Why I Facebook

I’ve noticed much media attention to facebook lately. There was this article from The Huffington Post, the 25 Things About Me debacle and now there are questions surrounding Facebook’s terms of service.

It’s all gotten me to think about my own Facebook habits. I check my Facebook more times than I would like to admit. I go there when I can’t think of anything better to do, when I have a lull in the day, when I get an email or phone alert, and sometimes, I find myself visiting without making a conscious effort to do so–creepy.

The Creepbook, as some call it, can get awkward. I find myself delving into the lives of people I have not set eyes on, let alone spoken to, in years. I sometimes wonder why I am so compelled to “spy” on my “friends.”

When I think of the interest I take in my Facebook friends’ lives, it makes me think of my celebrity news obsession…yes, I will call it a full-blown obsession. It’s all about the entertainment value. I get a kick out of seeing friends’ vacation photos, employment history, music interests, favorite movies and the self-promoting “about me” sections. It’s all in good fun!

In fact, I like to think that by updating my status and uploading my photos, I am providing a sort of entertainment for them. I am a celebrity to my Facebook friends…and, I don’t even have to deal with the stresses of paparazzi and drug addiction…HOORAY!

Facebook is a marvelous, state-of-the-art communicating tool. How else can I contact potentially hundreds of people at once?

Sometimes, though, I think there is a point of excess. I think that Facebook can contribute to a keeping-up-with-the-Jones’ mentality. It’s impossible not to compare yourself to your friends. Who is getting married? Who got fat? Who has the nice house? Am I more successful that s0-and-so?

This is also the point where I question my Facebook “friends.” It’s fun to see what people are doing, reconnect with people you grew up with and be entertained by your extended family and friends. However, at what point does it turn unhealthy?

I sometimes wonder if I would actually speak with each of my Facebook “friends” in real life. What would I have to say to some of the obscure people, the ones I didn’t even knew knew my name in high school, the ones I’ve met through mutual friends once or twice?

Time will tell where this web-based community takes us. We know the marketing companies are all over it like white on rice, but what about the consumers? How much are we going to put out there and how much time are we going to devote to poking around in each other’s lives?

Journalists Need a Piece of the Pie

Every day, it seems there’s new news of publishing companies laying off chunks of their workforce. Today, I stumbled upon this article by Mark I. Pinsky for The New Republic. In it, Pinsky suggest that along with his New Deal inspired infrastructure plan, President-elect Barack Obama should reinstitute the Federal Writers Project.

The revamped project would give jobs to writers and historians and give them the opportunity to record the state of things today. It would keep the industry afloat and serve as a means to cover topics not included in mainstream media.

Pinksy writes, “This time, the FWP could begin by documenting the ground-level impact of the Great Recession; chronicling the transition to a green economy; or capturing the experiences of the thousands of immigrants who are changing the American complexion. Like the original FWP, the new version would focus in particular on those segments of society largely ignored by commercial and even public media. At the same time, the multimedia fruits of this research would be open-sourced to all media, as well as to academics. As an example, oral history as a discipline has made great strides in the past 70 years, and with the development of video techniques, the forum of the Internet could make these multi-media interviews widely available to schools and scholars, as well as to average Americans.”

Though this idea may be rather pie-in-the-sky because most of the attention in this depression has been on the financial and auto industries, I think Pinksy’s article did a wonderful job at using the U.S.’s past experiences to suggest a possible solution for today’s media.

What would your story be?

Book Review: Eat Pray Love

So, I must be living under a rock because I only recently picked up Elizabeth Gilbert’s brilliant memoir “Eat Pray Love.” The story of Gilbert’s year spent traveling through Italy, India and Indonesia is told with such honesty, humor and insight. Even though Gilbert’s journey followed a severe depression and divorce (things I’ve not experienced in life), I found myself identifying with her many times throughout the book. Gilbert’s words inspire me to be independent, seek my true self and be happy. I especially liked her insight into meditation, and I have used many of her techniques in my own practice already. (Thanks so much for that!)

It wasn’t until I finished the book, that I visited Gilbert’s web site. There, she answers questions about the book and gives an update on her life since returning to the U.S. What I found most intriguing, though, was her Thoughts on Writing. As a big-time writer, Gilbert is undoubtedly asked to give advice to those wishing to turn their story into a masterpiece the likes of Gilbert’s. Her words were so inspiring to me and others, I’m sure. Here, I will share some her insights that touched me most (note: most of these tips are very much linked to spiritual practice…it all comes around in the end!).

I believe that – if you are serious about a life of writing, or indeed about any creative form of expression – that you should take on this work like a holy calling.

“Hey – somebody has to write all those stories: why not me?”

As for discipline – it’s important, but sort of over-rated. The more important virtue for a writer, I believe, is self-forgiveness. Because your writing will always disappoint you. Your laziness will always disappoint you.

You must find another reason to work, other than the desire for success or recognition. It must come from another place.

All these insights can be applied to any kind of work, really. I think that it is most important that you make sure to act with purpose in every thing you do. This is the way to reach happiness and be at peace with your self.

Why I Veg Part 2

It’s interesting how much flack I get for being a “vegetarian.” It’s as if people take personal offense to the fact that I choose not to eat meat most of the time. I can understand, however, that the fact that I indulge in meat sometimes makes me appear hypocritical, but to that I say, “It’s my body and diet, and it really shouldn’t matter to you.”

My friend Kate sent me this article from Newsweek this morning. I think it is a great summarization of how me and many “flexitarians ” feel about the food we eat.

My reasons have been stated previously, and I agree with nearly every expert quoted in this piece–even the somewhat radical PETA mouthpiece who said that not being strictly vegan is like smoking two packs of cigarettes instead of 10. In my opinion, every little bit helps. If I didn’t allow myself to “cheat” I would have given up going veg all together because I would be down on myself every time I ate a piece of meat.

The last time I ate meat was this weekend, actually. My friends and I wanted to try something new, so we went to George’s Grill Kabab (3216 W. Lawrence Ave. in Chicago). We had the combination platter: shish kebabs, some sort of beef and lamb–it also came with a salad, bean soup, rice and bread. The meal was delish, the service was great and I don’t regret eating meat at all.

I am content with the relationship I have with food, and I just wish that more people were accepting of this and less eager to attack me for not being a “real vegetarian.”

Politics Shmolitics

So, I’m not a political blogger by any means. This election is very important to me, however, so I’m going to include it in my blog. I would like to draw your attention to a great read from Arianna Huffington, the liberal blogger at The Huffington Post.

Her response to last night’s RNC speech is totally on with what I’m feeling. The motives of McCain’s campaign are not to put the best people in power, but to win the election and “fight” for our country. Huffington asks us, Obama suporters, to ignore the buzz surrounding Palen and get to the heart of things.

Lastly, I want to thank the Obama-Biden campaign for taking advantage of their convention to highlight their platform instead of focusing on their opponents’ weaknesses (even though they are apparent–zing!).

Take a look at this article and let me know what you think…as I said before I’m no political expert…just a concerned American citizen.

Piracy

The issues surrounding the music industry and illegal piracy of music are familiar to most. A new website came to my attention today, care of Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management. In this article, industry experts discuss the introduction of Mygazines.com, a file sharing site with the tagline, “upload. share. archive.” Sounds good on the surface, right? Free magazines on the Internet, no charge to read articles or enjoy buzzed about photo shoots…no need to pay high newsstand prices! But, just like music piracy, these illegal copyright infringements are going to cut into someone’s profits.

Who’s will it be? Well, the magazine’s will still get their message out there, their advertisers will reach more readers…what’s wrong with that? In the magazine industry, readership is audited by the BPA and advertisers pay for space based on the number of readers the BPA counts. These pirate readers will not be considered in BPA’s audits and the magazines will not be paid for the actual number of readers…the advertisers will be getting “freebies.”

Additionally, I fear that the intellectual property of the writers, photographers and editors involved in making these books is being used without their permission. It can be said that this is the idea of the free press-to make information available to the masses at a reasonable price. But, as the saying goes, “Why pay for the cow when you can get the milk for free?” In this industry it is important that the creative minds are valued, especially as their work is already used internally for multimedia purposes, often without compensation for reproduction.

On the other hand…I love magazines. I love going to the grocery store…sometimes I pray for a nice long line…because I like to browse the coverlines of the strategically placed rags at the checkout and flip through the pictorials as I wait. How great to have a place to do this on the web…I can check out the latest People without the person behind me bumping me with their cart to move ahead and unload my cart.

As you can see, I’m sort of on the fence with this one. Read the full article and share your thoughts!