Rant

OK, it's late so I won't type much, but someone's status on FB just really irrritated me and until I feel I've had some kind of riposte then I'm not going to be able to sleep. It was a really snotty comment about how time is precious and passes so quickly and why do people feel the need to do minute by minute updates on FB.

OK, now I am fairly sure this was aimed at me, because let's face it - I do update fairly regularly, but I see it as a kind of full stop or comma in a busy day. Taking a moment to just share a thought with all my friends - because I can. If it wasn't available then it wouldn't be a big deal, but since it is I actually enjoy it and try to make my updates fun and light hearted, if not actually funny.

It is especially annoying since I would consider my own life as considerably richer and fuller than this sniping passive aggressive idiot. I have now moved them onto restricted profile so I am still technically 'friends' with them, but they can't see any of my stuff - no photos, statuses nothing. Usually I keep that for under 18s who want to be my buddy,  and in-laws, but it is just the thing for this situation. Maybe when things have cooled off even more I'll just delete them completely, but seriously? Why go on FB to whinge about people posting things on FB? It's Stooopid with a capital S.

Don't Panic!

OK, maybe I'm over simplifying here, but how is a 'panic button' helpful when dealing with the subtle, long-term grooming of young people by paedophiles? Surely the whole reason that predators are able to achieve the results they desire is because the intended victims don't actually realise they are being targetted.

Fine, so now they have an easy way of alerting the authorities if someone creeps them out, but I've been a teenager and now I volunteer with them: don't tell me that some of them aren't going to find it hilariously amusing to report their friends and family just for the hell of it?

It sounds like a simplistic answer to a complex problem, but kudos to facebook for getting some good publicity out of it. It sure beats the privacy issues they've been in the news for recently. Time will tell if it's anything more than a bit of makeup on an ugly scar.

A Site To Be Seen

Well today it was brought home to me how single minded I really can be when I get involved in something. I've been working on a website for the youth organisation I volunteer with, which we're right in the middle of launching. Whilst the backbone of the site was put together by a young woman in our Squadron, I have done the majority of content writing and tweaking - from the Boss' introduction, to the FAQ and the list of activities we offer. In addition to all this I have been taking, processing and editing photos to use for general publicity and on the site in particular, then uploading them and trying to get the dimensions right.

Today was spent setting up a Twitter feed, tweaking the widget so it fits on the page, notifying people that we have a Twitter stream (and a facebook, a blog and a site) and asking for co-operation from other Squadrons to do a link exchange. I was so absorbed in all this that I forgot to get dressed, forgot to drink anything and, most shocking of all to those who know me, forgot to eat lunch. I know - almost inconceivable, right? It was only when Hubby rang me at the end of his working day to let me know he was off to give blood that I realised what the time was.

All in all I feel it was time well spent. The Squadron now has a shiny new website that's both pretty and useful which will hopefully win them brownie points with the head honchos and attract new youngsters into the fold - something that's essential for the survival of the unit. On a more personal note, and something I only realised when a friend pointed it out to me, it makes an excellent addition to my CV. To have taken a unit with no media presence whatsoever and developed it within two months, albeit with the assistance of colleagues to some extent, so that it has full representation across the gamut of new media, some connection with the local press and to have supplied all the content myself - well, that can't hurt when I'm going for Media Communications jobs, can it?

If you're curious you can check the website here, do let me know what you think...
http://eightfsquadron.webs.com/

Oh, and if you have any connection with someone looking for a Media Comms assistant please pass my name along - I'll work for dry bread and water at the moment! lol

In other news I've dropped over half a stone now and am finally back in the trousers I was wearing when I met Hubby 5 and a half years ago. Only a stone and a half to go and I'm back at my ideal weight... we'll see :-)