Google Chrome

Not only can I now comment on the blogs I follow...... but now with Google Chrome, I can download this :
AdBlock Plus
and I don't have to watch any of those annoying pop-up ads that interfere with my online viewing pleasure.

Good stuff!

oh.

And for those of you who want to transfer all your Facebook data info to Google+ seamlessly?

Try this!

Wow. Harsh.

 

Hello Kitty button

One of my "Friends" on Facebook posts a link about how Canadians are coming across the border in droves to buy groceries and such.

Innocuous, right?

That's how I took it, anyway.

Then, a friend of hers makes a disparaging remark - suggesting her dislike for this, followed by a "dislike" from another friend of hers.

If Canadians weren't shopping across the border, the city would be a ghost town  and they would probably be even worse off than they are.  

I made a comment to the effect that Canadians are helping out the US economy - don't complain! :)  (smiley face included to try and convey friendliness - helping them to interpret it as a nicely put comment!)

Then I get an email from The Friend (well, actually she's my husband's friend - OR should I more accurately say, a friend of one of my husband's exes) saying how she "took offense" to my comment.*

Oh my. Really??

Such drama.

I am on the cusp of making a friend deletion.

Lately it doesn't take much.  I am so fed up with Facebook I am ready to jump ship.

I really don't have the energy. 

Or the time.

The alternate take-away of this story?

Smiley face emoticons don't really mean much.


:)

******************

* I did message her back apologising for any misunderstanding and to clear it up - that I did mean it in a nice way - no nastiness intended in the least!  No answer..... so far.

Fail on Facebook

I have already stated on here how I find good people to rent our apartments, thanks to Facebook, Linkdin, Myspace and Google. The method I use hasn't failed me yet.

The majority of Vancouverites are appalled at what happened downtown last night. There are various websites set up that allows people to send their photos in or ID anyone they know in photos.

Apparently, these people haven't caught on that FB is a pretty good place to glean info:

AND:

It is quite possible they may be contacted by the Vancouver Police very soon.

And a thumbs-up to those fans and other persons out there that are doing the right thing.

Social Networks & Personality & Behaviors

Can't remember where I found this. 

I thought this was a great way to illustrate the Social networks out there and link them to the various behaviors....

I do Facebook and that's about it. Looking at the chart.....I think I am more of a "stalker" than anything....

I like to keep track of my many nieces and nephews without them having to go to the "bother" of contacting me specifically with updates.  It's a great way to keep on top of events and milestones.

It has also proven to be a great way for my cousins and sundry to keep in touch since we live in all four corners of this continent.


I just don't understand the need to twitter.  I guess that is my age showing.  But really, on Facebook, I do get annoyed when every. last. little. move. is. recorded.    I don't want to know ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

If you were to stumble upon my Facebook page (highly unlikely due to my security level settings) you wouldn't know that I was an RN.....as there is absolutely nothing on it that indicates that in any way. 

I keep my work very seperate from my social life, and except for the occasional phonecall from rellies that want to know what such-and-such a symptom means....... I keep a low profile.

Oh.  Except for the occasional comment on how *nice* someone's veins are.......

Pesky Little Visitors: The Government

Come on Politicians/Government workers in Ottawa:
Don't you have something better to do with your time than read blogs? After all, it's my TAX DOLLAR that pays your way. Get out of my blog and go somewhere else. You aren't welcome here. I don't blog at work, nor do I schlep on the computer in Blogland during working hours and definitely don't do it on Company Computers. You should have the same courtesy.
Unless, of course, you have a VERY GOOD REASON for being here.
Let me know if you do and I will apologize. For now, the above applies.


Domain Name gc.ca ? (Canada)
IP Address 192.197.82.# (Canadian House of Commons)
ISP Canadian House of Commons
Location Continent : North America
Country : Canada (Facts)
State/Region : Ontario
City : Ottawa
Lat/Long : 45.4167, -75.7 (Map)

Language English (U.S.)
en-us
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Information Smorgasbord

We have several rental properties. Right now our "retirement" property by the ocean is up for rent and so I am mid-process in finding new renters. (View below)





What people don't realize is how much information they put on the Internet for anyone to find or piece together. We, as bloggers, are pretty well anonymous (we hope!) however, many people don't seem to care - until they realize how it can affect them.

Let me tell you about our rental process and you will see what I mean.

First I put an ad out on Craigslist. I have a gmail address set up specifically for this, with no identifiers. I put a link to my gmail photo album which has at least 100 photos of each property.

This gives those searching a good idea as to what the property and amenities look like - no need to give a tour and I only get the serious inquiries.(the photos below are from the apartment 2 doors down, identical to ours) This cuts out those who are the "looky-loos".


When the prospective renter emails me asking whether the apartment is still available, I email back and ask for them to tell me a little more about themselves and ask - " what can you tell me about yourself that would have you stand out from the rest of the applicants?"

I eliminate those that don't sound like the type we want, then email the rest with an application form attached. When they send the info back...or even if they don't - I have information to research.


I google their name, phone numbers, address, email address and search on Myspace, Facebook, Linkdin and any other search engine or Networking site.

If I can find them on Facebook and their settings are set to private, I look at all their friends. I can always count on someone giving up info! Usually I can find something written by the prospective tenant somewhere.


You can speculate what they are like by what groups they have joined or interest connections. I have found full blogs with names attached, work information, personal details, pet's names, where they work, comments on the Internet, ads of items for sale complete with responses - you name it.

In Canada you can look up court records, court cases both civil and provincial and also appeals online with only a last name.

By this time I have weeded out the undesirables. This time it left me with 10 applicants. I arrange one showing only - at the convenience of the present tenant and my self - and then as I meet each prospective tenant, I make notes in my book.


Then, finally, I research their actual application information they provide - the personal and work references . If there is anything that is red flag material, I delete.


I then send the chosen "new tenants" the tenancy agreement by email - which our province has online - and get them to fill it out and drop it by with a 1/2 month deposit and first month rent.




It is a slightly time consuming process but a very interesting one - and I must admit that I have been surprised at some of the prospective tenants and the information that surfaces.....I am not sure that they realize how much information I can glean from so little offered.



I have discovered lies about occupations, people that are blatant partying aficionados with questionable photos online, I have uncovered deep dark secrets and stories.

The best one was a couple who were both lawyers. I found her "online diary" from her days in University which described her family, her dog, her then boyfriend and now husband, the wedding, everything!

Good news is - We have yet to place a bad tenant.

For a similar reason, I find it is a good rule of thumb to google one's own name every once in a while to see what is out there. Lots of info out there on your name is good for me - but personally, I just don't like to see too much out there on me.

It's just one big smorgasbord of information out there !

WHAT NOT TO POST ON THE INTERNET

While we are on the subject of internet Paranoia.....

Here is an ad on our local TV station for the PNE Playland....if you have never been there...you have to go. The Roller coaster - a wooden construction, was built in 1958. I can remember as a little girl - going to the Playland. It was always so fun. If I close my eyes I can still smell the smells - popcorn, cotton candy, doughnuts - and hear the sounds - screams, laughter, carny calling.........lots of fun.

So when the PNE put this ad out in this year's ad campaign.....I couldn't resist posting it! :)

JOB INTERVIEW: FAIL




Here is the history of the building of the Rollercoaster: You don't need to watch the whole thing, just the narrative at the beginning...the rest is the progression of construction

Proof Positive: yes, they Troll the Internet to find EVIDENCE

Yes, they are always on a witch hunt. Beware of anything you post. Even if it is innocent and contains no information: they are on a mission. They are not there to protect the nurse.

And - if this person trolling around isn't on a witch hunt.....it means they are spending MY money that I pay out ( $450 per year to register as an RN - I only pay $75 per year in WA state) casually looking around at blogs. Either way, I am not happy.

Call Me Nurse
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Domain Name constructive-media.com ? (Commercial)
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Paranoia

Call me paranoid but something happened today that creeped me out. All of you that have been following my blog KNOW that I never say anything outside of the FOIPPA and HIPAA laws. I don't talk about patients or my present job even. HOWEVER. Something tells me that there are certain things Certain People don't like mentioned. Namely, *marijuana* - never mind all I posted was documented/researched info - direct quotes - some of it even coming from our Own Blessed Government.

I happen to have 2 site meters on my blog....one public one tells me (you see to the right) who is on and from where- fairly general info with a fun presentation....the other is invisible and it shows me who exactly is on and their IP addresss and a lot of other neat stuff like what Browser the visitor is using, who their provider is, what kind of equipment they have....you know. Everything interesting and revealing.

I usually get -oh, maybe anywhere from 7 to 80 visits per day depending on the subject. Mostly it averages 15 to 40. My comments are fairly boring to anyone outside of nursing, and even then I am probably stretching it.

Mostly I blog about my nursing experience from more than 30 years ago, my Grandmother the nurse, my surgeries and our occupational type subjects from published sources. Sometimes I just comment on other goings on in my neck of the woods outside of work.

Most of my visitors come and go - read one page, then leave. After all, most of my stuff is Yawn material, really. Mostly no one comments. Sometimes I am pretty sure they alight on my blog for only a second and then move on - without even reading anything.

That is - until today. Today I saw an interesting ID appear on my site meter. Big Brother. From the "House of Commons" to be exact. Not just one visit - but three consecutive visits. Then - a visit from the Governing Body for Our Occupation in our delightful province shortly thereafter. Ya - I mean YOU. Hmm. Interesting. Why the sudden interest? It isn't like I am revealing anything new or unpublished ..... or even interesting. I haven't broken any laws. Nothing I said was outrageous.

I know this is a "public" blog. Nothing on here is worth reading anyway. But something makes me paranoid when there are several visits in the space of a couple hours from sources that has the ability to make my life miserable.....and I didn't even say anything that is worth all the fuss.

*RED FLAGGED*.

So...I am sorry to say, I am closing up shop. I will be lurking in your blogs....but I won't be creating any - until I retire. Then I can do and say as I please with no one breathing down my neck - and that, my friends, will probably be in a couple of years. You know, wearing purple and all that.

So, all of you out there, if you had ever read my blog entry "It's a Small World Story"......now you know how true it is. Believe me.

6.5 Billion people are not enough to get lost in.