Dorothy: Who are these losers?

The Business of Life includes… being unabashedly frustrated with my fellow man.

Oy Vey! What a WEEK!

People did we survive the mid-term elections by the hair of our chinny-chin-chins or what?

As a raging independent in Massachusetts I was, as they say in the biz, a wanted commodity.  Subjected to a hellacious amount of election phone calls, drowning in mailing inserts, I often pondered, by the 3rd dinner-time phone call, if I could apply for a restraining order against both major parties.  It was getting a little out of hand..

But it’s over.

And frankly I’m pissed.

P-I-S-S-E-D.

And not the good kind, though I’ve been tempted…

Now I’m not going to miss the calls, the mail or even the fun drive-bys (I totally know that you Scotty Brown ding-dong ditching. )  No I’m am completely bat-shit over the outcome.  The freakin’ people of this state — the country decides it’s legislative spring cleaning and what does Mass do? — nothing.  We voted in the same damn freaks that have been running this state into the ground.  Not a single new person.  State.  Federal.  Bupkus.

I am either convinced that:

• Dead people voted (after all this is the state that Kennedys once ruled;)
• People saw the “D” next to the name reflexively pulled the damn lever. Like a Pavlovian experiment gone wrong.

And now I am starting to see myself as Dorthy in Oz.  A stranger in a strange land.

Ok,  let’s explore this metaphor.  If I’m Dorothy, I’d like you to meet my loser sidekicks: The Cowardly Independents, The Mindless Scarecrow (only if could think for itself,) and The Weak-ass Tin Man (no heart).  I’ve been watching these three bozo generalities vote Democratic from state (Governor and state legislation) to federal (Scott Brown being the exception, but I now think that was a fluke) — for over a decade.  Each victory further solidifying the same agenda and local party-style: more big government, more taxes, more corruption, because as the saying goes “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Oh it does absolutely in MA.

So here I am, standing in my fab ruby shoes and pinafore,  screaming to high-heaven to my three sidekicks “Wake up! There’s no wizard, there’s the same style of DEMOCRAT behind that curtain!”

But what do the trio do?

Oh they are still distracted by all the sparkly stuff: the “Yes we can!” and  the “Hope” and the undercurrent of entitlement for all.  Dude all you’re entitled to is a vote and most of you idiots don’t even do that.  And yes we can go into more debt, and hope doesn’t pay the bill when it’s due.

So now we got The Wizard of four more years of bigger government, more taxes, and no long-term vision.  In this state,  it’s a temporarily “fix it and forget it” mentality.  Mostly forget it.  Forget the growing pension base, the culture of “gonna get me some” government workers and the ever-growing ($108b) debt-level. (I know my friends in Cali are like laughing at $2b, but remember you folks are going down first.)

Oh Jeez, these people get what they deserve. And seriously stop acting surprised that people and businesses are leaving for NH, Texas and other economically conservative parts.

God this home-spun girl (by way of Orange County, CA aka “Reagan Country”) is appalled.  Look I was just as appalled when Newt Gingrich showed up with the “Contract for A New America” — all I thought was the corruption that comes from bloated white guys being in charge of Congress.  We got what we deserved then too.  And we shouldn’t be so surprised either.   This time is no different.

If only I could bitch slap’em, like Cher in the classic Moonstruck.

God how much would I love to walk up to the Cowardly Independent, The Weak Tin Man, and the Weak-Ass Scare Crow, smack them and scream “Snap outta of it!”

And have it work.

The Social Network - out in theaters now.

The Business of Life includes… questioning technology.

Social Media is everywhere and pretty much everyone is doing it. My nieces, my mother-in-law, my friends all Facebook. In fact Facebook is so prevalent that a movie about it’s creation debut #1 this past weekend. Add in Twitter and Foursquare and Social Media has woven itself into the fabric of our everyday life.

It’s fun. It’s commercial. It’s social. It’s chaotic. It’s sharing. It’s addicting. It’s dangerous. It’s all that and less, and so much more at the same time.

If that makes sense.

I’ve talked about online privacy and security before. The recent suicide of Rutgers University Tyler Clementi caused me to circle back to online “security” from a different angle.

“Jumping off the gw bridge sorry”

That’s it. Tyler’s last words.

On Facebook.

Personal connections. How deep are they –now that we include Facebook (et al.) as  one of the primary ways to foster, cultivate and keep these connections? We post our highs, our lows, pictures of our children, we announce our marriages, new jobs, new homes– the connections we’re building via social media are worth so very much, or so very little, depending how much emotional energy we’ve expended building them.

And not all “friends” are created equal. We know that. But in-person it is easier to gauge the depth of these connections. Online connections gives us the ability to have 500 friends or followers if we wanted, but also the distance to not really know any. This distance also gives us the false sense of security- we’re more apt to post something online than share it in-person. So at the same time we feel both safe but are more exposed. Closer to more people but not as close.

I just wonder, at what point, does one feel either so comfortable, so safe or so alone that Facebook seems the only place to post your departing words?

My sincerest condolences go to the family and friends of Tyler Clementi- while we’ve lost the potential of what he could have been –they’ve lost the son, brother and friend that he was.

Working out can mean injuries.

Now, I’ve also been dealing with stress (the husbands company was sold, a process that took a couple of really, really stressful months,) so that could also be a contributing factor to my back issues. Friday found me cancelling my training with Laura the super trainer, which I hate doing, and making a beeline to a chiropractor.

Since college volleyball, I’ve dealt with back issues, sometimes chronically, but this was new and different pain, traveling up and down my back and neck, and shooting down my legs.

Fun.

A couple of X-rays, and back I was in Saturday morning to listen to the diagnoses: muscle spasms in my right side, my left hip is higher than my right, my spine, rather than straight, veers to the left. The good news is that  it all can be treated quickly. The tricky wicket is my neck. Seems rather than a natural curve, it is straight up and down, and actually starting to curving the wrong way.

And some arthritis is starting to show.

Great, just great.

So off I will be going to the chiropractor at least 3x a week for the next few weeks to get this back and neck treated. I don’t know how I’m going to swing this with three kids, but then again, the business of life is messy isn’t it?

Now for a dose of honesty.

I don’t know what my numbers will be looking like this week, first off I’ll be measuring myself (my official “measurer” is off on a business trip,) and I’ve done less cardio the past couple of weeks to rest my back in hopes that it will heal itself. Another wrinkle: I’ve been babying myself with food and drink. Not proud of it for sure, but I’ve had more wine and pizza than I should have and just tonight (Sunday) tucked into some ice cream.  Looks like I soothe myself with food.  I’m totally not proud of it, but there you have it. Good news is, the wine and ice cream have made me feel a whole lot better, but probably not after tomorrow’s numbers roll in!

So my numbers might go up. I take them bright and early tomorrow AM.

So as of 8/09/10 :

• Bust: 36.5 inches (No change from last week, -2.5″ total)
• Waist: 30.0 inches (+0.50″,  -3.0″ total
• Hips: 37.75 inches (-0.25″, -4.75″ total, Still losing)
• Upper arm: 11.0inches (+0.50″, -1.00″ total)
• Upper thigh: 22.0 inches (+1.0, -3.75″ total)

Total inches lost this week:  , total 15.00″ since starting. Oh jeez I gained. Well I expected as much, didn’t I?  Put treats in, get treated to bigger numbers. Hopefully, now that I am more aware of my desire to soothe my pain with food, the less ice cream and pizza will go go in!

Read all about the 90 day health challenge I’m doing, you can read all about it HERE.

Check out my partners in the Go Betsy Go! 90 Day Challenge:

I’m off today to a chiropractor in hope that they can manipulate it back to some form in which I can work out from.

I don’t know if I overworked it, or did some wrong move and just ticked it off — but it’s definitely unhappy. I do know that when this happens you don’t want to wait 3 weeks like I have been doing to see if it gets better. Even if you cut down on your cardio.

It doesn’t.

So look to Monday for an update.

Until then, keep on keepin’ on.

-Betsy

8 years ago, this chica got the guy. Legally.

It hasn’t been the easiest 8 years.

By our first anniversary we had 2 kids, a dog and had to move to the ‘burbs. We spent our first anniversary having a quick lunch (and glass of wine) while the in-laws babysat the 2 month-old twins.

My husband told me that if we kept up at that pace, he won’t survive to the second.

Good news- He survived.

Since then we added a third. Started a company. Folded a company. Lost a grandparent. Made 8 trips to the hospital. Had 3 surgeries. Two sets of stitches. 4 cars. 1 accident. Numerous fights. Two births. A broken leg. One concussion. House-broke one dog. Moved. A weird viral heart inflammation thingy that scared the bejesus out of me. Potty trained 3 kids. A couple of jobs. Almost lost a kid (both literally and figuratively) more times that I care to actually figure out. Laughed more than cried. Cried more than you’d think. Watch a parent battle cancer (and still do- go Dad!) Weathered/ing a major economic storm.

It’s not sweetness and light, nor is it picture perfect.

I honestly think the perfect  life-partner is really about  finding the perfect foxhole partner.

Who watches your back, who celebrates the victories and who do you seek shelter with from desperate and tumultuous times? Who worries for you and cares for you when you’re too overwhelmed to take care of yourself? Who would you kill for and know, with utmost confidence, know would kill for you? Who would go without, so you may have some small joy? Who roots for you with most have given up and gone home? Who is your biggest fan?

It’s your foxhole partner. While the war of life may rage above you, you know that that one person next to you- you’re going to make it. Without them, you won’t. You care about, rely, and protect this person with all you have at your disposal- body, mind and soul.

8 years ago, 252,288,000 seconds ago this chica got that guy.

Her foxhole partner.

Thanks to mnijm.com for the swell pix.

Boomtown Rats (pure 80′s New Wave band) “Up All Night” is playing through my head.

‘Cause I was UP ALL NIGHT.

Well not all night… that would be doable if you knew it was going to happen.

Seems Baby Lug, the 3 y.o. was just not up for sleepin’. First it was late to bed (10pm) with endless drinks of water, bathroom breaks and “Mama I neeeeeeeeed youuuuuuuuu!” Finally some sleep. But no work done for the Mama. No cardio. No emails. No posts or proposals.

Then the night terrors. Monsters. Lurking. Hugs all around. Lights dimmed up (if that makes sense.)

AM sleep interrupted by his half-asleep moaning- he’s kicked the covers off and and is chilly. But asleep.

More AM fun- he’s up and now snuggles in my bed. Orders me to hold him. By now, if he ordered me to do the cha-cha, jiggling like Charo (another 80′s Love Boat icon) I would have readily complied.

Then he starts to snore.

Up with the twins. School day. Baby Lug has to be woken. Now he’s just plain MEAN, in a fun ornery-kind of way.

Bound to show up at 9:30AM for training with super fab trainer Laura from Hingham’s Bodyscapes Fitness today, but feeling like something the cat drug in and peed on. My sidekick is still playing by Union rules in a bankrupt industry.

Ah. Good times.

I just wanted to let you know I’ll be posting a wee bit later…

(image courtesy of GovGab- the US Gov't blog. I kid you not.)

UPDATED: I just got a sweet new email address. Hooray. So you can now connect with me at betsy {at} theliquidbetsy {dot} com.

.

.

So I’ve been working to make TheLiquidBetsy more… well.. connectible.

Not everyone does an RSS feed.

Not everyone wants to enter in “http://theliquidbetsy.com” or Google or bookmark.

I’m trying to be accommodating, so all the nice people that read TLB (or those that don’t even know they want to read it but can be turned into rabid fans) can get it with the least amount of effort.

See …I knew you’d like that.

Lazy-ass efficiency. I live for it.

I’ve set up a Facebook fanpage HERE.

I’ve also set up a feed from Networkedblogs on Facebook HERE.

Now I’ve made FB my bitch, (or rather the other way around) I wanted make myself available.

I love new things, researching, trying, writing and reviewing. That’s my shtick. So if you have interesting things you think I would like or should know about send them my way. Many thanks to those who already have been sending their fab finds.

The address is: betsy {at} theliquidbetsy {dot} com.

And, as always you can reach me on Twitter.

Cheers.

TheBetsy

Is it just reserved for the person that commits an evil action or can it belong to those who do nothing to help?

You decide.

Alfredo Tale-Yax. 31 Homeless in NYC.

Stabbed several times in the chest as he came to the aid of a woman being attacked during the early morning commute.

He collapsed on a New York City sidewalk.

Of the dozens of people that walked by in the early AM, no one stopped to help him.

Not one.

One did snap a photo though. With his camera-phone.

He died. Alone. On the sidewalk.

He died because he helped.

He died because he was stabbed.

He died because not one of dozen people cared enough to hit 3 digits and press SEND.

Which one is right?

Again, it begs, what is evil?

The active or the passive actions that lead to this?

Which one?

Alfredo Tale-Yax. 31 Died Homeless on NYC sidewalk.

(Many thanks to Jessica Gottlieb, for the original post on this. I think she right on with her last sentence: “Get mad.” I am. Are you?)

This post was initially called “Hey Disney, WTF?” And “Disney Redemption” but I cut somewhere in the middle and compromised. Sometimes after the worst experiences hit their peaks, comes the best.

First a confession. I never thought of myself as a “Disney” person.

Having grown up 20 mins outside of Disneyland, I was brought up on a pretty steady diet of Walty-D: from taking family friends and guests there to school trips- to TheBetsy, Disney was not a biggie. Not a biggie at all.

In college I did make a trip to Florida’s bigger version, but still I was left with the same feeling: contrived, expensive, not worth it. Long lines, expensive food and bad ice cream.

Then I had kids.

Having completing my first trip to Disney with children I can tell you I am reformed.

Redeemed.

Rejoiced.

Can I hear a “Praise Goofy!”

Amen.

Disney does destination vacations, especially with kids, better than any other alternative. They are so big, yet detail oriented, they can accommodate any size, shape, creed, allergy, handicap and do it with ease.

We started off, DisneyW and I on some very shaky ground. Very. I was not the happiest of campers in the happiest place on Earth. Far from it.

The Magic Express Can Kiss My Ass. The bus that is supposed to pick you up, was 2 hours late. With excited little kids, 2 + hours in line is not cool. Not cool at all. As for the excuse of being “slammed” by the zaftig cast member in charge. I didn’t buy it (and still don’t.) We book through computers, and through computers you know when we arrive, and in what numbers. Heads up Zaftig lady, your foot soldiers need better info, as lame excuses like this only entice the mob. Which you did. Nice. Exasperated parents and tired, hungry kids banding together to fight you- that’s what you got. And not a good first impression of Disney World.

Disney dining Reservations Can Bite Me. Then changing my reservation, because I was going to miss our 5:15pm Biergarten (Oompah bands! And 2 1/2 hours later, Beer! Beer! What Clean diet?) as our not-so-Magical-definitely-not-Express was 2+ hours late was painful. After being informed that my reservations will be held for 20 mins, which after I walked the “reservationist” through no-way-in-hell-we’re-gonna-make-this breakdown I still got… bumpkus. “Oh but they’ll hold your reservations for 20 mins.”

(WTF?)- I invoked the “supervisor” request. Unable to contact the Biergarten directly (!) to tell them to hold my reservation for the 40 min, which blows my mind so entirely. Disney dining can’t call the restaurants DIRECTLY. This is not good. I was put on hold and then was shuttle-cocked to what I can only guess is Disney dining reservation rescue. They managed to call ahead and move the reservation. This took the entire bus ride, or 40 mins, to complete.

Oh and I missed the twins finally figuring out, with squeals of delight natch, that we had surprised them with their first trip to Disney.

Nice.

My Keys Don’t Work. Nice.

After the Not-s0-Magic Not-Really-Express dropped us off at the beautiful Disney Yacht Club (it really is gorgeous) our keys didn’t work. Really. At this point I was thinking short of a heathen sacrifice we were doomed. Disney and I were not meant to be. I also did a revolutionary thing: I attempted to file a formal complaint through the front desk manager.

Enough is freakin’ enough.

The Redemption of Disney. That “formal complaint” was my first glimpse at the Disney World Business Machine wheels in motion. First the apologies (to be expected,) Then came 10 Fast Passes (which I had little idea of the power of “the Fast Pass,” but soon did) delivered to our room and, from what I glean, a special notation in our file that said “Don’t mess with these people” because after this we got special treatment. Or so I would like to think. Because after that, our trip was great. I also say, the delivered cookie and milk tray they delivered to our room, with chocolate “tuxedoed” strawberries – was a nice touch.

Each instance those first few hours (the bus, dinning reservations, uncut keys) was unique and unrelated, but to me, the new Disney visitor, it the prelude to the whole. By the time the door key wouldn’t work for the 5th time, I was expecting more delays, constraints, disappointment in the days to come. That front desk clerk effectively nipped that in the bud.

They made amends, they made my family and I more than whole and they did it in a very timely manner. From my past with crisis communications, that is exactly how it’s suppose to be done.

Disney redeems, I am reformed.

Praise Goofy!

Early February, Google debuted Buzz.

As most tech-tweet-Socially Media-inclined people, I signed up for Google Buzz when it first came out.

You may or may not heard of Buzz- it a social media tool similar to Twitter and Facebook, but attached to the Google Gmail account. Some sources reported it as a potential Twitter Killer.

I had my reservations. About using it. About it being the Twitter Killer. Now, over two months later- I asked the question:

What IS the Buzz with Google Buzz?

First, let me say my Google account isn’t my primary email account. It’s more like a secondary or tertiary one.

Let me also say that I have issues with  online privacy, especially with social media. I like separation between church and state in SM- for example, I keep my Facebook account for friends/family, LinkedIn is for business and nary the two shall meet. More personal items, such as pictures of my children stay on FB. I rarely tweet about the kids, never by name. I do have FB connected to Twitter via Tweetdeck, but at my discretion. I also like my email a few steps removed. FB, Twitter, LinkedIn lead you to this blog, where you can find my gmail account if you look.

For me, Google’s Buzz got a little to close by flattening the levels from SM to personal email and profile. So after initially setting it up, I backed off. Outside the very basic (picture and a brief profile) not much is going on with my Buzz account. I follow no one, I’m not getting the iPhone App. It’s been relegated to a distant 5th position after my Friendfeed, which means I barely use it.

Curious to other’s experiences, I tweeted (my primary SM choice) to my follower base and DM’d few selected SM pros and amateurs alike.

For the most part, I found the buzz wanting:

I do not use Google Buzz. Maybe later, but not now.

I have used it for about 3 seconds. Over on my Gmail account but until they roll it out to Google Apps I won’t touch it.

turned off buzz the day it was announced

I’m not that into it, I feel like Google is trying too hard

No one I know. It’s going to take something big to move it along

Yep — a bad time because it looked like social media gone wrong — and looked like spam. I think it was more the feel that made it spammy. Not the interface, but how the messages were being sent around and stuff

And this one from  @chrisbrogan

@thebetsy – you can say that I’m only dipping my toes in and that @louisgray is the current reigning champion of it. : )

Hmm. Louis Gray. Of LouisGray.com. His tag line is “A Silicon Valley Blog for early adopters, technology geeks, RSS addicts, and Mac freaks.” Plus he’s the reigning champion… how could I resist?

One tweet, two tweet, One SXSW, and week or two later Louis and I matched up. He was kind enough to answer all my questions, as there was quite a few…

TheBetsy: Buzz was supposed to be the great Twitter-killer, but since the fan-fare I really haven’t heard much about it. I’m trying to get the Buzz on Buzz. What’s the real story. Why isn’t it working… or perhaps it is?

Louis: Google Buzz was never intended to be a Twitter killer. It’s not how the Buzz team positioned it, and should never have been seen that way by any reputable writers. Those who saw it as a full-on assault against Twitter or Facebook were likely doing so for the benefit of pageviews and drama. That said, it does offer the best real opportunity for Google to compete with somebody like Facebook, in terms of aggregation and social sharing, but it is not yet architected to replace either service.

Buzz is very new, so much of the polish we have come to expect from more mature services is not yet there. Because of this, it lacks filters, and it can be, for some, tough to manage connections and updates well. I expect better tools to come in time, and hope they do before those using the service get fatigued and opt out.

Personally, I found it tied me too close to my gmail account, I like a separation of church and state, FB is for friends & family (i have pixs of the kids up there,)  while Twitter, Friendfeed and my blog provide about the right distance.

You’re not the only person who felt the tie-in between Buzz and GMail was not ideal. I recognize this gave Google the best opportunity to start with a built-in social network, and not require starting from scratch. But what’s best for the company isn’t always the best for you. I have taken a fairly open and public approach to my sharing, and have not hesitated to share personal and family updates on sites like Facebook, FriendFeed and Twitter, and don’t expect I will act too much different in Buzz, depending on what the community expects.

What is your experience thus far? Chris [Brogan] says you live on it.

Chris is a very nice guy. I am not living on Buzz, but it is a big part of my social activity online. Every day, I share about 20 items, via Google Reader, to Buzz, and those shares gain activity. If the conversations are good, I participate, and I do check in multiple times a day. That doesn’t mean I live on it, but I can devote about 5 minutes [to] an hour to it a few times a day, and keep engaged.

Do you use it for professional, personal reasons or both?

The shares and engagement I make to Buzz are personal, but done in a professional manner, if that makes sense. I also manage one client’s Buzz activity and expect to do more with new clients.

What are the benefits versus what you used prior? (please tell me what you used)

As a long-time FriendFeed user (going back to late 2007), the benefits of aggregation, likes and comments have long been understood. To have them in a new place with Buzz made sense immediately. As FriendFeed’s community is fading following the Facebook acquisition, Buzz offered a new opportunity to start again with similar tools with a community that has a chance to grow. Buzz lacks a number of the elegant features that FriendFeed was known for, but it also leverages a lot of open standards which make me feel like putting my activity here is the right thing to do.

Are you finding others are using it more or less? Is there a niche that really has adopted it?

Buzz, today, is for the early adopters. The same early adopters I saw participating in FriendFeed and Twitter early are participating with me on Buzz. Thanks to my cultivating a large community of connections in Google Reader already, moving them to engage with me on Buzz was very smooth. I find some people like Buzz a lot and others are just dabbling, just like with most networks.

Are using it in lieu of Twitter/Friendfeed/et al?

I don’t think I have decreased my use of Twitter or FriendFeed much since the launch of Buzz, but as FriendFeed seems to be fading, conversations are taking place in Buzz that might previously have taken place in FriendFeed. Often, those are even with the same people who would have participated there.

Being so close to Google’s home, do you get a sense of how Google sees their performance and adoption of Buzz?

Proximity usually doesn’t give insight into companies, even if you live next door. The best gauge of how the team is interpreting Buzz are their public comments. I think they were surprised to the negative reactions they received at first, and the massive reactions to what I believed were minor privacy goofs. Conversations I have had with people there show they think they need to iterate more quickly, but they are working hard to not introduce latency for their GMail users and want to continue on their path of using Buzz as a testbed for all these new open standards.

Anything else you think  I’m missing?

Many products, especially those from well-respected companies like Apple and Google, have the ability to get users and reporters into a froth about what “could be”, even if it strays from reality. For every post that says Buzz is the end of the world or something completely amazing, it’s more likely somewhere in the middle. Even in this world when we all seem to have shorter attention spans, and get drawn to the newest shiny objects, we should be patient. I hope Google can deliver something that is useful, but open and discoverable, and not cede the market to Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you so much in advance, I know you’re busy and really appreciate your time.

You’re welcome. Sorry for the delays!

.

.

It is interesting to note that around 12 days after Buzz’s debut, Bradley Horowitz, Google’s VP of product management pretty much dovetailed what Louis was saying when he told eWEEK that “Google Buzz is not intended as a challenge to Facebook or Twitter, but as a unique complement to those Web services.”

When eWEEK asked about Buzz as a Twitter/Facebook killer Horowitz responded:

“Absolutely not. Per what I just said, this is creating a new category of communication. It’s filling a niche, which is not currently met in the market. I think something unique is happening on Buzz that will continue to evolve. It’s hard to create a trend line or extrapolate too much from six days of use, but certainly conversation and the conversational Web is a place where Buzz has excelled. I think it is unique and offers a compelling, interesting experience.”

So what’s the story here, is there any Buzz or not?

I think I’m going to have to go with Louis. Not the big splash a lot of people thought it would be, and not a total miss. It’s somewhere in the middle.

I don’t ever count Google out. Buzz 1.0 is not Buzz 4.0. Better features, better integration, more robust and allowing for better conversations can change everyone’s mind. But for now, Buzz  is the playground of the early adopters.