Are We Missing out on Life’s Experiences With Screens?

Long gone are the days where simplicity, enjoyment, living life at the fullest extent, enjoying and experiencing life without the use of smartphones, tablet screens and so many more. Are we really missing out on life’s experiences? Everything in life has its limitations, and in today’s society, people tend to go overboard with posting everything and anything they see. They are not really experiencing life, they are merely trying to capture anything and everything to share on social media networks, capture photos and share them on photo sharing sites.

Long gone are the days where people used to go to concerts and shows where everyone’s eyes and attention was looking at the stage without wanding lights coming from smartphones and tablets. Now with thousands of people capturing moments with their devices, these concerts and these special events in a person’s life is being video taped by the videographer’s of the concert, venue, and even when people witness a wedding or a reception.

I understand that you want to keep your personal memories too, of which taking pictures and everything and that is fine, but always wanding a device isn’t really the same as actually witnessing something happen before your eyes. Some moments are meant to be lived without screens, and where down the road you can remember it in your mind, and the good times to remind yourself and those who you lived those memories with.

I mean yes, special and beautiful events such as babies when they are born, their actions, and everything else need to be documented and everything, and there are moments in a person’s life that should be kept private and not for the world to see. Do not worry if you tell someone what your child did, or said that they will not believe you. They will. You do not need to always have proof or a video of something.

You really do not have to be in competition with the world and join a popularity contest because you want to be the first ones to capture something and put so many hashtags, and post something for the sake of posting something. It should never be that way.

People have the perception that if they do not capture, video, then post it on social media, the internet, tweet about it, that some people think that they are lying without providing proof that things actually did occur. I think that everything has its limits and not everything should be published online. Some things should be kept a secret, things should be kept private. Unfortunately, privacy is non-existent in today’s world because of these devices.

When people travel and explore the world, people will always have that force of habit to document every moment with screens, but the world has become smaller and people are more familiar with everything because people do research and look up videos and get more curious to find things out all the time, but the important thing to remember is that it is not fair to capture something, and then the soon to be traveler going to that place will see what it is all about and then that person or person’s will not be surprised anymore. It will all be spoiled for them

Some things are meant to be left unsaid, some things are meant to be explored without having people always telling others about something. People need to experience and form their own opinions.

I am all for and support smartphones, video, cameras, tablets and other devices, and I have them as well, but there is a limit and a lot of people now have crossed that limit. Screens have become addicting and it is so on the rise, that some people cannot go 5 minutes without looking at their phone. They bring it with them to bed, they check messages before bed, waking up, during meals, at work, during cooking meals, tending to their families, even while driving. Nobody should have their phones or other devices while driving. That is not only dangerous but very ridiculous.

In the past before all these devices came out, how do you think people passed their time? There was twice as much homework to do after school for the students, school times were longer, there was no use of devices, people had to make their own games and toys to physically play with, not one of those gaming consoles, people were outside playing, enjoying the true essence of life, more love, respect and family time, people didn’t have the luxury of instantly finding information, where they had to jet off to the library to find books, encyclopedia’s without the use of the internet or software.

With all that being said, people need to put their screens down and look up to enjoy life more, to witness things, to observe, and to capture the beauty of the world with your eyes. Not with screens. They shouldn’t be your eyes. Be more social, talk, take a pen and physically write without the use of keyboards and keypads.

Think about it. Experience life, put down your device and do it right now.

Anyone Remember Super Mario Bros. Nintendo Games?

Lately I have been having the urge to bring out my old Nintendo Game Console along with my Super Mario Bros’ Games and play them like old times. I remember when I used to know all the secrets to the game and I used to use the Game Genie to play Super Mario Bros’ 3, I knew all the tips and tricks on how to get through the levels all the way to world 8. I remember I used to play with my Brother. I rarely got the chance to be Mario because I am the younger sibling so I always was stuck with Luigi playing some of the games. Super Mario 1, I also played Duck Hunt too. It was such a fun game and I remember I was a pro at it. Probably now if I play it, I will be a little rusty and I won’t know what to do on some parts, but I used to play enough that I should still remember it. I liked the Mushroom and the 1ups the most. The stars were fun too, along with the leaf. The First 3 Mario Bros’ were the best. I didn’t like Mario on Nintendo 64 or any other gaming Console. The first Nintendo was the best. Then when the game didn’t work, we had to blow warm air into the game cartridge so it worked. I am a huge fan of that gaming console. I really don’t like the ones that are out now. I am not a huge fan of them.

Original Nintendo, nothing beats it. I remember I used to play that game with my cousins, friends and we used to have hours of fun with it. Our game was Mario Bros’ most of the time. Konami games too. What was your favourite Nintendo Game? Did you enjoy Super Mario Bros’ too? Did you own a Nintendo before? What are your favourite memories when you played it? I think people still play it to this day and I know a lot of people who have kept their Nintendo. It is a collectors item now and a classic. It would be crazy to give that away. I am having the urge to play it today. I maybe will later on. Hopefully if time permits me to do so. I remember I used to have so many whistles. I used them all up to go to the world 8 on Super Mario 3. I once played all the levels without using the whistle. It is more fun that way. I remember the ones with the aquarium and fish levels. That was so cute with the different types of fish in there, but you had to get away from them and head to the finish line before time was up.

I know Gaming Consoles have evolved so much since then, but nothing beats the Original Nintendo no matter what anybody says. Those were the days. I like Original things, and I appreciate the way things were made before. I felt the quality even though we had to blow into the game cartridge, but that was half the fun. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I would love to see the Original Nintendo come back as it was so popular before. Nothing beats the 80’s and 90’s of Gaming. Would love to hear about your memories.

Are You A Twitter User? Do You Tweet A lot?

Since a few years back when twitter was introduced to the social media world, a lot of people found out about the website and began to sign up for it twitter is a website where you can update statuses of 140 Characters or less, put links, photos and share news of the world, sharing travel, social media and other news and as well as people who are interested in so many things. Then on the left side menu you see topics trending and newest updates of the world, and you can even choose local trends in your own country. I am beginning to really like twitter a lot. You can interact with many people, companies, and post your feelings, small quotes, and update your twitter status as much as you like, you can re-tweet interest statuses. You can follow up to 2001 people, but twitter has this guideline that if you have over 3000 people following you, then you can follow the equal amount of people.

Do you use twitter? What do you use it for? Do you use it to boost your business? Do you use it for personal use? Well, whatever it is, its amazing. You can search me at @tweetertalin and follow me, and I can update you on my blog, and among other things and interesting finds I see on twitter. I am into social media and I find the best stuff on there. I love posting hashtags. Hashtags are what gets you more noticed. Say you write about social media so you write #socialmedia and it turns another colour, then when you click on social media, it will come up with things that other people are writing about that subject, and you can interact with others and reply, re-tweet, and be active with others, you can make a lot of friends on twitter, and before you know it, your follows increase, and the more you engage, interact and get out there, the more people will know about you and your skills and when they see you posting great content, people attract to you more.

If you want to interact with a person directly, say you find a username like angeleyes or sweetie47 or whatever you put @angeleyes and then you write to them a short message on their twitter and it must be less than 140 characters or else it won’t send. Twitter is an interesting place. I am always on it now, and I like to do so many things on there, and I am always talking to big companies, and they respond back. You can go to connect on the top, and you can see your interactions, people who follow you, people who mention you, then you can search for keywords, people and whatever you are interested in and boom, you can find so many people.

If you do not have a twitter account, sign up, and include that in your blog, or share it on facebook or wherever and get your friends, family, co-workers or find interesting people on twitter, follow them and just have fun with it, and that way you can get people to interact with you more. In twitter you can post a profile picture, share photos, share hashtags and find people who are interested in the same kind of things. Gaining followers can take time in the beginning and getting your twitter started up can take a little time to go around, but you will get a hang of it. All it takes is sometime and you are on your way to a great new social media interface. Have fun with it and enjoy. You will have fun updating your statuses. Tell me what you think of it. All the best!

A Middle Eastern Dessert — Basbousa, Namoura — Delicious

A Delicious Middle Eastern Recipe. Dessert
Basbousa, Namoura

We make this in our family during special occasions and among everything else throughout the year.

This one of our popular desserts.

• 1 1/2 cups semolina flour

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 1 cup plain yogurt

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 3 tablespoons flaked coconut

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 6 whole almonds, split in half

• 1 1/2 cups water

• 1 3/4 cups white sugar

• 2 tablespoons rose water

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the semolina flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, yogurt, oil, coconut, and baking powder. Set aside for 30 minutes.
2. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together the water, 1 3/4 cups sugar, and rosewater. Bring to a boil, and boil for 3 or 4 minutes. Remove from heat, and set aside to cool to room temperature.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread the semolina batter into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking pan. Slice into squares or diamonds, and place on almond half onto each piece.
4. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light brown. Switch the oven setting to broil, and broil until the top is golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the oven, and pour the syrup over the squares. Serve warm.

Recipe Credits go to All Recipes Website.  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/basboosa/detail.aspx

 

How Social Networking is booming

In the past decade or so, we have seen many social networking websites all over the internet. It is a way to keep in touch with family, friends, school mates, colleagues and more. Social networking has become a big boom in today’s technology. Clever and innovators have been coming up with ways to make the world smaller and making our lives easier by sending out e-mails, forwards and interesting things to those in our lives. It is quite amazing how so much has changed in our lives in terms of communication. I am sure all of us have seen most of everything online. People share so much with each other such as pictures, inviting people to events, videos, music, funny things, quotes, and so much more.

It is interesting how much technology and how much of these things really impact our lives and the way we operate, but it shouldn’t take away from your life either, but I really enjoy the internet a lot. It is where I get all my news and everything I want to locate, do my research, searching for various things, searching for pictures, keeping updated on my favourite shows and people, interacting with family and friends, sharing incredible and interesting things, its where I love to write, share my feelings, my interests and so much more. Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Hi5, Tumblr, Linkedin, Youtube and other websites are the tops of the internet world. Millions and Millions of people around the world use these social networking sites and its amazing who we encounter, who we talk to, who we make friends with that share similar interests and beliefs. I believe the internet is not all that bad, but it is the way you use it, and the way you carry out yourself.

It is really important to keep the communications of yourself to your family and friends and the internet is such a powerful tool to do so. I am one hundred percent sure, that Facebook has changed your life and has changed the way to communicate as it is so imperitive to keep those bonds alive, to look at each others photos, so on and so forth.

Last but not least, don’t give all your time to the internet. I know everybody has a life to live outside the internet with many priorities, spending time with family and friends. Do the social networking, but to the limit.