My Blog

Curious. FB vs Tribe, and security/privacy issues???

Hsu — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:56:39 GMT

Hey all! Long time no see/post here. As with most of you, I've changed my addiction from tribe to facebook. I lke it there. Easier to connect, quickly, and in 'real time' (w/ bill maher ;-P What I like better here, are the "special interest groups." What I like better there, is the greater number of connections, and the seriously-now, real time discussion and all. But w/ all the recent issues of 'identity theft', 'account hijacking' or whatever other kind of privacy invasion you care to call it..... I wonder. Which site *really* is better now? This place (at least used to) crash all the time. Haven't spent enough time here lately to know if this is still tru. But, just in checking into my own privacy, this place seems less protected (in terms of who can see your posts and all - across the world). Whereas fb seems to be really good about keeping things to "friends only". Uh, for the most part - aside from the links and all that seem to be able to lead to acct hijacking and all. Just curious if any of you, who I'm connected to here and there, have any opinions on this. As y'all know, I am basically w/o a clue when it comes to computers and all. So I'm looking for honest, direct feedback here. OPINIONS WELCOME, and ENCOURAGED!!!!! Sonrisas!

What Happened??? [warning - political content! ;-)]

Hsu — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:42:12 GMT

I've lived in California for all but one of the elections I've been able to vote in. As such, I've always felt that this primary system SUCKS!! Why? Because California's primary was always held, like in June, or something! LONG after the candidates have been essentially, if not actually, determined. So - what the hell did my vote matter??? For sure, all of the "interesting" candidates would be out of the race by the time I got a chance to vote.... FINALLY, this year, California's primary got moved to the "big day" of Super Tuesday! I've been **so excited** about the notion that I could *finally* vote for who I wanted to, rather than the least of the evils remaining. AND - that my vote would maybe, finally, matter in determining who would become a nominee.... [aside from my own personal screw-up wrt registration, described below - D'oh!] So, I just watched the Democratic debate on tv. There were only 2 candidates remaining!!! What the hell???!! I knew people had been dropping out (why did Edwards quit so early?). But, I didn't realize the field was **already** narrowed down to just two. So much for all of my excitement described above. :-( How many primaries/caucuses have there been so far? Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Michigan and Florida which didn't count. Maybe I'm missing one here. But - to have *already* lost the rest of the candidates??!!! There were like 8 to begin with, I think.... This is pathetic! What's the point of these primaries, if nobody's votes count for anything? Unless you live in Iowa or New Hampshire, that is. Such populated states those are. And SO representative of this diverse country of ours..... I guess I had missed the details, because the candidate who I've liked all along (and in this case, I *really* like!!), is still in the race! That would be Barack Obama. I love his grassroots and inspirational nature. I love his positions on just about everything I've heard. And, anyone who knows me, knows that I've *never* been a fan of the Clintons! ;-) It *was* really cool to see him and Hillary in this debate, one being the definitive nominee. Meaning that, for sure it'll either be a woman or a black man. That's pretty damn cool! And, I loved their openness to the "dream ticket" idea of the two of them together. I just really prefer, personally, that it be Obama as the leader. Never did like Bill, and I don't believe that he'd be sufficiently out-of-the-picture if she were elected. Even though I actually do kinda like most of what she says, otherwise. Now, the thing is, I don't even know if I'm gonna be able to vote, nor if my vote will count!! I failed to re-register when I moved from my old apartment. I figured, I could just go back there to vote when the time came.... Hopefully they'll still have my registration!!! But, more importantly, I keep forgetting about this damn "closed primary" system that we have here. Arg - I HATE this whole primary set-up!!! In all honesty, I don't really subscribe to either of the republocrats. So, I'm registered as a libertarian. Crap! I keep forgetting that you *have* to register as one of the stupid parties in order to vote for them!!! Last time, I put my vote in as a write-in. Don't know if it counted or not, but hoped it did. So, it looks like that's what I'll be doing again. Idiot me!! Should have just re-registered, and *as a Democrat*!!! So if you, or anybody you know, are undecided in this election - and are registered as a Democrat.... Will you please vote for Obama for me, to make sure that my screwed-up vote gets counted?!!! ;-) :-) :-) hee hee hee..... :-)

Where am I, again???

Hsu — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 08:28:49 GMT

Did I somehow hyperspace back to my days in South Central LA without realizing it??? Here, I thought I was living in Alameda. One of the nicer, overall, cities that I've lived in (in my adult life, that is), to be quite honest!!! Although, I've picked a few doozies: Santa Ana (the "ghetto" of Orange County), Oakland, South Central LA (right where the riots were), etc!! So, being across the street from the beach on the bay, for cheaper rent than in Oakland (huh??) seems pretty darn nice to me!!! Uh, flashback tonight.....!! So THIS is what dem war veterans talk about..... 5 shots ring out from just outside my patio door. Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Then, I *swear* I could hear one of the bullets zooming past my window...... Pppsssssseeeewwwwwww.............. It was as if it was the first bullet had just gotten here and had slowed down enough to reach the sound barrier in speed (or however the physics would work out. Obviously I don't know a damn thing about shooting!!! :-) But I DO know what I heard!!! Shock set in. Did this really just happen? Here, of all places??!!! In the motel parking lot that I routinely walk through, at all hours of the night...??? And, do I have to interrupt watching Bill Maher to go out on my balcony to investigate this???!! (the most important question!!! ;-) So, I did. (already saw the first episode! ;-) Heard people yelling and screaming, in the back parking lot, but walking towards the street. Seriously, like in agony (as if someone really got shot, but in my back lot!!!). Lots of "fuck this or that" type stuff also started being shouted. Suddenly, an all-out argument started seeming to happen. Damn, this was sounding *just* like the street I lived on, my 1st year of grad school, when there were 2 rivalling gangs on the street!!! I mean, at first the yelling sounded like, "shit, our friend's been shot!" But, I heard it evolve to a war of "fuck-you's" between - well, I guess 2 "groups" or something. But I couldn't actually *see* what was going down (trees in the way, and ultimately part of a building, as they took this out to the street). While i was out there (on my balcony, lurking in the dark), I also started hearing sirens from all around. Saw one arrive pretty quickly. Soon it sounded like I was surrounded by them. Different types. Based on the first arrival, there was clearly at least 1, mabe 2, more cops on the way. Sounded like a fire truck/paramedic perhaps ambulance on the way, too. Sounded like they may have left about 15 minutes later. The rest of the circus seemed to shut down about an hour and 15 - 30 minutes later. Although Kumo is still growling every now and again as he hears more voices outside. (I quickly "locked" him inside by closing the screen door, as all of this started going down!! I'd rather a stray bullet hit me than him!!! ;-) Whew!! And who said Alameda was dull??!!! ;-) Oh, and this doesn't even mention the huge fire here a couple of weeks ago, where the helicoptors awoke me at like 3AM!! I could see it from here, found it on the news, and as soon as they named the place, I knew exactly where/what it was!! It was someplace I drive by every time I drive (drove) to the freeway!!!!! Happenin' town, 'eh?!!! ;-) Or, did I somehow get hyperspaced back to LA???

A little help from my friends???

Hsu — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 23:15:22 GMT

I have a great opportunity to go to Earthdance, for free!, to work for the Rainforest Action Network (RAN)!!! I'm actually most excited about the opportunity to work for RAN, as I've always been real interested in that organization, being both a biologist and a rainforest freak! Can't pass up the opportunity for a free music fest, either!!! :-) Thing is, I need help with taking care of my baby pooch, Kumo. There's a great photo of him in my "gallery" on pg 3 (I wish I could figure out how to connect that photo to the photo link here, but that photo isn't on this computer!). He's super sweet, and super social. I just hate leaving him behind, but I have to. My friend who had offered to take care of him will also be out of town that weekend (Sept 15 - 17, Friday til Monday). I'm super stressed now, and am really in need to find someone, *anyone*, who'd be willing to help take care of my baby while I'm gone. The more social the environment, the better. He loves people, other dogs, etc. I really can't afford to pay a lot, but I can repay in gifts, favors and the like. I have a lot to offer in this regard!!! :-) Oh, and I live in the Bay Area, for those who don't know. Please Help!!!!! :-)