Month: February 2009

Facebook privacy

Now there’s an oxymoron – Facebook privacy. Some people think of Facebook as a place to be seen and that one can never have too many friends. But thousands and thousands? Oh come on. I’m a late-comer to Facebook, having joined about a year ago. I enjoy it, and lately have been amazed at the number of my peers who are coming online. We’re having a grand time.

Always cautious about my privacy and reputation, I went through all the profile/privacy options and so far they seem to be working for me. At least no one has complained. ‘Course maybe because they can’t find me, although I’m getting plenty of communications. I especially like the Friend List option – that way I can limit exposure of some things to certain groups. And I’m pretty sure that my business colleagues will say thank you for not inflicting my dog pictures on them (sorry family Friends).

There’s a pretty great guide to Facebook privacy settings on the All Facebook blog – 10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know. I thought I’d gotten all the privacy I needed, but I found a few settings I missed.

Happy 200th, Mendelssohn

By now it’s looking like I have a music theme going, by the looks of my last 3 posts. It’s certainly evidence of my eclectic, if not schizophrenic, taste in music. One thing is certain, my collection of CDs and music on my Zen is anything but boring.

Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Felix Mendelssohn. He was only 38 years old when he died, and wrote prolifically for almost every medium of performance from orchestra to opera.

Happy Birthday, Mendelssohn!

The Day the Music Died (not)

50 years ago today a plane crash in Clear Lake Iowa took the lives of 3 rockers who had barely started their careers. Richie Valens was just 17 and had been in the business less than a year. Buddy Holly was 23, had been successful only about 2 years, and yet his music had a great influence on the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. The Big Bopper, the oldster of the trio at 28, was a DJ, and “Chantilly Lace” was his only really successful record, although I get a kick out of “The Big Bopper’s Wedding.”

I love rock-and-roll (hey, that’s another great song). A colleague of mine and her daughter went to Clear Lake last weekend. I listened to every bit of the Saturday night Sirius radio broadcast from the Surf Ballroom (where the final concert took place) with Cousin Brucie Morrow. I got goosebumps hearing all the interviews with those who were there.

Rock-and-roll nuts (like me) know every detail of that fateful night in Clear Lake Iowa. I even know every word of Don McLean’s “American Pie,” a poetic retelling of (as the song says) “the day the music died.” Others not so R & R crazy, may not know why today’s 50th anniversary observance is legendary, but I’ll bet they’ve heard Chantilly Lace (Bopper), La Bamba (Valenz), and That’ll Be the Day (Holly).