Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em Dead
Posted: May 30, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentI will be signing books at the wonderful Cherry Street Books on this Sat., July 8, from 12:30 to 2:00. Would love to see you there!
Addicted to Being Connected
Posted: March 17, 2017 Filed under: Computers and Devices 2 CommentsI admit it. I’m totally addicted to my electronic devices. This week I experienced one of those panicked days like when you can’t find your phone or purse. It all started with a new and improved modem my cable company kept pushing me to order. But when it was replaced, I was no longer connected to the internet. GAH! I had a feeling that was going to happen. The trouble is all their technical instructions didn’t help because they’re all in computer speak. I don’t speak computer. After talking with Romeo, the cable tech support guy, I ordered a new plan with more data for supposedly less money, but I still had no internet because although their modem was working, my eight-year-old router was not. So, off we go to buy a new router. Once installed, it worked. HURRAY! But then, my printer wasn’t feeling the connection. ARUGH! After getting the printer file out and playing around with it for a while, ta-dah! My printer and computer found each other once again! BUT then the Google Home we got for Christmas present felt left out, so after searching several help sites, my dear husband saved the day using his iPad. Now, all is good. The machines and devices are once again on speaking terms and I am reconnected. Sigh.
Teetering Between Being Vigilant and Burying One’s Head in the Sand
Posted: February 14, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized 1 CommentI was raised with the belief that one doesn’t discuss politics, religion, or your finances with your friends unless you know beyond a doubt you have agreement on said views. And beyond the heated college debates in which one is trying to make sense of the universe, I, for the most part, have followed the unwritten rule. (There were a few wine enhanced exceptions which managed not to destroy relationships.)
Other friends seemed to follow the same philosophy until the advent of email forwards. The nastiest ones were usually political in nature, and finally finding the bombardment of negativity annoying, I informed the most frequent offenders I did not want to receive them anymore. I received an apology, and this person respected my wishes. That’s what one should expect. Isn’t it?
Then came internet social media sites like Facebook and Twitter which have changed the landscape of communication. It’s a wonderful way for people to reconnect or stay connected in their busy lives. But in the last several years and especially this last election cycle, people have used Facebook as a venue to push their political agenda. Most posts intended to discredit candidates, even though many were of the “fake news” variety, many from sources unknown. This rapid and bombarding method of dispersal works because we Americans, being so polarized, are likely to believe anything negative about an opposing candidate. Let’s face it: People hear what they want to hear, believe what they want to believe, and disregard the rest. I do too. Many people are sick to death of politics, they don’t want to hear anymore and post pictures of puppies. I get that.
But the real problem if we become complacent and stick our head in the sand, some really bad stuff can go down right under our noses. Sure, I have that same desire to cut the ugly business of politics out of my life, as well, but people, if we don’t pay attention to what is happening, then we deserve everything we get down the pike. I don’t trust that our politicians have our best interests at heart. Do you? If we, their constituents, are not their watchdogs, they will have none. That is very dangerous.
And when has being unaccepting, disrespectful, and insulting to others of a different race, religion, culture, or political opinion become acceptable? When has calling people names or demeaning others because they are of a different nationalities, religion, or political party become okay with so many Americans? I have read some incredibly vile posts on Facebook and Twitter and they get all sorts of people who agree with them. You don’t like being politically correct? Do you want your children to grow up with hate in their hearts? Do you want them to be mistreated because of your family’s beliefs? I am so worried about our polarized nation. Instead of having intelligent discussions and finding where we have common ground and beliefs and choosing compromise and solutions together, many are choosing to close their minds and hate. Can’t we do better than this? Our children are watching us.
How Much Power Do You Think You Have?
Posted: November 4, 2016 Filed under: Politics, sports, The World Around Me, Uncategorized Leave a commentFace it. We have little or no power over many things in our lives: the weather, taxes, death, our neighbors political yard signs. There are, however, plenty of things of which we do have power and control of: how much we exercise, what to eat, our career path, our behavior toward a partner or co-workers or family members. We can choose which movies or television shows we watch, books we read, where we live, how we treat others, etc. But there are areas of which some people believe they have power, and if one thinks through logically, are quite bizarre. For example, do you think if you wear a particular shirt, cap, underwear, etc. that your team will win? Do you believe if you watch, or don’t watch, a game on television the team will have a better chance? Sports seems to draw out the wackiness in us. I believe the spectators at a game can influence the game by the degree and kind of enthusiasm they display, but sitting in your living room watching, or not watching, in your lucky socks or underwear? Really?
You want to exert your power over something important? Go vote.
The Night Of
Posted: October 6, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Miniseries, mystery Leave a commentMy daughter recommended the HBO miniseries, The Night Of. So while visiting her, we watched several episodes. I was immediately hooked, so when I got home I bought the series and finished it the first night I was home. Now, I’m going to rewatch it with my husband. What makes this show so compelling? There were so many things done right: the story itself, the casting, the slow unraveling of the specifics of the case, the twists and turns. In a way the show reminded me of the real crime case of Adnan Syed on Serial, a podcast of The American Life. (If you haven’t listened to it, do.) The detectives made mistakes, the suspect, even more. I won’t tell you what they were because I don’t want to present spoilers. As a crime writer, I look for details in stories. I like accuracy and the only thing I’d say was missing from the investigation was the blood evidence on their suspect. If he’d killed the victim wearing clothing, there’d be blood all over his clothes, which they didn’t emphasize. If he wasn’t wearing clothing, he would be covered in blood and would have had to take a shower. The detectives would have checked the drains. Call me picky, but I like authenticity. However this is minor compared to all that the director did right. I highly recommend this miniseries.
Crow Wing Dead, a Cal Sheehan mystery.
Posted: October 3, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment
I Hate Politics
Posted: August 24, 2016 Filed under: Election, Politics, Thoughts and Opinions 1 CommentI hate politics. I do. I try to inform myself, and then I vote. But I dread the period of time before elections. In decades past, that time used to be maybe a year of campaigning on the state and federal levels; now the next cycle begins before the current election is even over. Bleh. If the politicians would only focus on what their beliefs and priorities are and what they will focus their energy and time on, instead of how awful and unfit for office the other candidate is. And obviously, their negative campaign plans must work, or they wouldn’t do it. People tend to hear what they want to hear, believe what they want to believe whether what they are being fed is based on facts or not, exaggerated greatly, totally false, or actually true.
So I don’t want to read your political rants and negative, hateful regurgitations on Facebook or Twitter. They aren’t going to make me change my mind. Your lawn signs aren’t going to make me change my mind. Your political meme (an image, video, piece of text, etc. that is copied and spread rapidly by internet users) isn’t going to change my mind. They may serve only to irritate me greatly, if I let them.
I hate politics, I really do. I try to inform myself, and then I vote.
One Man’s Junk
Posted: July 19, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentThe expression, One man’s junk is another’s treasure, came to my mind when I visited several antique stores in Alexandria, MN this past weekend. My husband and I were killing time before my signing at Cherry Street Books. (Delightful store, by the way. If you’re ever in Alex, shop there.) The biggest antique store had four levels. It was huge. Many items triggered a trip back in time: dishes similar to my mother’s, toys, hats, vinyl record albums, etc. There was so much to look at I felt overwhelmed, and two things became abundantly clear. First, items I’d been holding on to were worth a few dollars at most. Their value is therefore merely nostalgic. Oh well. Second, we humans are producing and purchasing objects, stuff, junk in huge amounts. Most of us have much more than we need and aren’t very good about recycling and using “old” things, stuff, objects, junk. We just buy and buy and buy. In one hundred years, will there be room for people?
Midge Bubany, Author 