Category: Observation

If you aren’t paying for a service, you are the service, they say.

Joey Jones3 Comments

How do you unwind after a demanding day?

I am very grateful to Matt Mullenweg and his co-founder Mike Little for this space they have given us for free. ( Yep, we can pay for premium) Allowing us to say/write what we want when we want. I don’t know who originally coined the phrase ‘ if you’re not the service/product……….’ Several claim it was their thought first off. Tristan Harris and Andrew Lewis have both had their names attached to it. But here in this tiny corner it isn’t the case is it? They really do let us have it for free. No strings. Thank you, Sirs.

Today, if I may, I’d like to address the department which is Daily Prompt. Being a relative newbie here I am not noticing any repeats, but many of the other guys mention it from time to time. I think I could handle a couple of them as there is always something left unsaid, or another angle to come from. But already I digress, that’s not what I initially wanted to say.

So, today you are asking how do we all unwind after a demanding day. Thing is I have now got off the treadmill and escaped that rat race. So, unwinding is second nature. Something I have perfected to the extreme, you could say. Zen it is.

But actually it’s not about me ( for a change) I write about today….but the folk who love to come here to write who are physically, mentally or emotionally unable to partake in a demanding day. And now how ridiculous that sounds as the words leave my head and I look at them in print! Life for those with challenges are almost by definition demanding, aren’t that? Silly me!

What I am trying to say and not very well is how much thought goes into the Daily Prompts, you generously supply us with each morning. How hard do you consider the bigger picture? Sometimes you ask about family or parents, what if some of the folk here don’t have any, what if someone doesn’t have a demanding day, not for the want of trying, but they just can’t. There are lots of prompts/scenarios that don’t resonate, simply don’t evoke anything at all?

And here is where you emphasize they are prompts not briefs….I really am not complaining WordPress, as I said I’m having fun here, I just look at that bigger picture and wonder how folk are going to answer…..and that’s the point, I guess. Mmmm.

For the record listening to rainfall on an app is the ultimate way for me to chill……which is a bit strange really, as extreme weather is something I fear.

I would be truly amazed if anyone has actually read to the end here. If you have, I thank you for taking the time out today. Have yourselves a safe and pleasant day. Best wishes All xxx

Navigating the Wild West

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How do you use social media?

Once you have learnt to bypass the fake news, AI generated content, advertising and plagiarism and given a wide berth to the Influencers ( do people really forget they are paid to endorse those products?) you are on your way. Rants, raves, negativity and nastiness pushed aside the path becomes much clearer and you can reach your objective quite easily.

I love Bluesky. From there I can get links to news items and lifestyle articles from The Guardian, the only unbiased newspaper out there, it seems to me.It gives me access to things that make me smile, laugh out loud on occasions. Heartwarming things appear there too. We all need those from time to time to counteract just how brutal life is getting out there.

Weirdly I get totally taken in by hairdressing clips. Dogs agility will hold my attention for way too long.

On the Socials I can chat to old friends and make new ones, and do have the apps for most of the platforms, but use them in varying degrees, depending on my mood. I’m enjoying the WordPress Daily Prompt a great deal and from The Reader I get to see the latest posts from those lovely peeps I subscribe to. It’s so interesting to read other folks slant on life.

I’d like to leave Twitter, but some of the charitable organisations I follow, mainly animal rescue related, are there only. I respond and repost to all their posts about rehoming the often broken souls, so brutally abandoned and abused.

If I need to lean how to do something I’ll go straight to YouTube. I have my trusted companion of course, but even with four legs it’s limited what he can achieve. And anyways if he’s not playing, sunbathing, out walking or eating, he’s asleep.

To keep my grey matter in place I’ll play games of all descriptions most days….and yes, I scroll….for longer than I should, but hey. I’m not hurting anyone.

Every day is a school day

Joey Jones6 Comments

Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

Goodness WordPress ‘a ‘ descion ?! Learning and growing has been a bit of a theme that I’m happy to say continues with me to this day and hopefully will accompany me until the end of my life.

‘ Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever’ – Mahatma Ghandi

Like everyone I’ve made good and bad descions and hopefully will have learnt from those choices along the way. Not always though! It can take a while of trying and getting the same results, before it sinks in.

‘What doesn’t kill you….’ and all that.

By listening to my beloved LBC London Radio every day I’m learning something pretty much from the off. This commercial station is mostly unbiased, though there are a couple of presenters I find a bit off. But there is light and shade everywhere, I guess. The early morning show with Nick Ferrari ( yes, I mention him a lot, don’t I? Lol) is the immediate news going on and from that I get the shape of the day. It starts my engine and from there the doors to my mind are open. Deep thinking, day dreaming, remembering, changing my mind.

Perhaps one of the latest descions I made was to get back into blogging here at WordPress. I’d started before but somehow lost momentum along the way. This time it’s different and I love the daily prompt to kick start the process.

I don’t use all the bells and whistle available here because this space provided is enough, for now. I just do my stuff and along the way I’m crossing paths with some interesting people, which I am really enjoying.

Thanks for reading this far…The encouragement I get from you acknowledging my existence is nice, very nice x

Where on Earth

Joey Jones1 Comment

What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why?

There are 195 countries, deciding on one not to visit was initially difficult. Until I gave up, with 76 ‘so far’ on the list.

I’m not adverse to overseas travel. There have been good times had in lots of different places, over the years. But that was then.

Please do not take it personally if you are from any of the following. Yesterday I gained a new subscriber ( thank you BMA) and I hope I don’t lose them because of what I’m about to say ….

Human and animal rights, or the lack of them. The terrain or simply the place creeps me out, I cite as the reasons behind my call. Here goes …

Russia

China

Iran

Iraq

Israel

North Korea

USA

Afghanistan

South Sudan

Libya

Okay, I’ll stop there. You don’t really want me to go on, I know.

Sadly I would have to add Syria and Lebanon. Two countries I so wanted to visit before the powers-that-be trashed them.

The doors of the asylum opened and out came our world leaders. They should hang their heads in shame…..

Take it easy

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What’s the most fun way to exercise?

I just made the big mistake of deciding to have a ‘quick game’ on my tablet before I came to WordPress. Of course, it wasn’t a quick game, was it? At least 40 minutes passed before I got here and read coincidentally our DP today is about having fun. It’s true, I was having fun. Or was I? Maybe just consumed by the black hole which has become our devices. Not much exercise to be had here, other than our fingers and hopefully some grey matter.

Picture this…..It’s a warm, bright sunny day. In a garden somewhere the grass is as green as it could possibly be. The flower beds full of colour. In the middle is a paddling pool. A hose runs with fresh and probably chilly water. A dog runs in and out of the small children as they shriek with glee. The one with the hose being IT for the moment. They are in a safe space and free to scream and shout, to their little hearts content. This is kids having fun. Their cognitive creativity peaks around 6 years old. Motor skills, imagination, problem solving and balance ease up at this age and they begin to mimic the ‘grown ups’ around them. If they are not lucky this can have quite a detrimental effect, I think to myself.

Research suggests that adults lose their sense of fun in their early 40’s. Saying that around 42 years of age, things change somewhat. I wonder if that goes for 40 somethings who have a passion? Surfing, hand gliding or skiing, for example. Surely it would still be fun to do those things at any age, as long as you are fit enough to do so?

These days having fun for me is maybe having lunch out and/or window shopping with a friend, simple things in life. Again not too much exercise going on there, though.

I get to have some fun the three times a day I go out with my boy. I’m not a fair weather dog walker. We’ll go out in whatever. I’m happy to see him having a good time, running like the wind-ish, eating sun-dried sheep’s poo or swimming in the streams. He’s a bit of a bruiser and he has trained me well. He’s taught me how he likes things done and when. I’d say that the walking is exercise and we have fun. So, there it is WP, I’ve answered today’s question.

The Earth dies screaming

Joey Jones4 Comments

What job would you do for free?

Good morning WordPress/Daily Prompt. You ask us about doing a job for free. From the off let’s be clear one would have to be pretty much financially secure to take on such a commitment. Sadly most of us aren’t, so what we do instead is volunteer, when and where we can. I’ve had a few such jobs/activities/the right word being? over the years. For now I’m having a breather between lives, chapters, if you will. Most likely when I find my final resting place (no not that one!) ( still in transient mode?) I shall pick up the threads of ‘ helping out’, once again.

With that question answered I shall go off piste a little.

Whilst I was considering this morning’s prompt my mind wandered to a dear friend of mine. We live in different parts of England but message each other often. Sometimes we chat about screen time. What we have seen and enjoyed, or not, if that is the case.

To said friend I recommend a programme and she responded that her eldest son had also mentioned it and she was going to decline. To be fair it wasn’t easy watching, but not a horror story either. Not in the Stephen King sense of creepy. She was right, in some aspects it wasn’t that pleasant to watch, the story I mean, not the performances. ‘ I’m too scared, to see it ‘ she said. A certain kind of ‘ hell on Earth’ exists in varying forms all over the world, sadly, and having devoted her whole life to children, her own and as a professional in Child Services, she had witnessed sad and difficult times in the families she monitored and assisted. So I didn’t push her further.

That hell on Earth, is now so widespread, it’s breath taking. Whether it be pollution on the most massive scale imaginable in our oceans/waterways, skies, land ( think pesticides ) and beyond. Destruction, cruelty, intolerance, greed, inequality.. ambivalence. There is no end to the ways Man finds to destroy the world which he depends on. Crudely digging up all the preciousness and literally filling those holes with rubbish.

What exactly is being put back, to enrich and enhance our existence on the beautiful planet we are intent on destroying, inside out?

If only all the power and energy and resources to do so where ploughed back in, it could surely be a place to be proud of. And wouldn’t the gods be happy? It’s what they intended, surely?

Shouldnt we all be paying some form of rent to reside here?

To all the beautiful souls who do volunteer ( especially you SB), I thank you.

March 2020

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How have you adapted to the changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic?

The lunacy of allowing two major sporting events to go ahead, always comes to mind when COVID is mentioned.

Despite the World Health Organisation declaring Covid-19 a pandemic, 250,000 racegoers, over four days attended The Cheltenham Festival, UK.

Meanwhile 50,000 football fans where in Liverpool, England,to watch the Champions League game, against Atletico Madrid.With 3000 arriving in the UK from Spain.

At the same time France, Germany, Spain and Japan had closed all schools and banned sporting events.

The financial implications of cancelling the racing and football would have been catastrophic. But at what expense?

Dare to be different?

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Which aspects do you think makes a person unique?

Oh WordPress, you took the wind out of my sails this morning, when I checked in to see what you had in store for us today. Wow, that’s some mighty ol’ Prompt you have for us there! Bordering on a thesis, methinks…but I’ll do what I can to write how I see it. I will certainly have missed things out and readers may offer additions to the list..and I would encourage that, as  it’s a starting point to showcase our uniqueness. What makes us tick and why? What we reveal to the world and what we don’t…maybe?

Until I feel equipped to get all these thoughts and additional words in order, I shall for now just list them..as my mind focuses on what makes us unique…

……..

Gentetic make up

Mother’s well being

Enviromental factors

Physical attributes

Family/Home life

Poverty/Inequality

Socioeconomic

Education/lack of

Abilities,gifts and strengths

Moral compass

Physical and mental health

Chemical imbalances

Drive, ambition

Opportunities, luck

Ego

Support, guidance

Intelligence

Life experiences

Religion/belief’s

Needs, desires

Sense of humour

Resilience

There are so many reasons why we should be different from anyone else…and this is where we could possibly stop judging others, in any way shape or form.There so many faucets to us. Each of us a story. Some able to cope with the hand we were dealt with and some not so much.

Unique bacteria is born into every fingerprint and with that DNA the identity of a person can be determined. The patterns of lines and whirls is believed to unduplicated, on any other finger. Although now AI begs to differ. What we do know is identical twins, we are told by forensic experts will have different if only slightly different fingerprints from their twin.

Even conjoined twins will see and feel the world differently.

I remember you

Joey Jones6 Comments

If you could have something named after you, what would it be?

I need to write the following with my left hand as my dog is asleep on my other arm….😂 Edit.. and now he has awoken and moved and I can come back to edit. Something I often forget to do.

Thank you for the Daily Prompt, WordPress. I shall use this space with names of others in my head and dedicate something to them.

‘ To all those we have loved and lost’. This would be beautifully engraved on a plaque and attached to the back rest of a bench. It would be a memorial to the considerable amount of people and animals I have been fortunate to spend time with here on Earth, before they moved on.

It would be a wonderful thing if throughout any given day all manner of humans and wildlife would spend time here. Maybe a weary mom, just taking a breather with some coffee, before she needs to get up and on with her day. An elderly chap and his little dog may sit for a while to watch the world go by. A paramedic after a gruelling shift may stop and collect themselves before heading home. A young woman with a broken heart unable to go anywhere else at the time, or maybe a blackbird taking shade. They would all be so welcomed….And at the end of the day when the sun is going down and dusk falls a weary soul will lay down, feeling safe and secure and rest until dawn.

Laugh and the world laughs with you….

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What makes you laugh?

We’ve all heard the line ‘ laughter is the best medicine’, turns out it’s true. As the brain’s production of endorphins increase, blood pressure and the heart rate become steady. Feel good chemicals flooding our bodies help to relieve stress and ease pain.

I don’t like to be in a large group of strangers and I really don’t like small talk..It’s an art form I just don’t have. But being with close friends who I love and trust allow me to come out of my shell and have the best time. So to answer today’s prompt, promptly, I would say to laugh with my buddies. But that doesn’t hamper me from finding things to laugh along with when I’m alone. Although I’m never alone having my dog constantly at my side.He looks at me funny sometimes, but I don’t think that’s in the funny ha ha sense..more like funny peculiar.

There is one particular English comedian/writer/actor/producer/director I find extremely funny. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea and his language can be and often is full-on Anglo-Saxon. He is often rude and disparaging beyond measure and tbf he does go a bit too far sometimes, but I simply let that go. No one is perfect!

A year or so back he hosted the Golden Globes. The venue full of ‘stars’. All movers and shakers from the film industry with their plus one’s..their egos. His verbal attack was brutal, gasps where audible from the audience, their faces were a picture. Throughout the ceremony he took no prisoners, a relentless tirade as he held up a mirror to the faces, who let’s not forget are paid handsomely for what they do anyway. The fact they also want to be congratulated and adored was not lost on the host. Laugh? I almost died. Absolute comedy gold.