I did it! I've posted every day in April and written a poem every day. I finished both challenges and I'm very proud of myself. I have a bad habit of sometimes starting things that I don't finish so I feel pretty good about this.
One of the things I wanted to do in April was to simplify my life. I've made a few changes but still need to work on this. Right now I have 392 feeds in my Google Reader. That's down from over 500 at the beginning of the month. These are all blogs and news feeds and while they are interesting it becomes overwhelming at times. Part of the problem is I want to keep up with them on a daily basis. Which is why I'm in front of the computer all day. I'm going to work on reducing the number further in May.
The other thing I'm trying to do is keep my computer off one day a week. I decided on Sunday and for the last three Sundays tried with varying degrees of success to keep the computer off. The first Sunday I left it off until 7:30 pm. The second I managed to leave it off all day but kept checking my iPhone for email and looking online a time or two. Last Sunday I gave in early and had it on most of the day. Wow, there are five Sundays in May! I'm going to leave it off entirely on each one. I'd like to say I'll leave my phone off but I'm not sure I can go that far yet. As I read what I just wrote it kind of sounds like the computer is in control and not me. I'm afraid that may be true. . .
I don't think I'm going to commit to posting every day in May. I'm going to plan to but I don't want the commitment hanging over my head right now. Maybe in June (notice how I go for the shorter months!).
I read 12 books and went to the library three times. Hmm, usually I go four times. Oh well I guess that's ok. I read a bunch of mysteries this month. One I especially enjoyed, The Stargazey by Martha Grimes. She writes a series about a Scotland Yard Inspector, Richard Jury. I love British mysteries and have picked up one of hers a time or two in the past but never read it. Fortunately I finally read one and I loved it! The Stargazey is the 15th in the series. I've requested the first one from the library and I'm going to start from the beginning and read them all.
The Literary Gardener – Walter Chandoha
The Two Towers – J.R.R. Tolkien Book
The Return of the King – J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin – J.R.R. Tolkien
Evidence – Jonathan Kellerman
Shooting Gallery – Hailey Lind
Deadly Advice – Roberta Isleib
Homicide in Hardcover – Kate Carlisle
Asking for Murder – Roberta Isleib
The Stargazey – Martha Grimes
Imagined London – Anna Quindlen
The Gutenberg Elegies – Sven Birkerts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Poem in Your Pocket Day
Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day! Hopefully you all picked out a poem and are carrying it around with you to share with people. I put mine on my phone, pretty clever huh! Anyway . . . here is my pocket poem. It's been one of my favorites for years and I hope you all enjoy it. If you have a poem to share I'd love to hear what it is!
The Lake Isle of Innisfree
William Butler Yeats
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
The Lake Isle of Innisfree
William Butler Yeats
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Online Privacy
Ok, today I'm just going to indulge myself and rant a little bit. I read a lot of blogs and a lot of stuff about social media. Last week Facebook made some changes to their policies and people have been talking about online privacy a lot. I have some pretty definite ideas about that so I'm going to throw in my two cents worth.
First here are a couple of posts you might find interesting: the first one is from Scott Monty who is the head of social media for Ford Motor Company. He discusses what the changes are and shares some links to read more. The second post is from Robert Scoble, a pretty well-known blogger and author. I generally find myself agreeing with stuff he says (I'm sure that's a big relief for him). One thing that Scoble says is that the last bastion of privacy is consent; the ability to control your story.
To me this means you watch what you share. If it's something that you don't want known, don't put it someplace where it can be seen. Is Facebook infringing on privacy? Personally I don't think so. If you sign-up for a Facebook, or any social media account, and start posting you've voluntarily given up control over what you post. Maybe you thought only your friends would see it, maybe you don't want it shared with other companies but I find that a rather naive idea. As I've said in my Facebook posts numerous times, I believe that the term online privacy is a contradiction. You do have some control over what you share but, in my opinion, if you put something online you should always assume that it can be seen by anyone.
Facebook gives you some control over what you share. Personally I have my privacy controls set so that most of my information is available to anyone. I do hide my phone number but that's actually pretty pointless because if someone wants it bad enough they'll find it. Anyway I have caller ID, I just won't answer the phone! But the interesting thing is that I consider myself to be a fairly private person. I share a lot on Facebook and in this blog and it's open to the world as far as I'm concerned. I have another blog where I keep track of eating and exercise. Only a handful of people have access to that blog because I put things there that are more personal. However, I also am aware that there is a possibility someone could see it and I'm ok with that. What I seriously want to keep private I don't post and I don't tell anyone. It stays in my head. You know what they say about two people keeping a secret.
There are things we all would like to keep secret. A good start is not to post them online. I have put things online that I'd probably be embarrassed if some people saw. But I did it for valid reasons and I thought about it beforehand and figured I'd live with any embarrassment. (And don't bother looking, I'm excellent at covering my tracks.) But I think the key point is to think it through first. If you post a picture of yourself naked (no I didn't do that!) I think that's fine so long as you're willing to accept the consequences which could range from your family seeing it to losing your job. It's like anything in life, you think about the consequences and make your decision. Of course the problem is that we often do things on and off-line without thinking about the consequences. I think that's called gaining experience.
I have what I think is a very clever analogy about privacy. My living room window looks out onto a walkway which my neighbors use. I have blinds at the window which I keep open most of the day. Anyone can look into my living room and I'm ok with that. Mostly people walk past and deliberately don't look because we all want to respect our neighbor's privacy. But if they do look and I'm doing something embarrassing I have no right to complain they violated my privacy. I opened the blinds and by doing that I invited them in. When I close the blinds, I have a reasonable expectation of privacy. If you post something online you've opened the blinds and have lost the right to complain if someone looks. I don't think that companies like Facebook are obligated or even able to provide you that reasonable expectation of privacy. Banks, government agencies and other organizations that deal with financial and other sensitive information can't even do that. Credit card information is routinely hacked.
My neighbors probably aren't interested in what I'm doing. Even if they are, they have to see me at the mailbox or in the parking lot so they consciously try not to look. Online there aren't any inhibitors. We, and I freely admit to being very nosy, can look without consequence at who other people are.
My final thought (this post got a little long) is that the idea of privacy is kind of silly. Historically when people lived in small villages and towns everyone knew what their neighbors were doing. The Internet is just a large village that's getting smaller everyday. Post what you want but always do it with the assumption that if it's embarrassing the person you'd least want to see it will be the first one to find it. That's a pretty safe way to live your online life I think.
Quick update: My blog posts automatically post to my Facebook account also. I had to go in and delete this post because I made a grammatical error and I wanted it corrected. That's the kind of thing I find embarrassing and want to keep private!
First here are a couple of posts you might find interesting: the first one is from Scott Monty who is the head of social media for Ford Motor Company. He discusses what the changes are and shares some links to read more. The second post is from Robert Scoble, a pretty well-known blogger and author. I generally find myself agreeing with stuff he says (I'm sure that's a big relief for him). One thing that Scoble says is that the last bastion of privacy is consent; the ability to control your story.
To me this means you watch what you share. If it's something that you don't want known, don't put it someplace where it can be seen. Is Facebook infringing on privacy? Personally I don't think so. If you sign-up for a Facebook, or any social media account, and start posting you've voluntarily given up control over what you post. Maybe you thought only your friends would see it, maybe you don't want it shared with other companies but I find that a rather naive idea. As I've said in my Facebook posts numerous times, I believe that the term online privacy is a contradiction. You do have some control over what you share but, in my opinion, if you put something online you should always assume that it can be seen by anyone.
Facebook gives you some control over what you share. Personally I have my privacy controls set so that most of my information is available to anyone. I do hide my phone number but that's actually pretty pointless because if someone wants it bad enough they'll find it. Anyway I have caller ID, I just won't answer the phone! But the interesting thing is that I consider myself to be a fairly private person. I share a lot on Facebook and in this blog and it's open to the world as far as I'm concerned. I have another blog where I keep track of eating and exercise. Only a handful of people have access to that blog because I put things there that are more personal. However, I also am aware that there is a possibility someone could see it and I'm ok with that. What I seriously want to keep private I don't post and I don't tell anyone. It stays in my head. You know what they say about two people keeping a secret.
There are things we all would like to keep secret. A good start is not to post them online. I have put things online that I'd probably be embarrassed if some people saw. But I did it for valid reasons and I thought about it beforehand and figured I'd live with any embarrassment. (And don't bother looking, I'm excellent at covering my tracks.) But I think the key point is to think it through first. If you post a picture of yourself naked (no I didn't do that!) I think that's fine so long as you're willing to accept the consequences which could range from your family seeing it to losing your job. It's like anything in life, you think about the consequences and make your decision. Of course the problem is that we often do things on and off-line without thinking about the consequences. I think that's called gaining experience.
I have what I think is a very clever analogy about privacy. My living room window looks out onto a walkway which my neighbors use. I have blinds at the window which I keep open most of the day. Anyone can look into my living room and I'm ok with that. Mostly people walk past and deliberately don't look because we all want to respect our neighbor's privacy. But if they do look and I'm doing something embarrassing I have no right to complain they violated my privacy. I opened the blinds and by doing that I invited them in. When I close the blinds, I have a reasonable expectation of privacy. If you post something online you've opened the blinds and have lost the right to complain if someone looks. I don't think that companies like Facebook are obligated or even able to provide you that reasonable expectation of privacy. Banks, government agencies and other organizations that deal with financial and other sensitive information can't even do that. Credit card information is routinely hacked.
My neighbors probably aren't interested in what I'm doing. Even if they are, they have to see me at the mailbox or in the parking lot so they consciously try not to look. Online there aren't any inhibitors. We, and I freely admit to being very nosy, can look without consequence at who other people are.
My final thought (this post got a little long) is that the idea of privacy is kind of silly. Historically when people lived in small villages and towns everyone knew what their neighbors were doing. The Internet is just a large village that's getting smaller everyday. Post what you want but always do it with the assumption that if it's embarrassing the person you'd least want to see it will be the first one to find it. That's a pretty safe way to live your online life I think.
Quick update: My blog posts automatically post to my Facebook account also. I had to go in and delete this post because I made a grammatical error and I wanted it corrected. That's the kind of thing I find embarrassing and want to keep private!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
More Poems
This is a short post today but I posted twice yesterday so I guess that's ok! Besides I was seriously traumatized at 4:00 am and still haven't recovered. The cats woke me up and I went into the bathroom and there was a gigantic bug in my bathtub. I have no idea what it was but it was seriously large - at least 3 inches I think. I stood there kind of petrified for a minute trying to decide what to do. I considered screaming but didn't think my neighbors would appreciate it much. Finally I turned on the bathtub and washed it down the drain. Whatever kind of bug it was, it was fairly slow fortunately. I let the water run for a bit and then put a pan over the drain so it couldn't crawl back up and get me.
You're perhaps catching on that I don't like bugs! Especially huge ones. Anyway I didn't sleep very well after that because I was afraid it would crawl back up and move the pan or else had companions lurking elsewhere in the apartment. I think I need a bug exterminator. Ah well, on to the poems!
Today's poems are by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Thursday, the 29th, is Poem in Your Pocket Day! Select a poem, carry it with you and share with everyone on that day. These are both short and easily shared!
First Fig
My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends--
It gives a lovely light!
Second Fig
Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand:
Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand!
You're perhaps catching on that I don't like bugs! Especially huge ones. Anyway I didn't sleep very well after that because I was afraid it would crawl back up and move the pan or else had companions lurking elsewhere in the apartment. I think I need a bug exterminator. Ah well, on to the poems!
Today's poems are by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Thursday, the 29th, is Poem in Your Pocket Day! Select a poem, carry it with you and share with everyone on that day. These are both short and easily shared!
First Fig
My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends--
It gives a lovely light!
Second Fig
Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand:
Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Just a couple of things
Wake up, Robin! Remember what excites you. Think of these things, those friends, and the adventures that can be yours. Focus. Care. Fantasize. Imagine. It's all so near. Speak as if you're ready. Paste new pictures in your scrapbook, on your vision board, and around your home and office. Physically prepare for the changes that you wish to experience in your life. You've done this before. You know it works. You're due for an encore. It's time to amaze. That's why you're there. And it's why I'm here, The Universe
That's what the Universe told me this morning. Right now I'm kind of feeling like maybe it really knows what it's talking about. Let's hope so.
On another note: One of my cats is famous! Well sort of famous. About.com has a cat newsletter that I subscribe to and they were accepting submissions for Tuxedo cats so I sent in pictures and a write-up about Pippin. He was published today on their site! This is actually the second time he's been famous. When he was a kitten I sent his picture into the 365 Cats Calendar and he was in the 2005 calendar. I think all this notoriety is going to his head.
When I posted this morning I was definitely feeling "I am a Rock" but now I'm feeling kind of, well, kind of Feeling Good. . .
That's what the Universe told me this morning. Right now I'm kind of feeling like maybe it really knows what it's talking about. Let's hope so.
On another note: One of my cats is famous! Well sort of famous. About.com has a cat newsletter that I subscribe to and they were accepting submissions for Tuxedo cats so I sent in pictures and a write-up about Pippin. He was published today on their site! This is actually the second time he's been famous. When he was a kitten I sent his picture into the 365 Cats Calendar and he was in the 2005 calendar. I think all this notoriety is going to his head.
When I posted this morning I was definitely feeling "I am a Rock" but now I'm feeling kind of, well, kind of Feeling Good. . .
Sunday, April 25, 2010
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