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shadowkatWell, I managed to find a way to work, go to the pharmacy, take a 2.8 walk around Greenwood Cemetery, and do a Zoom chat with ten people from a fan board.
[Actually accomplished more after work today than during. I found it hard to focus today. Kept getting distracted, also been feeling a bit out of sorts. (Seriously, who isn't? Except those who have managed to ignore what is going on completely and are going about their lives as if nothing happened. I've nicknamed them - the mask-less zombies.)]
Picture below is where I sat during my Zoom Chat. Or rather one of the places I sat. I kept moving about, due to other people meandering around the Cemetery. Also, I was trying to get close enough to the entrance, so I could meander out and home before the Cemetery closed for the night.
I'd just about talked myself out of doing the Zoom chat and thought it wasn't possible to do it and the cemetery at the same time. (I really needed to get outside and walk around the Cemetery today - it was a beautiful day, in the upper 70s, with a nice breeze. Low humidity. I'd been sitting inside at my desk all day long. Glued to a computer screen. Last thing I needed was another two hours talking to people on it. Also, I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. And I was feeling wired and twitchy, due to eating chocolate - to cheer myself up.
But, I passed a couple of people talking on phones, and a woman sitting on a blanket talking on the phone in the cemetery, and I thought, I can do this too. So I pulled out my iphone and clicked on the event - I'd set it up as an event on all my devices several weeks ago. And voila, I was in. I was suddenly talking to about ten to fifteen people from all over the United States, Canada, and the UK. There were people on the chat from Great Britain, Vancouver, Canada, Winnipeg, Canada, Washington State, Arizona, New York, Washington, DC...it was kind of cool.
So I sat down under a few trees and talked to my social media buds. I could only make out a few of the voices, most I had no clue. I used my real name, we all used our actual names - which we all knew. We've known each other for almost twenty years now - having met between 2000-2003.
At one point we were discussing fights we'd gotten into with famous writers on social media platforms.
Me: I did get into a fight with George RR Martin once.
ATPO: You win.
ME: It was a stupid argument. About whether hate speech could be prosecuted. He said it couldn't..
UK: That's not true, at least not here - it can here, the US is admittedly weak on that -
Me: I can in the US too..just under certain situations
ATPO: That's true.
Me: But he vehemently disagreed, told me I was wrong, and booted me out. And I was the one with the law degree.
I've gotten into fights, sorry to say, with several famous writers on the internet. I've learned, finally, not to engage. Very bad idea.
Also learned from one of the members that the Defense Department has its employees checking all the President's tweets and providing their bosses with a record of the relevant tweets the President did each day. They didn't have to do it with Obama, because he never said anything relevant on social media, but Trump...is another matter. And most of the heads of the Defense Department aren't in the habit of following Twitter - so they need to be apprised of anything that might come up.
Can you imagine having to do that?
Anyhow, ended call and wandered homewards...around the human being obstacle course which wasn't that bad (most people are wearing masks, there were only a few mask-less zombies jumping about).
I keep passing this beautiful house with a lovely garden in front of it.
It's on the block with the rainbow signs painted by children. It's such a warm little block, with wide sidewalks, and pretty gardens. I would love to own a little house on that block. Although I'd never have such a pretty little garden.
The walk and the chat cheered me up, pushed me out of my doldrums. Earlier that day, I was debating about whether I should consult an online counselor. I'd watched/listened to Michael Rosenbloom(Lex from Smallville) interview James Marsters on a podcast. And one of the commercials was about online counseling. I know Wales has been doing it. But I don't really think I need it. Not sure what I'd talk about? Honestly I've always found counseling to be stressful and not all that helpful. Mindfulness mediation, long meditative walks around a park, writing, and art work better for me. It may be that I'm highly analytical to begin with - and what I really need is to turn it off. To just be. And it turns out I was right - I felt much better after my walk. I also discovered that the Super had turned off the water in the building today from 9am-12pm, and I didn't notice. I asked another tenant who was walking into the building if I had the date right - July 16? Was that today? She said, yes, today was in fact the 16. And no she hadn't noticed the water being off either. Makes sense - I was kind of glued to my computer at the time, listening to the podcast, listening to the Mayor of NYC's briefing, and working. Also eating chocolate. The Mayor was aggravating. Marsters...was interesting...he has an interesting theaterical background.
Mother talked to brother today, and felt the need to tell me what he's up to. Apparently she'd shared with him the bit about my father finding her bossy.
Mother: Do you think I'm bossy?
Brother: Uhh
Mother: Your sister and your daughter do.
Brother: No comment.
Mother: Your father tells me that I'm bossy.
Brother: That's kind of the kettle calling the pot black.
LOL!
Apparently brother has friends coming up to stay in his barn this weekend. So he's cleaning out the barn again. I'd be envious - except, there's no air conditioning in the barn. The barn has an outdoor shower. And it's going to in the upper 90s this weekend with high humidity.
Mother: it may not be that hot up there -
Me: No it's actually hotter there than here.
Turns out I'm right. I think I'll stay here and binge-watch television, read, and write.
Also I'm still wary of traveling by train places - people aren't wearing masks and complying. NYC and Long Island keep having outbreaks because of this. Which results in re-assessing the re-opening efforts.
Mother: Your brother is disgusted with our country.
Me: Aren't we all.
Mother: Other countries are opening up and sending kids back to school safely, and people are wearing masks..
Me: Well, the US has too many entitled idiots and rights..
Mother: I don't get the mask thing. They were able to outlaw smoking in public spaces-
Me: No, that took a while actually, and people still ignore it at times.
Americans are spoiled brats.
Ah well, at least I have Greenwood Cemetery for the time being and a cool apartment. I'm grateful for these things. Also a good job that I enjoy (for the most part) that utilizes my skills, and allows me to work remotely from home...
I leave you with flowers..
[Actually accomplished more after work today than during. I found it hard to focus today. Kept getting distracted, also been feeling a bit out of sorts. (Seriously, who isn't? Except those who have managed to ignore what is going on completely and are going about their lives as if nothing happened. I've nicknamed them - the mask-less zombies.)]
Picture below is where I sat during my Zoom Chat. Or rather one of the places I sat. I kept moving about, due to other people meandering around the Cemetery. Also, I was trying to get close enough to the entrance, so I could meander out and home before the Cemetery closed for the night.
I'd just about talked myself out of doing the Zoom chat and thought it wasn't possible to do it and the cemetery at the same time. (I really needed to get outside and walk around the Cemetery today - it was a beautiful day, in the upper 70s, with a nice breeze. Low humidity. I'd been sitting inside at my desk all day long. Glued to a computer screen. Last thing I needed was another two hours talking to people on it. Also, I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. And I was feeling wired and twitchy, due to eating chocolate - to cheer myself up.
But, I passed a couple of people talking on phones, and a woman sitting on a blanket talking on the phone in the cemetery, and I thought, I can do this too. So I pulled out my iphone and clicked on the event - I'd set it up as an event on all my devices several weeks ago. And voila, I was in. I was suddenly talking to about ten to fifteen people from all over the United States, Canada, and the UK. There were people on the chat from Great Britain, Vancouver, Canada, Winnipeg, Canada, Washington State, Arizona, New York, Washington, DC...it was kind of cool.
So I sat down under a few trees and talked to my social media buds. I could only make out a few of the voices, most I had no clue. I used my real name, we all used our actual names - which we all knew. We've known each other for almost twenty years now - having met between 2000-2003.
At one point we were discussing fights we'd gotten into with famous writers on social media platforms.
Me: I did get into a fight with George RR Martin once.
ATPO: You win.
ME: It was a stupid argument. About whether hate speech could be prosecuted. He said it couldn't..
UK: That's not true, at least not here - it can here, the US is admittedly weak on that -
Me: I can in the US too..just under certain situations
ATPO: That's true.
Me: But he vehemently disagreed, told me I was wrong, and booted me out. And I was the one with the law degree.
I've gotten into fights, sorry to say, with several famous writers on the internet. I've learned, finally, not to engage. Very bad idea.
Also learned from one of the members that the Defense Department has its employees checking all the President's tweets and providing their bosses with a record of the relevant tweets the President did each day. They didn't have to do it with Obama, because he never said anything relevant on social media, but Trump...is another matter. And most of the heads of the Defense Department aren't in the habit of following Twitter - so they need to be apprised of anything that might come up.
Can you imagine having to do that?
Anyhow, ended call and wandered homewards...around the human being obstacle course which wasn't that bad (most people are wearing masks, there were only a few mask-less zombies jumping about).
I keep passing this beautiful house with a lovely garden in front of it.
It's on the block with the rainbow signs painted by children. It's such a warm little block, with wide sidewalks, and pretty gardens. I would love to own a little house on that block. Although I'd never have such a pretty little garden.
The walk and the chat cheered me up, pushed me out of my doldrums. Earlier that day, I was debating about whether I should consult an online counselor. I'd watched/listened to Michael Rosenbloom(Lex from Smallville) interview James Marsters on a podcast. And one of the commercials was about online counseling. I know Wales has been doing it. But I don't really think I need it. Not sure what I'd talk about? Honestly I've always found counseling to be stressful and not all that helpful. Mindfulness mediation, long meditative walks around a park, writing, and art work better for me. It may be that I'm highly analytical to begin with - and what I really need is to turn it off. To just be. And it turns out I was right - I felt much better after my walk. I also discovered that the Super had turned off the water in the building today from 9am-12pm, and I didn't notice. I asked another tenant who was walking into the building if I had the date right - July 16? Was that today? She said, yes, today was in fact the 16. And no she hadn't noticed the water being off either. Makes sense - I was kind of glued to my computer at the time, listening to the podcast, listening to the Mayor of NYC's briefing, and working. Also eating chocolate. The Mayor was aggravating. Marsters...was interesting...he has an interesting theaterical background.
Mother talked to brother today, and felt the need to tell me what he's up to. Apparently she'd shared with him the bit about my father finding her bossy.
Mother: Do you think I'm bossy?
Brother: Uhh
Mother: Your sister and your daughter do.
Brother: No comment.
Mother: Your father tells me that I'm bossy.
Brother: That's kind of the kettle calling the pot black.
LOL!
Apparently brother has friends coming up to stay in his barn this weekend. So he's cleaning out the barn again. I'd be envious - except, there's no air conditioning in the barn. The barn has an outdoor shower. And it's going to in the upper 90s this weekend with high humidity.
Mother: it may not be that hot up there -
Me: No it's actually hotter there than here.
Turns out I'm right. I think I'll stay here and binge-watch television, read, and write.
Also I'm still wary of traveling by train places - people aren't wearing masks and complying. NYC and Long Island keep having outbreaks because of this. Which results in re-assessing the re-opening efforts.
Mother: Your brother is disgusted with our country.
Me: Aren't we all.
Mother: Other countries are opening up and sending kids back to school safely, and people are wearing masks..
Me: Well, the US has too many entitled idiots and rights..
Mother: I don't get the mask thing. They were able to outlaw smoking in public spaces-
Me: No, that took a while actually, and people still ignore it at times.
Americans are spoiled brats.
Ah well, at least I have Greenwood Cemetery for the time being and a cool apartment. I'm grateful for these things. Also a good job that I enjoy (for the most part) that utilizes my skills, and allows me to work remotely from home...
I leave you with flowers..
no subject
Date: 2020-07-17 01:15 pm (UTC)You're response is very reassuring. It makes sense why you have to keep them updated on what the 45 is doing on social media, because he is in the habit of making huge policy decisions via Twitter, and not talking to anyone before he does it.
As to which gov't officials use twitter and which don't. It really varies. The current Secretary of Defense uses Twitter the way you'd expect a key professional to use it.
That's how it should be. Anyone in a "high-security" field should be careful with social media platforms. My agency sends out communications every once and a while warning its employees to be careful on FB and Twitter, and if possible to stay off of them and not mention work on them.
The media is camped out on Twitter - along with various hackers - it apparently got hacked yesterday.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-17 05:21 pm (UTC)Sure, but I think it's a function of personality too. You have some world leaders who are a little more whimsical, and some go further afield from their specific portfolios.
For example, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ/7) ... is a Veteran and on the Armed Services Committee, so people will follow his tweets but he's not tweeting exclusively Defense so if you are reading him from a DoD angle you skip a lot of Arizona or Political stuff.
SecDef seems to pretty much use Twitter as an Official Business Communication channel. Mattis, as SecDef, evinced no real interest in using twitter himself beyond asking "did somebody say something there that I need to be aware of?" But that was part of his broader lack of interest in doing media, which was a pattern from his time in the service. (The Admiral I worked for, back when we were at Tahoe, was very open to doing press.)
no subject
Date: 2020-07-17 05:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-17 06:38 pm (UTC)I will say that at the command level, the agencies have had a PAG (Public Affairs Guidance) for decades. (They update with evolving standards and environments.) Social media is now a part of that. If you are at, say, Naval Station Norfolk - there's Navy guidance on how to use it, what kind of stuff to post and there's also a Public Release process... so nobody's just randomly posting stuff on the Official account with going through an approval chain. They're not accidentally posting classified content or impolitic stuff. For the bases that have accounts, half their tweets are stuff like "Entrance A is closed for maintenance, today, use Entrance B" ...
And if we look at SecDef's twitter - everything he's posting is already public information... it's stuff that's going up or is already up on the DoD website.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-17 07:38 pm (UTC)I don't envy you following Twitter. I find the platform headache inducing. (I'm on it - because you're right, if you want to promote anything, you kind of have to be - and when I joined I was trying to promote a book I'd just published. But since I'm not comfortable on the platform - I failed miserable at it. So it helps if you are comfortable with the platform or know how to use it properly, I would think.) My organization strongly advises against using it - and only letting things go through certain channels. They did have issues a few weeks back and had to crack down on a a couple of racist nitwits - who were getting the agency into trouble, because the nitwits were posting racial slurs, etc, on Twitter, as employees of the agency. There was a slurry of emails that went out that basically warned everyone - not to do that.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-17 07:46 pm (UTC)My personal is mostly limited to sports reporters who cover my favorite teams. I almost never tweet on it myself. But then, my ratio of lurk / discuss / create post -- always leaned away from "post my own content" when I was more active on boards and Journaling sites.
My work list is very selective as well, though bigger. That account exists solely to follow those names. And in prior jobs where I was part of a team that had a social media component, I was always clear that I could draft posts but that I was not ideally suited for it.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-18 01:24 am (UTC)As you can tell - I prefer a longer format for posting. Quick soundbites or one-liners don't quite work for me. And that's what works best on Twitter. Although, I've noticed that Twitter is slowly going in the same direction that Facebook went, which is - it started out with 25 characters or less, and as time progressed, more and more characters are permitted. You can now write an entire paragraph of six-ten sentences on Twitter, when before you were limited to maybe five words or less.
I rarely post on Twitter. I lurk. And I've been using it to figure out what certain pop culture folks are up to, news updates, etc. Except I have troubles following it and don't select people to follow well. You're doing better than I am.
It may have a lot to do with who you choose to follow on it?
no subject
Date: 2020-07-18 03:22 pm (UTC)If you don't feel like you need twitter, you don't need twitter. Anything important enough will eventually make its way to you.
For me, I wanted information updates on a college football game I was currently attending - so the deadline mattered and twitter really was the right platform for that. For most other uses, it's just more ephemera.