I've seen the future and it works....

My daughter got back from school and showed me this YouTube clip which had been shown to them in class. It's Corning's vision of the future with glass at the heart of it.

Watching this just made me realise how far we have evolved, as humans, since the beginning of creation. Did the cavemen who huddled together with brown sticks and brown stones, lighting fires to keep warm, EVER imagine that the world would get to this level of sophistication???

Just how have we evolved though?

We encounter glass in so many different ways in our daily lives.

• Entertainment - We eat with glass plates and drink from glass cups.
• Furniture - We furnish our house with glass – tables, refrigerator, stoves, ovens
• Illumination - We illuminate our house with glass chandeliers and glass bulbs.
• Engineering - We drive cars that have a glass accessories and parts – mirrors, lights.
• Lifestyle - We decorate our houses with glass ornaments.
• Fashion - We wear glass as ornaments or glasses.

This video however takes glass beyond the basic uses that we know and transforms this usage through unique, ingenious creativity, with the clever use of communication, technology and explosive ‘thinking-outside-the-box’, into Corning's vision of the future.

Every counter top now performed multiple roles and data was being transmitted with ease (with the cellphone at the core of all that communication)

• From telephone to countertop, so the kids could speak to Grandma
• From telephone to office desk, so the designs could be imported
• From busstop to telephone, so traffic data could be uploaded and taken away

One thing I couldn’t get past, was the clean and smooth lines in the video. Is that how squeaky clean the future is going to be? The ease and speed with which the data is being transferred is also remarkable. How fast is the speed of the network that will carry all this data, so seamlessly? I’d die to see what their data centre looks like to be able to carry and maintain all that information.

 I'd love to be around to see Corning's vision of the future (surely, it can't be that far away).....wouldn’t you?



Lent

Before I go ahead to discuss Lent, I thought I should post one of the best renditions of ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow’ that I have ever heard! I found it on YouTube. Epic! His name is Bryan Wilson and he was part of the Mississippi Children's Choir. I do hope he is still singing today. What a voice!

Now let’s talk about Lent.

This Sunday is the last Sunday before the season of Lent starts.

Lent is the 40 day period in the Christian Calendar leading up to Easter Sunday. It starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. It is usually a period of prayer, fasting, sober reflection, spiritual growth, repentance and renewal. The culmination of the spiritual renewal usually occurs on Easter Sunday, when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ, 3 days after His death on Good Friday.

Fasting has multiple benefits – spiritual, physical, mental even and is typically accompanied by prayer. There are several references in the Bible that use the 2 words in sequence (Nehemiah 1:4, Psalms 35:13, Daniel 9:3)

Admittedly, we all need food to survive, but the simple act of going on a fast, is affirmation that we are denying ourselves to worldly things (e.g. food) in order to open ourselves up to meditate fully on the Word of God and discover His purpose for us on earth.

A friend once put it lightly that God has planned our lives so well, that He’s even devised a way to make us lose some weight (post the indulgences and excesses of Christmas and pre the onslaught of Summer), by adding Lent to the Christian calendar. A very simple interpretation I’ll say, but who knows the mind of God? Who knows?.... One thing we do know is that He wants the best for us, and if that entails enforcing a period of fasting and prayer to get us where He wants us to be, so be it!

Fasting approaches

• Some people chose to do a complete fast for the period of Lent, where they abstain from all food and drink during the course of the day and then end the fast each evening, first with prayer and then a meal.
• Some people only abstain from all food during the day, but not liquids (like water, tea, coffee).
• Others simply identify a specific item that they have a great affinity for (food, alcohol, cigarettes, tv etc) and abstain from that item for the 40 day period. This is their own way of denying themselves of an item that they could be ‘addicted’ to, as a way of gaining an upper hand, releasing them to offer themselves fully to God in prayer and supplication.

The Bible provides guidance on how best to fast in Matthew 6:16
And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get

Simply put, your fasting is between you and God. No gain in walking around looking hungry and morose!

Caution:- If you do decide to fast for the first time this year, please check with your physician before you commence.



Do you watch TV?

I watch TV.

There, said it!

Some people choose not to watch TV because they say it’s a complete waste of time and there’s nothing to be learnt from it. I truly can’t say I blame them, if we go by the deluge of Reality TV shows that are constantly being aired. Pray tell, WHAT is so intriguing about watching people make complete fools of themselves?

Some admit to not watching, but just need the noise from the TV as background noise. These people could easily substitute the TV for the Radio, because it’s just the noise that they seek.

Some people admit to watching TV but say they only watch the news.

Some people admit to watching TV, but only on the weekend.

Some watch all the time.

I watch TV, but my style is rather unconventional.

I love watching comedies, but really struggle to watch anything continuously for more than 30 minutes. (Not sure why, but I think deep down, I feel guilty that I am not doing something more fulfilling and rewarding within that time). This way of thinking therefore limits me to 30 minute episodes of comedies. I don’t feel guilty and I get to laugh. Laughter is key to me and how I live my life.( I read somewhere that the average person laughs about 13 times a day. How so? My friends and I far exceed that number each day, every day!). I also watch Game shows because they challenge your mind, in the wierdest way possible. Yes, it’s trivia but still a brain workout!

I do not enjoy watching crime / detective programmes (Law and Order, CSI sorry). Surely the news provides enough of that in true living colour? I also do not enjoy watching sports and I have absolutely no interest in documentaries about past wars, history of the world etc.

I never sit to watch TV, just like that. I must multitask while watching TV – do the dishes, fold the laundry, pay the bills or read a magazine (yes, it is possible to watch TV and read a magazine). I admire those who can fully relax in front of the TV and do nothing else but watch the box. Impressive, but that’s not my style.

So, do you watch TV? What do you watch? How do you watch?

Ending the week with a poem...

I’M FEELING MUCH BETTER...

I'm feeling much better

A whole lot wetter

Because I took a shower,

I had so much power

I'm getting much stronger

It's not much longer

Before I can step out

In the park and shout!

I made a meal

But not oatmeal

Something nice

That wasn't rice

It tasted just right

It was nice and light

It wasn't too heavy

And certainly not stodgy

There's a new purpose to my life

I'm not just a mother and wife

I'm learning to be a writer

And getting to be so much wiser!

Photos courtesy Microsoft.com and author's personal drawing

Waking and walking....

Today I walked...

What’s the big deal I hear you say? Let me provide a bit of background.

I had major surgery 7 days ago. Where I come from, this surgery has high fatality outcome so I was extremely apprehensive about it. My entire family – here and abroad, nuclear and extended – were with me every step of the way – through prayer and presence, and I cannot be more grateful for the gift of family. Thank you!

I had to stay in hospital for 2 nights (I find that in the USA, prolonged hospital stays are not common. It could be the cost of health insurance and keeping costs down, but I don’t know enough to discuss that). What I do know is that a similar procedure in France would have earned you 10 days in hospital! I guess this could be seen as a vacation of some sort (in France), if you:

a) Have kids and need a break
b) Can tolerate the hospital food
c) Don’t mind the pain
d) Don’t mind the frequent disruption of your sleep by the nurses who come in to check on you

On discharge, I was advised by the doctor to avoid driving, heavy lifting or climbing stairs for at least 3 – 4 weeks. I was also given a cocktail of narcotics to dull the pain and ordered to go on complete bed-rest for the first week at least!

I’m not built like a supermodel but I’m not obese either. I lead a very active life. I’ve got kids in school, a husband and a huge love of life and living. I say this because hearing the Doctor’s discharge instructions sounded like a death sentence.

How will I cope? What will I do? How will my kids/husband cope?

7 days later, I know the answers. They did cope. My family is still alive and the tables have turned because I am being looked after in ways I never imagined. Everyone is chipping in, and I’ve just realised that I have been doing a great job as a mother and wife.

I reached another major milestone today, as I finally felt strong enough to get out of bed and head out in the sun for a walk. It felt good. VERY GOOD. All 15 minutes of it.

I have a lot to be thankful for, but today I will just be thankful for waking and walking, because today, I walked...

 


 

Playing games

Today I thought I'd talk about a game I play often when I am out and about.

This simple activity gives me 2-fold pleasure -
a) it keeps me entertained while I am waiting (an otherwise boring task, because no-one likes waiting!)
b) it keeps my brain active, so I don't drop off to sleep!

The game is a single player game, but you need to have people around to play.

I'll explain....

The guy who just served your morning coffee, the lady sitting in the Ford truck next to you, the old lady standing at the busstop, the guy standing behind you at the checkout, the children walking home from school - these are all people that we come into contact with.

Unless you are marooned off in a remote island, I know we all come across people as we go about our daily chores and lives. Here's how I entertain myself  whenever I'm standing in line, waiting in a queue, stuck in traffic, just waiting.....

I play a little game in my mind and start weaving a story about each person's lives.
- who could they be?
- how old are they?
- where are they from?
- how did they get to be in that place at that time?
- are they married/single/divorced/parents?
and the list goes on....

The thing though is that I sometimes get so engrossed in my thoughts and weaving this perfect storyline, that I start smiling to myself for no reason (remember the crazy lady standing behind you who suddenly burst out into laughter for no reason - possibly me!).

I then carry the game further (if I choose) by taking it home and relaying the story to my family and asking them to fill in the blanks. A complete waste of time, some of you might say, but I see tons of creativity in the exercise!

Try it sometime and let me know what stories you end up with.... Everyone has a story.

Alternatively, you could just read a book, play with your phone, stare at the people ahead of you....but isn't that really boring....?


** Photo courtesy Microsoft.com

New Beginnings...

It's the 1st of March, which means 2011 is almost one-quarter gone! How time flies.

At the start of 2011, lots of New Year resolutions were made - get a better job, lose weight, eat better, exercise more, create more me-time, live a better life etc....One of my 2011 resolutions was to improve my blogging and write more. I did make a concerted effort in the first week of January, but somehow, life happened! But hey, no more excuses - it's a new month, new day, new hour and I'm going to dust myself and start all over again!

I sit in my living room in Sunny Houston, I look out the window and I see the sun shining. This is a surprisingly beautiful day (not too hot and not too cold) and it was the beauty of this day that motivated me to start writing again.

I see writing as a means of sharing my thoughts and experiences with others in a similar situation. I absolutely love striking up one-to-one conversations with people because you get to learn more about them and they about you. It's funny how much we all have in common, when we take the time to find out.
 
I'm hoping through the blog and the feedback I get, I'll be able to acheive that. I write, you feedback, I write, you feedback......we're having a conversation and getting to know each other!

Let's look at the elements - the sun goes down every evening, but unfailingly comes up every morning to provide light and warmth to everyone. Flowers 'go to bed' but 'wake' up in the morning to spread their petals and provide beauty. My blog is fairly unknown today, but I know that I owe it to myself to keep at it, as I am sure it will provide some light, beauty, joy to someone, someday.... To someone reaching out to meet new people, to someone looking for a friend, to someone, somewhere.....

So I have to keep writing....