Category: Social Media

Love from afar (Covid-19)

On By Margie.MercIn Coronavirus, COVID-19, Instagram, Retirement, social distancing, Social Media2 Comments

My upbeat music of the morning: – Louis Armstrong sings
What a Wonderful World. 

sitting on a long doc with my sister, happily retired

The way the world is spinning now it’s easy for people to do good. And be bad. Or be ugly. There is so much happening in our world these days that I just want them to choose GOOD.

This video was posted on Instagram by Sara Byrne. (Sabyrne5)

Byrne’s grandmother has seven sons, 22 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Most of them live in the Syracuse area, so they went to sing Happy Birthday for her. “We love her so much and are so thankful for her!” said Byrne.

And a Brooklyn cellist plays Happy Birthday from afar…

Sometimes Facebook Makes Me Crazy

On By Margie.MercIn Communication, happiness, Mental Health, Relationships, Social Media9 Comments

I don’t spend much time on Facebook like I did. I go there every few weeks and look at new family photos and then exit the program. There was a time I posted photos and made comments and ‘Liked’ but not anymore.
—
First off, it took me a bit of time to understand but after I read the posts from family and friends I got sad. Their lives were so full, so rich, so purposeful. They had anniversary photos, new jobs, they had ‘relationship status’ updates from “single” to “in a relationship” and then “married.” Their kids were top-achievers, getting into great colleges, finding employment and getting married. The married children were in contact with their parents, took photos with their children and life was rosy and sweet.

—
Their holidays were joyful and the only thing missing was Norman Rockwell. Photos of their vacations could have been ripped from travel guides. The more I read, the sadder I became. It’s not that I was envious of my Facebook family, it’s more like I was left behind in the gray room with all the gray colors and gray food. My life — which is pretty full and fantastic, felt sort of …lacking.
—
It took a bit of detective work  but the pieces fell together and the truth unfolded. There were fights, bankruptcies, illnesses, divorces, job losses and failing students standing there when the camera was put away. This bit of reality didn’t ease my sadness; it just made me realize how childish it all is.
—
It’s childish for me to compare my standing with someone’s posting on Facebook. kayak2It’s stupid to wish for another life when I have no idea if that person is truly happy or perhaps cries herself to sleep at night. I know where I stand. I know what I’ve achieved and what it took to get me there. I know there are things I want that I haven’t achieved and sometimes I wish I could have a ‘do-over’ but this is where I am – right here and now.
—
Every now and then I’ll check Facebook to see who’s doing what … and everything I read I’ll take with a grain of salt. No sadness, no comparison, no wishing I had someone else’s good fortune. I know better now.

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What made us friends in the long ago?

On By Margie.MercIn happiness, Relationships, Social Media6 Comments

Years ago I bought a card that had a poem on it. I kept the card and memorized the poem. Today I dedicate it to a dear friend as a birthday poem, a friendship poem and words that will hopefully make you and all my readers smile.

hollyhock4All my love to you, Dahling…

What made us friends in the long ago
When we first met?
Well, I think I know.
The best in you and the best in me
Hailed each other because we could see
That always and ever
Since time began,
Our being friends was part of the plan.

~ George Webster Douglas ~

In the land of make-believe

On By Margie.MercIn Relationships, Social Media, Web Resources5 Comments

Blogging.

It’s sort of surreal.

marge-treesIf you’ve done it, you know what I’m talking about.

Putting thoughts, ideas, challenges, questions, concerns, issues, photos …out there for the world to sisters sitting on a dock, engrossed in conversationsee or reply, ignore, spam, comment, enjoy, interact, or possibly dismiss.

And yet, we keep doing it. For some of us it’s a daily thing, for others, it’s weekly or monthly. The thing is – over time, it’s an accumulation of posts. It’s a measure of time. It’s a legacy.

What started as a rant, sorrow or frustration or as a way to show the new baby, house or vacation is now something concrete!

Concrete in a virtual sort of way, that is. All those posts, pictures, history, and comments can be wiped out in a flash. Gone. And if that happens (not that it would happen to MY SITE), I’ll know that I am richer for it.

Bloggers Unite.

Anyone up for a walk? I live in Colorado and would be happy to button up and meet you for a stroll, cross-country ski trip, hike or camping event. Oh, you want me to visit you? Right on! Let’s make that happen, ok?

Have you ever tried to Google yourself?

On By Margie.MercIn Book Review, Education, Social Media, Web Resources13 Comments

duckduckgo.comThis is my deal – there is so much to learn, so much to know, so much to share that when I find some tidbit, I just want to write about it so you can benefit from my words. One may call me a teacher, a trainer, an educator and yes –  I am all of the above because I just assume you want to learn too.

When was the last time you searched your name on the internet or ‘Googled’ yourself? I suggest you go to google.com and enter your name and see what comes up. Now try it in yahoo.com and duckduckgo.com. You might find unique links or information from each site.

Is the information that comes up accurate? If not, can you track down the website and get it changed? As you move towards anything in this connected world, you can bet your name will be searched. Want to buy a house, sell a house, rent an office, get a job, buy an appliance, or anything else –  if so, you can bet your name will be checked online.

Potential employers might find you on LinkedIn and learn all about your past jobs, read your recommendations and possibly even contact past colleagues. And they won’t stop at LinkedIn, they will certainly look for you on Facebook. Here they will see the other side of you – the family, funny, wacky side. Or they will see the stupid, drunken and sullen side of you that writes with a sarcastic tone or other such negative image.

Did you sign up for Classmates, Meetup, Youtube, Google Photos, Calorie-Count, Flickr, Pintrest, or other social/gaming networking sites?  If so, your name will probably show up in quite a few search results. Do you have a blog, website, or have you posted articles or photos? Let’s hope they are clean, informative and inspiring to someone who is looking to hire you, date you, enroll you or any other possible scenarios.

We are connected – like it or not. We are ‘out there’ for the good people to find us knowing that bad people will find us too. Take a moment and go to duckduckgo.com and see what you can find on your name. Maybe nothing at all. Maybe lots. Maybe it’s all ok.

Related:

 

Get LinkedIn and Get Connected: Gift #11

On By Margie.MercIn Communication, No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge, Social Media, Web Resources4 Comments

LinkedIn is a social networking website for people in professional occupations. This site is like a living resume. You can enter information about your skills, classes, volunteer work, new promotions, or just highlight the areas you want others to know about.

LinkedIn lets you invite others to join your network, write recommendation for colleagues and to offer endorsements.

Find a job using LinkedIn.comEmployers list jobs on this website and if you apply, these employers will be sure to check your data, recommendations and perhaps contact people in your network.

Wikipedia has a list of possible ways your network can be used:

  • A contact network is built up consisting of their direct connections, the connections of each of their connections (termed second-degree connections) and also the connections of second-degree connections (termed third-degree connections). This can be used to gain an introduction to someone a person wishes to know through a mutual contact.
  • Users can upload their resume or design their own profile in order to showcase work and community experiences.
  • It can then be used to find jobs, people and business opportunities recommended by someone in one’s contact network.
  • Employers can list jobs and search for potential candidates.
  • Job seekers can review the profile of hiring managers and discover which of their existing contacts can introduce them.
  • Users can post their own photos and view photos of others to aid in identification.
  • Users can now follow different companies and can get notification about the new joining and offers available.
  • Users can save (i.e. bookmark) jobs which they would like to apply for.

Are you on LinkedIn? Right now there are more than over 170 million subscribers.

Care to join my network? If so, just enter my name (Marge Katherine) and see if I show up.  I hope to see you there!

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Let’s Meetup: Gift #10

On By Margie.MercIn Communication, Social Media, Web Resources5 Comments

meetup1Shall we stop learning for a bit and focus instead on getting social?

There is a wonderful network called Meetup.com where you can join in with others who are involved in activities that interest you. Depending on where you live, you can find groups that share common interest such as politics, dating, books, hiking, movies, pets, careers, etc. The image to the right is a list of categories for you to choose from.

The image below shows where you enter your zip code or city and your topic of choice and to find a nearby group. Not sure what you want? Just enter your zip code and have a gander at what appears. You will be amazed!

Use meetup.com to connect locally

Can’t find a group near you? Sign up to become an Organizer and start one yourself. You’re sure to meet people who share your passion.  Starting your own group will cost you (the Organizer) $12 per month.

For instance, I started a book group using Meetup. Once we reached seven members we decided to close the Meetup account and carry one using email as our main contact tool. Meetup brought us together and served it’s purpose. We have been going strong for two years now!

Meetup.com is international.

You can find groups in Auckland, New Zealand or Auckland Park, England, UK

Dublin, Ireland or or Dublin Virginia USA

Zurich Switzerland or Zurich Ontario, Canada

Meetup is the perfect way to connect – in person. Find out where the group meets then show up. Simple. Done.

According to Wikipedia:

The attack on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001, was pivotal to the formation of this social network. Meetup co-founder Scott Heiferman publicly stated that the manner in which people in New York came together in the aftermath of that traumatic event inspired him to use the Internet to make it easier for people to connect with strangers in their community. Meetup, Inc. is based in New York City.

Until tomorrow … Enjoy!

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# 6 – Playtime with Lexulous

On By Margie.MercIn No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge, Relationships, Social Media, Web Resources4 Comments

Ok, I’ve done my homework, wrote my letters, caught up on my blog, answered my emails and NOW I spend some time on my guilty pleasure – LEXULOUS. I read about this online scrabble type game in the book I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron. She talked about being obsessed with this game and playing ‘just one more game’ followed by ‘just one more’. I limit myself to one because it is addicting. Sometimes I play with the robots, sometimes with strangers. I win and I lose and I am always entertained.

Word games entertain me more than board games or card games. I can learn more and walk away challenged when I can use my knowledge and background to form a word rather than hoping for the right cards to fall in my lap.

Know of any word games that I can play? Maybe we can get on Oovoo and play together?

 http://www.lexulous.com/

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OOVOO Free Video Conferencing: Gift # 5

On By Margie.MercIn Education, Social Media, Web Resources5 Comments

Maybe you’ve heard of Skype – everyone seems to be using it and it’s pretty cool. It’s a great way to SEE the other person as you talk. It’s a video between you and them.

However, my better-than-Skype tool  is called Oovoo and you can download the application at oovoo.com. Why do I like it better than Skype you ask? Mostly because it’s a way for me and many others in my family to get on and chat at the same time. And, yes, we are all talking at the same time. There can be up to SIX people on the call at once. With Skype it’s only you and one other unless you pay for a package. Oovoo is free.

Let’s say that we wanted to have a bloggers meeting. Just you, me and ten others. We can all download Oovoo from this address and open it on our desktop, laptop, Mac, iPhone, Ipad, Android or Facebook.  Then we can connect.

I often have breakfast with my favorite siblings on Sunday morning. Me… cooking my bacon and eggs with a hot cup of tea and then sitting down – almost as if – we were in the same kitchen. In this day and age of long distance family and friends it’s great to connect.

Let me know if you’d like to connect with me and I’ll gladly set up a time when we would meet –  it would be a blast! In order to use video conferencing, you must have a video camera. This may be an additional item you must purchase but they are really affordable (under $20) and easy to install. Ask me if you need help.

Can you envision this tool for fitness workouts, support groups, book group discussions, family conferences, teacher-student supervision,  late night calls to a plumber, college discussion groups, long distance reunions, and tons more.

If you decide to download oovoo want to test it out, let me know! I’ll be thrilled to visit with you.

Download oovoo.com application: http://www.oovoo.com/Social/Teens/General/index.html

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