The Introverted Detective

It is days after Christmas and we are going to be talking about conspiracy, that, and the true origin of Santa Claus.  St. Nicholas Let me introduce you to St. Nicholas, a monk who used his whole inheritance to help the needy. In 16th century Europe he was known as Father Christmas. Sailors know him as the patron saint of voyagers because he prayed and saved a ship. He is also the patron and protector of children. He died in 343 AD and his tomb was found in Turkey. This man was the starting point of Santa Claus. St. Nicholas Day is celebrated December 6th.  If you want more on St. Nicholas, see my last three sources. He was an amazing man and he was real. He is declared a Saint. He has many descriptions throughout time, but the red suit is here to stay. While the holiday has lost some of the original sincerity and love, his popularity as a Saint has not gone away. He took seriously Christ's command to give money to and care for the poor. It would be a good idea to remember tha...

Zoom or in-person holiday party? Zoom or in-person office meeting? Zoom or in-person prayer meeting? Zoom or in-person date? All these questions and more are the questions of the day. Let me help! Take a quick look at your pros and cons before canceling anything or going online.    Zoom or any other video calls you make have a different psychological impact than in-person social contact. If it just wasn't the same to talk to your friend on Skype or Zoom or Facetime you have proven this theory to be true. Classes, parties, dates, office meetings, and prayer meetings will not have the same flow. While it may be more convenient to only dress your top half and wear pajamas or sweats on the bottom, it doesn't truly connect us in the same way. This doesn't mean it is not a good way to conduct a meeting. Without any further adieu, let's dive into the pros and cons of Zoom. The Negatives This may be a pro and con, depending on your function, but it limits social activity. If...

 Let's face it, Christmas may be a celebration of Christ's birth, but the holiday shopping society added to it gives us all a bad case of anxiety. Even if you aren't losing it trying to get a perfect gift for your in-laws, parents, spouse, or sibling, all this Covid 19 business is making everyone a bit stir-crazy and anxious. Today we are going to talk about how to calm down without medication (unless you really do need it, and there is no shame in needing it). Image from Harvard Health - Harvard University For starters, I'm going to tell you that if you have a legitimate disorder that needs medication this post is not here to shame you. You should listen to any therapists and doctors that are trained to deal with mental illness. Don't try to treat it all by yourself. Get help if you are considering or having thoughts of suicide. Please don't think of me as a doctor. While these may help with your anxiety, I am not a doctor. What I do know is that disorders of a...

 Mindfulness, does it harm your faith or help your faith? Let's dive into that. First of all, I have found that much like my blog on horror and Christianity (found in my archives) there are so many opinions out there. We first need a basic definition of Mindfulness. Our English dictionary says it is (1)being aware and conscious of something, or (2) a mental state achieved by being aware of the present moment while accepting all emotions, feelings, and bodily sensations. The second definition is considered a therapy technique. Put simply, you clear the noise from your mind and completely relax yourself while completely focusing on the present moment.  The Positive By itself, it does not sound like it can contradict your Christian faith. In fact, understanding yourself can help you learn better and live a better life. Does it really sound all that bad? In this chaotic year we've all had, I'd say the basic practice of staying in the present and sitting to clear your head for a...

So, Bigfoot. Is he real? Today we find out what we do know about this mysterious seven-foot Chewbacca.  If you thought this legend was only where you live, you were wrong. It is all over the place under all kinds of names. Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Witigo, Wendigo, Rugaru......etc. He apparently has magical powers or is a messenger of warning, according to various Native American tribes. 1800 and 1900 settlers would find huge footprints and there are even some grainy photos of our hairy friend. The real question is this; is there any proof? Whole organizations study Bigfoot's legend.  Our modern concept of Bigfoot can be traced to a news story in the  Humboldt Times  in 1958. A report of large footprints was run in the paper just because it might be a fun story. To Andrew Genzoli's surprise, the article had traction that continues even today. Writers picked it up and included it in novels and fiction. You can thank Genzoli for all those Bigfoot documentaries you watched wh...

 Queen Hatshepsut, a Pharoah almost erased from history by her stepson, was one of the most successful and prosperous leaders Egypt ever had. Most of us have heard of Cleopatra, but let's dive into the story of Hatshepsut.  Before we go into what nearly destroyed her memory in Egyptian history, here is a brief introduction to her success and how she got into the position of Pharoah. Keep in mind, Pharaohs were "gods" and once you got the throne you couldn't be voted out. She was the 6th Pharoah of the 18th dynasty and ruled from 1479 to 1458 BC. Evidence of her reign as most successful woman Pharoah was found around 1927, when a pit of all her artifacts, most of them destroyed and broken, was found. She was the widowed queen of her half-brother Thutmose II, and when he died she was named regent ruler until her stepson (most likely a harem child) would be of age to rule.            T his is the point in the story where she gets a bad name...

 If you are anything like me you know next to nothing about what noises your car should and shouldn't be making, or what warning lights mean. While a picture is worth a thousand words, this post should clarify what the car warning lights actually mean.  First of all, let's put them in priority order. The most important lights are at the top of the list.  Oil pressure  - It looks like a genie's lamp dripping. Something is wrong with the car's oil pressure system. You are running low on oil or it isn't pumping correctly. This is not something to ignore.  Engine Temperature - The image to picture is a thermometer with waves below it. Your engine overheated. You may need coolant. This is urgent and should be addressed immediately.  Antilock Brake System - In case anyone thought a light with the letters ABS was Airbag Safety System (I did, so no shame at all if you have), it is not. If it comes on for a few seconds and disappears all is well. If it stays on you ...