A Brief Open Letter to Microsoft

lifted from:another blog

No! Dang it! Not all of your customers replace their computer every year! Every time you've sent an update in the last year, it has paralyzed my computer. I've tried changing the settings so that any updates require my approval before installation, but you keep going around my user permission settings! What's it going to take to secure my computer from you? Do I need to surgically remove the modem? (Ah, the good ol' days when a modem could simply be disconnected or shut off. Those were good times!)

Sincerely, A customer that wishes to be left alone until I personally think it is time for an update.

The Sick Baby Hoax

Perhaps you've seen this heart rending picture that I've edited or something like unto it.

It came with a claim that Facebook and CNN would donate money for each "like" or "share" that it got. Well don't... just don't. It's a tasteless scam put out there by a "like-whore".

Don't "like" it, don't "share" it, certainly don't comment on it. Click the picture itself and if you look to the right, there should be a report option. Click "report" and go through that process so that Facebook is in-the-know that an abusive picture is being circulated. It should only take a minute or two.

"But what if it's real?" It is not. Facebook never donates money based on how many "likes" and "shares" a photo gets.

"But it's harmless." No it is absolutely not harmless. Hoax slayer words it well:

The people who create these hoaxes - fittingly referred to as "like-whores" by the Facebook community at large, do so to amass likes and shares and to drive Internet traffic to their websites or Facebook Pages. They take images of children from other sources without permission and reuse them in their despicable hoaxes.

Some who create such hoaxes apparently do so simply out of a sick and twisted desire to see how many likes and shares their disgraceful lies can muster. Others are motivated by greed. Facebook Pages with large numbers of likes can be sold on the black market to other unscrupulous Internet marketers and/or used to peddle products and services and launch further spam and scam campaigns.

hoax-slayer

It's hard to ignore these things because we are mostly good inside and want to help, but some people are dead inside and favor exploiting human goodness and vulnerability. I know it can be difficult, but vet your charities first. If it seems easy and cost free to support a charity, that should be the first indication that it is a scam.

The Facebook Menu of Genders... What shall I try today?

Here are my options should I decide to change my gender on Facebook. Please forgive me if there are repeat genders, either as a typographical error on my end, or as it appears as given from Facebook:

Male

Female

Agender

Adrogyne

Adrogynous

Male to Female

Pangender

Trans

Trans Female

Trans Male

Trans Man

Trans Person

Bigender

Non-binary

Cis

Cis Female

Cis Man

Cis Woman

lifted from this blog

Gender Fluid

Gender Non-conforming

Gender Questioning

Gender Varient

Gender Queer

Cisgender

Female to Male

Genderqueer

Neither

Neutrois

Cisgender Female

FTM

MTF

Trans*Female

Transgender Female

Cisgender Female

Cisgender Male

Cisgender Man

Cisgender Woman

Other

Intersex

Trans*Male

Transsexual

Transmasculine

Trans*man

Two-spirit

Trans*Person

Transsexual Person

Trans*

Transsexual Female

Transsexual Male

Transsexual Man

Transsexual Woman

Trans Woman

Trans*Woman

Transgender Woman

Interestingly enough, they did not include the regular, less scientific gender options of man, woman, or person. I would have added to the list a few Jedi versions of several genders; but that’s just where my sense of humor leads me. I have so many options, but only one life to live. May I live it honestly.

Open Letter to Disney II: Hurray for Diversity! Now, when's it my turn!

Dear Disney,

I just read about your weeklong Family Outfest (July 1 - 7 2014), which you have officially attached your name to as a partner, as opposed to simply hosting as a private party event. That's fine. You do what's good for your business. As per my understanding, it is being marketed to LGBT families specifically, yet claims to be inclusive at the same time. Isn't that a little... er... contradictory? Why not just celebrate the Fourth of July like a normal theme park? You'll make more money that weekend if all families are equally invited.

Also, to be fair to the nuclear heterosexual families, that form most of your fan base, who were not invited to the Family Outfest; will you be having Disney Traditional Family Week? It's up to you how you run your business; all I'm saying is that just because we are a majority, doesn't mean our feelings don't get hurt when we are not invited to the party.

Sincerely,
Christine S. Hancock

Not invited! I was hoping it was simply do to some oversight. Well, in that case, I'll be on my way...

Sources: ORLANDOGAYTRAVEL.COM, The Blaze

An Open Letter to Disney Studios

Dear Disney,
To be honest, I don't watch the Disney Channel and am not interested in it. Too childish for me. That does not mean, however, that I am unaware of the culture and occasional controversies that spring from it. "Good Luck Charlie" is no longer in production so I need not worry that much about Taylor's two moms even if I did let my children watch the Disney Channel. Still it bothered me that the subject of single-sex headed households were brought up in a kids' show. Family structure is such a sensitive and adult issue, it seems inappropriate for children's entertainment programming.

I felt angry at first that you had broached the issue and immediately wanted to throw out everything Disney produced or affiliated, and never watch another film or broadcast from you again. Later, I started to feel sad that I would have to leave behind such an important part of my own life and my family's culture. Finally, after some thought, it occurred to me that it would never affect you if I walked away. In fact, if I convinced a thousand people to walk away, you wouldn't bat an eye or wonder where they went. Maybe if my argument persuaded a million customers to abandon you, you might notice, but not enough to actually hurt.

The fact I face is that if I want to have an impact on you, I won't be able to do it by saying nothing and walking away. If I want you to better reflect the values I want to teach my children, then I must let you know personally what those values are and whether what you have produced matches those values.

Clearly you make money from the promotion of alternative family structures. Fine. The free market can work for everyone willing to use it honestly, and maybe you are on to something; but I will not be allowing my children to view anything contrary to my values. Not to say I am intolerant or over sheltering. Same sex households and families are here to stay and deserve human dignity. However, I want a higher ideal presented to my children.

I challenge you to produce more films and broadcasts that cast the traditional family in a heroic light, like The Incredibles, The Princess and The Frog, and Lion King. Please continue to produce films like Brave, and Frozen, where women are shown to have nobility and courage; and Tangled which shows that even men as incorrigible and irresponsible as Eugene (Rider) can be redeemed. Oh, and thank you for the revisit to Winnie the Pooh several years ago. My family loves it. I must also thank you for dubbing and/or distributing so many of Studio Gibli's movies. Most of them are wonderful and beautiful family entertainment and they have a prominent place on my movie shelf.

From now on, for every show I watch with your tag on it, I will write an open letter letting you know what I think about it, and write at least three detailed reviews on different movie websites.

One of the major reasons I can't just let you go...

A New Year's Resolution: Become a Better Me

Credit: "Calvin and Hobbes" Bill Watterson

My resolution this year is to become a better version of myself. I'm tired of feeling regret and the nagging and irrational self doubt I suffer. I can become better and I have a plan to do so. The following is a list of twenty changes I want to make in my life over the next year:

1. Go to bed six nights a week by nine at night, and wake at four in the morning. If I can change that one bad habit, of staying up late and oversleeping, I know I can change any aspect of my life.

2. Set high and achievable goals and persevere until they have been accomplished.

3. Write my goals down.

4. Maintain a to do list.

5. Focus on one goal at a time.

6. Eat healthier.

7. Exercise four to five days a week.

8. Listen to audio-books and talks every day, especially while I am crocheting or doing chores around the house.

9. Rediscover my love for reading (I know I love reading, but I need make it a priority).

10. Read 30 minutes a day, non-fiction.

11. Stay curious and pursue learning for the love of it.

12. Watch less tv.

13. Continue to avoid watching reality tv (OK, not technically a change, but a good reminder).

14. Do all I can to help my son, Colin, become a proficient reader and skillful in mathematics.

15. Encourage my children to be helpful and compassionate.

16. Teach my children good habits.

17. Make birthday calls.

18. Make friends with positive, optimistic people.

19. Eliminate negativity and delusions of failure from my life.

20. Believe that the good habits I make will lead to good fortune, health, happiness, and prosperity.

Happy New Year!

What do I teach about politics?

I was reading aloud and article about the huge security snafu that allowed a known violent schizophrenic to work as a sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela's memorial service, and stand within four feet of Mr. Obama. It included the phrase, "President Obama" which I read over and didn't really think that much about it; but five year old Colin, with his sharp wit, noticed and asked me, "Mom, who's President Obama?"

It occurred to me that he has never heard me say those two words in that context, seeing as how I don't consider Mr. Obama to be president of anything (my opinion; you don't have to think the way I do).

Not quite sure what to say, I simply told him that Mr. Obama is the elected President of the Unites States, and dropped the subject, because I don't think sharing the details of my political opinions would be appropriate with a child that young.

Oh the challenges of being a homeschool mom! On the one hand, my children need facts (not necessarily my opinions), and a working knowledge of American politics. But on the other hand, too many of the facts surrounding this administration have turned out to be not factual, and I don't think I understand the political workings of our nation anymore.

Where do I turn for reliable information?!

I couldn't find a picture to fit this post, but I thought this would be interesting to look at.