Boundaries

  Today everyone has an opinion on what we should do to "minimize the risk to their psyche".  That's a pile of shit in giving kids more control, something they shouldn't have.  Remember the saying "because I said so".  Than the argument was over.  Now they think they can argue back.  The hell with that.  Debate yes, whine, pout, stomp their feet and cry.  Hell No.  Kids in most states are still considered property.  Granted it does not mean you can toss them out the window, throw them in the trash, etc (granted thinking such things does not make you bad, when you do such a thing, then it does make you an awful person).
  Kids need limits.  Kids who don't have limits placed on them will become delinquent in searching for those limits.  No child will know how to make a sandwich without you teaching them.  No Child will learn how to interact with people in positive ways if all they see is hitting, screaming, fighting and being allowed to do what they want when they want.  Kids mimic you right down to the clothes you wear and the food you eat.   Limits are placed on us for a reason.  Some are done to hinder us, others are to give us guidance in how we should behave.
  When placing limits on kids certain things are easy.  No, you may not jump off the roof.  As they get older those limits become  complicated and blurry as they start pushing those limits as hard and often as they can.  The question is, as a parent how strong are you able to place a barrier and reinforce that barrier consistently.  When you have shifting barriers your kids only learn how to manipulate you and others to push get what they want to instantly gratify themselves.  Picking your boundaries is the most important part of being a father.  Kids need structure they can rely on as they develop there own foundations they will rely on for the rest of their lives.  By not giving this consistent structure to your kids you limit their ability to become productive members of society with strong ethics to live by. 
  By indulging your kids (by giving in) every time they want something they come to expect you are to give them something say every time you go to the store.  Every time you give in to your kid they gain traction.  Is the traction they gain something positive that will help them later in life or is it traction toward being a bum in your basement?

  

Tech in the Home

                100 years ago you were considered ahead of the game by having a radio.  In that 100 years the world and the technology in it has changed so much someone transported from 1912 would think the future was something straight out of a Julies Verne Novel.  Today the opposite is occurring.  Rather than having a piece of technology in your house you are pressed to have every piece of new and updated piece of technology: from your TV to your cell phone to the latest and greatest video game, Blue Ray Player, internet and the other pieces of technology that would make someone transplanted from the past believe the world was…what awesome and cool or we have lost our minds.  Technology is innovation that makes our lives easier.  Some people would disagree others couldn’t live in a world without their gadgets and gizmos while others think perspective on the topic is necessary but full out zealot revolt is a little much.  Is Technology the magic of today or is it the thing that is going to ruin the world.

                The first thing we need to understand, what precisely is technology.  Technology is anything that we use to help ourselves, this is the best layman’s explanation.  When man first figured out a sharpened stick could kill, or that meat cooked over a fire tastes so much better than off the carcass.  Fire and a sharpened stick show to examples of two basic pieces of technology.  Without them our species would still be grunting in caves or extinct.  The technology in the world as changed so dramatically since the invention of the computer chip and air conditioner we are able to see the license plate of a terrorist in Istanbul while sitting in an air conditioned room in Washington DC...  We also take Technology for granted such as the average #2 pencil to the light in our house or the simple fat we can take a dookie without having to go outside to drop it in a hole in the ground.  Me, personally, I love technology and revel in the fact I have a watch with more computing power than the first manned flight.  My regret is that I didn’t live all those years to invest in Apple, Microsoft and all the rest of the companies that invent the stuff I use on a daily basis down to the toilet paper that is soft and absorbent for my dairy-aire.          

                Technology has many upsides but it also has many down sizes as well.  That is the nature of things, the catch 22.  If there is an up there is a down.  The down to most of technology is that fact that a whole generation will not understand the concept of patience.  Technology allows us to instantly get what we want.  From buying a new book to knowing about something we didn’t even know existed.  We are able to be entertained always with a game, a song, or some type of new information.  The coming generation of the Industrialized Nations will not understand what it means to delay their gratification.  Which means that innovation will most likely not come from a country that has everything, but rather come from developing countries.  To be the best we must have some drive and some desire to improve what we have.  To become complaisant is to become extinct.

                The upside of Technology is boundless.  From my couch with the use of the Xbox 360 Kinect I don’t even have to use a remote.  I can yell at the TV and it will do what I want.  Movies, Video Games and music no longer require the use of my hands, fingers or intelligence.  I remember sitting on the floor in front of the TV so I wouldn’t have to get up to change the channel from the one I had to the other one I had.  And with DVR technology I don’t even have to watch commercials anymore.  I’ve been using the DVR technology for 4 years now and it is by far my favorite.  I click a show to record and I never have to think about it again.  Technology is fabulous as it allows me more time to spend on my couch doing nothing but digest sitcoms, movies and the like. 

                Technology at this point in human life is all about making it smaller or bigger.  One of the first computers occupied an entire basement, now one can fit in the palm of your hand.  60 years ago having a 22” colored TV meant you where rich now everyone has a 42” flat screen with 1080p weighing 10lbs or less.  But the issue with all this wonderful technology is the lack of creativity that will take us to the next level.  Not since the invention of the integrated circuit has technology truly advance.  Granted we are innovating the circuits to new heights but the technology is still based on what was invented 50+ years ago.  The question posed is what is it going to take to spring back to the invention of new technology rather than making existing technology better.  The universe is limitless, as should our ability to create.   

Movies Worth Watching for 2012

Hey Fellas,

Finally Hollywood got their crap together giving men a reason to open their wallets to go to the movies.  For those of you like me, not every movie on the list will be seen until it hits DVD, even there I make no promises.  Doesn't mean I don't want to see everything here.  An "*" is being placed next to the movies I believe worth the arm to go see.  

Movies Worth Watching for 2012:
*The Hunger Games - March 23rd, 2012 (Seen it.  Need to have read the book or you will be lost)

American Pie Reunion - April 6, 2012

*The Avengers - May 4th, 2012

Dark Shadows - May 11th, 2012

Battleship  - May 18th, 2012

Snow Whit and the Huntsman  - June 1, 2012

*Prometheus - June 8th, 2012

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - June 22, 2012
 
*G.I. Joe 2 - June 29th, 2012

The Amazing Spider-Man - July 3, 2012

*The Dark Knight Rises - July 20, 2012

The Bournee Legacy - August 3, 2012

Total Recall - August 3, 2012

Cogan's Trade - September 21, 2012

Taken 2 - October 5, 2012

Red Dawn - November 2, 2012

Skyfall - James Bond 007 - November 9th, 2012

Breaking Dawn pt 2  - November 16, 2012 (Sorry, knew my wife was going to make me go.  All you
should suffer too)

The Hobbit - December 14, 2012

World War Z - December 21, 2012

Top 8 TV Shows for Spring and Summer

Alright Folks,

  With summer of 2012 coming up and the kids are put down for the night, you only have so much time with your DVR.  With all your favorites going off until sometime far away, gear up for your summer lineup.   

Eureka - April 16,2012 on SyFy (Season 5)

Burn Notice - (Date not announced) on USA Network (Season 6)

Weeds - July 1, 2012 on Showtime (Season 8)
 
Nurse Jackie - April 8, 2012 on Showtime (Season 4)

Falling Skies - June 17, 2012 on TNT (Season 2)
 
Perception - July 9, 2012 on TNT (New Show, sounds good, might become a regular)
 
Leverage - July 15, 2012 on TNT (Season 5)

Suits - (Date not announced) on USA Network (Season 2)

Game of Thrones - April 1, 2012 - on HBO (Season 2)