by kennieb

Greed, Lust, and TV (last of 2)

I started writing this when my laptop decided it was time to give up and began burning up. Now, I guess I must find a way to get my personal stuff and all the application software which is mine and I downloaded from various vendors off that machine. (I have learned that the laptop is just dirty inside and needs to have the cooling fan, and other stuff, dusted and cleaned. We’ll see.)

To get to the topic at hand. I think I addressed the Lust issue enough in my first writing.

Reading Fr. ted’s Blog today (Wednesday, November 26), I see that I am not the only one talking about greed. As I have mentioned, I think TV, which has been such a great influence on us all (and, don’t let anyone tell you TV is not influential), that we believe that what we see is true and must be a part of our lives.

The commercials we see seem to say that if we don’t buy what is being advertised, we are not part of “everyone”, i.e., we are not conforming and we must conform. Therefore, we must spend more money on ourselves. But, where does that money come from? For many of us, it means that we either use a credit card ( borrowing on future income), or we deprive some one else of something, including what we actually owe.

For some, it means delving into illegal activities. This seems to be especially true for those who are at the lower end of the economic spectrum. What we see, and begin to believe, is that to be a part of society, we must do whatever we can, including those illegal activities, which seems not to be considered illegal by so many, since they help us to achieve what is necessary to be a part of our community.

And, wealthy people don’t always help. I don’t know how many of them are really interested in others. The most I even hear about wealthy people is that they feel they are paying too of their income in taxes. They want more spendable income. Since many wealthy keep 94 to 95% of their income, I think they shouldn’t complain and help others. But then, there is the parable about the poor beggar who sat outside the wealthy man’s house. He never got any help, did he? (Lk 16:20-25)

As I was reflecting on all of the possession I have and was complaining about my living conditions, I remembered something about Jesus – “…the Son of man has no place to lay His head…” (Matt 8:20, Lk 9:58). I wonder if I could be that trusting of people. Probably not; but what about Faith and Trust in God? Can I accept that people will help me? I don’t think so because, again, TV teaches us that we must depend on ourselves and, if we expect others to help us, we need to be in the same “class”. That means owning lots of things, which are supposed to justify our existence. So, when we own all those things, we don’t need to depend on others. Hmmm, sounds like a Catch-22 to me.

I have a long journey ahead and lots more praying to get all that TV teaching out of me. And, I think many of us need to turn off that TV and start reading. Start reading the Bible is a great way to begin. That’s what I have been doing and it is a great help.

(Stay tuned for the saga of the Burning Laptop.)

by kennieb

Greed, Lust, and TV Commercials

After telling people to read my blog, I have not been writing anything. I guess that might be because typing is not easy any more. The arthritis in my hands, especially the left one, makes typing difficult. So I am getting Dragon Naturally Speaking installed on the computer, then I can just speak and it will “type” for me. Also, My eyes are not getting better, yet, and looking at a screen is not so easy, especially if the screen is white. Some one suggested that I turn down the brightness, but then I cannot see anything.
The internet is especially hard to read because all the pages seem to use a light background with even a lighter colour for the font. If these developers were intelligent, they would understand that not everyone, including younger people, can read what is on the page without squinting. I do use larger fonts for myself and I set the screen to have larger than normal items. Sort of messes up how the screen looks sometimes – items fall off the page; little things like that.

A few days ago, or was it weeks ago, I made a comment on Facebook about television commercials. About the only things I watch on TV are on Animal Planet, Discovery, and Discovery Science, and the news, especially BBC. Unfortunately one is not immune to Wall Street and the commercials sneak in. And I do mean sneak – not like the past when there would be a “break”. Now, when the appearance is that the news or whatever is continuing, about five seconds in, I realise it’s a commercial. Then, again, maybe that is age sneaking in.

My comment was how much commercials appeal to one of the seven deadly sins, especially lust. I received some comments back, which apparently try to justify these actions in commercials through longevity or the “everybody does it” reasoning. I am happy that our medical science never kept up that approach. I do not think I would enjoy being bled to cure a fever or having leaches put on me to heal a broken bone which discoloured the skin. But, this seemed to be the reasoning people were giving and using extensively to justify almost pornographic material being directed at the viewing public, including children.
Some remarks even suggested that all the deadly sins were in the Bible, thereby giving some sort of legitimacy to what is happening today on television. I can only say, again, just because these things were happening 5,000 years ago, maybe more, does not make what is done now a good thing to do. They were in the Bible usually because the writers, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote to tell everyone to stop before something really serious happened. The people did not listen and look at some of the troubles they had. King David, beloved by God, sang more songs (Psalms) of repentance than anything else. Look at Psalm 50 (51). He laments and repents of what he did to Uriah. He even states that a broken spirit and contrite heart God will not despise, because God will not accept his offering of a young bullock. And, how would you like your entire country being taken some place else and everyone made slaves?
Just because there are murders and lust and greed, and other sins in the Bible does not mean that God condoned them. As I wrote above, these things happened to the detriment of the Israelites – not always but most of the time. Did not want to get into the Bible so much as to the seven deadly sins. Yes, I know they come from the Bible, but many people who are not so inclined to be reading the Bible seem to recognise lust and greed.
The problems of the current world economy can be attributed to greed. Even news commentators have mentioned that. And, I do not want to hear or read that it is God’s wrath causing these problems. God does not have to get involved. We do this ourselves. It is rather obvious, at least to me that, when people can only think of themselves, there are problems somewhere along the way.
Once when I was in a meeting of staff members at a banque, which shall remain nameless, the Human Resources representative was telling the people that if they did not like the way the banque was being run, they could go elsewhere to try to find a job. The problem was, that while inflation was at 4%, salaries were being increased by only 2% with an effective increase of .75 to 1% (do not forget taxes). When asked why, the representative responded by saying that the banque had experienced greater expenses and losses than anticipated. To which, some one in the group said, then let’s fire the CEO and save lots of money. That brought great laughter from all except from the HR rep!
Is it not true that the CEO is paid these high salaries to take responsibility for expenses and losses? That is what I was taught in business classes. But, then. what do I know? I am just a human being, trying to be a good Orthodox Christian.

Thank you for reading.
(If you would like a recorded copy of this blog, please send me a message either through the comments or at my email address (kebowles [at] gmail [point] com) with Greed, Lust, and TV Commercials in the subject line and “recorded blog” in the body. Thanks, again, for reading.)

by kennieb

Studying What I Am Passionate About

I read that I should write a blog about my most passionate subject. That is difficult for me because many passion is Philosophy and Theology. These are two subjects which usually have lots of opinions and, if not presented very well, can seem quite boring. So as not to get into too controversial items which could causes many negative comments and angry remarks, I’ll tell you that mostly what will be here were my ruminating about what progress I am making to learn more.

I shall be studying Orthodox Christian Philosophy and Theology and Bible study. I hope to share things I learn and from whom I learned them. That is the current day teachers who have either spoke about what they learned. Of course,I shall necessarily be reading the Fathers both ante- and post- Nicene.

Thank you for reading.

by kennieb

Journal

Not much which is new around here, but I did get the other notebook or laptop, whatever they are called these days, working with legitimate software. Microsoft has figured a way to stop that so-called cracked software from working. So, the OS, if not activated within 30 days after installation, will disable several features and keep notifying you that you have fraudulent software installed. Actually, I like that feature. Something needs to be done about pirated software. I am tired of paying for other people stealing from software developers.

I lent one of my laptops to a friend. When I got it back this past August, it had a Professional version of Windows 7, which had already reached the deactivation period. Not understanding what was going on, I tried to connect it to the home network. It would not connect. I took the laptop into a repair place and requested the hard drive to be formatted, since I had recovery discs. It is impossible, according to all the forums I read, to format a HD running Windows 7 without having an external HD. I was not about to go buy an HD just so I could run a format programme. The recovery discs I had would not work, so the repair place put a copy of Windows 7 on for me. You gussed it – not activated and no key to activate it. And he put 32bit Windows and my laptop is 64bit.

So, I bought Windows 7 Home Premium version from Microsoft to download. The dowload, a 64bit version, would not install because a 32bit version was already installed and the download wanted the key code for the previous version.  So, I had to request a disc from Microsoft. Then back to a different store with the disc and explain what I needed done. I got the laptop back the same day with my Windows loaded and activated.

In the Phillipines, the attitude is that pirated software is a fact of life. Don’t like it; too bad.  I attempted to explain that pirating, or stealing, software causes other people, who buy legitimate software, to pay more for it. No one seemed to care about that. When I tried to explain it from the perspective of a developer and make them as the developer and how, when their programme was stolen, they lost money. That didn”t seem to make sense, either. Maybe I just do not explain things well or there is a communication problem.

Since, according to the National Statistics Office, the Philippines is between 92 and 98 % Catholic, I tried the approach of Thou shall not steal. I guess there is a lot of “Relative Theology” here. By that, I mean, if it is a “fact of life” (see above) or “Everyone does it”, the Commands, statutes, and doctrines of the Roman Church are void. Of course, too, that 92 to 98% Catholic is sort of a guesstimate, since the NSO gets information from baptismal records of parishes, birth certificates (yes, in the Philippines the religion of the mother and father is recorded on birth certificates and on Marriage Licenses), and marriage certificates.  (If you are not Catholic, you are Protestant and that includes everyone who is not Catholic. There is a move afoot to do a better way of counting and classifying a person’s religious affiliation, including Jews, Moslems and different Protestant denominations.)

Perhaps I am just too worried about other people and their attitudes. I must admit, though, I was surprised at the attitude of people I had thought to be Christians. I think, however, the attitude is pretty much the same everywhere. That still does not make pirating software the right thing to do.

Well, another noisy day in the Bakakeng Norte Barangay. There seems to be lots of building construction going on lately. I should have noticed that when I moved here; there are buildings which are unfinished. But, that is nothing new all over Baguio. Much building is started and then is left unfinished. No one can really tell if the building will be completed or has been abandoned for one reason or another. Weather, of course, has a big impact on construction. And, Baguio gets more than a fair share of rain.

I need a haircut badly, but I am still having problems with the ups and downs of the blood pressure. Today it is down and I haven’t taken the med’s yet. I cannot be left on my own any more because these pressure swings come and go and I already took a tumble recently. All in all, though, I have good health – DEO GRATIAS!

Enough of me and the problems of the world. I have other things to do – like watch an old Sherlock Holmes movie or read about Cardinal Neumann.  Until next time, may you and I be blessed abundantly.

by kennieb

We talk too much

The trouble is that most of us are better at talking than at listening. An incident on the Goon Show, which I used to follow eagerly on the radio in my student days, sums up our predicament all too well. The telephone rings, and one of the characters picks it up. “Hello,” he exclaims, “hello, hello.” His volume rises. “Who is speaking? I can’t hear you. Hello, who is speaking?” A voice at the other end says, “You are speaking.” “Ah,” he replies, “I thought the voice sounded familiar.” And he puts the receiver down.

Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia
 
I like to listen to His Eminence speak.  He has a good sense of humour and he speaks clearly, so I can hear and understand.

Also, he tells good stories.

by kennieb

Just some general stuff

2012-09-13, Thursday
I was watching a programme on the History Channel – it is rare that there is real history programmes on that channel in Asia. This programme was about the Mayans and Aliens from outer space.  These so-called scientists are intent on proving that there are aliens from outer space that they do not consider that maybe these people were intelligent enough to do the things we now find left behind.

My blood pressure seems to be staying on the low side and I shall be able to see a doctor next month (November). And, sometime this month, I have to go to the Bureau of Immigration in Manila. That costs me about $50 for the trip, plus 12 hours in travel time.

There have been lots of rain and thunderstorms. Perhaps we are coming to the end of those storms as the earth tilts and the Northern Hemisphere moves away from the sun. When the Northern Hemisphere is close to the sun, there are many storms, like typhoons or hurricanes.  Today there is some sun, but still lots of clouds, which may mean rain later.

I did not get to see any of the Memorials about the 911 attacks because they were held during the late night and very early morning here. Since I do not sleep well, anyway, I was not going to wake myself and then not be able to sleep the rest of the nght.