ChristmasBoard

Saint-Roque wrote:

I agree.
I actually still write letters and I love it. I love doing pre-mobile phone things. People have forgotten the expectation and then the excitement of receiving a letter. People who didn't have a phone left written notes. Newspaper personal ads were used to communicate all sorts of things. Etc.
Now instant connection made communications banal and frivolous and meaningless. High tech killed the emotion, the thrill and the actual need to communicate. They have connected millions, yes, like never before. But they also closed them in their own little private worlds. You just look at rush hour people on the bus or underground. Out of ten of them, nine are checking God only knows what on their mobiles, and one is reading a book or a magazine. High tech communication is killing literacy and the interest in Literature.
I don't do social networking. I stopped once I found out I could be tracked down.
These a few reasons why I'm not so keen on IT stuff and the newest gadget on the market.

I actually agree with quite a lot of this. I don't really see the appeal of handwritten letter however I definitely prefer writing things to typing them when I can. Definitely rely on hand written notes though. I find I remember what I put down better, not sure why. Definitely can't deny the people in their little bubbles stuff. I've been seeing that for years and as someone from a younger generation at times I do feel like the exception in that regard. Due to the pandemic I have only been able to get outside the house to do anything productive a grand total of 10 times since the start of the pandemic (Friday 13th March for me when lockdown 1 hit). Fortunately where I went to work, phones aren't allowed inside, so I was actually able to talk to different people and it was really enjoyable.

In terms of literature it was a weird one for me I used to read quite a bit when I was younger but then I lost interest during my school years (mainly because I had to write essays about every book I read) but then over the last couple of years I got back into it. I find it a helpful stress release. One thing I really don't like about stuff like social media since this pandemic is I discovered who my real friends are and I don't mean that in a yucky sense. Reality is in the digital world if you have a question or want to talk you have dozens, or hundreds or maybe even thousands of options. Apart from my really close friends, throughout the last year I think two people out of about 20 odd actually said hello or asked how I was doing (and I should add I tried talking to all of them a few times in the last year). Really upset me at first but then I discovered the realization of who I should really be spending my time with so I guess some good did come from it. (P.S this isn't a dig at the NS Christmas community or anything. This is specifically referring to irl friends).

I suspect there will be a resurgence of going back to non digital forms of things at some point. Probably in a generation or two's time. Without trying to get too philosophical every time something is changed there will always be a counter force trying to oppose it to keep balance (usually manifesting as the other end of the extreme). And I trimmed most of this message from the original to cut all of the philosophical stuff :)

FYI:

From the 30th of April (today) to the 2nd of May, the RCN is celebrating the 1st RCN Anniversary.

There will be games, competitions and fun chats over on at Discord.

All members of this region are welcome.

Earthbound immortal squad wrote:

And I trimmed most of this message from the original to cut all of the philosophical stuff :)

Well, 'tis a lovely topiary you managed to create with all that trimming :)

Yuletide Yggdrasil wrote:

I haven't handwritten a letter in years and years. Though I do value them far more than an email. I have a stack of handwritten letters that I've received throughout my life; I certainly have no emails saved for any sentimental reason. Despite that, I doubt I will ever write another one, which makes me a bit sad...

I agree, though, that in general I prefer handwriting notes or lists or whatnot. I like to take notes when reading books of particular interest to me, and it's always in a notebook. Really helps me remember things, and I find I can recall where on certain pages a certain note may be, even. And when I have to take a long drive somewhere I'm unclear about the directions to, I handwrite out the step by step directions ahead of time. Often enough, I can recall lots of the steps I need to take without even having to refer back. I remember nothing from having followed a GPS.

There may just be a link between the internet and reading habits. I find it somewhat worrying. I, too, used to read loads. However, I cannot clearly distinguish, for myself, whether it's that my internet usage has gone so far up, as the world has shifted more and more online, or whether that has just coincided with the period where I am starting to get older and actually feel my age a bit. Both are worrying, I suppose lol

I've actually written a couple in the last year-pretty much just to friends. That's about it though.

As for reading, I find it's just a time thing-but uhhh then again, I am a college student so.

Sky of Stars wrote:

Being in Uni or College requires reading; at least it did when I went. Do acquaint yourself with Parkinson's Law lest you fall victim to it.

I just looked that up. Interesting principle, describes procrastination in a nutshell and how pressure can be a good motivator.

Finmany wrote:

The bigger the smile the shaper the knife

I know what you are referencing but I am confused as to how exactly this applies here?

Sky of Stars wrote:

If you liked that, you should probably check out the "Peter Principle".

I'm absolutely loving these :)

100% true. Combine that principle with cronyism and laziness and you get almost every workplace in the world :)

Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz29uticRHQ

This is the theme song to the mid-80s sitcom Perfect Strangers. It kind of slaps. Give it a listen. Pretty righteous harmonicas and horns. Pretty good for a sitcom intro theme.

Now, I bring this before you today because of who wrote it: Jesse Frederick and Bennett Salvay. A writing duo that got together for this job, but then went on to write the theme songs of Full House, Step by Step, and Family Matters. As someone who grew up with these shows, I never put together that all these same-ish shows with same-ish theme songs were, in fact, written by the same people.

Full House
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJsPgsYbFDg

Family Matters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws6zba8sTVw

Step-By-Step
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g94bPMtxtM

That is all. Carry on as you were.

West Phoenicia wrote:

Warm Greetings,

As both our regions have embassies established, we cordially invite members of this region to take part in the RCN & Friends Tri-Sport Tournament

The RCN Tri-Sport Tournament sign up has now been posted on the NS Sports Thread

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=504263

West Phoenicia
President of the RCN

P.S: 2 more months to Christmas in July

It sounds very interesting also which person has nicked my very expensive Hot Chocolate powder

One can never have enough chocolate 🍫

Yuletide Yggdrasil wrote:

It's Mother's Day here in the US. This pretty accurately portrays what it would be like for my brother and I:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhcA4Ry65FU

rofl Kinda like me and my Sibs. lol

Finmany wrote:

It’s Fortnum & Mason’s Hot chocolate powder

A Fortnum & Mason hamper would be a nice gift to receive.