Check out this very appropriate jab at how our phones are “sucking” our lives away….

http://www.boredpanda.com/screens-stealing-soul-social-media-sur-fake-antoine-geiger/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=Newsletter

As I try to figure out a new way to communicate with you via technology…either a Livestream broadcast in the morning, a Periscope App, or a YouTube channel, or even a podcast, I find myself spending more and more time with my face sucked into a screen.

Granted, I’m an old guy…I am just barely making my way into a world that’s been out there for quite a while now, and anyone under 30 can do this in seconds (have you ever given your device to a 10 year old when you need to get something to work?)

I’ll get there…

I’m trying something “new” and I’m a pretty quick study but I hate getting so amped up I stay awake long after Lynn’s gone to bed, trying to figure out how to make this all work. I remember when computers first became available for home-use and it took six hours just to get your dot matrix printer to work. A tech-guy once told me the best accessory to buy when installing new things on your computer is a big clock, so you can see how much time you’re wasting.

But I’m back at that point where I’m starting to think this work should be tempered. Maybe I should start following some “rules” to keep the balance? I hate driving around seeing 4 out of 5 drivers either on the phone or worse. I already have my own rule about “no phone when sitting down to eat or drink”, whether I’m at home or out with people.

But here I am composing this blog-post, while I should be on the road taking care of an errand.

What “rules” do you and your family have? A friend of ours is a Mom and she has a “no devices from 4-8pm every night-rule” for her kids. I think that’s a good one. Lynn and I have never discussed it, but if one of us is talking, the other puts down the phone or laptop to offer undivided attention. I think that’s just plain courtesy.

I’m looking forward to your feedback…as always,

-Jim