Facebook Passwords: Employers and Schools Demand Access; Facebook and Senators Respond - ABC News

Facebook Passwords: Employers and Schools Demand Access; Facebook and Senators Respond - ABC News

Somewhat fitting, this comes to you a mere day after a release by the unnamed company that I work for.

I say unnamed to protect both myself and this unnamed company.

I must also note that my opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the unnamed company I employed by, nor am I a representative of said unnamed company.

So I went into work yesterday and there is an announcement waiting for us on the company's HR weekly release.   The announcement that caught my attention was a section dedicated to social media networking.  The company goes through a spiel about being careful what you post (duh), but also about the above disclaimer.  I will make mine universal.  I go to work and I come home.  Outside of work I do not represent whatever company I work for, I represent myself.  I would kindly respect that unnamed corporations should also refrain from representing me outside of said working hours.  I want it noted that their opinions and beliefs do not necessarily reflect those of this writer.

The announcement encourages you to "like" them on Facebook. 

As I am a firm believer of separating my private life from work life, I shall decline.

I wonder if said unnamed company had looked into the bad publicity recently in the news regarding employers attempting to either demand passwords, or imply that you have to grant them access to your private Facebook account in some way or other.

So, to said unnamed company, should you search my name on Google and find this blog, or should one of my backstabbing coworkers turn this link over to you, please understand that as a Free and Independent person, I refuse to represent you outside of working hours.  Also, please note that my opinions do not reflect your opinions and I prefer it that way as my opinions are my own.  Please stop trying to control or gain access to parts of my life that have no relevance or bearing on work schedules or hours.

And for corporate tools everywhere who tolerate these actions, shame on you.  People throughout our history have fought and died to ensure we keep our freedoms.  Oh, sure, we're not going to get arrested for saying what we want about the places where we work, but your opinions and independent thoughts or your desire to publicly share those thoughts and opinions should not have weight over your job unless you are sharing said thoughts on company time. 

Remember, "All Tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."  - Thomas Jefferson.

"This is how the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper." - T.S. Eliot.

What will you do?  Whatever they tell you?  Or will you do what you think is right?  Are you a corporate tool?  Or are you an individual who demands her privacy?

Gym Antics

My life is less than exciting, I will have to admit.  My most entertain part of the day lately has been the gym.

Now, don't get me wrong, I do not have a gym mom body.  I have a desk job body and I'm hoping to keep it from getting worse.  I sit on my arse all day tip-tapping on my computer listening to the world's misery.  It's a cheery place to be, so I guess the gym is far more entertaining by comparison.

Anywho.  Here are some things that amuse me in an annoying fashion. 

First of all is the male ideology that the weights section of the gym is man-town.  There is a forty something chauvinist out there in Webster, Massachusetts, who was recently shown I could do whatever he could do on those damned weights, so any who harbor this mentality can shove it.  Mind you, I had difficulty walking for a few days after my little show, but it was worth it.  Totally.

Also, and this is to my traitorous female coparts - what the hell, guys?  Why aren't you in the weight section?  You know as well as I do that we are not going to tone up by running on the elliptical or treadmill alone.  Stop letting the weight section and male wannabe body builders intimidate you.  Pump it!

Okay, and while I'm on it, what's with locker room modesty?  Does anyone else out there think that's weird?  I went to high school, and personally recall hordes of girls changing clothes in front of each other without one thought about it.  Since when did we become so modest?  Is it homophobia?  Is there a freakish new phobia about potential lesbians?  I gotta tell you, we all have the same packages, just different wrappings, so I don't get the big deal with all this locker room modesty.  I am not going to cramp myself in a bathroom stall to change my pants and my top and my shoes.  It's just not happening.  You don't like my flab, turn around.  I'm a mom, I have no modesty.  I've had students and strangers parade at the foot of a hospital bed staring at my cervix while writhing in pain.  You think I care if my bra color makes you uncomfortable?  Man up, ladies.

So here's what society says we should do at a gym:

Yeah, we've turned the gym into a night club, with hoodies.
Also, was anyone else fixated on the girl with the gray hoodie?  Ummm... Duct tape, I'm thinking.  I hear it fixes everything.  That needs some serious help.  Or at least some more support.  And this is why we don't post such videos, because these are the thoughts people like me have.

That being said, here's what I'd like to see at my gym:

Just an idea.  I mean, seriously, we could use some punching bags, don't you think?  ;)

You know you love me.

The Definition of Madness

A conversation in the car on the way to the Elementary Art Show

Kaitlyn - "You know we have another neighbor, Mom."

Me - "Who?"

Kaitlyn - "You know, our other neighbor."

Me - "Sweetie, we have lots of neighbors, which one?"

Kaitlyn - "You know, the guy.  I met him when I was three."

Me - "Yup, now I know who you're talking about.  He was there with the girl with the hair at the place."

Kaitlyn - "There wasn't a girl there.  Just the guy.  You know, our other neighbor."

Me - "Honey, I was being facetious.  You have to be more descriptive."

(You have to imagine Patrick driving down the road while giggling at this conversation.)

Kaitlyn - "You know, the guy I met when I was three."

Patrick - "My earliest memory was when I was five.  It was the blizzard of 1978."

Me - "I was four.  I fell in the neighbor's pond."

Kaitlyn - "Mom, our neighbor doesn't have a pond.  Don't you remember, I met him when I was three?"