New definition for "Friend"?

Do we need a new definition for "friend"?



With the advent of the Internet, cell phones, texting and mobile access to everyone and anyone do we need to redefine the meaning of "friend"? I've thought about this just little over the last couple of years. It was brought up again in my mind today based on a Facebook posting and a subsequent question from someone I've known for a while.



We seem to want to redefine things a lot lately. Marriage, family, parents, conception, healthcare, right, wrong, work hours, ethics to name a few. I'm not sure everything needs to be redefined. Sometimes we need new words with new meanings to describe the new things we see. I read that there are 540,000 words in the English language. That is 5 times more than when Shakespeare was alive. This is both amazing and what we'd expect. I doubt Will had much use for the word computer or terabyte. Then again, some days I'm not sure I do!

I don't think we need a new definition...we have and will continue to have personal definition of "Friend" like we always have. I suspect we resist, at least internally, the imposition of definitions we don't hold true to ourselves. That is if you have that internal compass that tells you right from wrong, when to stand true and not "go along with the crowd".

If you don't then you won't stand for something and you'll then fall for anything, my friend!

Counter Intuitive...

I'm often fascinated with things that are or seem to be counter intuitive. I soak/marinate poultry in very salty water for about an hour a pound. When I first heard of this I could not imagine it being anything but really salty meat. It is not at all. It just makes what is normally dry meat very moist after cooking.

Medicine can be the same as can food. Things that taste bad have to be bad for us right? And things that taste good are good for us. Often this is true but sometimes it is the opposite.

Life can be like this, too. Exercise, change, new jobs, and yes, even sex. I know many people that fight change and I'm often amazed. They know it is going to happen but they still fight it. We all do that, too, with things in our lives. Sometimes in a big way and sometimes in a small way.

I need to get more exercise. I hate to "work out" and I'm struggling to find a way to exercise that gets my heart rate up and is something I like doing. With the weather getting better I'm hoping to do hiking, geocaching and some metal detecting. Now, if I do all three at once do I get credit for 3 or just one? It seems intuitive that I'd get credit for 3, right?

Yeah, I thought so and that brings me back to where I started.

Simple vs. Complex...

I like things that I use everyday to be simple. I don't want to have to think too much when doing things . They need to be easy to operate, do, interface with and understand. They need to have no more than 2 steps to complete. More than that and you are into the complicated range.

I visit a lot website for work or personal. I'm amazed at how little attention is given to things that can make the experience so much better for the customer/user of the sites. A prime example is entering a phone number. If they have 3 boxes they never auto tab for you. Nope, you have to tab. A very simple programming item but a huge interface item. Or, if there is just one box, no auto hyphens. I've started a revolt by just entering all 10 digits together with out hyphens. I figure if they wanted them they should put them in. I know, it is not a big revolt, but I'm voting with the ballot I have.

Another item that bugs me is asking for city and state when you've already asked for my zip! Duh! Most systems auto check it anyway so go ahead and fill it in. Again, a SMALL programming item with bit interface potential.

American Express Travel services site offers you hotels based on the airport you fly into. They don't allow you to change the city for the hotel! Oh, you can pick another hotel but not as part of the "discount package". What a pain. I have to imagine that many travelers like me fly into one city and drive to another. If they offered this option I'm sure I'd take advantage of it.

Airline sites are another bug of mine. US Airways will select a "best match" based on the criteria you enter for flights. I've yet to see that "best match" be close to what I entered! The price is always higher than others and the time is virtually NEVER close to what I entered. I'm sure they are offering what is best for them, but I don't care about that.

All of these things take time and that is time away from my family. It is also just stupid and careless work. I encourage my kids to do a job and do it the best you can, regardless of what it is. They are the ones that will be using and building these sites one day. I hope they do a better job.

Two and a half months to go...

My youngest daughter is going to Iceland this summer. She leaves in 2 and a half months. Her passport came Saturday and I'm already missing her! Her books for the trip (she's taking 2 classes) have come in and that just adds to it.

I'm glad she's going and we've encouraged her to go but that doesn't mean I miss her any less.

She's blogging about the trip. Keep up with her at http://chanceofalifetimeiceland.blogspot.com/ .

She is just home from a Model Arab League conference in SC. She's always on the move with something or other. She has promised us she's going to sleep the whole week. We'll see. If she tries I'll wake her up so I can talk to her. I've got to store up some face time with her since she's going to be gone for a whole month!

Travel...

I was out of town last week for several days. No big deal. I've traveled hundreds of times over the years. Yes, things have changed in the last 30 years but somethings haven't. Security is one of the biggest changes. I remember when there was no security, then a little bit, then more and then a lot. I remember when families were at the gate to greet people. Given the congestion I'm glad they are now in baggage claim if they show up at all.

Flight attendant are about the same, except there are more men and the women are regular people. Some older, some younger, some slim and some not slim. I remember when they were all slim and young. I like regular people being there.

Pilots...more women. I like that OK. Glad they're finally getting their due. But pilots in general seem younger. That does not inspire confidence. Captain Sully inspires confidence. Pilots need experience...but with other passengers. Not me.

Planes are both different and the same. Seats are still too close and too small (OK, they seemed bigger years ago but I think that was me more than the seat). Knowing the tricks of travel are more important than ever. Frequent flyer programs are never good. If you get enough miles to get something free it just means you've flown too much and been away from home too much.

Commuter planes are better and worse. You see a lot of small jets now but they are making longer trips. Good and bad.

People still fall into 2 categories. Those that travel for business and are "road warriors" and those that aren't. We that travel get a little annoyed with the delays of those that don't travel much. We shouldn't but we do. I try to help them when possible. I find that people are people even when they travel. Their personal bubble gets very small, but it is still there and still your private space. Most regular travelers don't want to talk unless they know you real well and are a buddy. Otherwise, quiet is the word.

Earphones are the norm. Most people wear them even if they don't care about the music. It prevents others from talking to them. Respect the space is the key.

I can travel for a whole week with a carry-on bag and a briefcase. Amazing what we learn to do.

Luggage is much better now than before, too. Get a good, solid and dependable bag if you travel a lot. You don't want problems and you always want dependability. My favorite brand is Ogio. Incredibly well built, not overly expensive and will last forever.

I came home this week and my 16 year old son came running out when I got home. He gave me a huge hug and told me he missed me. That is better than anything! That is what makes travel bearable. Coming home. Be sure you have that to come back to.

Taxes

I'm working on our taxes. Never, ever is it a sit down and just do them and get them done kind of chore. Nope, I start out with the basics from Diann and then as I enter them I learn of other things I need...more items for deduction and research on what something means, etc. Every year is either very different for the tax laws or for us.

I don't mind paying taxes. It is the tax returns I hate. I'm not a fan of the flat tax idea. I think the variable tax we pay encourages people to buy a house, invest, save and other things. A flat tax takes some of that away just to "make it easy" on us. Also, the fallacy that the rich don't pay taxes also bugs me. Sure they do. Do they get deductions the rest of us may not, sure, but those encourage them to invest in businesses that employee the people that complain about their tax breaks. I guess a little knowledge is dangerous.

I think I get a great deal for my taxes. I live in the greatest country in the world. I can travel without restrictions and don't need to show "papers" to do so. My taxes are not too high for what I get. No, I don't like $400 toilet seats the government buys. I think we need to root out those instances and those people/policies and get rid of them. But, that is part of my responsibility as a citizen. I'm to call my government on such waste and either they change or I get someone in there that will! We vote with our ballots and our dollars. It works.

Now, if I could just get through these returns!

Blogging...the next generation

Well, my baby is going to Iceland this summer. She got her acceptance letter today. I naturally assumed she'd go all along so acceptance was a foregone conclusion for me. But, this makes it official, which makes it all the more real.

If it was me I'd get focused on the trip and totally forget about the classes in front of me. She'll keep focused. It is her nature.

Follow her adventure at: http://chanceofalifetimeiceland.blogspot.com/ . She's blogging about the trip starting with her acceptance and prep and then the trip. I'm proud of her and I'm excited another generation is blogging, too.