 
injured player all the way to the lockerooms? That's just not right to me. 
 
I will do better next week. I'm having problem editing the spacing.
Sent from my NOOKcolor 

What do you do?

I wish there was a specific thing I could do to find the woman I'm meant to be 
with. 
 
I have often heard it said that there  is somone for everyone. I would like to 
think that was true; but now that  I am in my later 40's I am having serious 
doubts about that. 
 
It's been 10 years since my last girlfriend. And that is by far the longest I 
have been without a relionship ever. 
 
It seems like for all other life problems there are always specific things you 
can do to fix them. But not when it comes to love. 
 
I used to think that if you were kind enough and treated a woman right you could 
get them to love you. It's not that simple. 
 
Sometimes I wish I was the kind of guy who can pick up any woman he wants; but 
that never was me. 
 
All I know to do is get myself out in public on a regular basis and hope to meet 
new women. 
 
I just hope that I haven't had my last girldfriend ever. 
Sent from my NOOKcolor 

Atheism Really?

I have been wanting to write a follow up to my "One God" blog. 
 
I began that one by pointing out that Penn Jillette stated that he was an 
atheist in his interview with Piers Morgan. 
 
After I wrote I believe there is only one God but many beliefs; I began to 
wonder how someone could  actually believe that God does not exsist.. 
 
I wonder is it really possible that people believe that? Is it really possible 
to believe that mankind just popped up one day out of  nowhere? 
 
 And then I guess they believe  we live however many years we live and then 
"Poof" we're nothing?  That last thought is my greatest fear; honestly. 
 
If that is truly what atheist believe then what is the reason we live? What 
would be the point to live? 
 
In my teens and early twenties I rarely  thought about God or the reason we are 
here. The older I get the more I think about it. 
 
There was a period of time after I realized that God exsisted that I was angry 
at God for making me disabled. Over time I began to be grateful for the 
disability. Yes, there are still moments in time when I am not so grateful for 
it, but that is part of my personal growth and development. 
 
My change of attitude towards my disability has helped to show me  that God has 
a reason for what God does.  And that has been my proof that there is a point 
and reason for my being  alive. 
 
I don't know my purpose in life but I know there is one and that is what keeps 
me going. 
 
If you truly believe there is no rhyme, reason or purpose to your live; then why 
are you here? 
Sent from my NOOKcolor 

Experiment

Since I am without my computer keyboard I am going to try to blog using my nook 
and email. 
 
It's a little odd that when I have a keyboard I don't write as often as I 
should; but not having one makes me miss writing. 
 
Good thing that those who  know me already know I am a little odd already. 
 
Since this is an experiment I will keep this short for now. 
 
If this works as it should I will write more later. 
Sent from my NOOKcolor 

Techncal difficulties

I have not written this week because I have apparently still not learned that water and keyboard don't mix.

I am using my onscreen keyboard to write this and it is frustrating. As soon as I can gt a new keyboard I hopefully will writing on a more regular basis.I already have a couple of subjects in mind.

Thanks

Ugly phrase.

I have admitted in this blog before that I am not a fan of political correctness. I think it gets in the way of free speech and of expressing yourself the way you want.

But there is something else I dislike even more. This may be the wrong word but I believe its "stereotyping".

There is a specific phrase I have in mind. In the last year or two I have heard or read kids (mainly teens to early 20's) complain about something and follow it by saying, "That's so gay".

Hearing that angers me. As I have said, its OK to disagree with the lifestyle but accept that other's have the right to live that life. But disagreeing with it and using that term in a derogatory way are two totally different things.

I wonder when and why that particular phrase began being used. And can't that be seen as a form of bullying?

I have seen ads aimed at ending bullying. I hope there will be an effort towards ending that phrase.

What's wrong with just plainly saying you dislike something?

Only one God

A couple of days ago I saw part of an interview that Piers Morgan did with magician/comic/outspoken person Penn Jillette.

Normally, I would have just continued surfing the channels, but, I heard Penn say that he was an atheist and he began to question Mr. Morgan about his religious beliefs. Mr Jillette asked Mr Morgan which God he believed in. Mr Morgan's response was, "What do you mean?" Mr Jillette responded with, "You know how there is a Muslim god, a Roman Catholic god ..."

It was at that point that I turned the channel because I have never understood that concept. That concept is one of the reasons I don't like churches.  Every time I have gone to church, the main message seems to be: if you don't worship God the way we believe you should you're going to hell. And that is an idea that makes absolutely no sense to me at all.

To me there is only one God. I believe we have many different religions and belief systems because God understands that each one of us is different and so there are many ways to "get" to God.

This concept of thinking that there is only one specific was to God, I believe, causes more problems than it could ever solve.  But I also believe that the concept is solely a human fault. I don't believe God puts limitations on people; people do.

 God is not the one who is limited, we  impose limitations on ourselves. And we as a nation,we in politics, in religions and as individuals place too many limitations on too many things. And I believe that the biggest limitations we have is being closed minded. Religious groups place too many limitations on how someone is supposed to believe in and pray to God.  Political parties seem to place too many limitations on how things should be handled and improved. Individuals do those things and place limitations on skin color and sexuality.

We seems to want to make someone conform to our beliefs than to look outward to understand and embrace our differences.

St. Frances prayer has a line which says, "It is better to understand than to be understood."  I believe we would be better off if everyone took that too heart.   But that is just me.

Personal Integrity

A long time ago I had a friend who liked to tell me, "whatever you do, do it with style". I agree with the sentiment but not the exact wording.  I would prefer it to be: whatever you do do it with integrity.  Or, to thine own self be true, if you will.

In-teg-ri-ty: adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character, honesty

I will readily admit that in my younger years honesty was not my strong point. I told too many lies in my youth, mainly to try to get out of trouble like a lot of kids do, but its not right just the same.  Over the years, I have found out that telling the truth is the best way to do things. In the end telling the truth saves a lot of heartache and trouble.

As for moral, I think that is an ever evolving thing and I know my morals are a lot better and different then in my past.

Why am I writing this?   Well, I have admitted here that I am a huge fan of the Big Brother show. I can honestly say after this season I won't be as big of a fan as I was but it still interests me.

One of the house guests, Shelly, came on the show claiming that she was going to play with dignity and wanted to be a good role model to her daughter. So, in the beginning I was a fan of hers. I had hoped to see someone win in a "clean" way.  To me, a little bit of lying and trying to cause friction between other house guests is understandable as long as its kept to a minimum and done with purpose.

Shelly, who is 41, has done just about every low down thing in the house that I can think of  but has strongly denied any wrong doing. Her lowest point, in my opinion, was stealing another house guest's stuffed animal.  Which was more than wrong considering that Shelly herself brought her daughter's stuffed dog into the house with her.  If someone had done the same thing to her. she would have made such a stink until she got the dog back that she would have been impossible to live with.

I might have been OK with her totally backstabbing my favorite player, Jeff, if she had not stolen someone else's personal item and lied to and about everyone else in the house.

But that is not what got me the most upset in the past weeks of following BB.  Shelly's actions in the house have ignited a firestorm of reactions from the millions of BB fans. And a good number of the reactions have been, in my opinion, to far out there  in both the negative and positive reactions.

For some reason that I can't fathom, some fans have apparently issued physical threats against Shelly's family. I abhor a lot of what she has done but threatening her family makes no sense to me at all. I guess it just says that there are waaay too many loony people out there.

But I don't get the other side of things either.  Many others have said that Shelly's actions are OK because it's all just part of playing the game.

I don't care  that there is a half a million dollars on the line; there are certain things that should never be done in life.  Giving your word that you will have someone's back and then turning on them, is very wrong,  In a lot of ways your word is all you have and if that is no good, what kind of person are you?

No matter what you never, ever steal someone else's personal property. That is wrong on every level for whatever the reason may be.

And finally, never, ever, ever claim your going to act with integrity, honor and to be a good example for kids and turn around and do the complete opposite.

I do not care what the situation is. I don't care that your doing something that may help your family out financially. I don't care how stressful the situation is.

You should always be true to yourself and be dignified and with honor. Because no game, no amount of money and no amount of fame is worth being a dishonorable person.

If you can't stay true to yourself, how are other's supposed to love and trust in you?