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Canyon by Video

mikemjensen Internet, Life's Truths, Utah Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

What a fantastic time we live in.

Sure there are some bad things that can’t be ignored. The political scene in the US is a joke that isn’t funny and the future may hold some unpleasant prospects.

But never has so much freedom of information ever been endowed upon the common person. For the cost of an internet connection and the device to connect to it, nearly anything is available to anyone.

“Just Google it.”

Or “You Tube it.”

I’ve been in and around the canyons of Utah’s canyon country. I look out at the landscape and find it unfathomable to imagine how that slow meandering river could’ve carved out the deep ravines and side canyons, and the cuts, and the cliffs.1797529_510846092361849_202623632_n

I understand erosion. I’ve seen canyons before. But the great canyons of the Colorado, especially the Grand Canyon of them all; I can’t put my head around it.

Until today.

While working at my desk, working numbers on an excel spreadsheet, I found, in my recommended videos, one to watch titled, “How the Grand Canyon was formed.” I watched/listened to it, some parts twice.

I understand it now.

Incredible.

 

Post 3-041

A Good Time To Come Along

mikemjensen Interesting Stuff (to me anyway), Internet, Vanity Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

You know what’s cool? Living in an age where almost any piece of information is available within minutes on the Internet. (Remember when we called it the “Web” or the Information Super Highway?)

I check the online weather radar on the days when we have storms moving though and try to skirt home between the downpours. It worked great today.

on-the-internet-nobody-knows-youre-a-dog-memeCan’t remember some name or factoid? Google what you know and you’re an instant genius.

TED talks. A bunch of them are full of crap, but I learn constantly by streaming them at my desk as I do data entry.

Today I heard about a WWII story that I had never heard before. Looked it up, found out some details, learned of a detailed book of the event, and pondered the thought of writing a future book about it. Without the internet, it would’ve been a passive story that I half-understood and most likely forgot before I had a chance to research.

I think some of the things from the past are sorely missed and I wonder how life passed in old west times. However, I’m thankful to live in this day and age where the world and all its wonders are right there on my screen.

And to think how cool I thought digital watches were when they first came out.

 

Day 74

Don’t Be These Guys

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Hey Kids,

I find that there are two kinds of people I find really annoying on Social Media: Dumb asses and Gurus.googletire

Dumb asses ask questions to the open forum about something they would know with a simple search and a little time on Google. “Where can I buy a motorcycle tire?” “What’s the difference between a ¾ helmet and a half helmet?” “How far is it from A to B?”

The Guru, or at least the self-proclaimed Gurus, are drawn out by the dumb asses. They are the ones that offer answers that obviously came from spending just a little time on Google and now wish to impart their wisdom for all to see.

Don’t be a dumb ass or Guru on social media. We, the real people, don’t like you.

 

Day 65

Pony Express Rides Again

mikemjensen Life's Truths, Tough, Vanity Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,ponyexpress

Apparently I chose the wrong anniversary to celebrate when it came to the Pony Express. I marked the 155th anniversary of the mail leaving St. Joseph, Missouri and Google celebrated the 155th Anniversary of those same letters arriving in San Francisco. It’s OK, I’ll enjoy it twice.

I know I eluded to in my post on April 3rd, but today I heard it stated as clear as it could be.

I mentioned that I wonder if I would have had, or if I have, the grit to be a rider. Today I heard it remarked that the biggest reason that the Pony Express Legacy lives on, is because deep down inside, we all wish we had done it.

Yessir, I do. I wish I had done it. I’m afraid I wouldn’t have, but I wish I had. One day, up there, when we’re all sitting around talking of our earth days, I’m going to hunt down one of those riders and listen to his stories and live the experience by proxy.

In Heaven?

I know that some of these fellas may have been a little rough around the edges, but if my God is who I hope he is, Pony Express riders will have a free pass into heaven, just for the hell of it all.

 

Day 50

An Angry Bird

mikemjensen Vanity, Worthless Observations, Writing Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

images (3)Hey Kids,

I’m not exactly angry, but kind of sick of the crap.

I joined Twitter some time ago, several years ago. Long enough that many told me they didn’t “get” Twitter and how weird it was. Since then it has obviously blossomed to incredible numbers of people and incorporated into everyday life.

I did have a motive; I joined Twitter to connect with other writers, publishers, and people in the know of writing. The links and conversations taught me a ton about the publishing world and the world of writing, which are not the same.

I never thought of Twitter as the means to sell tons of books. It was not my advertising scheme. I hoped and still hope to connect with people who might be interested in my work. And I do announce when my work is available or on special but because its part of my life, not as a campaign. People will come along, if it is natural that they do. I’m OK with that. But many people will come along that won’t be “customers”, I’m OK with that too. Bottom line, Twitter was not my personal Buy My Books channel.

google+-logoI slowed and stopped with Twitter and moved more to Google + for similar reasons. But I found it connected me with different groups of people and not so much publishers/editors/writers. I’ve enjoyed it and the people I have met and befriended there.images (2)

I also expanded to Facebook to be more connected to family and family connections.

Today I re-launched, if you will, into Twitter. I saw many people still there that I was happy to see remained. It was like returning home.

I want to connect. I want to meet people who are beyond my normal sphere of influence. Each platform brings a different group and style. I like the different flavors.

Now to what makes me angry- I hate people who see Social Media as their “commercial” time. That because we connected, they are free to unleash their marketing campaign upon me. These people need to be fair warned- the interruption-based ad world is crumbling. We don’t have to put up with anyone. Social media is for us, the people. It’s a wonderful thing and the greatest part about it, is we get to control it.

Marketers need not follow nor apply.

 

Day 8