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I’d rather write than talk. Nobody interrupts! Posting monthly or less now--see below. |
My original purpose for this blog, which I started in August of 2019, was to see if I could maintain consistency, to discover what I want to write about, and to find my writing voice. In January, I started a "niche-less" blog at Wordpress.com where I've published weekly. -- Kit’s Kontemplations  . -- I'm preparing to start a Catholic blog on Wordpress.com where I'll post weekly, and another site to put the rest of my writing. I also want to spend more time reading other blogs and offering thoughtful comments, both here on WDC and elsewhere. At most, I will publish once a month at no set time in this blog starting in September of 2020. Thank you to those who have read and rated any posts on this blog. I really appreciate it. I did NOT want to write “about” me on this blog. I wanted to share my interests, discoveries and maybe a few useful insights. If anything I've written helps even one person, whether or not they respond to the post, then this blog has been successful. |
| When something is heavily promoted, I get skeptical. It’s pretty common for the public to be deliberately misled by misinformation. The bigger the potential for profit, the greater my skepticism gets about what I’m being asked to do. Because a simple recommendation wasn’t motivating enough people to get the flu shot, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now uses fear tactics to motivate healthy adults to get it. The CDC feels threatened, for good reason, by peoples’ ability and willingness to educate themselves about health matters. As this article describes, the CDC uses very faulty statistical methods to magnify the benefits of the shot. At the same time, it ignores the harmful aspects of the flu shot. — How the CDC Uses Fear Marketing to Increase Demand for Flu Vaccines There are no studies done about either the effectiveness of the vaccine or about its harmful effects. The “vaccine religion” considers rational people who refuse the flu shot based on their research to be heretics. — It’s Flu Shot Propaganda Season! Beware the Big Lies about the Vaccine. Not only is there no scientific support that the flu shot is effective, there is evidence that it is harmful. The shot includes unsafe levels of mercury and it can cause serious neurological disorders. — 10 Reasons Not To Get a Flu Shot There is an over-abundance of articles which insist that we get the shot. Not only that, they also guilt-trip you for not getting it. I saw no need to cite these links since your doctor or pharmacist will provide the same information. I have never gotten the flu shot despite getting severe colds and bronchitis. Though I am now in my 60’s, I have no plans to get it in the future. Why fall for the fear-mongering of those who profit from deceiving and manipulating us? Other sources: 5 Research Based Reasons To Avoid The Flu Shot! The Toxic Science of Flu Vaccines Why This Doctor Doesn’t Get Her Flu Shot! Monique from Ottawa, Canada No matter what, WRITE! |
| Do you recognize when someone wants to change your opinion about something or notice when someone wants to get you to do something you weren’t planning to do? Maybe you were browsing at Best Buy and walked out with a much more feature-rich, not to mention expensive, item than you intended to buy. Last summer we had to replace our TV and planned to get something as similar to it as possible. After 3 hours, we left with a smart TV that cost $1,000 more than we intended to spend. After spending hours struggling with it, we returned it, concluding that this “smart” TV was smarter than we were. Whether it’s a candidate giving an election speech or a lawyer addressing a jury, there’s an argument going on; not a conflict but a series of statements that include reasons supporting a conclusion. Arguments have one of three goals: persuasion, justification or explanation. Persuasion No matter how sound, valid or clear the argument is, not everyone will be persuaded. Some will misunderstand your premises (supporting reasons or evidence) and others will disagree with them because they blindly believe the opposite of your premise. If the goal is persuasion, the reasons and the motives may be questionable. The quality of an argument does not depend on whether someone changes their mind or takes the desired action. Justification If you can give clear and rational reasons for your beliefs about something, the other person may still disagree with you but they will at least see that you have carefully considered your viewpoint. If your goal is justification, you don’t care if the other person changes their mind or makes a particular decision. If my friend is planning to get a tablet and I tell her the reasons why I chose an Android rather than an iPad, I won’t be offended if she buys the iPad. I’ll just be happy if she’s pleased with her choice. Explanation With persuasion or justification, both parties are not on the same page concerning the conclusion. With explanation, both agree that the conclusion is true; the purpose is to explain why. For example, if a bridge collapsed, a brand-new car broke down or there was an earthquake in a location where this had never before happened, the “explanation” type of argument gives reasons why the event happened. No one questions the conclusion, the event that happened; the premises supporting the conclusion explain the reasons leading to the event. Which of the three argument categories do you think that each of these scenarios fall into? 1 — Why has the power been out for three days? 2 —There are far more condos for sale and not enough apartments for rent in our city. 3 — No one must ever buy throw-away plastic products. Suggested Answers 1 — Explanation 2 — Justification 3 — Persuasion. Monique from Ottawa, Canada No matter what, WRITE! |
| In this compilation of eight books with over 680 pages, Susan Gunelius covers blogging in a great deal of detail but not in a way that is out of reach for the beginner. This is not a book that needs to be read from cover to cover, though it would be most useful to read the first book: Joining the Blogosphere (containing only 4 chapters), before moving on to any of the other books. There is a 2-page Contents at a Glance followed by a much more detailed Table of Contents as well as a glossary and index at the back of the book. Book II is about niche blogging and Book III covers business blogging. Since I am not interested in these topics, the first part I read after Book I was Book IV which discussed choosing a blogging application. I was originally going to use Wordpress for no particular reason, but after reading Book IV, I decided to go with Blogger.com because it was both free and it also allowed you to monetize your blog later on. It was the only free one that does that, at least in 2010 when the version I borrowed from the library was published. Susan has also written a complete book on Blogger.com which I ordered from Amazon since my library didn’t have it. In Book V, the topics that interested me were: Editing and Finding Images and Using Offline Blog Editors. It also includes chapters on creating podcasts and measuring blog performance among others. Book VI is about growing and promoting your blog; this is something I would return to if I’m still blogging six months from now. Chapter 1 entitled Secrets to Blogging Success is what I would recommend reading immediately after reading Book I. Book VII focuses on making money from your blog. I may come back to this after a year since, by choosing the Blogger application, I’ll be leaving this option open. Since I’ve had a Twitter account for almost 10 years, I couldn’t bypass Book VIII without at least reviewing the contents. Most of what I saw would be familiar to any Twitter user. Along with the basics of how to use Twitter and set up an account, Book VIII covers these topics among others:  Finding out who is using Twitter and why Drawbacks of Twitter Using URL shorteners (since posts are limited to 140 characters) Using hashtags Using Twitter to boost blog trafficFor a social media book, it’s a bit old (published in 2010) so some of the links and tools may no longer exist. Blog search engines like Technorati haven’t existed for several years, maybe because the line between a blog and a website is blurred to the point of non-existence. If you want your blog to be found, the key seems to be Search Engine Optimization (SEO); this is something a whole lot more complex than I’m interested in. The 2nd Edition published in 2012 is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/Blogging-All-Dummies-Susan-Gunelius/dp/1118299442/ref=sr_1... This is definitely more of a reference book than something you might read only once or twice. As a personal or hobby blogger, I’m not particularly interested in most of the chapters. Nevertheless, I definitely recommend it, especially to “serious” bloggers. Monique from Ottawa, Canada No matter what, WRITE! |
| “The truth isn’t always what we want it to be. Sometimes beliefs that don’t match up with truth are much more convenient, or more palatable, or more popular. It takes work to conform your beliefs to reality.” —Amy K. Hall Our culture, in the name of “tolerance” encourages us to believe illogical things such as: “there is no absolute truth” and “truth cannot be known”. People who make these statements seem to be absolutely sure that they know these things about truth. If there is no absolute truth then someone’s claim that there is no absolute truth is only their opinion, and a self-contradictory one at that. The statement that truth cannot be known is itself a statement that claims to be a knowable truth. We don’t invent truth; we discover it. The process for discovering truth begins with the first principles of logic that we know intuitively. The first is the law of non-contradiction; A cannot be A and non-A at the same time. For example, a cat cannot be both a cat and not a cat at the same time. The second is the law of the excluded middle. A statement that can have a truth value is either true or false; there is no middle ground. For example: a snake is either a reptile or not a reptile; there is no other possibility. Any claim we encounter is only worthy of belief if it points to the truth. “Unfortunately, many modern beliefs are based on subjective preferences rather than on objective facts.” —Unknown If we genuinely desire to find the truth, we must be willing to give up our preferences in favour of facts. “Although we cannot always trust our intuition, I contend that it is a great place to start when searching for truth. Moreover, when one’s intuition is supported by a cumulative case of data, there is good reason to continue trusting intuition.” —Tim Stratton There are a lot of factors that go into the formation of a belief. When you encounter a new idea for the first time, you will either accept or reject it. Occasionally you may withhold judgement until you research it but even then, you are inclined to either accept or reject it. Have you ever considered why you do this? Here are some questions to consider about a new idea you encounter for the first time: Are you more likely to accept an unfamiliar idea if you read about it than if you hear about it from a friend? Does it match with your previous learning or with your experience? In the absence of related knowledge or experience, what might make the new idea appealing or at least worthy of further consideration? In the absence of related knowledge or experience, what might cause you to resist or outright reject the new idea? Could one reason be that to believe this new idea means that either you would have to exert some new effort, or that you would lose some comfort or convenience?{u{Sources: Self-Defeating Statements http://apologeticjunkie.blogspot.com/2009/10/self-defeating-statements.html Why We Care About Truth https://www.str.org/blog/why-we-care-about-truth The Ring of Truth https://freethinkingministries.com/the-ring-of-truth/ Monique from Ottawa, Canada No matter what, WRITE! |
| How often have you heard someone say that all religions teach the same thing? Do you agree? If you disagree, have you had any success convincing someone why this belief can’t be accurate? If two statements contradict one another, they may both be false or one of the two claims could be true. It is completely and logically impossible for both contrary claims to be true. Among the worldviews, there is atheism, polytheism and monotheism. Take atheism and monotheism for example: it makes no sense that there would be both no god and one god. There are three monotheistic religions which state that there is only one God who created the universe. “Religions are superficially similar, they are fundamentally different.” —Ravi Zacharias The central doctrine of Christianity is that Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. Judaism agrees that Jesus was crucified but denies that he rose from the dead. Islam states that Jesus was not crucified, nor did he rise from the dead. How is it possible that all three of these religions are equally true? Take this 15-question quiz to see how much you know about religion then check out the report the site provides. https://www.pewforum.org/2019/07/23/what-americans-know-about-religion/ Monique from Ottawa, Canada No matter what, WRITE! |
| Our culture criticizes Christians for being “narrow”, even calling us intolerant bigots. Since every truth claim is exclusive, by its very nature according to logic, to make any truth claim at all makes you “narrow-minded” and “intolerant”. All truth claims are logically exclusive. If the statement is true, then the possibility of its being false is excluded; if the statement is false, then the possibilty of its being true is excluded. Mars is closer to Earth than Neptune is. This excludes the possibility of Neptune being closer to Earth than Mars is. My ethnic origins are French on my father’s side and Italian on my mother’s side. This excludes the possibility of my ethnic origins being anything other than French and Italian. One of the Laws of Logic states that A cannot be non-A. To make this clear, I will provide category, event and worldview examples: Category Examples Since a cat is a feline, the possibility of it being a fish, fowl or reptile is excluded. Since a lemon is a citrus fruit, the possibility of it being a berry, vegetable or grain is excluded. Since the birthstone for February is amethyst, the possibility of it being aquamarine, emerald or garnet is excluded Event Examples Since Martin Luther King Jr. was fatally shot at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, at 6:01 p.m. Central Standard Time, any possibility that this did not occur when, where, and to whom it did is excluded. Since Donald Trump, who won the most votes in the 2016 election was elected President on November 8, 2016, the possibility that anyone else was elected President at any other time in 2016 is excluded. Since Prince William married Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London, United Kingdom on April 29th 2011, the possibility that either of them married someone else in any other location is excluded. Worldview Examples If the atheist’s belief that God does not exist is true, this excludes the possibilty that pantheism, polytheism or monotheism could be true. The New Atheists loudly criticize Christianity for being exclusive when their message shares this characteristic. If the Muslim belief that Jesus was neither crucified nor did he rise from the dead is true, this excludes the Jewish belief that he was crucified and the Christian belief that he was crucified, and that he rose from the dead. If the evolution belief about creation, that the first life formed spontaneously and evolved into all plants, animals and humans with no outside help is true, it excludes the possible existence of an intelligent Creator and Designer. If scientism, which states that satisfactory answers to all questions are or will be answered by the hard sciences is true, this excludes the possibility that answers could come from any other field of study, such as philosophy or metaphysics. People often believe truth claims based on preference. Many even believe illogical self-refuting statements such as “There is no universal truth” or “You can’t know anything for certain”. Why is it that Christians get more heat for their truth claims than do atheists or those of Eastern non-theistic beliefs when they are equally exclusive? What possibility is excluded if the following statements are true? Madrid is the capital city of Spain. Crocodiles belong to the reptile family. The remedy for suffering is to not have any desires.Sources: Is Christianity too narrow? http://www.faccalgary.com/interactive/weekly/index.php?ID=86&fs=1 Christ’s Exclusive Truth-Claims Make Believing “All Religions Are Basically the Same” Impossible https://www.epm.org/blog/2017/Jun/9/christs-exclusive-truth-claims Monique from Ottawa, Canada No matter what, WRITE! |
| With an engaging, conversational style and sparks of humour, Frank Turek and Norman Geisler demonstrate the rational weakness of the case for atheism and the strength of the evidence for theism and Christianity. Topics covered include: Does truth exist and can it be known? How we get our beliefs? Why people resist the truth despite abundant rational evidence. The universe had a beginning, therefore it had a “Cause” (Cosmological Argument). The universe has a complex design, therefore it had a “Designer” (Teleological Argument). Darwin’s theory falls apart by his own admission. A universal moral law requires the existence of a “Law-giver”. Theism is the puzzle boxtop that fits the pieces. There is credible early eye-witness testimony to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This book is the first apologetics book I read. It launched me into a detailed study of apologetics. I’ve read other books, listened to many podcasts and watched a lot of videos on this topic. This book covers each aspect of apologetics without getting too detailed or technical. It is definitely suitable for the average reader and provides a useful jumping point for anyone who wants to dive into any branch of this study. As Christians, we are called to love God with our minds as well as our hearts and to be prepared to explain why we hold our beliefs. Studying this book is a great way to start equipping yourself to fulfill this calling. Available on Amazon in print and kindle format https://www.amazon.ca/Dont-Have-Enough-Faith-Atheist/dp/1581345615/ref=sr_1_1?cr...’thave+en%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1 Available as an audiobook https://christianaudio.com/i-dont-have-enough-faith-to-be-an-atheist-norman-l-ge... Study Guide available on Amazon in print and kindle format https://www.amazon.ca/Official-Study-Guide-Enough-Atheist-ebook/dp/B00BFZS894/re...’thave+en%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-2 Monique from Ottawa, Canada No matter what, WRITE! |
| When we’ve not already been trained to think critically and realize how important this skill is, the next question we ask is: “how do I get better at this?” In the article: 7 Ways to Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills, Ransom Patterson starts by explaining what critical thinking is and why it is important. The 7 “ways” he describes are: Ask basic questions. Question basic assumptions Be aware of your mental processes Try reversing things Evaluate the existing evidence Remember to think for yourself Understand that no one thinks critically 100% of the time—https://collegeinfogeek.com/improve-critical-thinking-skills/ Critical thinking steps to master include: identification, research, identifying biases, making inferences, determining relevance, and exercising our natural curiosity. This article explains what each step involves and gives suggestions about how to improve your skill in each one. —https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-experience/college-life/critical-thinking-skil... If you’re ready to really dig in, Courseara offers a free four-part course called “Think Again”. Two of the four parts of this course, parts one and four, are more about critical thinking. The other two, parts two and three, cover formal and informal logic. The first part focuses on how to recognize, untangle and reconstruct an argument and the fourth part explains how to avoid fallacies. The second and third parts cover deductive and inductive logical reasoning respectively. When I took the course, all four parts were combined. I found it so interesting and helpful that I’ve taken it twice over the past three years and I’m considering taking it (all four parts) a third time. I believe the first and fourth part would be the most useful for improving your critical thinking skills. My favourite part was the one that covered deductive logic. This one would probably be most appealing to those who enjoyed studying algebra or programming. You can just watch the videos if you want or you can do the exercises as well. Getting the textbook is helpful if you can get it but not essential. Think Again I: Understanding Arguments —https://www.coursera.org/learn/understanding-arguments Think Again II: How to Reason Deductively —https://www.coursera.org/learn/deductive-reasoning Think Again III: How to Reason Inductively —https://www.coursera.org/learn/inductive-reasoning Think Again IV: How to Avoid Fallacies —https://www.coursera.org/learn/logical-fallacies The text: Understanding Arguments is available in PDF format here: —http://zu.edu.jo/UploadFile/Library/E_Books/Files/LibraryFile_17113_11.pdf Any of the above approaces to learning critical thinking would appeal more to some people than others. How would you approach this challenge? Do you know what your primary learning style is and, therefore, what would be your most effective path? Monique from Ottawa, Canada No matter what, WRITE! |
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Yes, I know some people do that but I'm a creative writer not a journalist. Poetry sells ... but it's a money-maker for only a few. I write A LOT. Almost 180 pieces since Spring equinox. My goal is 300-400 per year. One year I went over 1,000. I need to do more editing, polishing, sharing, submitting. Writer's block? Who has time for that? I don't.