Monthly Archives: December 2010

In spring of 2009 Micah Baldwin started a twitter Meme that would never die. It’s called #FollowFriday.

The idea behind #FollowFriday is that you (the twitter user) would take one fascinating person you follow on twitter, and explain to the rest of your followers why they should follow them.

I embraced Follow Friday for most of 2009. I loved sharing great finds with my community.

Unfortunately 2010 was the year that I didn’t use Twitter on Fridays, mostly Friday mornings. I would go to twitter and my entire stream would be flooded with tweets like this

I see absolutely no value in 140 characters with a bunch of names and no explanation. I follow almost 5,000 people on twitter, and each and every one of them is worth following and interacting with.

Tomorrow morning, and every Friday moving forward I will be logging onto twitter, but instead of reading the live feed (as I typically do), I’ll be looking at my short list of people who have promised to not #FollowFriday.

The list is here, it’s short, but at least you will be able to navigate twitter.

If you won’t be participating in #FollowFriday please leave your twitter id below in the comments and I’ll add you to the list.

If you will be participating in #FollowFriday I’d love for you to recommend just one person (maybe two) and give a reason for following them. It’s possible that people will actually pay attention. Just not me, I’m using lists to filter the noise out.

If Uncle Louie ever utters the phrase, “I’ve got an idea.” You’ll probably end up in the middle of a fantastic project, with your head spinning a little bit.

If you read today’s Sachem Patch, you’ll know that I’m having a car built by Demented Customs. Not just any car though, a Mom Car.

My regular readers are well aware of my love affair with the automobile, which competes only with my love affair with technology. It’s time that I take these two passions of mine and bundle them.

I’m currently trying to locate a Ford Country Squire from the mid 7o’s, a Chevy Impala (1973 is my favorite year) or a Buick Estate wagon. If it’s a Ford it would preferably a year where there is a third row pop up back seat. I’d prefer to find one from 1975-1978 as I’m a fan of the hidden headlights. I’m open to other models as well, but the point is to locate a mid-70 station wagon that’s in decent condition.

Here’s where it gets fun, take a look at some of the work Demented Customs is doing.

In addition to making a Chevelle beautiful (every car is beautiful in it’s own way) they put in a new engine and blower, bringing the car to 650 hp. I’m not even sure that’s legal.

In order to understand what 650 hp looks like take a look at the Porsche 997 GT2, it has 523 hp at 6500 rpm, and a top speed of 204. Demented built a beast.

In any event, the boys at Demented are willing to take my station wagon fantasies to this same crazy level. In addition to making my wagon fast and beautiful, they are committed to adding the kind of technology that every family needs. We are currently discussion how to add:

• tablet computers for the rear seat passengers
• a wifi hotspot
• a vacuum (this is actually non negotiable, I need one)
• food and drink compartments that aren’t quite cupholders (I’m only looking at 70′s cars)
• airbags and other safety items

I’m pinching myself that everyone’s willing to go along with this wacky idea. What’s most amazing is the we’ll have the support of Goldberg (yes the Bill Goldberg of Garage Mahal), and my Mommy Mobile will ultimately make it’s way to the Barrett-Jackson auto auction to raise money for charity.

But I’m totally driving it first.

I’m getting really excited about this, and I hope to locate a car in the next few weeks so we can get the ball rolling. Up until now, we’ve been trying to find a way to make it all happen.

Look for lots of video about the making of my first custom car. I can’t wait to share this adventure with you guys.

I wrote a post about Rex and Michelle Ryan, and her foot fetish videos. I’m replacing it with this short message.

The folks at Deadspin have a long and compelling post about Michelle Ryan’s alleged foot fetish videos. For those of you who aren’t NFL fans, Michelle is married to Rex Ryan, who is the Head Coach for the New York Jets and a character.

Here’s the thing, if Rex and Michelle Ryan are making foot fetish videos good for them. I’m tired of caring who you fuck, or how you fuck. It’s all consenting adults, and I’ve seen the videos on Deadspin, they’re about the unsexiest thing I’ve ever run across.

So congratulations Rex and Michelle, y’all have a hobby.

The FCC has acted to support net neutrality. In theory at least.

I’m not happy, and you shouldn’t be either.

I’m going to go ahead and attach the full news release at the end of this post, but please keep in mind that it is a news release. It’s meant to promote media spin. In fact, you might get dizzy reading it.

Here are the parts I find troubling, and downright un-American.

A person engaged in the provision of fixed broadband Internet access service, insofar as such person is so engaged, shall not block lawful content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices, subject to reasonable network management.

A person engaged in the provision of mobile broadband Internet access service, insofar as such person is so engaged, shall not block consumers from accessing lawful websites, subject to reasonable network management; nor shall such person block applications that compete with the provider’s voice or video telephony services, subject to reasonable network

A person engaged in the provision of fixed broadband Internet access service, insofar as such person is so engaged, shall not block lawful content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices, subject to reasonable network management.A person engaged in the provision of mobile broadband Internet access service, insofar as such person is so engaged, shall not block consumers from accessing lawful websites, subject to reasonable network management; nor shall such person block applications that compete with the provider’s voice or video telephony services, subject to reasonable network

What is reasonable network? I’m stuck with AT&T Uverse because they own the lines in my neighborhood. What happens when AT&T decides that Hulu takes up too much bandwith?

My question is answered here:

Reasonable network management. A network management practice is reasonable if it is appropriate and tailored to achieving a legitimate network management purpose, taking into account the particular network architecture and technology of the broadband Internet access service. Legitimate network management purposes include: ensuring network security and integrity, including by addressing traffic that is harmful to the network; addressing traffic that is unwanted by users (including by premise operators), such as by providing services or capabilities consistent with a user’s choices regarding parental controls or security capabilities; and by reducing or mitigating the effects of congestion on the network.

I’m not convinced this serves us well.

Of course there’s this:

In light of these considerations, we conclude it is appropriate to take measured steps at this time to protect the openness of the Internet when accessed through mobile broadband.

Which roughly translates into “you’re on your own with broadband, shop it sister.”

Here’s the document. I don’t want to tell you what to think. I just want to hear your opinions on this one.

FCC Internet Freedom and Openness

This morning I was driving Alexader to a friend’s house when Jane called. I was supposed to pick her up from her sleepover close to 11am, but she wanted to know if I could pick her up closer to 1pm, and maybe her friend could come with her?

I said yes. Jane is a social girl.

Alexander remarked that Jane has had a sleepover every single night of the Winter Break. She has had no more than an hour a day alone, the rest of the break has been spent with friends.

Alexander noted that Jane likes to spend about 75% of her life with other people, and only about 25% alone, but he went on to say, “I’m the exact opposite. I want to be with friends about 25% of the day and then I love my days alone.”

My kids are different than each other in just about every way. Their preferences as well as their talents are diverse, and sometimes pleasing both kids is simply impossible. One child needs to learn to accommodate the other.

Mr. G and I are different as well. He hates a crowd, and I love one. We both need more time alone than most, and perhaps that’s why we enjoy our lives together.

Alexander and I have retreated to opposite ends of the house. Later we will sit together quietly. It’s nice. It’s what he likes.

I see that our most recent Momversation video isn’t exactly well received.

Apparently to be successful in the blogosphere one needs to be poor, crippled, in mourning or preaching charity at every turn.

When I go to my email inboxes I have dozens of emails from various charities asking for support. Mostly I get these end of year emails because I’ve given during the year. There are dozens more emails for last minute gifts, and ways to alleviate holiday stress. I have no holiday stress, Chanukkah is over.

The worst emails are marketing all wrapped up for the holidays in gauzy charities. No, I don’t want to buy razor blades that will support Nigerian Refugees. The fine print caps the donation at $50,000, so it’s pretty clear that my purchase won’t contribute a damn thing.

No, wait, the worst emails are the pay it forward, we aren’t a 501c yet, but we will be soon. Those are the worst. I do not want to buy XMas gifts for strangers on the internet. I don’t want to help an entire website devoted to cyberbegging. I will not send strangers money. Not today, and not any time of year.

I’m not even sorry that I’m not poor, sick, widowed, divorced, psychologically imbalanced, or involved in a nonprofit.

I am unapologetically going to enjoy my husband, my children, my brother, my parents, my cat and my dog, all of whom are healthy, happy and employed (animals excluded).

I am not going to be bullied into shilling your stupid shit because of a holiday I don’t celebrate. I’m not going to be updating my facebook status to say things like Rosemary needs an Amazon gift card so that she can buy her baby a cute devil costume for the holidays.

I gave. I gave my money and my time all year long. I gave my heart and soul to an essay for a book. I abused 17,000 strangers on Twitter to win a Pepsi Grant for the homeless. I don’t even LIKE Pepsi. I have written checks to charities y’all have never heard of, and I’ve only been thanked for some of them.

And that is okay.

So I’m really fucking sorry that I’m not in dire straits. I get that misery loves company. If you’re looking to commiserate, I can’t help you, but I’m pretty sure a few hundred thousand blogs can.