June 2008

When the email came through it seemed like a nifty idea and I thought I had just the place to put it.

What is it?

A keyless programmable lock. Something that could be mounted on a door for everyone’s convenience.

I wanted to put it on my garage…Well, that’s what we call it, but it’s not for parking the car in. You see it’s detached from the house and 30ish feet behind it, but with no driveway leading up to it. We use the building for storing stuff, primarily the pool stuff. And we keep it locked up.

The building has 2 doors. A typical garage door (hence why we call it our garage) and a sidedoor. And with it locked up, it’s a pain when someone needs to run out there and get something.

– Remember the key…Find the key chain…Find the correct key on the key chain (which means trying all 3) -

And if we are already outside when we go through this, then it means tracking back into the house first. The idea of having a code sounds great!

Schlage suggests that you’d want the lock because you can put in multiple codes (up to 19) and can change them whenever you want. So, your latchkey kids (yeah right, in this household?) can have their own codes and never have to remember a key or worry about losing one. Or if you schedule some workmen they can use their own code to come in and do the work (which you can erase when they are done).

So, the lock came and I set it up.

It’s a bit heavier than a regular deadbolt, but that’s not too surprising given that it’s got a lot more to it. It had multiple pages of instructions (in two languages) including everything from drilling instructions (if you need to cut a hole), installation, and programming. And there’s even instructions on where to go on the web to find more instructions and video clips (showing installation and programming) if you want to see someone setting it up.

I’ve installed regular locks and deadbolts before and I found the paperwork more than adequate. Oh, btw, the lock runs off a 9V battery and they even send you a battery.

The lock comes with a programming code and then two preset user codes. I suspect trying not to lose the programming code will be interesting (though taking the lock back apart will get you access to the code, and removing the battery – and pressing a certain button – will reset the lock). You use the programming code to enter and erase the user codes – which I did, and it worked fine.

My only concern will be how long the battery will last, and that only time will tell. The lock they sent me does have it’s own keys to use as a back up if you forget the codes or the battery fails.

Today’s writing assignment is to choose a new religion for yourself. It has to be something different than what you are now, or have been in the past.

It kind of makes me think about a sci-fi series by Lydia Morehouse. The first book is called Archangel Protocol, and without getting to much into it, here’s the starting premise:

Science, which had brought an ugly end to the fighting by producing and detonating the Medusa bombs, and the secular humanism that spawned it, had fallen so far out of favor that it was now officially a crime not to be at least nominally part of an organized religion….

People had suggested I simply convert to another religion and have done with it…

The book then follows this excommunicated ex-cop as she saves the world and lives happily ever after fixing up the theocracy that the world had become – not quite.

So where to go with it?

I was raised without religion and am happy being there so that makes my starting point Atheism. (Though I prefer describing myself as secular or non-religious because while they have changed their tone some, the American Atheist’s used to have a rant against celebrating any kind of cultural holidays and it set a tone in my head.)

Now my father’s family was reformed Jews. Very, very secular, reformed Jews, was always my impression. But it was something that as an adult I have always been interested in. Enough so that I took an Intro to Judaism class at one point after the kids were born. It explained a lot about my family history and interactions. I even came to realization that for me, being Jewish is a cultural thing and I still have a lot of it even as removed as I have been from the religious aspects.

I’m also a traditionalist, so picking to change to reformed Jew is one of the first things to jump out in my mind. With the traditional choice, I can just claim whatever my forefathers were, and not have to think about logic and myths – hey, isn’t that what most people that claim to be religious do?

But since it’s suppose to be something that you have not been in your past, can I choose it?

Let’s keep looking.

My father often told me that one of my largest problems with religions is the problem that there is all the superstructure of the organization. He used to think I got that way from my mom.

I’m not sure. I do know that while I don’t believe in a mythical being that ‘cares’ about us peons; I certainly believe that if it/he/she was to exist it wouldn’t need someone to mediate between us.

Maybe because of that, I’ve always been attracted to some of the Quaker ideals. Especially the idea of declaring yourself married. I think the idea of standing on a hillside with your loved one and just saying we’re married is so romantic.

But they still believe in GOD, so it probably won’t be a great fit. And since there isn’t any tradition here sending me to them, I certainly need to be thinking about why I’d want to be there.

I have studied different religions with the kids as they looked at different cultural groups around the world, and Buddhism certainly gets away from the GOD problem…but reincarnation is just a weird idea and I could never give up eating animal tissue and become a vegetarian.

Now I could take the easy way and just say that I’d become a Unitarian Universalist. They would be happy to let me stay an atheist…

Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion that encompasses many faith traditions. Unitarian Universalists include people who identify as Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and others. As there is no official Unitarian Universalist creed, Unitarian Universalists are free to search for truth on many paths.

…but that kind of by passes the whole point of this exercise.

But I’ve also run out of steam, so I guess I’ll stay where I am. It’s the best fit that I can see.