Thursday, July 22, 2010

Age old questions? And the grace that follows.

An old friend of mine I have known most of my life recently posted this VERY frustrated sentiment about life with their grandmother. (They share a home with them and care for them on a daily basis.)

"ENOUGH!! Really need all of my prayer warriors out in full force praying for me and my grandma. I have had it. I want a divorce from my grandmother. Just because she is 87 years old DOES NOT give her the right to be a hateful person. We are supposed to treat others as we want to be treated right? I can tell you I would NEVER EVER treat anybody anywhere close to the way she consistently treats me and my mother! Its truly heartbreaking :("

I often wondered; do we become more of what we were as we get older or less? Meaning does a grumpy, mean person become meaner and grumpier? However, if this were true, wouldn't happy people be annoyingly joyful as they approach 90? Age certainly hits everyone differently! I know my friend is not alone in their above expressions of exhaustion and frustration! So much harder for folks when they live under the same roof!

Coincidentally, I had another friend recently who was facing a few similar challenges with their father who is only now just approaching 80. We agreed in our discussions together how hard it is to imagine, when most of us are only half his age, what toll, both mentally and emotionally (not to mention physically) the years will place on each of us? 

The point my friend and I came to, is the fact there comes a time when folks who are up this far in their years, have to be taken less directly or less personally if you will. They are not really processing the relationships and the moments quite the same way as those of us who are half as old.

I think life, our minds, and our attitudes, often become quite an overwhelming challenge at this advanced point in our lives.  Perhaps aspects of life (and the loved one's around them) are perceived so completely differently, it seems foreign or even abusive to the loved ones who are witnessing these changes first hand.

This acceptance by no means changes how unfair it all feels and perhaps is; Just possibly gives us an ability to make an excuse or two on their behalf, when they don't even know to ask for one. The hardest thing to prepare for, is the inevitable fact that these neglectful moments will not likely become less common but rather more. This is why my friend and I were trying to find a way to reason through it a bit, and perhaps lesson the pain through more understanding and forgiveness.  I hope my friend and others can find a way to be at peace with the frustration of their loved ones aging and even angry or abusive tendencies. 

I know it is painful. Just know this is not the same person (mentally) dishing this out on you, which was your loved-one of 10 or 20 years ago.  We all know how much time changes us all... However, the mental changes are some of the very hardest to cope with! And perhaps the hardest to forgive or even recognize.

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Friday, July 16, 2010

Android Application Selection - 80,000 and Counting!

Choosing which applications to install when setting up your new smart phone can be a bit overwhelming. However, in order to really get the most out of your new device it is great to find applications which effectively target your interest, hobbies and daily needs.

Mobile computing should be a technology which helps make your life easier to manage, more connected, a bit more entertained and always better informed.

For those using the Android platform, here is a nice little set of tips and the accompanying application needed for managing your entire App Collection and discovering and installing new tools as thousands more are being introduced every week. Yes, we will be using an App to manage and discover new apps. May sound a bit confusing at first, but it will save a lot of time and energy in the long run, and allow you to get the most out of your device from day one!

The key to this Application Management and discovery process is a tool called "
AppBrain"; so there are a few steps you need to follow to initiate and utilize this time saving tool.
  • 1st) go to the AppBrain website, and create your own account. (This really isn't very difficult since AppBrain, uses your Android phones own Google account to register you.)
  • 2nd) Go to your typical "Android Market" icon on your device to download the AppBrain application.
  • 3rd) Your almost done! - just run the newly installed "AppBrain" application on your Android device, and all of your current Application information will be synced with your online "AppBrain" account.
  • 4th) From now on when you are curious about getting a new app, you can start by frist browsing he "AppBrain" site from your won personal computer, read reviews and rating, and even go to their "What's Hot?" listing to discover the latest apps. You can of course still browser, search and install directly from your phone, but this gives you a perhaps easier, faster way to to started in your searches.
When you return to AppBrain.com it will now display statistics on your apps downloaded; including costs, free vs paid percentage, total storage size, plus a breakdown in categories. You can share your app list publicly or keep it private. You can even uninstall apps from via their website.

There are two other ways you can simply review and learn about new apps via your web browser
  1. Google host an online listing of all of the apps at the following web address: http://www.android.com/market/
    The only downside to this listing, is the fact it isn't searchable. Other than the fact you can choose the "top app" list and then select categories beneath those list.
  2. You can use the AppBrain site itself to see a ranking by Android developer download stats and who’s producing the most downloads, highest ratings, and total apps available in the Market.
And once you've create your own AppBrain loggin, you can also share with other the apps you have found most usefull. Appbrain even provides a list of your favorite apps complete with their corresponding links and HTML code neccesary to e-mail or embed your own current listings.

Here is an example of some of the Apps I currently have installed on my own Android device:

hulmevv's Apps on the phone

Phone: T-Mobile G1
48 total, 41 free (85%), 7 paid (14%), 24MB total size, $23.73 total price
View this app list on AppBrain


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Thursday, July 15, 2010

We have far to much potential!

Allow this astonishing work of a mere 12+ graduates students to BLOW YOUR MIND! Let it expand your view of God, creation, and the wonders of our existence. We are in a true renasaunce of Physics and our position of learning and understanding our place in this universe.
www.youtube.com
http://www.ted.com/ For the last 12 years, Carter Emmart has been coordinating the efforts of scientists, artists and programmers to build a complete 3D visualization of our known universe. He demos this stunning tour and explains how it's being shared with facilities around the world.



I'm often blown away that folks would ever limit these (and other) topics to such poor interpretations of the book of Genesis (or other areas of the Bible). Perhaps it is my own journey from a Religion/ Phycology major to Physics which has always opened my mind and steered me away from any "young earth" notion of a 6,000+/- year old planet.

I can't imagine a God or a place in our heavens which would prove less wondrous or amazing than the imagination of a Leonardo Da Vinci or the creative direction of a Steven Spielberg. And to this end I don't feel we should ever find ourselves comforted in defending highly limited, human perspectives of life, love, generosity and purpose.

Humans have far to much potential to be guilty of "pigeon holing" God's purpose, desires or methods. Be inspired to live by faith and inspirations rather than limited interpretations... Life isn't about conjuring up a "comfort zone" and then preaching other's should join you by sitting squarely within it.
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