Cyclist, Driver, Photographer, Dad.

Don't ask me what I do.  You have no say in it.

[ryjoanra]

Stop Trusting Viral Videos

A controversial video of Catholic students clashing with American Indians appeared to tell a simple truth. A second video called that story into question. But neither shows what truly happened.

It is up to every individual to discern what is the truth and weed out the rest, as they’re noises designed to confuse, anger, and separate us from one another.

But what is truth, if one is to ask? It’s based on the set of values and principles one has slowly learned, accepted, and inculcated in their own personal lives.

[newshour]

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George Herbert Walker Bush, the World War II veteran who served two terms as Ronald Reagan’s vice president before becoming the nation’s 41st president, has died at the age of 94. His life was filled with service — from his days in the military to his ongoing charity work since leaving office. In his speech accepting the GOP nomination for president in 1988, he spoke of building a “kinder, gentler nation.” https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq1ftLUANPs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mrth5jamrgz6

[ryjoanra]

Have a glorious journey back home, Mr. President.  You have served and made your country truly proud.

[pewresearch]

Today, social media use is nearly universal among teens.1 While notable shares say they at times feel overwhelmed by the drama on social media and pressure to construct only positive images of themselves, they simultaneously credit these online platforms with several positive outcomes – including strengthening friendships, exposing them to different viewpoints and helping people their age support causes they care about.

Roughly eight-in-ten teens ages 13 to 17 (81%) say social media makes them feel more connected to what’s going on in their friends’ lives, while around two-thirds say these platforms make them feel as if they have people who will support them through tough times. And by relatively substantial margins, teens tend to associate their social media use with positive rather than negative emotions, such as feeling included rather than excluded (71% vs. 25%) or feeling confident rather than insecure (69% vs. 26%).

Young people also believe social media helps teens become more civically minded and exposes them to greater diversity – either through the people they interact with or the viewpoints they come across. Roughly two-thirds of teens say these sites help people their age interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds, find different points of view or show their support for causes or issues. And they see digital environments as important spaces for youth to connect with their friends and interact with others who share similar interests. For example, 60% of teens say they spend time with their friends online on a daily or nearly daily basis, and 77% say they ever spend time in online groups and forums.

Keep reading: Teens’ Social Media Habits and Experiences

[ryjoanra]

Any individual from any generation has encountered, felt, or lived through “peer pressure” and its varying degrees at some point in their teenage years.  Each generation has its own set of accomplishments and challenges when it comes to social activity.  But this current generation is facing a much different and unique challenge.  Social media can reach out in so many ways possible and at great speed, navigating through it takes a lot of energy, effort and a great deal of caution.  And it’s especially hard especially for tweens, teens, and early adults to handle because let’s face it: their maturity level is still improving and can only handle stress brought about by social media up to a certain point.

It’s truly ironic but social media made everyone believe that it would make each one of us more connected and closer to each other.  The truth is, it’s not much different in a scenario in which roommates in a dorm or apartment decided to share one dwelling.  Statistics prove that a good percentage of such arrangement ended up badly.

[ryjoanra]

Happy Thanksgiving!

[united-nations-deactivated20190]

What can YOU do to help tackle climate change?

Reduce food waste 🍽

Recycle ♻️

Save water 💧

Bike, walk & take public transport 🚲🚶‍♀️🚎🚶🏼🚇

Be part of the solution and get more climate action ideas here: https://bit.ly/1WMIBe4

[ryjoanra]

I will.  I know I’ll fail at times.  But I will not be deterred.  I will keep on trying and be aware of what I can and must do.  Because if there’s one thing that I have control over.  It’s on myself.

[ryjoanra]

Cannondale Synapse and Foliage

Explore jrd98's photos on Flickr. jrd98 has uploaded 1367 photos to Flickr.

Checked out the status of foliage in Valley Forge National Park on 26 October 2018.  It’s sporadic, and based on assessments by many experts, the wet summer greatly influenced the way the leaves would turn, with many of them just dropping to the ground before it can even change its colors.

[ryjoanra]

Upper Lehigh Gorge Trail

Finally accomplished the goal of riding this trail (popularly known as the Delaware and Lehigh Trail or D&L) on Saturday, October 13th, 2018, together with the family.  It is a 10-mile upper portion of the entire D&L Trail starting in White Haven and ending in Rockport.

[pewresearch]

More than 11 million U.S. parents – or 18% – were not working outside the home in 2016.

The stay-at-home share of U.S. parents was almost identical to what it was in 1989, but there has been a modest increase among fathers. The share of dads at home rose from 4% to 7%, while the share of moms staying at home remained largely unchanged – 27% in 2016 versus 28% about a quarter-century earlier. As a result, 17% of all stay-at-home parents in 2016 were fathers, up from 10% in 1989, the first year for which reliable data on fathers are available.

The share of stay-at-home parents in the United States has fluctuated in recent decades. Around 2000, the share of stay-at-home moms hit a low of 23%; the overall share of stay-at-home parents dipped to 15%. But in the immediate wake of the Great Recession, rates of stay-at-home parenting rose to 20% in 2010, driven in part by parents who were at home because they were unable to find work. This was particularly true of stay-at-home fathers, one-third of whom reported they were home for this reason in 2010.

Continue reading

[ryjoanra]

Have been one of the stay-at-home Dads before, and can personally attest that it’s very tough, rough and trying most of the time.  Was disillusioned and angry after being cut off from previous job after all the personal sacrifices made, even my personal health.

It’s a blessing that I had an unwavering support from family, coupled with taking care of personal health, was I able to overcome these challenges.

[ryjoanra]

Beside the Waterfall

Explore jrd98's photos on Flickr. jrd98 has uploaded 1341 photos to Flickr.

This small waterfall is very easy to miss, especially when driving.  That’s why riding a bike is the best way to explore one’s surroundings or any area of interest.

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

Little Things you can do to Improve your Mental Health

1. Make sure you go outside, or change your environment at least once a day.

2. Text, snapchat and message your friends. Make sure you don’t isolate yourself.

3. Budget for small treats and indulgences.

4. Decide to say “no” to people-pleasing tendencies. Be secure in who you are and in what you want for “you”.

5. Invest in hobbies which your genuinely enjoy, and which tend to leave you feeling good about yourself.

6. Have a favourite playlist which you know will lift your mood.

7. Decorate your space or room in a way that reflects you.

8. Limit how much time you spend with those who drain your energy.

9. Treat yourself the way you’d treat a special person, or good friend.

10. Don’t compare yourself to others, just appreciate being you.

[ryjoanra]

Helping in spreading these good tips.

[ryjoanra]

Sunday Ride - 16 September 2018

This is in some ways a re-introduction to cycling for me, as I’ve been out of the saddle for a month.

[pewresearch]

The Catholic Church is larger than any other single religious institution in the United States, with over 17,000 parishes that serve a large and diverse population. In spite of its size and influence, the church in recent decades has faced a number of significant challenges.

Key fact: There are roughly 51 million Catholic adults in the U.S., accounting for about one-fifth of the total U.S. adult population. The share of Americans who are Catholic declined from 24% in 2007 to 21% in 2014.

Read six other key facts about American Catholics and their church. 

[pewresearch]

About two-thirds of American adults (68%) say they at least occasionally get news on social media, about the same share as at this time in 2017.  Many of these consumers, however, are skeptical of the information they see there: A majority (57%) say they expect the news they see on social media to be largely inaccurate. 

Republicans are more negative about the news they see on social media than Democrats. And while 42% of those Democrats who get news on social media say it has helped their understanding of current events, fewer Republicans (24%) say the same.

Asked what they like about the news experience on social media, more Americans mention ease of use than content. “Convenience” is by far the most commonly mentioned benefit, (21%), while 8% say they most enjoy the interactions with other people. Fewer social media news consumers say they most like the diversity of the sources available (3%), or the ability to tailor the content they see (2%).

Read more. 

[ryjoanra]

There you go.

[ryjoanra]

This is not how a considerate driver parks!

Family went for a nice dinner at TGIF in Allentown on July 27th, 2018.  Granting that it was pouring out that time, still it’s not an excuse for anyone not to properly park their cars if it’s not their own garage.

[ryjoanra]

Fuji Sportif Disc

Explore jrd98's photos on Flickr. jrd98 has uploaded 1218 photos to Flickr.

It’s a good thing those Longhorns are contained by the fence.

[pewresearch]

The gap in the standard of living between Asians near the top and the bottom of the income ladder nearly doubled from 1970 to 2016. Amid rising income inequality overall, Asians displaced blacks as the most economically divided major U.S. racial or ethnic group.

Read key takeaways from our recent report.

See how incomes of blacks, Hispanics and Asians compared with incomes of whites in 1970 and 2016.

[ryjoanra]

2018 Philadelphia Flyers Charity Classic

The 2nd Bike/Run event organized by the Flyers organization took place on July 15th, 2018.  It was well-supported by a lot of people from all over who wanted to make a difference through this charity event.