Misc.

Still kicking

imageJust a quick note to let you all know that I am still breathing.  P.E. Is going ok, swimming ok,  I have noticed that some physical stuff is better while other things have gotten worse. My balancing act is far from great but I seem to do better than last semester. I get vertigo in certain positions turns out I have crystals in my dang ears. Good thing is it only happens when laying prone.  My fingers don’t cooperate as well, I can’t walk as far down a sidewalk but I can run on the tread mill while holding on to its rails.

Catfish has not gotten anymore growths and seems to have more happy go lucky days right now than not. Annie dog has not eaten anything else that is hazardous to her health and still wants to play ball 24/7.  I still have not figured out the new cable menu and suspect I might just wait till the contact expires and switch back.

I have been spending a lot of time looking at photos on G+ and following conversations about Apple, Android, social media platforms, how the information they track about you and me as we surf about the net and how Facebook’s cookie policies and usage are just down right over the top wrong.  I guess if you do not mind after you have closed and logged out that a site still follows you?  There is some downright scary stuff going on out there’s right now and how much we accept without complaint just might be the difference between an open Web and one only available to those who have the financial resources (of the upper class).

This is my first post from my tablet so I hope it does not come out all jumped up.

Posted from WordPress for Android

Gave it A Go

 

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Social Noise?

Noise

computer noiseI am trying to simplify my little internet world.  So many social sites, blogs, follow or un-follow? Join or not?  It hit my pea little multiple sclerosis swiss cheese brain when I accidentally deleted some folks from one of my G+ circles. I did not wish to hurt anyone’s feelings and then it dawned on me if I could not remember who the heck they were I was over estimating my nuisance value.  I love to follow many people on twitter/google/blogs  because I learn from them and get exposed to ideas I might not otherwise consider. Social networks also provide – well a connection to others I would not otherwise have.  But I will no longer follow people just to be following them because someone else I follow does or in return their following me. I hope to follow only folks on social networks that I enjoy and they in return at least acknowledge me.

So far the only thing I have removed is my facebook account. Seriously, too much noise. What I define as noise is anything that is not relevant to me. I do not care  what someones score was in a game or who found what out about someone – please click here and let us see all your data . … . This is probably why I never embraced FB in the first place.   And, while I realize all social sites data mine FB IMHO is the worst.

Selfish – probably.

Setting up who I wish to follow or who wishes to follow me in G+ is kind of humorous.  There are some techies and photographers I am following but the techies are quick not to follow me LOL duh I am not a tech blogger or writer.  But I think many folks sign up for the google plus and become intimidated real fast. It is not set up like many other social platforms while it is really a simple idea – make circles with your friends in them – it also has draw backs as any new platform will – growing pains? It seems to be more geared toward quality follows than collecting high follower stats. Quality V quantity . …  not a social contest?

One thing is sure for me – there are a lot of arrogant folks trying to sway the direction G+ takes.  I am still hoping that there will be room for nobodies in the judgement of the “techie social sphere”  to form some awesome circles.

I am trying to do away with my old news reader and use google reader as it is more integrated with my cell phone contacts and the Chrome browser.  The problem I have is how to go about doing this without having to manually add everyone to the google reader from my other program. Export and Import just create double feeds and when I delete one sometimes it removes both. Unfollowing people I still wish to follow.  I must be missing something as this should not be this confusing to do.

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The other big deal is how do I tie all this stuff together?  The trend is headed toward a less transparent web identities.  I have always kept this blog away from my real world given name and used my nickname. keeping the two “identities’ separate is getting harder and harder. Do I care that you know who I am in real life – not really. Do I wish to keep some of the things I have written on the blog out of my families eyes – you bet!

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I just finished re-reading some of Jean M Auel’s Earth’s Children series.  I love her books! While reading the authors acknowledgement s in Shelters of Stone I was reminded of a time when I was active, meeting folks, apart of,  etc. First off  some of the folks she mentions I had the honor of meeting. Most especially bringing back memories of my favorite Anthropology professor David Abrams (deceased)  – a teacher who sent my mind dreaming and yet at the same time was demanding of his students and the reason I did meet or heard these people speak.  Cave Art still rocks David!

The in my face: it  saddens me that I probably never will get to visit the caves whose art awes me.

Ok that is it for now.