I’m amazed at how many young kids have cell phones. More surprising is how they tend to prefer texting over talking. Kids these days.
Category: observations
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Communication
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Laws
It’s interesting how legality affects morality. As a father I take very seriously the job of raising my kids to know the difference between right and wrong. Why? Because making the right decisions will prolong their longevity and their ability to positively impact humanity. Lately I find myself competing with the message that society is sending. With the legal diversity that exists today their obedience to the ‘laws of the land’ is on somewhat of a sliding scale. Morality and ethics now become more of a relative norm based on how the majority voted. If something is legal, does that make it right? Raising my kids to be responsible law-abiding citizens is suddenly more complicated. Most debate the existence of a set of moral standards, but I believe there is.
If you’ve been in hiding the past twenty-four hours, you’ve likely missed the image above. It immediately went viral. This New York police officer’s actions speak to a set of values and ethics that no person can argue with. The way the world has responded to this random act of kindness not only restores my faith in humanity but it reveals an innate sense of moral and ethical ‘law’ that we implicitly know is right but don’t always follow. This is the message I want my kids to get. To understand. To emulate. And they shouldn’t need a legal reason to do so. Love your neighbor as yourself. It’s not the law. It’s the golden rule.
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The American ‘Marriage’
In light of all the negativity this election year, I’m hopeful the nation’s bi-partisan partnership can endure. Most would argue that our country needs to be more like-minded, but I believe that it’s the differences that guarantee some balance. In an odd sort of way our two-party system is a relationship not unlike many marriages. If you’re married and take offense, please forgive the loose analogy. I can’t speak for every marriage but I know that some of the strongest bonds exist between two people that don’t always agree. The relationship survives when there’s a concerted effort to resolve conflict – one that selflessly seeks to preserve the union, not tear it apart.
Certainly politics and marriage don’t work exactly the same and for that I’m grateful. I don’t know that I would want our kids to elect one parent to rule the household. I doubt that my platform of reduced spending on entertainment and allowances while increasing chores would get me many votes. Sure I’d have a well-designed logo and a solid record of fiscal responsibility, but my inexperience with the domestic meal program would most certainly sink my campaign. My ‘opponent’ is much better at handling domestic and foreign affairs and has a charisma that sways people. She’s no push-over and is very passionate about ensuring the happiness and well-being of our household. In that sense our goals are the same. I guess it’s a good thing we know how to reach across the aisle and work together — despite the occasional debate on the house floor.
On the eve of this presidential election our nation is split on the decision of who should lead. I hope and pray, that regardless of the outcome, that the best interests of our country are truly considered. That the citizens (and leaders) of this country can quit the bickering and really work together to restore unity and cooperation. Educate yourself on the issues, exercise your freedom and responsibility and get to the polls to VOTE!
I’m Sean Thorenson and I approve this message.
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Halloween Costumes
When I was a kid I had this strange fascination with those commercially ‘boxed’ costume sets. You know the ones. The cheaply, mass-produced, one-ply molded plastic masks, brightly emblazoned with the latest pop culture characters.
Often times the proportion of the mask was nowhere near what it should have been to make you look convincing as the character. It wasn’t uncommon to have your identity tainted by that stocking cap mom had you wear. Even a tuft of hair peeking out from behind the tiny facade was enough to ruin the masquerade. And to think that the entire charade was held onto your face with nothing more than a single strand of elastic stapled to either side of the mask. Ironically enough these same staples were responsible for starting the tiny tears that ultimately trashed your mask, which, if you were lucky lasted the entire evening.
In hindsight, ditching the mask might have been a lot safer. You ran the risk of either suffocating trying to suck oxygen through that tiny mouth slit or getting hit by the car you’d never see squinting through those tunnel-vision eyelets. If your mask didn’t survive you could avoid the barrage of ‘who are you supposed to be’ questions by wearing that coordinating, flame retardant vinyl poncho that most certainly spelled out in bold letters your true identity. All this for a bucket full of candy, which was worth it if you could bring in more chocolate bars and suckers than that disgusting orange and black wrapped peanut butter taffy.
I still don’t understand why I coveted the boxed costumes as much as I did but I suspect it was most likely the slick marketing and movie tie-ins. I certainly have a greater appreciation now for the homemade costumes we had growing up. They were safer and more creative, but unfortunately yielded about the same amount of peanut butter taffy.
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Unexpected
Life has a funny way of working sometimes. Just when you think everything’s all right, you get blindsided by something out of left field. Not only does it hit you in complete surprise but it often hurts. In an effort to find comfort we look for answers and meaning hoping to rationalize the situation. Knowing nothing in our power can change the outcome there’s a greater likelihood that we’ll live more cautiously in order to guard ourselves against future pain.
I tend to believe that everything happens for a reason and that as painful as some situations are, there’s a reason for it. It’s been said that ‘God doesn’t waste a hurt’ and though I don’t always understand why some things have to happen the way they do, there’s a higher purpose. One that will likely shape and prepare me for something greater.
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Save America
Is anyone else disturbed and embarrassed by our national debt? America’s way of doing business is expensive. The current national debt is a staggering 
. It’s hard to quantify such a number. I think it would be accurate to describe it as irresponsible and disheartening. It didn’t happen overnight. It wasn’t run-up by one administration, or one party. If America truly is a democratic republic, then we all have a part in this number. If the government works for us, we have a responsibility – an obligation – to see this number go down. But how?I certainly don’t know the answers, but I do know what our household does when we forecast a shortfall in our budget. I don’t demand more money from my employer or go out looking for a higher-paying job. We reduce spending. We look seriously at what is a ‘want’ and what is a ‘need’. We make do. We scrimp. We pinch. We save. We survive. It’s simple math. Spend less than you make. Live within your means.
At some point we as a country stopped making fiscal responsibility a priority. We treat debt as a way of life – a necessity to live the ‘American Dream’. It isn’t. True, the politicians all know how to pay lip-service as to how they plan to lower that number, but it will take each one of us to adopt financial accountability as a priority in our own lives. Isn’t it hypocritical to expect the government to be debt-free if we’re not? I think if we want to save America, we need to save, America.
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Labor is work
The Labor Day holiday has been an opportunity for many working Americans to celebrate the ‘final’ weekend of summer with an extra day off. So, it seems like cruel irony that many will be working tomorrow when the rest of us are blessed with another day to enjoy. My hat’s off to all those that view their work, not only as a means to provide for themselves, but as a dignified way to serve others. In a day and age when a strong work ethic seems to be in short supply, it’s a real blessing to witness others truly excelling at and taking pride in their work.
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Two to go!
The NFC match-up will be decided today when the World Champion Green Bay Packers take on the New York Giants. It’s amazing to me how Aaron Rodgers has not only led the Pack once again to the playoffs, but has nearly erased any memory of Titletown’s previous quarterback – what’s his name? A huge feat for any player in such a short amount of time.With the Packers just two games away from a Super Bowl repeat, it’s hard not to be a little over-confident. Green Bay’s near-perfect season seems to overshadow the Giants’ 9-7-0 finish, but records don’t guarantee anything in the playoffs. I never expected the Falcons to fail against Eli and company last weekend nor did I ever think it would be Kansas City that would prove the Packers were beatable but, I digress.
I know it’s still early, but while the 49ers and Patriots anxiously await the victors of today’s games I’ll be pondering the possibilities of some Super Bowl déjà vu. After watching the Patriots march over the Broncos last night I think February 5th could look a lot like 1997.
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Cheating
I have learned a great many things in my life as both a designer and educator; some good, some bad. Among the most despicable acts one can commit as a designer or student is taking the work of someone else and passing it off as their own. Please don’t misunderstand. It’s common practice for many designers to research different styles for inspiration, but when the line between motivation and plagiarism becomes so blurry that it’s indistinguishable you’ve got to question it.
What’s more troubling is that many offenders know it’s wrong but continue to do it anyway, convincing themselves that somehow the vile act has some redemptive value. I’ve even heard faulty logic claiming that it isn’t really copying if you change at least x percent of it. I hate to break it to you, but most copyright lawyers will tell you there is no magic formula! Cheating is cheating. If you’re doing an homage or a parody that’s something different – here identification of the original is important to understanding and appreciating the work.
It’s disturbing to see a growing number of people turn a blind eye toward this type of behavior. One could almost go so far as to say that society’s general lack of ethical and moral fortitude might be the cause. Where does that start? With each of us. Can we really blame others, even if they represent the majority, for our individual lack of integrity? Is it really old-fashioned to be honest and truthful? Is it considered progressive to be more UN-like the generations before us? Does society now hold a higher view of a cheater these days than they once did? If you claim you don’t believe in statistical morality to determine the difference between right and wrong, then stop looking at what the crowd is doing. Do the right thing – be original!
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Garage Sales
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Such is the premise behind the garage or rummage sale. It’s not a mystery that most sales occur in the spring or fall which happens to coincide with the thorough cleansing of households everywhere. In some cases, you could slip a ‘b’ into the middle of the word ‘garage’ on every sign you make and still never be accused of false advertising. That being said we’ve found some really valuable stuff at these sales. Take, for instance, the bike carrier that would usually retail for around $100 that we picked up for a crispy Lincoln. Or the vintage, teal-colored ice crusher thingy that we never use but just happens to match the decor of our 50s era kitchen. Sometimes it’s the adventure of finding something you weren’t looking for that makes rummaging so much fun.
