Where did the time go?

Midnight is one of my favorite times. The stillness...

The silence. I've always worked best at night, when the world's asleep. Fewer distractions.

If you're not getting anything done, that's probably why - too many distractions. They're everywhere!

Ah, for a life without too many distractions....

A while ago, Dan Butler posted that he didn't have a TV. Probably a good idea! I heard a commentator (on radio, of course!) say that if we watch about 3 hours of TV a night, in the end we would have spent about NINE YEARS of our lives in front of the TV!

Think how much more you could do if you could add nine extra years to your life....

Hmmm.... food for thought.... time to toss out the tube? You'd probably get more done, and have better quality time with the family too....

Who needs it....

....when you have the 'net instead! ;)

Dien Rice

> If you're not getting anything done, that's
> probably why - too many distractions.
> They're everywhere!

Remember the self-created distractions - the busy work that makes it look like you're doing something when it's really just unproductive distraction.

> Hmmm.... food for thought.... time to toss
> out the tube? You'd probably get more done,
> and have better quality time with the family
> too....

> Who needs it....

> ....when you have the 'net instead! ;)

The Internet: The best research and information gathering tool there is - or - the biggest time waster in history. Depends on your focus.

I had the Superbowl on live and the only full play I watched was the last one - all 2 seconds of it. I was productive-busy online. And even when the replay of the game was on, I watched it during pauses in the paper-and-ink book I was reading (The Sale Begins When The Customer Says No).

More on this subject later... I've got productive things to do...

Michael Ross.

> The Internet: The best research and
> information gathering tool there is - or -
> the biggest time waster in history. Depends
> on your focus.

Amen. It is easy to get distracted online.

Michael, there is gold in them thar Elmers...hope you find a nugget or two. (The other being Wheeler)..

And to Dien,

Yesterday morning I went to the Sheraton Suites for an early breakfast ALONE. Sat by myself facing the river and looking south where the river flows.

The ice is beautiful. Most meals are spent with someone, and it is refreshing to eat alone now and then. Especially if you have a nice view.

Last night I took a walk. A COLD freezing walk along the path that runs by the crooked river and winds by Mary Campbell's Cave (aka Old Maid's Kitchen)...

Mary Campbell was a young girl taken from her home in Pennsylvania and she lived with an Indian tribe at the cave for about 5 years until she was returned to her family.

It is a mystic place, and in the winter (we finally got one here in Northeast Ohio)...the ice and mist of the river make it a remarkable place to gather your thoughts. In fact it is so cold there that you think in slow motion...can actually see your thoughts leaving your mind like a slow scroll across a movie screen.

Meditation is great. Walking meditation by moving water is in MY opinion the ultimate way to get in touch with your inner self.

There is the ionic thing about moving water, and it is a naturally relaxing thing too, and that is one reason why the beaches are crowded.

In the real world it is a good thing to take a break from people. Most of us are around other people all day long.

Likewise, what I've noticed online is that there are those that are ADDICTED to other people online and can't let a single day go by without making some comment somewhere on the Net.

It amazes me that the people most in need of a business activity or money making way spend so much time posting on forums.

Well, if you are feeling overwhelmed by it all, head to the ocean, lake, river, pond, creek, or hot tub even...and get yourself away from other people's thoughts for a few minutes...

you may put yourself in touch with yourself, and that could be a very good thing.

Gordon Alexander

Dien ~

> Midnight is one of my favorite times. The
> stillness...

Mine too. I have a houseful of people and after 11:00 or so at night it is quiet and peaceful.

> A while ago, Dan Butler posted that he
> didn't have a TV. Probably a good idea! I

I actually do *have* a TV - just isn't plugged in! We keep it in a hidden corner of the garage covered up along with a rabbit ear (one of the ears is broken off) for an antennae. When special events come up we pull it out and plug it in. Watch the special event then leave it up for a few days while we watch our old home movies and such.

What constitutes a special event for us? A tornado hitting town, 11 Sept., showing the kids our wedding video, etc. We had it plugged in to show the wedding video and left it up. The man who married us, W.A. Criswell, passed away recently and the kids wanted to see the tape.

Saw President Bush's speech and we watched the last half of the Superbowl. Good game and we enjoyed it. First football game we've purposefully watched in years. It isn't that I don't like football but rather that I can get wrapped up in it easily and fritter the time away. So I choose not to watch/listen to sports.

It's amazing how much more time you have without the TV. Turn it off for a week and see what I mean.

~ Dan Butler


TheNakedPCStore.com

Hi Dan,

> Mine too. I have a houseful of people and
> after 11:00 or so at night it is quiet and
> peaceful.

Yes, I've always been a night owl.... :)

> I actually do *have* a TV - just isn't
> plugged in! We keep it in a hidden corner of
> the garage covered up along with a rabbit
> ear (one of the ears is broken off) for an
> antennae. When special events come up we
> pull it out and plug it in. Watch the
> special event then leave it up for a few
> days while we watch our old home movies and
> such.

Dan, that's a pretty good comprimise!

I have read that some experts say that TV may have a "hypnotic" effect, so that even if you're not all that interested in what's on, there's a chance you will kep staring at it, zombie-like, anyhow.... It's kind of scary when you think about it that way.

Time is one thing we can't get more of....

- Dien Rice

Hi Gordon!

> Michael, there is gold in them thar
> Elmers...hope you find a nugget or two. (The
> other being Wheeler)..

Is this Elmer Gantry and Elmer Wheeler?

I bought myself a copy of Elmer Gantry because I couldn't find a copy of it at the local video rental place.... It's a great movie! Burt Lancaster sure is bursting with PASSION! I think it's time to watch it again.... :)

I still haven't seen "The Music Man" yet, because the local video rental places don't have that either.... I may have to order in a copy of that too....

Gordon, you've also given me good reading too! (And Michael has as well....) I got a copy of "Secret Formulas of the Wizard of Ads" (the only "Wizard" book the local bookstore had in stock) and also the latest "Rich Dad" book, but I'm still finishing off three other books I'm now reading first.... :)

> Yesterday morning I went to the Sheraton
> Suites for an early breakfast ALONE. Sat by
> myself facing the river and looking south
> where the river flows.

I remember eating at the Sheraton overlooking the falls with you and Rick. It's a great restaurant! :)

> The ice is beautiful. Most meals are spent
> with someone, and it is refreshing to eat
> alone now and then. Especially if you have a
> nice view.

The view is wonderful.... I think it's an ideal place to ponder (or discuss) things over a meal or a snack....

> Last night I took a walk. A COLD freezing
> walk along the path that runs by the crooked
> river and winds by Mary Campbell's Cave (aka
> Old Maid's Kitchen)...

> Mary Campbell was a young girl taken from
> her home in Pennsylvania and she lived with
> an Indian tribe at the cave for about 5
> years until she was returned to her family.

> It is a mystic place, and in the winter (we
> finally got one here in Northeast
> Ohio)...the ice and mist of the river make
> it a remarkable place to gather your
> thoughts. In fact it is so cold there that
> you think in slow motion...can actually see
> your thoughts leaving your mind like a slow
> scroll across a movie screen.

I can imagine! Although when I visited you Gordon, it was late May (I think), I can imagine it would also be stunningly beautiful in winter....

> Meditation is great. Walking meditation by
> moving water is in MY opinion the ultimate
> way to get in touch with your inner self.

> There is the ionic thing about moving water,
> and it is a naturally relaxing thing too,
> and that is one reason why the beaches are
> crowded.

I agree, I think water is a kind of "magical" substance.... Not only is it necessary for life, but in so many forms - as snowflakes, as ice crystals, as waterfalls and cascades, as ocean waves, or even as a calm lake or ocean surface, stretching as far as the eye can see - it is stunning and beautiful....

> In the real world it is a good thing to take
> a break from people. Most of us are around
> other people all day long.

Gordon, I took your advice yesterday. I took a break and went to a place close-by where I could have a snack and could look out over a nice view.... Anyhow, it was great, I wrote down some good ideas (which had been in the back of my mind for a while).... But it was very good and something I needed to do.

Thanks for your advice, it was the right advice at the right time.... :)

- Dien Rice

Dien ~

> I have read that some experts say that TV
> may have a "hypnotic" effect, so

I keep a file on Television. One recent article talked about video screens - specifically video games and television teach children to watch things without moving their eyes. Later it is assummed that this leads to problems with reading since the eyes aren't used to making the side-to-side movements.

I think there could be some validity to this. Coupled with the long hours many spend in front of various games. I'm not that up on the reading habits of children other than my own. Let's just say there aren't any problems there. Even when I worked for a corporation it amazed me how few people could actually take a document or stack of documents and digest the contents to truly understand what was there. I've linked to a wonderful book on the subject of extracting information from books below.

Back to eye movements - I became very aware of my eyes and eye movements when I studied "The Bates Method for Vision Improvement". After using the method my eyesight improved, my prescription weakened, and I no longer require glasses for my drivers license. Most importantly far less tired after being on the computer. So it does work. My wife's prescription is getting weaker as well.

Bates book "Better Eyesight Without Glasses" had a large section on how school can be hard on the eyes and the strains involved in learning in the early grades. Not quite what I thought it would be but very interesting. The book was written in the 40's and it would be interesting to hear Dr. Bates opinions on TV and Video Games.

~ Dan Butler


How to Read A Book...

> I have read that some experts say that TV
> may have a "hypnotic" effect, so
> that even if you're not all that interested
> in what's on, there's a chance you will kep
> staring at it, zombie-like, anyhow.... It's
> kind of scary when you think about it that
> way.

I wonder how closely the frequency of the TV screen matches our own frequency?

If our eyes transmit about 30 images a second... and a cinema movie runs at 25 frames per second... it would make sense for the TV screen to strobe at around those numbers.

The frequencies resonate and we become entranced.

And if you ever watch someone watching TV it's scarey. You can see them switch off their mind and stare blankly.

And trying to talk to someone watching TV... forget about it.

When watching TV... the rare times I do... I have this tendency to move my eyes around the screen and watch what's going on in the background. Very interesting.

In a movie you get to see how much detail the director went to to create a realistic film. In sports you get to see the "human theater."

Michael (I can't stand the TV, give me a radio instead) Ross.