First of all! I would like to say Merry Christmas to everyone! Today is a day of peace, of joy, of family traditions, of new hope, of any and all positive thoughts and ideas, for any and all religions whether you celebrate Christmas or not. It's about the generalized spirit of things.
Christmas however, has been desecrated. In most house holds, there is at least one person who lacks the respect for what Christmas is. It's that time with your family maybe for some ONLY once a year, where you can enjoy each other - or at least try to in the name of Christmas - and where you try to be at peace, and just enjoy the atmosphere.
What these people who lack respect do however, is desecrate the meaning of Christmas by text messaging and talking on their cell phones the entire time. Whether it's twitter, their best friend from Ohio, their boyfriend who's still in bed, facebook, or someone overseas...
People today are spending TOO much time on their phones. And I don't say this because it's unhealthy. I say this because it bothers me. And Yes, I am guilty of it too, but not at Christmas. Christmas to me, is special. Why? Maybe because I have a separated family, so it means more. Maybe because I have a bone disorder so I know how special the good times can be when you're in a bad time. Maybe I am old fashioned for thinking this way in the "New World" of technology and cell phones, or maybe I'm not.
The point is, people are destroying the value that is "family time" at Christmas by using their cell phones to bring another person into it. Maybe a person who wasn't even invited. To me, talking on a cell phone, is like letting the person on the other end of the cell phone sit in the room with you, and just not include them entirely. It's to me like bringing another person into the room, into the activity, and when that person hasn't been invited by the host of the activity, well, it's just kind of rude to bring them without asking.
I won't mention anything specifically, but it's just something I've noticed is irritating me today. Maybe I have the wrong idea about cell phones, but I believe that there is a time and a place to NOT use cell phones constantly, and I think Christmas is one of them. Even if you only spend 15 minutes without it to open presents and tell your family you love them, that's better than texting the ENTIRE time!
So like I said, maybe I have the wrong idea, maybe I don't. I'm just stating an opinion, and sharing it with whoever chooses to read it. That's my Christmas rant for this year, tune in next year for my rant on: iPods! - I jest, I jest.
Have a happy holiday season everyone!
Sincerely,
-David
Edited In: I don't pretend to not be using my phone today, but during family time, eg. Christmas dinner, or family present time, etc etc. I haven't used my phone for anything other than pictures - none of which were even sent via email to any of my online accounts yet, simply saved on my phone.
The only thing I did, was a qik video to include a gift-giver of one of the gifts at my family's celebration in seeing the reaction of the recipient. Other than that, my phone was not a mobile device; it was a camera.
So recently my American Government class received an assignment in which we were to contact our three representatives - two senators and our district representative - about any federal issue of our choosing, and write to them. It was not required to bring in a response, however, I felt that mine warranted further inquiry. As you read the content of the discussion, you will quickly understand why. I will post them in chronological order. If more follow at a later date, I will continue to post them as well.
My original message:
11-18-2009
David Worley
a.david.worley@gmail.com
Senator Murray, I am contacting you because I am a newly registered voter, and have recently obtained the legal age of majority in the USA, and am interested in gaining information on various issues of controversy now that I am able to vote. I did not exercise my right to vote in the most recent election, as I did not feel I was properly informed on the issues. Be that as it may, to remedy this in time for the next election, I am writing to the current senators of my state - Washington - as well as my district representative, and am questioning them on issues and topics that I feel interest me, or are pertinent to me in such defining way that they may influence my future votes.
I took the liberty of viewing your public voting record and noted that in 1996 you apparently voted “yes” on an issue regarding the definition of marriage. You define marriage as something between only a man and a woman. My question for you is how is it fair of you to discriminate against people of homosexual orientation, and not allow them the privilege of being married? That is punishing them for being homosexual, something they have no choice over. What gives you or the rest of the Senate for that matter, the right to punish a group of people for something they have no choice over? Equal opportunities, and equal rights should be available for all individuals on all levels. My next question is how can you remain a member of the democratic party if you are going to vote in a conservative direction? How can you remain a democrat when you know that likely a majority of democrats would look down their noses at you for having voted the way that you did?
Respectfully, I do hope that you provide me with an appropriate explanation to my questions. I sincerely hope I have not offended you with my statements or questions.
I remain truly exhilarated while anticipating your response.
Regards,
David Worley
Her first and only response so far:
Dear Mr. Worley:
Thank you for writing me to share your thoughts on health care reform. It is good to hear from you.
I believe that health care reform is one of the most critical issues facing our nation. Our current health care system is unstable and unsustainable. Too many people do not have health care coverage and many of those who have coverage are worried about losing it in this uncertain economy. Businesses and families are finding it harder and harder to deal with increasing health care premiums.
In addition, Washington state family budgets cannot sustain the continual rise in health care costs and hidden taxes in the form of rising premiums to cover the uninsured. If we do not get health care costs under control, local, state and federal government budgets will have to take on the weight of rising health care costs. While health care reform may require an initial cost investment, it will pay off in the long term and the cost of letting the system become more unstable is much greater. Without reform to our health care system, premiums will continue to rise, coverage will become more uncertain, businesses will lose competitiveness, and it will be harder for Americans to have access to care.
To address these issues, the Senate released the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on November 19, 2009. This legislation lays out policy changes for health care reform in America. This package works to rein in health care costs with a goal of lowering them in the long term and ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage. It allows those who like their health insurance to keep it and provides options to those who do not have access to health insurance coverage.
This bill also includes provisions to implement several key health insurance reforms. For example, insurance companies would no longer be able to refuse coverage to individuals due to preexisting conditions, patients' out-of-pocket expenses would be limited and all annual and lifetime caps on insurance coverage would be eliminated.
In addition, an independent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office determined that this bill is fully paid for, will provide coverage to more than 94% of Americans, and will reduce the deficit by $127 billion over the next ten years. This analysis shows the American people that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act saves money while extending the life of Medicare and putting patients first.
The House of Representatives passed their own version of health care reform on November 7, 2009. There is still a lot of debate and work to be done on health care reform legislation and as the Senate moves forward on health care reform legislation, I will be weighing the many concerns that I am hearing from constituents all across Washington state. As this effort continues, I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind.
For more information, the Senate health care reform bill can be found on my website at: http://murray.senate.gov/healthcarereform/
I hope all is well in Walla Walla.
Sincerely,
Patty Murray
United States Senator
My second message to her, in reply to her ignorance.
12-1-09
David Worley
a.david.worley@gmail.com
Dear Senator Murray: I recently wrote to you, concerning an aged topic, though still relevant to my interests, and decision making process, and that topic was the Defense of Marriage Act, of 1996.
I questioned your right to prevent two people from being married, as well as your party membership in the democratic party. The issue I wrote on had absolutely nothing to do with the recent issues of healthcare and healthcare reform.
I am extremely offended that you have the audacity to respond to me when you have clearly not read, or taken into account what I actually questioned you on, and are instead informing me of your current views on healthcare reform. It was entirely inappropriate of you to respond in this manner, and I currently expect your appropriate response to the issues in question.
The message you wrote to me as an initial response is attached, along with my original message.
Thank you for your continued consideration,
-David Worley
Well, not actually 30. Today's my birthday, and I'm turning 30 only if you measure it in hexadecimal, a milestone I've been looking forward to for the past 6 years. (It gives away the secret if you say "I'm 2D years old".)
In the past 10 days, I've delivered a talk I call "Karaoke for Fun and Profit" not once, but twice, at two separate "ignite" events: IgnitePortland and IgniteSalem.
She's such a sweetheart
Vox is nice for some things, but the fact I cannot easily get my content out of the service is something I cannot ignore any longer. There's, quite simply, no benefit to me having my content on Vox versus having it on my own servers. Okay, maybe they're not my servers, since I'm using a shared hosting environment, but I am paying for them and I have a lot more access to the data on them than I have on Vox.
The stuff you formerly were looking for here is over on http://phoneboy.info. I might migrate stuff off of Vox or I may simply delete it all. Haven't decided.
This is my cat trollet and she's truly mastering the art of indulging
Just one me those shoots that I like to take, following the seasons changing.
Today has been an inspirational day.
I first woke up, and went about my usual Sunday morning routine, coffee, and a shower, and prepared to go to Church with my Girlfriend, and our friends from the Youth Group.
I then walked my Girlfriend to where she works, where I dropped her off thinking that she would work for most of the rest of the day, and that we wouldn't have a lot of time together. At this point, I was informed by my mom that we had a visiting dog, and that we needed to take it to the Humane Society because we couldn't find its owner. I met this little dog and was astonished at how friendly, and well-mannered a dog it was. It was by far the happiest little mutt that I have ever met. I had the child-like hope that we would "get to keep the doggy please please please" although realistically I knew that we couldn't. However, it did rekindle my love for animals, particularly cats and dogs, and remind me that some day I hope to be able to own an entire zoo's worth of dogs and cats and take care of them all, and give them love and a home.
After having dropped the dog off at the Humane Society, I was informed by my girlfriend that she was actually given the rest of the day off. Alas some happy news! We picked her up from her place of work - Onion World, in Walla Walla - and we came home. Here we watched a cute movie, The Proposal, and enjoyed each others' company, thereafter walking to a local candy store called Brights and sharing a strawberry milkshake together. This was among one of my favorite dates, because while it was nothing too special, we spent so much time just talking, and enjoying each other, it was what I call perfection.
So after that we walked home, and with some brief conversation, I was told that I should read my mom and her fiance Ken's blog at www.stardustglobalventures.com
I read Ken's most recent post, and was very touched. I was touched to be called a hero. It's one thing for my mom, or somebody who I have known my entire life to call me a hero. While it matters to me, and I do appreciate ego-building comments, it's not necessarily as powerful as when it comes from somebody who hasn't been in your life since childhood. Ken's post stardust was thoughtful, and in a way humbling. I didn't realize that he thought of me like that. I appreciate his presence, probably more than anyone can guess, with as sarcastic as he and I are with each other. But I did not know that the appreciation was mutual.
I am touched that he has expressed such a feeling of me, and that he describes me in such a good light. Some days the banter between he and I is hard to distinguish between serious and joking. But that post told me that the banter is always joking. No matter what he and I say out loud, we seem to have come to a mutual appreciation, and maybe, even on some level, a loving friendship.
Ken came into my life at a point in time that I was very angry. I'm still angry some days. And I always knew that he'd never be the same father figure to me that Ron my step-dad was, but I always said we could be "friends." Never did I truly believe that until now though. I said it to keep my mom happy. I said it to keep the peace. But it's clear to me that what I said in a shallow connotation, has become true. Ken is a friend. A true friend.
And as I've always stated, Ken and I will likely never have a father-son type of relationship. But what we have now, is a friendship, full of love, inspiration, and idolization - if that's a word. And yes I did say a friendship full of love. Because while we may both be unwilling to on some level say the words "I love you" to each other - at least I am, because there's a barrier there for me still on some level because of circumstances - we do, I believe, love each other.
So this post goes to the day, the experiences, the love, and the inspiration.
To Emily, and to the animals of the world, both stray and domestic that need love and affection, and to Ken.
