Bandwagon . . . kinda

The Boston Marathon bombing. I guess it's all anyone can talk about right now. So I'll jump on the bandwagon. BUT, before you read on, please understand I don't like bandwagons. Keep that in mind.

I've been reading a lot - blogs, tweets, news stories, Facebook updates . . .

There are some things I can't escape. First, who makes up those little pictures on Facebook? You know, the ones with a candle burning for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, asking to be passed around on social media? I've seen three different ones so far. Somewhere, this is someone's initial reaction to tragedy - must make Facebook thingy and see how many shares it will get.

Strange world. Stranger that people keep sharing it. I don't understand the point. Does it make a difference? Do people think they are "doing something" about the tragedy, or "raising awareness" or "sending love" to victims. I have no idea. I don't get it. If one of my family members had been killed or seriously injured, a candle being shared on FB wouldn't do much for me. Maybe it's just me. And the cynic asks, is it just an ego thing, to see how many times it will be shared? Can I beat the other guys' candle thingies?

And yes, celebrities are quick to tweet their thoughts about the bombing, condolences, "thoughts and prayers." And why wouldn't they post the same meaningless stuff. They're the same as everyone else I guess. They just get more exposure, due to their elevated social status. When they tweet their thoughts and prayers, it's quickly picked up by major news media; saw a headline: "Celebs tweet from Boston Marathon, offer support." There were other similar stories reprinting what celebs were tweeting.

Patton Oswalt, I see, is getting a fair bit of play for his published thoughts on the bombing. (He's a comedian, been on TV, a few sitcoms, most recently Two and a Half Men, I think. Google him if you really want to know). Anyway, if I had to summarize his stuff, it was basically, there are more good people than bad. Bombers bad, people helping victims good. Honestly, a nice read at first blush.

Memorable finale: "So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, 'The good outnumber you, and we always will.'"

Yeah, nice thoughts I guess. He'll probably raise his celeb status a notch or two for the next week or so. Look for him on Ellen, or something. And the cynic in me has to ask . . . was that the goal?

And I must also point out that the definition of "good" is way up for grabs, depending on your geography, religion, social status, skin colour, sexual preference, cell phone choices, sock material and how much food you have access to in any give week.

Ugh, I feel like such a cynical grump. Can't help it. I yam what I yam.

But hey, I've already gone this far . . .

Anyone know how many children died of starvation around the world today? How many child soldiers were "recruited?" How many people were executed for belonging to the wrong political party?

Sorry kids, "the good" are busy tweeting right now, sending thoughts and prayers, creating candle thingies for Facebook. They are making a difference, raising awareness and sending love. Can ya feel it?

Tweet

The knives are out of place. The dishwasher's loaded wrong. I slept on a sliver of the bed last night, pushed out by another body and too many pillows.

Yup, Neomom's home! Wouldn't have it any other way.

So I feel pretty good this morning. Even though I really didn't sleep all that well. But the head cold is gone. Well, apparently not gone. It has shifted to Sonwun's nose this morning. He woke up sniffling and coughing. Crap! It's supposed to be a nice day today and it would have been great to go for a nice walk up the creek. 

My cold has kept us in the house all week. And now, with Neomom home, I was really hoping to break out. Well, we'll have to see how it goes.

Why can't we all just get sick at once. Then we can all lie on the couch, sniffle, complain . . . and rest . . . together.

Ah well.

So this morning at about 3 o'clock I was pondering social media. The trigger was a meaningless post I left on Facebook last night. It was a line from The Princess Bride: "Hello! My name is Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

Honestly, I'm not even sure why I posted it. I guess I liked the movie and thought it was kinda funny. But, to my surprise, a bunch of people responded to it. Didn't realize the movie was that popular.

What struck me was one line, also from the movie, posted by a fellow SAHD from Illinois: "No more ryhming now, I mean it!"

And then a Mom friend, from here in Portage, responded with the next line from the movie: "anybody want a peanut."

I just kinda thought it was cool. Two people who don't know each other, have had no contact of any kind, sharing a laugh over a movie they'd both seen and enjoyed.

And I guess I find it kinda cool because this kind of thing just didn't happen when I was younger. The world was so much smaller.

And, like it or not, this is the world in which my kids will grow up. So I must do my best to stay on top of this stuff - to the best of my ability. I admit, I do not own a smartphone. I do, however, have an iPod with WiFi. Kind of a smartphone lite.

So I've got some of this stuff figured out. But I was recently reminded that I opened a Twitter account a while back. Had forgotten about it. But somebody started "following" me, so I got an email notification. 

I'll be honest. I don't "get" Twitter. Pretty sure I don't know how to use it correctly. But I see some of my younger "friends" on FB (that's how we say Facebook, apparently) who are using it. 

But with FB, and texts, smartphones and all that stuff, where does Twitter fit in? What's the attraction? What's the catch? Is it just so that we can all see what the celebrities are thinking in the morning when they wake up and get a coffee? Or is it just that we are able to tell all of our "followers" that we had a peachy day today, all at once. 

If any of you twitterers want to explain it to me, please feel free. I guess I'm just not one of those guys that can express himself in 140 words or less. Which is why I do the blog thing.

Anyhoo, it's the weekend. Enjoy! I plan to. (Maybe I should Tweet that last line!)

I'm part of the problem . . .

Aw crap!

I had planned a cop-out blog this morning. You know, something like a Top 10 of 2011, a look back at my favourite posts from the previous year. Turns out I only did 12 posts last year. Bad, bad blogger.

Thus the resolution to stay at this every day for 90 days. So onward.

As is my custom, I sat down with my coffee at the computer this morning to check out my favourite sites, check the weather, read a little news and check my blog stats. I mean, I write mostly for myself, but I can't help but take a look at how many people actually read this stuff. And I had a good day yesterday thanks, I'm sure, to my buddy Patrick's social media assistance. He tweeted and reposted yesterday's ramblings on his Facebook page.

On an average day, I see about 20 visitors, if I post the blog to Facebook. That number goes down to about 10 if I don't. Yesterday, I had 30 readers: 22 from Canada, six from the U.S., 1 from France and one from the Cayman Islands (Hi Steve!).

As for the news, well, I don't even want to talk about it this morning. Toxic, just toxic.

And then there's Facebook. I love some of the little posters or pictures that some folks find and share. Saw one this morning and thought, I've got to steal that and share it. Why? I actually thought about it this morning. It's this one:

Now I didn't repost this, even though I really wanted to. After all, it would make me look smart, superior. I honestly have no idea who the drunk chick on the right is. Pretty sure I've seen that pic in the tabloids in line at the grocery store checkout. But I don't know who it is.

But the kicker is the fact that I can only identify two folks on the left. Einstein and Hawking. That's it. And as much as I'd like to create the illusion that I know them all, just by posting this, I had to stop myself. Maybe after I figure them all out, I'll post it and then feel pretty smug. But for now, I just have to pride myself in NOT knowing who drunk chick is.

I guess I'm only partly what's wrong with the world today. If I learn who the rest of the good people are, I will in no way be responsible for what's wrong with the world today. It's a good goal.

Have a great Thursday. I've got some studying to do.