3-14-15 Hodgepodge

Reasons to Avoid Facebook

I have many issues with the anti-capitalist political views of open source guru Richard Stallman, but his litany of cowardice and creepiness on the part of Facebook is certainly food for thought. Here is my "favorite":

How did Mari Sherkin [married for over twenty-five years -- ed] end up on a dating site unwillingly? Facebook opens browser windows showing other companies' sites, which trick Facebook useds [sic] into agreeing to let those companies get their personal data from Facebook. [link in original]

Again, I don't agree with everything Stallman says, but I think people would generally do well to pay more attention to how their personal information is being used.

Weekend Reading

"Emotions and commands do not mix." -- Michael Hurd, in "Affirmations: Self-Deceit or Inspiration?" at The Delaware Wave

"[T]here's nothing wrong with any of us that we cannot change, as long as we're willing to examine our behaviors and emotions rationally and objectively." -- Michael Hurd, in "So You Want to Be a Therapist" at The Delaware Coast Press

My Two Cents

In the first column linked above, Michael Hurd speaks of a practice of considering positives of the day that is more down-to-earth than the Pollyanna-ish practice of context-less affirmation:

Healthy thinking and a truly positive outlook come from working at it day in and day out. I often suggest to clients that they review each day for about 15 minutes, then write down what they liked about the day and what they liked about themselves. Then note where there might have been improvement. Be objective and honest. Questions like, "What am I proud of myself for doing today?" and "Where did I exhibit my best self, or where did I let myself down?" can be powerful in helping to ground you in reality.

This brings to mind a recent post by Jean Moroney on "the evening review":

The evening is the perfect time to reflect on how the day went. Did you do what I intended to do? If so, what made that possible? If not, why not? How would I plan differently another day?

Hurd and Moroney have different emphases, but it is clear that taking some time to reflect in the evening is a good habit to develop or improve upon. Be sure to read the thoughts of both.

The New Cinderella

Based on my daughter's love of the fairy tale and this review by Scott Holleran, I have something to look forward to sharing with her when she's a little bit older:

"Just because it's done doesn't mean it's what should be done," the title character says to the prince in a line that reverberates throughout Cinderella and its couplings and, despite overbearing computer enhancement and absurdism in an otherwise innocuously kind fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter), Kenneth Branagh's larger than life psychological fairy tale stays true to its heroic theme. As it traverses from family bliss to parental poverty and grand romanticism, Cinderella ultimately arrives at an exciting and original destination, where the prince and rescued girl are truly in love with one another as equals. Dispensing with fantasy, seeing themselves as they are and literally reflecting upon themselves in mirrors, this time the man and woman align chosen paths with reality while diverging from tradition. With a willingness to judge what is evil, marvel at what's good and innocent, and indulge in great moviemaking, Cinderella powerfully depicts the classic tale as young lovers' courtship which begins with taking stock of oneself.

If it's on a screen, though, it has to be cartoons so far.

-- CAV