Category: Facebook

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when Facebook Censors

Too 'Racey' for Facebook?

There are a lot of reasonable things in the world to censor. I did review what my children were reading when they were young, but they did a good job of picking out what interested them. However, I do get concerned when entities — like Facebook — apparently, accidentally and ‘in error’ censor a political message. Mark Z. can love our President and that is his right, but allowing everyone to speak their mind makes for a good exchange of ideas, and ultimately, a better world. Facebook eventually apologized… but here is what the gutsy Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona wrote on her Facebook site about the issue:

“After I posted the following statement and photo yesterday, Facebook censored the post and removed it because the photo apparently violated their “Facebook Community Standards.” Before it was removed, it had received over 10,000 likes and comments.Regardless, I’m reposting the photo and statement. I think many of you will agree with me – – Obama’s backdoor amnesty plan violates American standards of following the rule of law and the US Constitution.

Please click “like” and share with your friends.

————————————-

The Obama administration cannot get its amnesty schemes through Congress, so now it has resorted to implementing its plans via executive fiat. There’s simply no other description for today’s announcement that the federal government will not pursue the deportation of individuals who are in the country illegally but meet certain criteria.

This plan amounts to backdoor amnesty for hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of illegal aliens. Especially disturbing is that it comes in the wake of the Obama administration sanctioning the sale of weapons to Mexican drug cartels – even as border states such as Arizona come under threat from those same illicit organizations. With this announcement, the President is encouraging more illegal immigration at the exact moment we need federal focus on border security.

Just last month in speaking to the National Council of La Raza, President Obama rejected the idea of bypassing Congress and imposing immigration reform. He said, “Now, I know some people want me to bypass Congress and change the laws on my own. And believe me, right now dealing with Congress, the idea of doing things on my own is very tempting … But that’s not how our system works. That’s not how our democracy functions. That’s not how our Constitution is written.”

President Obama got it right last month and got it really wrong today.

Over the next 15 months, I’m certain we’ll hear a lot of talk from the Obama administration about its concern for border security. Those of us who truly care about the rule of law will remember the President’s actions of today. We need to remind President Obama that we elected a president that serves beneath the law and did not anoint a king that is above the law.

 

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surfs up on flipboard

flipboard for ipad
Flipboard for iPad is UNBELIEVABLE! CLICK on the picture above to read about it!

My daughter Karen  first turned me on to FLIPBOARD; but unfortunately for me, at the time, flipboard was swamped!  It was like a million people trying to rush through a very small door… and they put me on their waiting list! Today, I was sent a kind email saying that my turn came up… and I rushed to the iPad to log it all in!

With Flipboard you can read all of the social media sites you wish to keep up on! For me that is twitter and facebook! On facebook, I can keep up with friends and family… and then follow a small group of friends and other culinary folks on twitter!

reading facebook on flipboard
zooming in on a picture or a message is easy! Here I am reading a comment of Laura's

However, iPad jealousy is a sad thing! The critics of the iPad sound all too much like the folks who originally dissed the personal computer, the lap top and the smart phone. Some people just hate technology and the social connectivity that it offers all of us. Some understand that information is power and they really don’t want us to share and connect… let’s face it, some folks just don’t want you to have fun! In the meantime, flipboard for ipad is a wonderful addition to the social media experience!

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immortality in a mousepad

immortality in a mousepad
Laura, do you now feel 'immortalized'? 😉

What really is immortality? This is a wonderful question pondered by many great minds over the millennium and although some prefer to shrug the suggestion, others find solace, hope and comfort.

Historically, immortality was an expression of a religious belief. Scientific writings as late as the early 1800’s often began with an expression of how their work was not religious blasphemy, but was, in truth, another expression of the miracles around us.

The American Psychologist  William James was someone who wrestled with concepts that often had a foothold in two worlds: scientific (psychological/philosophical) and religious. Conflicting perspectives weren’t unusual at the turn of the century (1900’s) as the theory of evolution was finding both acceptance and resistance. Scientific exploration was continuing to explode and a dichotomy between what we thought we knew and what science was beginning to theorize came in sharp contrast. In a final funny quip, William James concludes one of his seminal works with the following about salvation (immortality):

“For practical life at any rate, the chance of salvation is enough. No fact in human nature is more characteristic than its willingness to live on a chance. The existence of a chance makes the difference, as  Edmund Gurney says, between a life of which the keynote is resignation and a life of which the keynote is hope. But all these statement are unsatisfactory from their brevity, and I can only say that I hope to return to the same question in another book.”

William James ( page 526-527, “The Varieties of Religious Experiences”, 1903)

The ancient Egyptians believed that a person lived on simply by mentioning their name and they certainly carved the name of their pharaohs into every pillar and wall lest we forget. However, I think real ‘immortality’ is simply being remembered by those important to you.

So, this goes a long way to say that I created a little bit of ‘immortality’ for Laura… a mouse pad with a picture of her and her new book. Laura, do you feel ‘immortalized?’  😉

Roger

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following karen and her adventures

Karen's very social world
reflecting on Karen's very social world of 2009

My  daughter Karen is a social animal and very unlike me she maneuvers life’s social mine fields with finesse and aplomb.  So it really doesn’t surprise me that she fits so well in the world of social media and public relations. This year she traveled to Greece, the Netherlands, Boston and San Francisco making professional presentations in her area and everywhere she tempted me with pictures of the cultural treasures and the cuisine.

When I was younger I loved the old James Bond films as they took you to places you may not have visited and helped you explore parts of the world in a much more fun way than a dry National Geographic film tour. However, now I have something so much better, following Karen and Kristin’s adventures.

Thanks for sharing, ladies…. see you soon and on facebook.

Dad

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when daughters go rogue

Kristin doing one of her many things well
Kristin doing one of her many things well

What’s wrong with this picture? Kristin is having a ball, while I sit and try to detect the mysteries of a traditional Sifnos Honey pie with Myzithra cheese? Actually, we are each doing what we love, besides she loves to cook and she and Karen will be with us soon for Christmas!

I do enjoy  FACEBOOK if for no other reason that it provides a wonderful glimpse into the lives of family. Kristin posted some of these pictures today on Facebook and I could hear her mother screech!

Greece hom of wonderfully healthy and delicious food!
Greece -- home of wonderfully healthy and delicious food!

Back to the Greek Honey Pie called Melopitta, the traditional Easter treat of the island of Sifnos! Searching for authentic ingredients for “Melopitta” is challenging. Most of the knock-off recipes substitute the Greek cheese  Myzithra (μυζήθρα, pronounced mee-ZEETH-rah) with Ricotta, Mascarpone or even Cottage cheese… but it is far closer to cream cheese in practical use. There are also many ‘cheesecake’ variations utilizing Myzithra with brandy, fruit and nuts.

Enough, it is lunch time with some wine and Tiropetes!

Roger