Author: sailorj

  • What do we need “Social Media” for?

    You might ask, why do I need Facebook or Twitter or whatever? And you would be correct to think that you probably don’t if you do not care about reaching out and engaging an audience. More importantly an audience that wants to read your information because they subscribed to have it show up in their feed, just like you may be reading this article.

    Back quite a while ago, the promise of feed syndication was something complicated that probably scared a lot of people. But it is the modern solution to decentralize ourselves from the group think that we have been exposed to by the likes of the social media giants. Start your own blog, host it yourself, it’s cheap enough to do. The problem comes with engagement. What platform does the metadata of likes, views, and comments get used? How many logins do you need to deal with news and blogs and friends postings. Twitter was called a microblogging service at one time. Now it’s just free form open texting at best.

    We like our walled gardens. But all walled gardens eventually give way to the next big thing. If you’ve been around long enough, you watched them all fall, from Fidonet, AOL, eWorld, IRC, MySpace, and so on… the only constant is change.

    Apple has a chance to create a metadata “safe space” because of the user base it has, and it’s direct os for mobile and long term use of RSS. How serious are they about security these days? But they could decentralize the Social Network space. Google tried many times and have not been very successful in their Social Offerings.

    I worry about the Narrowing of voices. People being banned on different networks, government regulations restricting free speech, and the obscuring of facts by people unaware how they are being marketed to.

    Do not take your privacy and freedom for granted. The chance to get it back once the cat is out of the bag is not very good. Most people are out of some bag, but who knows how far it will go, or what it could mean? Such as insurance, jobs, etc… who knows, or worse yet, wholesale monitoring of people bypassing our 4th Amendment rights.

    We do need Social Media to stay in touch with our network of friends and colleagues. What we don’t need is companies exposing our person data for financial gain.

  • DNA Tests…

    I recently had DNA testing done and I used to separate DNA testing companies. So basically I found out that I am of one lineage only 99.7% in fact. But what I realized is that I believe we all hope to find out some thing magical in our DNA testing. It’s as if we want to know that we are part something else. We want to find out that we are a mix of many different cultures and many different things that eventually make up the person we are today. So I guess in someways I was a bit disappointed because I was hoping to have this special connection to something else and in fact I didn’t. But then you wonder how positive it could be that your DNA line comes basically from the single stock of a tree. Usually something like this would have a lot of DNA issues where people have birth defects and things like that but in my case according to the markers for genetic illnesses I had no signs of any issues whatsoever.

    It’s pretty easy to go and have your DNA tested these days and the prices pretty reasonable but I think that the majority of people will not find themselves to be extremely surprised and at this point with the limited numbers of people who have the testing done you probably will not find many close relatives if any at all through DNA testing. Secretly I was hoping to find out that I had a stepbrother or stepsister but that didn’t happen either. So maybe in time more people get tested and I’ll find out more to the mystery of who I am even though I can pretty much tell that there isn’t a mystery to it at all.

  • What is Sexy?

    OK Boys and Girls, let’s talk about something near and dear to everyone that we rarely have a conversation about, and that is what constitutes sexy.

    I say this because in 2018 if you are a guy and you are sending out Dick Picts to the ladies, you are doing life wrong, because as they say, no one wants to see that.

    And this is sort of the question right? What the fuck do men know? They know what sexy is about a woman. After all, men are visual creatures. They love curves, they love actually anything that reveals the female body.

    One can follow a myriad of twitter accounts by women, and they post lots of “sexy” posts of other women and their romantic or sexual desires, hoping men will get a hint I suppose.

    Let me give you a few examples of what I mean.

    https://twitter.com/playfulsensual/status/956009537638666240

    https://twitter.com/playfulsensual/status/955800420785512449

    That is just a few posts of what I mean. Do women find these posts “sexy” or identify with them? Are they attracted to what they see? My guess is yes. Where as men to post photos of this nature with men as the subject would be offensive.

    Double standard? Or is it that men don’t know what women find sexy?

    I believe that men are generally repressed when it comes to their bodies. They make an effort to show it off, but only the hardest 6 pack abs are ever lauded as sexy and no one wants to see men naked in any other format. (I could be wrong)

    But isn’t the irony the fact that people don’t want to be perceived by their bodies. We want to be perceived and sexualized by our brains, and attitudes, wit, and resourcefulness, and moral strength… I could go on.

    But turgid penises seem to be something that many men believe women want to see. And maybe in a heterosexual normative way, it’s ok in the bedroom in real life, when it’s consensual and you’ve already created the elements of desire, but not until then. Boys, keep it in your pants.

    But ladies, you have a responsibility as well, reaffirm and let men know what is sexy. If they know, they will work hard at responding.

  • Getting a taste of my own medicine

    So file this one out of no fucking way.

    I was on a date the other day with a fine young woman. And the one thing I noticed about her, at least at first was she was shorter than me. Well dear reader, you may think this is nonsensical, but I stand a mighty 5’2″ on a good day, and this person was 4’10”. And this had my wheels turning in my head about height in a way I would have never imagined.

    Generally speaking, I have no problem dating or being with women taller than myself. I actually never give it much thought at all. In fact, there are lots of women in the 5′ to 5′-4″ range that I feel pretty much like I can go toe to toe without it seemingly strange to the onlookers, as if they matter.

    I am a fan of the Popeye and Olive Oyl who is the epitome of short sailor with tall woman. I could go on for ever about that I suppose, and the fact that Betty Boop probably was Popeye’s first love interest. But I digress.

    I suppose I really find it a bit awkward being taller than a woman. At least that’s my first impression. Mind you we are only talking 3 or 4″, but still. But what has me as at a quandary is the men that are 6’+ That go with 5′ tall women. And the women that love it. I feel it’s almost a fetish, because there is something nice to be able to kiss your partner without having to have a ladder.

    Now I’m not saying it can’t work or it isn’t cool, or whatever for people of disparate heights to be together. Believe me, I’d be the first to be busted there. But I sometimes think now that the shoe is on the other foot how it can change my perspective.

  • SailorJX – What plan will you take?

    Have you ever realized that we are made up of plans?  I am no different.  So I thought I would tell you about the plans that I offer, and see which plan you may like to have.

    Basic SailorJX

    • Friended or followed on one or more of a number of social networks.
    • Your posts liked/loved on occasion.
    • Some light conversation.

    Basic Plus SailorJX

    You get all of the Basic package plus

    • Standardized birthday greetings if you list your birthday.
    • Interaction on your posts, about once every two weeks.

    Premium SailorJX

    In order to qualify for Premium SailorJX access, you must have met me in real life (IRL), or we have a long standing Basic Plus account.

    • Messaging on multiple platforms.
    • Promotion of your social media posts.
    • Some fun flirting.

    Premium Xtra SailorJX

    All the premium features and:

    • Private Snapchats customized just for you.
    • Invites to coffee or a drink (My Treat) and not just on your birthday.
    • Texting.

    Platinum

    This is where the world changes.

    • Invites to exercise events, such as running races.
    • Invites to theme parks.
    • Invites to movies.
    • Invites to dinner.
    • Best conversations.
    • And more…
    • You are considered a real friend.

    Platinum After Dark (Also known as the Trust Package)

    At this point you have most everything, except I expose you to my more secretive side.  You get to find out all the juicy things and I freely share everything about myself with you.  Yes, we are all freaks, but you get to discover even more about the craziness and fun that happens after dark.

    Uranium level

    If you are at uranium level you are in the smallest subset of people on the planet.  Here is what you have access to:

    • My undying love.
    • Promise to be there when you need me.
    • Someone who thinks about you often.
    • A desire to spend my free time with you.
    • A readiness to give you feedback and say the hard things and be accepting of you giving me that same bitting feedback because it will only make us better.
    • The No Judgement Zone!

    This uranium level is available to a limited number of people. Many family members are at this level, but sadly not all family is entitled to Uranium level.   It is not gender specific, but may or may not include the Platinum After dark package.

    Uranium is named after the precious metal that powers submarines, and it lasts a lifetime.

    Plutonium level

    This level includes everything and a desire to build a life with you.

    Plutonium is super explosive stuff when properly used.  Just like the how you feel when you are around that special someone.

     

  • 2018 Items

    • Job Search
    • Financial Success (Investments) – Check In with T
    • Health and Fitness.   14 closed all rings per month for 2018. * Compete with T
      • $20 a month for each month you miss the goal.
    • Program 3 iPhone Apps by Dec 2018 Check In with T
  • Thanksgiving 2017

    Did you survive? You know what I mean, family, cooking, a day off of work for most, and shopping for those of you brave or crazy enough.

    I had a nice thanksgiving, started with running a 5K. We worried that it was going to rain but weather held out and it was a wonderful run with just a light sprinkle in the middle of the run. I don’t know that I think that running before Thanksgiving makes me feel like I can totally indulge but it certainly makes me feel better at the end of the day regardless of how much I eat.

    Thankful for Moms

    I think that a lot of people will set around the table and talk about all the things that they are thankful for but one thing that seems to be a little bit remiss in my mind is thinking all the moms out there and grandmothers as well. These are the unsung heroes of Thanksgiving. Without moms and grandmothers who is cooking all of these savory dishes that remind you of home.

    I was not home this year for Thanksgiving. But my mom particularly puts out a wonderful array of dishes that everyone knows is her signature of the holiday. So for me not being home I totally missed out on some of the best eats that I know of.

    However I did get to go to a family’s home that I was invited to, and I really was treated to some great food and got to watch another family and see their traditions during this holiday.

    for the most part Thanksgiving is a great nondenominational holiday that everybody here in America can celebrate regardless of your background and just consider the idea of being thankful for one day for something and for that I think it is a really great American holiday.

    Certainly people can make things religious or political but at the end of the day we are very lucky if we have a roof over our head and warm food in our stomach and people that we can call family. Not everybody is so lucky not even here in this country as much as we would like to believe. I think that’s the reason why we still want to bring people up help people out and always strive to do the right thing to help everybody.

    I know that not every day will be a day of Thanksgiving and it is too bad that we have to go another 365 days until people come together in the same way again. There are plenty of other holidays both religious and secular but none quite as inclusive has Thanksgiving. Hopefully this is the kind spirit that we can push forward throughout the year, and work together for positive change in this world.

    But mostly we should be thankful for our family and our moms and our grandmothers who help us to remember why all of this is so important.

  • Meaning of Life part II

    So I said that there is no “real meaning of life”. And this is the struggle that people have had since the beginning of time.

    Religion seems to solve the problem very nicely by letting us know, there is a creator and we are his creations with responsibilities that he has placed upon us.

    Simple, straightforward, and we don’t need more to know to have fulfillment. But for some of us we do. What if we move that feeling of creation inside our own being, and take some responsibility for life? These external and internal forces seem to clash but the spark of creation exists inside all of us, doesn’t it. The most amazing thing we have is emotions and the ability to Love.

    I think that without the complexity of our ability to Love it would be easy to write the purpose of life off as us being a random set of particles and atoms that have formed and are at a place in the universe for a limited time and in a blink of an eye we will be gone.

    But we have Love. What else has this special bond, special emotion? People will die for love, they will do so much and some people may never receive it. We are not tools just to make money, or build things. We procreate. We form friendships and love interests and have bonds.

    Our problems in this world seem small when you think that the singular purpose is to love. And anything but is the antithesis of it. War, hate, destruction, and fear are all what keeps us focused on the road to love and righteousness.

    I don’t think people can really survive without love. And that’s why I think it is the meaning of life. Sure you need food and water, but the emotional aspect of love is what makes a person whole. Without it, we are hollow shells. Because love matters, people matter.

    To live in a world without love is really not living at all.

  • Meaning of Life

    Last night I sent out 3 tweets that could only be described as WTF?!

    I discovered the meaning of life. There is no meaning to it. We are pretty insignificant really. People won’t care when you die, really.

    Then

    So if a person cares about you at all when you are alive, you are really lucky. There are some people in this world that no one cares about.

    And finally

    I guess this realization makes me no longer fear dying, or what I leave behind.

    So in the context of things happening on this planet I really do wonder if we have lost touch with any meaning of life. We talk about God as some sort of force running the universe and yet it isn’t just bad things happening to good people, it’s that good people have stopped caring.

    How is it possible that someone care shoot not one person but 27 people or 600 people and there is not even a thought about how can we prevent this from happening in the future?

    I ran a half marathon this weekend and the charity was 2nd harvest food bank. They told all the runners in what was an emotional video, 1 in 6 Americans go without food every day.

    We have many crisis here in America and the world. We have more resources, more information and the ability to affect change for the better in this world and we don’t.

    The meaning of life

    I wish I could tell you what it was, because I feel like it has no meaning. Maybe you have heard or read the quote,

    All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

    -Edmund Burke

    Jonah, probably the anti profit of the Bible, said to God,

    Therefore now, O the Lord, take, I beseech Thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

    Jonah was pissed that God allowed Evil to continue because they repented, but maybe the real rub is this, Jonah knew that they would return once again to their evil ways, and this moment of repentance was only to hold off the final decree.

    Maybe Jonah was mellow dramatic in asking God to allow him to die, because God doesn’t take his life, but tries to teach him a lesson.

    Thoughts

    As much as I believe in God, I don’t think “He” is involved or cares to be in earthly affairs. It’s like the movie “Oh God!” George Burns plays God, and lays it all out in a final court room scene, where he is placed on trial. Ultimately he reminds us, we all have to get along and take care of what we have. https://youtu.be/nxmaYsZjnXoSometimes the universe comes down to just one person. And if anything or anyone matters, then that may be enough of a distraction to give our life meaning. At least for us to spend our days and direct our energy.

    But I used to fear death, because of God, and now, I realize more than ever, it’s just the next phase. Something not to fear or wish for, but something that we all will experience. It’s permanent, walking from one place to the next, into a realm lost for forever. Maybe there is something. But I don’t hope or think anything about it. It just is.

    Life has what meaning you give to it. And in the end, it probably won’t matter.

    (Post ed… but you can make it matter).

  • You want what you can’t have… but what if you get what you want? #relationships 

    Today, I’m confused now more than ever. And I read what I wrote below and left in draft mode, and now i’m back at it, thinking about a lot of things. I’m thinking about motivations, and interactions, inducements and why. The truths of people’s observations of nearly 100 years ago, are still true today. We are as likened to our animal instincts as we are the greater human being that we believe we aspire to be. Pavlov, Skinner, Maslow, and Marston seem to key in on human behavior factors that all converge in an order. Maslow understood the why. Pavlov saw that process, Skinner focused on the sticks and carrots, and Marston saw the subtleties as things related to men and women. Marston suggests without realizing it, that it is much easier to induce someone who is low on the Maslow scale than it is on the upper end of the scale. Depending on where you fit in. But we are all conditioned within the scope our our relationships and realities, and we work hard to avoid negative reinforcement.

    Still digesting a lot of material, there is a connection and when I find it, I will let you know.

    Written in June 2017….

    I remember my friend telling me, you have to be an asshole to women.  In fact the more of an asshole you are, the more they desire you.

    He said, you know your problem, you are a nice guy.

    It’s true, I consider myself unfortunately a nice guy. I think it is because I am wrapped up in believing that we narrative of what women want is someone who will treat them with respect and as an equal, and love them.

    Oh how untrue that is, at least for many. I have a female friend who is single and dating. We were talking about how she would break up and make up with the same guy. And the more he pulled away, the stronger her attraction to keep the relationship alive became.

    You want what you can’t have.

    Just like my friend who said I was a nice guy; he would treat the woman I knew very bad, call her names, and publicly shame her. The more he did that, the more she would come around to bother him. She just wouldn’t leave her alone.  He said clearly, he had no desire to be with her, and it was true. And the more he would push away the more she would bother him.

    I have had my share of crushes or loves or whatever you want to call them. And it is interesting to me that I can build these wonderful friendships but they don’t seem to go anywhere. And I wonder if it’s because I’m too available. It’s like I’m easy.

    What is the carrot that these guys dangle in front of a woman that keeps them just interested enough to stay engaged, and yet not quick to dismiss these shenanigans?

    I’m not saying that all of these is true for everyone but I can clearly see that as we search for people, sometimes it is the unobtainable that is the most desirable.

    But what if you get what you want?

    Maybe you break someone down and they finally decide, you are right, you are the person that I should be in a romantic relationship with? That clearly describes my first marriage (and probably my only one). It’s a horrible feeling. You will have to work at figuring out ways to keep that person.

    Relationships shouldn’t be that much work.

    I say this because if you have a solid foundation of mutual respect, then you come together to solve problems, rather than fighting over minutiae.

    It all goes back to my initial thoughts. Be a nice guy and do the right thing for the right reasons. And love is always the right reasons for doing things.

    The heart wants what the heart wants.

    I wish I could tell you why people fall in love. Is it like beauty and the beast? You meet someone and think they are boorish? Or not your type or whatever… Then you realize they are more special than your first impression and you gasp, fall in love?  And we know that love takes all sorts of directions and there different types, but I am talking about the romantic love.

    So vicious to get to have the desire of one’s heart, and then become disillusioned after you obtain it. Isn’t that the rub? We have an illusion of our desire. And reality can sting.

    So powerful of feeling when two people experience NRE (New Relationship Energy)