Life, Camera, Action!

While walking through a department store, I thought I saw a slight movement off to the side. I’m blaming it on tired eyes because it looked like a mannequin moved. It’s not impossible. You’ve seen stores create a buzz by substituting a live model for a mannequin, drawing a crowd as people stop and stare at the store windows. Onlookers stare trying to catch the models moving. They’re watching us, and we’re watching them. With cameras everywhere, it feels like someone’s watching our every move. See what the camera catches:

                                         https://youtu.be/rgDm5Fj5Yeg

There’s always camera footage to back up good and bad behavior. Fortunately, the employee has visual reminders of his little customer. Maybe we’d behave better if we remember that someone’s always watching. You never know when the camera will catch you, and if it does, what do you want it to capture about you?      

Peaceful Power

I’m a pseudo-meteorologist. You probably don’t hear that confession very often.  My mother said that, as a child, I always asked about the weather conditions. At my house, my husband or kids seem to think I have the inside scoop on the weather. Almost daily one of them asks, “What’s the weather today?” and “How hot is it going to be?” Maybe it’s because they catch me listening to the forecast about twice a day, and more often when a big storm is predicted. I just like to be prepared for whatever comes.

Although I dread getting caught in bad weather, that’s exactly what happened last week. Driving home, a curtain of wind and rain slammed across the windshield. I don’t usually pull over during storms but the blinding rain obscured everything. I couldn’t see and I couldn’t pull over. The curvy road offered no shoulder for the faint – hearted. Fortunately only small branches littered the street and nothing fell into my path. After the storm, numerous split tree trunks testified to the storm’s strength.

A tornado‘s power is amazing, and one videographer managed to capture beauty amidst chaos. Take a look:

                                         https://youtu.be/Crpit2DNtw4

Despite a tornado’s massive size and destructive power, it can also create a majestic and tranquil scene. When you find yourself caught up in life’s storms, how do you reclaim peace? 

Modified from August 2011

A Friend to the End?

Our family dealt with a malfunctioning cell phone this week. You know it feels awful to leave your phone at home—double that feeling when it’s broken. It’s only when we can’t use our phones that we realize how often we rely on them for music, weather, games, videos, and whichever version of the truth we want to read. Some of us even have Siri, a customizable friend who spits out snappy comebacks to outrageous questions. Cell phones fill so many needs, it’s no wonder we develop phone addictions. Watch how several people react to a phone challenge:

                                     https://youtu.be/_qUZai-kGgA

The video’s funny, but it’s not intended to endorse a product. Consider the challenge. Could you pass it? Track the amount of time you spend on your phone. Is your cell phone your everything, and if not, what is?