LOL. I'm a farmer's kid. I don't pay for that stuff, either. You plant the seeds first, then water and tend them, and last of all is when you harvest. Why this is hard, I don't know.
I grew up on a small farm, too. It gave me a whole different approach to life, learning to use power tools at 12 y.o., going out to the barn to feed the animals in the middle of winter, etc.
Right? Not to say there's anything wrong with having, wanting or earning money -- but it's how we treat people in the process that matters most.
On a different note, where I live there is a light festival down by the river so people can get out of the house but not be in close contact with others or indoors. Wish I could bring you along for the outing. :)
I walk in my neighborhood when it's not too cold outside and the sun is shining, like today! We have lots of trees and gentle grades - it looks like suburbia, even though it's inside of the city limits.
I love seeing the flow of water. We are blessed with a one-bedroom condo - 66 miles from our home - in Asbury Park, NJ; we bought it in September of last year. The condo is 2.5 blocks from the Atlantic ocean - one of the windows in the living room has an ocean view. So, we do have a getaway for a quiet respite from time-to-time in the off-season. During the summer months it's quite busy. I'll probably drive there later today for an overnight stay.
Oh, I'm a little jealous. I would love to have a getaway with an ocean view in the living room. If you think of it, I'd love to see a photo from your living room window!
I am SO OUT OF SYNC with the world...at least those like the people you profile. Thank God for people like you, Linda, and your readers!!!! (It's jenine, still trying to figure out how my little girl photo wound up here, but going w/ it. Eternally young! :)
The photo is so sweet. Sometimes it occurrs to me that if I was more like the people I profile, I might have a house on the beach. On the other hand, it would have to have no mirrors because I'd have trouble looking in them. lol
Ah. Capitalism gone evil. I was once a Certified Ethical Hacker and concluded FB is very evil. I deleted my account a few yeas ago. The users are their product they sell to their customers. And they know WAY more about their users than the general public thinks they know.
Social media in general has contributed to many ills in society. Most of the ills have always existed but Social Media has perfected the monetization.
The part that creeps me out is their geo-location. People often don't stop to think of the repercussion of apps knowing they are away from home for extended times. And the facial recognition is not going to go anywhere good.
During the insurrection, the FBI posted photos on Twitter and asked for the public's help identifying them. Someone posted a comment and said go put them on Facebook. They have facial recognition. Twitter doesn't. That's the world we live in. *sigh*
It makes an interesting case for pseudonyms, don't you think? I mean, I wonder what facial recognition does with that. Not sure I want to know. Sometimes technology lets us have a glimpse of the worst of humanity and I don't much like it. Just confirms my worst thoughts.
Right? I mean, it astounds me that some people still fall for phishing and spam and click the links in fake bank or paypal emails. I cannot even image how easy it must be to manipulate the most gullible, naïve or innocent among us.
Fascinating! I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never taken the time to dig into the background of such claims. Great idea and so interesting. I’ll do that on a prospective date (haha!) but not internet stories. Thanks for this enlightening essay. Hey, I emailed you. Did you get it? Thanks! Kerry
I think they count on people not digging too deep. Glad you do on prospective dates. lol. Omg, let me go check into my inbox. My email has been a nightmare this week. Thanks for letting me know.
There have been those since the dawn of time. They are typically referred to as "snake oil salesmen". Or as PT Barnum quipped "There's a sucker born every minute". The latin is "Caveat Emptor" or Buyer Beware. The use of superior knowledge and smooth talk fuels any pyramid scheme or Ponzi Scheme. It is what keeps investing in stocks in the hands of stockbrokers despite all the efforts of the Motley Fool brothers to democratize it. The money is to be made by knowing more than the people you are selling to.
It is okay to learn from someone who made millions. But you must immediately remember that you will never make the same millions following in their path. Not one person who invests in real estate has the same luck as someone who has made it. Many do make some money, many lose their shirts. No one will be able to learn another's secrets for investing in Options and make the same millions. The secret is out and the system automatically corrects--they are selling you old news. It's okay to read about the writer who failed nine times and then the next became JK Rowling if it helps you get through the depression of rejection, but even if you get your work accepted at the 11th or 29th rejection, there's still minimal likelihood you'll repeat the Harry Potter magic.
Several years ago I read a technical article that a scientist at (I think) Raytheon wrote about a tracking algorithm. If you use FB on your phone and have GPS geo location turned on it keeps track of your location AND any pix you post have the GPS location in the hidden EXIF data. (The EXIF data thing is in every photo not just FB stuff.)
This scientist was able to target an individual on FB and over time track their location and with some high percentage of accuracy be able to predict where you might be on a certain day. Maybe it appears that you always shop for groceries on alternate Tuesdays.
If you really want to be scared watch this Youtube video about a "fake" defense contractor and their micro drones that use face recognition.
I also have a link to some open source (free) software that can scrub just about any social media and match a picture you supply to find the person and the people that are connected.
Enjoy ... hiding in your bunker with no Internet ...
Funny story. I lived in the Toronto area for a decade. At one point, there was a complete blackout. No power for days. Maybe even a week. The entire grid went down. After a couple of days, stores opened for a few hours to let people come buy necessities. Cash only. I learned to always keep cash on hand. Some parts of preppers are way over the top, but some parts of them are worth thinking about. Like cash on hand. lol
Well ... as with many things that were intended to be tools, if misused, they turn out to be weapons in the hands of the wrong group ... humans.
I am a long time software developer and I like my techie toys but only as a diversion. I like sitting on the deck of a rented beach house and watching the ocean AND other times tinkering with my computer. I am an introvert so social media has never been something that has attracted me but watching old MythBusters episodes is great fun.
I am not yet ready to flush my digital toys ... Apple Watch included as much as it can monitor my heart, steps, and GPS location.
If you are really interested you can read "Extreme Privacy - What It Takes to Disappear in America" by Michael Bazzell and realize you can keep your digital toys with some limitations. You will also discover the two states where you can get a drivers license with a UPS Store mailing address and not actually live there if you are really worried.
The real key is to NOT follow any conspiracy theories. Try to validate what you see, hear, and read with science and make sure to avoid cognitive reasoning problems. Cognitive dissonance, motivated reasoning, and other cognitive problems can lead you astray even if you are not following a conspiracy theory. Most of our digital world is reasonably safe if you are paying attention.
Did I mention that some humans are despicable creatures for taking unfair advantage of other humans?
lol. I remember those. They'd send a letter telling you to do what they did, and include a list of newspapers across the country. Fyi, the profile photo I use was my 50th birthday. That's all I'm saying on that. lol.
I'm a Connecticut Yankee and too cheap to pay for that stuff. 🤣🤣 Look around, there's a lot of good stuff free online.
LOL. I'm a farmer's kid. I don't pay for that stuff, either. You plant the seeds first, then water and tend them, and last of all is when you harvest. Why this is hard, I don't know.
I grew up on a small farm, too. It gave me a whole different approach to life, learning to use power tools at 12 y.o., going out to the barn to feed the animals in the middle of winter, etc.
The answer to your question is easy: such people have no moral center. They worship at the altar of money.
Right? Not to say there's anything wrong with having, wanting or earning money -- but it's how we treat people in the process that matters most.
On a different note, where I live there is a light festival down by the river so people can get out of the house but not be in close contact with others or indoors. Wish I could bring you along for the outing. :)
Oh, the festival sounds delightful.
I walk in my neighborhood when it's not too cold outside and the sun is shining, like today! We have lots of trees and gentle grades - it looks like suburbia, even though it's inside of the city limits.
I love seeing the flow of water. We are blessed with a one-bedroom condo - 66 miles from our home - in Asbury Park, NJ; we bought it in September of last year. The condo is 2.5 blocks from the Atlantic ocean - one of the windows in the living room has an ocean view. So, we do have a getaway for a quiet respite from time-to-time in the off-season. During the summer months it's quite busy. I'll probably drive there later today for an overnight stay.
Oh, I'm a little jealous. I would love to have a getaway with an ocean view in the living room. If you think of it, I'd love to see a photo from your living room window!
I am SO OUT OF SYNC with the world...at least those like the people you profile. Thank God for people like you, Linda, and your readers!!!! (It's jenine, still trying to figure out how my little girl photo wound up here, but going w/ it. Eternally young! :)
The photo is so sweet. Sometimes it occurrs to me that if I was more like the people I profile, I might have a house on the beach. On the other hand, it would have to have no mirrors because I'd have trouble looking in them. lol
Ah. Capitalism gone evil. I was once a Certified Ethical Hacker and concluded FB is very evil. I deleted my account a few yeas ago. The users are their product they sell to their customers. And they know WAY more about their users than the general public thinks they know.
Social media in general has contributed to many ills in society. Most of the ills have always existed but Social Media has perfected the monetization.
The part that creeps me out is their geo-location. People often don't stop to think of the repercussion of apps knowing they are away from home for extended times. And the facial recognition is not going to go anywhere good.
During the insurrection, the FBI posted photos on Twitter and asked for the public's help identifying them. Someone posted a comment and said go put them on Facebook. They have facial recognition. Twitter doesn't. That's the world we live in. *sigh*
It makes an interesting case for pseudonyms, don't you think? I mean, I wonder what facial recognition does with that. Not sure I want to know. Sometimes technology lets us have a glimpse of the worst of humanity and I don't much like it. Just confirms my worst thoughts.
Right? I mean, it astounds me that some people still fall for phishing and spam and click the links in fake bank or paypal emails. I cannot even image how easy it must be to manipulate the most gullible, naïve or innocent among us.
Fascinating! I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never taken the time to dig into the background of such claims. Great idea and so interesting. I’ll do that on a prospective date (haha!) but not internet stories. Thanks for this enlightening essay. Hey, I emailed you. Did you get it? Thanks! Kerry
I think they count on people not digging too deep. Glad you do on prospective dates. lol. Omg, let me go check into my inbox. My email has been a nightmare this week. Thanks for letting me know.
There have been those since the dawn of time. They are typically referred to as "snake oil salesmen". Or as PT Barnum quipped "There's a sucker born every minute". The latin is "Caveat Emptor" or Buyer Beware. The use of superior knowledge and smooth talk fuels any pyramid scheme or Ponzi Scheme. It is what keeps investing in stocks in the hands of stockbrokers despite all the efforts of the Motley Fool brothers to democratize it. The money is to be made by knowing more than the people you are selling to.
It is okay to learn from someone who made millions. But you must immediately remember that you will never make the same millions following in their path. Not one person who invests in real estate has the same luck as someone who has made it. Many do make some money, many lose their shirts. No one will be able to learn another's secrets for investing in Options and make the same millions. The secret is out and the system automatically corrects--they are selling you old news. It's okay to read about the writer who failed nine times and then the next became JK Rowling if it helps you get through the depression of rejection, but even if you get your work accepted at the 11th or 29th rejection, there's still minimal likelihood you'll repeat the Harry Potter magic.
Even more creepy about GPS and FB.
Several years ago I read a technical article that a scientist at (I think) Raytheon wrote about a tracking algorithm. If you use FB on your phone and have GPS geo location turned on it keeps track of your location AND any pix you post have the GPS location in the hidden EXIF data. (The EXIF data thing is in every photo not just FB stuff.)
This scientist was able to target an individual on FB and over time track their location and with some high percentage of accuracy be able to predict where you might be on a certain day. Maybe it appears that you always shop for groceries on alternate Tuesdays.
If you really want to be scared watch this Youtube video about a "fake" defense contractor and their micro drones that use face recognition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlO2gcs1YvM
I also have a link to some open source (free) software that can scrub just about any social media and match a picture you supply to find the person and the people that are connected.
Enjoy ... hiding in your bunker with no Internet ...
Funny story. I lived in the Toronto area for a decade. At one point, there was a complete blackout. No power for days. Maybe even a week. The entire grid went down. After a couple of days, stores opened for a few hours to let people come buy necessities. Cash only. I learned to always keep cash on hand. Some parts of preppers are way over the top, but some parts of them are worth thinking about. Like cash on hand. lol
Well ... as with many things that were intended to be tools, if misused, they turn out to be weapons in the hands of the wrong group ... humans.
I am a long time software developer and I like my techie toys but only as a diversion. I like sitting on the deck of a rented beach house and watching the ocean AND other times tinkering with my computer. I am an introvert so social media has never been something that has attracted me but watching old MythBusters episodes is great fun.
I am not yet ready to flush my digital toys ... Apple Watch included as much as it can monitor my heart, steps, and GPS location.
If you are really interested you can read "Extreme Privacy - What It Takes to Disappear in America" by Michael Bazzell and realize you can keep your digital toys with some limitations. You will also discover the two states where you can get a drivers license with a UPS Store mailing address and not actually live there if you are really worried.
The real key is to NOT follow any conspiracy theories. Try to validate what you see, hear, and read with science and make sure to avoid cognitive reasoning problems. Cognitive dissonance, motivated reasoning, and other cognitive problems can lead you astray even if you are not following a conspiracy theory. Most of our digital world is reasonably safe if you are paying attention.
Did I mention that some humans are despicable creatures for taking unfair advantage of other humans?
Thanks for writing back.
lol. I remember those. They'd send a letter telling you to do what they did, and include a list of newspapers across the country. Fyi, the profile photo I use was my 50th birthday. That's all I'm saying on that. lol.
Look at the photo THIS old lady is using! LOL. Hi, Holly! It's jenine. I love the Bette Davis quote on aging. Perfection!
Omg, you were a cute little thing.