Google My Ass!!

When I hear someone say “Google it” it annoys me then makes me sad. Sad that we rely on an electronic crutch to inform us. When I ask someone for information or a recommendation I’m asking for their knowledge. I want to hear what their advice is, whether it’s expertise or experience. I want to connect to them, not a website. The other worrisome phrase is “Get it on Amazon” a company more ruinous to local business than Walmart, now facing stiff competition from Bezos’ evil empire.

When I want to purchase something, I like feel it in my hands, test it’s dimensions, remote purchase robs us of direct examination.

When we aren’t bitching about the excess of billionaires, we complain about the bother of having to hunt around for things. Like, we always did that, it’s called shopping. Frankly, I get most of my stuff from vintage stores and Bi-Mart.

We are lazy with convenience; sold on the false promise that buying on-line is easier, cheaper and less trouble, but is it really? Without going into a lengthy dissertation on economics, it boils down to money going into their pocket, not circulating locally to support a community, lowers the quality of goods and still guzzles resources with shipping.

I prefer to wander around a store to see what I can find. I’d rather talk to someone about their experience with repair service, where to find a good burger, what is this plant in my yard, or do they remember the name of that actor from The Godfather than sit at a Goddamn computer trying to type in the correct phrase to appease an inhuman algorithm. Jesus, whatever happened to talking to people about stuff, you know like we used to do. Oh yeah, google it is so much better than getting out and meeting people cause staying at home on the internet will bring us closer together.

On that note I’m going to lunch with a friend at a local cafe, then bicycle to St. Vinnie’s without a list and explore.

Facebook is Evil, but you Knew That

The big fat social network’s privacy policy is non existent, it’s a joke. Don’t believe me? Even another giant corporation like Newsweek says so.

"If you really expect this company to suddenly become trustworthy, you’ve lost your mind. Over the past five years Facebook has repeatedly changed its privacy policy, always in one direction, and every time this happens, the same movie plays out. People complain. Facebook stonewalls, then spins, then pretends to be contrite, then finally walks things back—but only a little."

Uber Geek Wil Wheton knows this too.

". . . I think that Facebook is evil, guys. I believe that Facebook is making gazillions of dollars by exploiting its users, and Facebook doesn't give a shit about how its users feel about that. The only reason Facebook has made any changes to their laughable privacy policies recently is because the company was looking at legal action, and was in danger of losing money."

Which is a major bummer for me because right now it’s the only way I keep in touch with family and (real) friends not close by. But I have to use it until something better comes along and something better come along, There are ways to get control of privacy if you’re careful and computer savvy.

There has never been any real privacy on the net- remember it was developed by the military, the nosy bastards. I tell anyone who thinks otherwise to treat it like a public forum. Anything you write, say, link etc. is like sending a postcard-anyone can see it. Don’t say anything on the net you wouldn’t say out loud in a public place.