Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursdays – Grateful for Podcasts

Tags

Entertainment, Grateful, Learning, Podcasts, radio, Thankful, Thanks

Podcasts are one of the greatest inventions of this century. There are so many to choose from and enough content that you can never ever listen to it all. I truly enjoy podcasts because I can listen to them while I do other things.

There are also many platforms for podcasts. I use Spotify for all of my music and podcasts, but you can also find them on Groove, Google Play, Apple Music, and many others. If you have never experienced a podcast, I recommend it. They cover topics like history, politics, music; you name it. I guarantee you will find something you are interested in within the podcast genre you enjoy.

I discovered podcasts after learning that many people listen to them while they work. Since I do a lot of programming every day, I like having one on while I code.

Podcasts are the new “radio”. Radio wasn’t huge when I was growing up, but as I matured, radio became a normal part of my life, particularly when I drive long distances. It’s a great source of information and entertaining as well.

So, today I’m grateful for podcasts of all shapes and sizes. They entertain, teach, and are a welcome part of my time during the day.

Have a great Thursday, folks!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Thank God for Netflix

Tags

Amazon, Curiosity Stream, Disney+, Documentaries, Entertainment, Netflix, Shows, TV Series

All of us are on lockdown, so I wanted to take a few moments to share some TV series I stream, in case you haven’t seen them. Here’s my list:

Netflix:

• West Wing
• Ozark

Amazon:

• The Man in the High Castle
• Anything James Cagney

Disney+:

• The Mandalorian
• Anything Star Wars

Curiosity Stream:

• Everything!

I hope you enjoy these. If you love documentaries, I cannot recommend Curiosity Stream enough. It only costs about $20 bucks a year, and there are enough topics on outer space, undersea exploration, animals, and tons of history. I am a huge documentary fan, so this is my bread and butter.

I’m thankful for these services and don’t regret one penny that I spend on them. It is terrific to have so many things to watch, pending my mood.

Well, that’s all I got today. I continue to hope all of you and loved ones are still safe.

Until next time…

Dave

 

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursdays – Thanks for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Curiosity Stream, and Vudu.

Tags

Amazon Prime, Appreciative, Curiosity Stream, Entertainment, Grateful, Netflix, Staying Busy, Thankful, Vudu

Well, we’re at home. We’re working from home and staying at home when we’re done working from home. If we get out, it’s because we need food or we have a doctor’s appointment, or we are just driving around to look at something different than our living room.

It’s time like these that you have to be thankful for the many streaming services that provide us entertainment. I enjoy Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Curiosity Stream, and Vudu. As I mentioned in my previous posting, I don’t watch a lot of news. Most of it is opinionated, slanted one way or another politically, and rarely carry anything of import. Most of it is designed to stress you out, and during these troubled times, I’d prefer not to add to the stress that is already there.

What do I like? Well, I love West Wing (I’m watching it right now). There is also season 2 of Altered Carbon, Locke & Key, and a bunch of other content available. On Amazon Prime, there are all kinds of great series and movies for cheap. I watched a James Cagney film last week, and it was terrific. I’ve got White Heat, another Cagney film on my watch list. It rents for $2.99 US.

If streaming videos don’t work, I’ve got Spotify for all of my podcasts and music, and my Xbox for gaming. Plenty of entertainment that I will never get through in a lifetime.

Since my gym has closed, I also enjoy using my exercise bands to stay in shape. If these aren’t your forte, there are plenty of free video home workouts on YouTube. All this technology, and all available for a minimal cost. Thank God!

There are a lot of things available to us to keep us entertained during any lockdowns we may experience. Take advantage of them. They are great entertainment, and they are reasonably priced. I pay $15.99 for my Netflix service and this allows all of my family to watch different things on four separate screens. It’s a great service.

Well, that’s it for today. During troubled times like these, it’s better to look at the bright side of things rather than wallow in self-pity and fear. You won’t change anything, but you will make yourself more miserable. Keep yourself busy. Do some chores around the house, workout, read a great book you’ve been putting off, or enjoy some entertainment on one of the many services I’ve listed. I forgot to mention Disney+, which I get for free because I’m a Verizon customer. This is a great service if you have kids!

Until next time…

Dave

 

Daily Ramblings – Wisdom Wednesday – Reading and Writing can Extend Your Life

Tags

Alzheimer's, Dementia, Entertainment, habits, journaling, Joy, Reading, Writing

Today’s Wisdom is provided by Kreuz (2019). His article (see reference below) provides the benefits of keeping a journal and reading fiction.

“Keeping a journal, for example, has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of developing various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.” (Kreuz, 2019)

Journaling is personal. It can be a diary of sorts where you write about your day or it can be more specific like what you eat, your exercise routine, or even a catalogue of your thoughts, poems you like, or books you have read.

I do my gratitude journaling in the morning and keep a personal journal that I write in. My version of a journal is like a diary. It is a collection of ideas, things I think about, and a way to get things out of my head and onto paper.

The easiest way to start a journal is simply to buy one and set a time in the morning, afternoon, or evening when you write in it. Keep it handy. Over time, my journaling has evolved into a set session in the morning, followed by internal nudges that say “Hey, this is important or this is bothering you–write it down.”

Reading is also important. Kreuz (2019) states:

 

“Reading fiction, meanwhile, has been associated with a longer lifespan. A large-scale study conducted by the Yale University School of Public Health found that people who read books for at least 30 minutes a day lived, on average, nearly two years longer than non-readers. This effect persisted even after controlling for factors like gender, education and health. The researchers suggest that the imaginative work of constructing a fictional universe in our heads helps grease our cognitive wheels.”

The easiest way to start a reading habit is to set aside a time to read each day. I like to read in the afternoon and evening before I go to bed. It helps me sleep, and it does exactly what Kreuz (2019) explains–it works the brain because you have to create the worlds the author is depicting.

I read one chapter a day. If I have time, I read more than that, but the daily goal is one chapter. Everything after that is bonus reading. You can do the same. The key to reading consistently is to find books that really engage you. What genre do you enjoy? I’m a science fiction fan. I like stories about spaceships, aliens, clones, cyborgs, and the like. You may like mysteries, thrillers, or even romance. Find the genre you enjoy and stick with that for a bit. Once you begin reading and getting into a story, you’ll be hooked like I am.

Reading and writing are terrific ways to entertain yourself and keep that brain working. Try it out. A journaling and writing practice should take about an hour a day. Both will keep your mind working and keep your mind clear.

I hope all of you have a great Wednesday!

Until next time…

Dave

Reference

Kreuz, R. (2019). How reading and writing can help us live longer, healthier lives. Retrieved from: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/09/reading-thirty-minutes-day-increase-life-expectancy

Daily Ramblings – Bonus Content – Video Games and Netflix

Tags

Dead Space, Dead Space 2, Dead Space 3, Enjoyment, Entertainment, Fun, Netflix, Recuperation, Relaxation, The West Wing

Image by QuentinLGH from Pixabay

I enjoy my relaxation time as much as I do the work I do. Currently, I am playing a video game called Dead Space. I am also watching a series on Netflix called The West Wing. If you have not played Dead Space, I highly recommend it. I won’t offer any spoilers but it is one great game. It has some really scary scenes and has a great back story. I love video games with a great back story. The West Wing is a television show that was very popular. The series is about a President (Martin Sheen) and a whole host of great characters who really make the show. The writing is superb and I enjoy it tremendously.

If you are into video games, try out Dead Space. It is re-engineered to work on the Xbox One and will set you back $15. It also has two more games beyond the original–Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3. I’m going to play the heck out of Dead Space this month and will jump into Dead Space 2 next month. It’s $19.99.

That’s it, folks. I just wanted to spread the word about two great things I do when I relax. I hope you give them a whirl if you are into Netflix and video games. They are a real treat!

Dave