Facebook

So just after putting my boys to bed, I went into my office and found that I hadn't shut down my work computer (oops, I guess I still didn't), and I flipped over (sorry, tabbed over) to Facebook and checked it out for a few minutes. Then I had to head upstairs to the kids, who I probably wouldn't have heard had I not gone into my office (not that they would have gotten themselves to sleep, but I can dream, can't I?).

As I finally headed down to the basement thirty minutes later, I started thinking about Facebook, and how great a boon it has been for being social for my stay-at-home lifestyle. I really feel like I'm pretty social despite not going out past eight most nights. I know, that probably sounds pretty depressing, but really, with December fast approaching, I'll have plenty of social outings coming up.

But as I was saying, I tend to be pretty good about staying off of Facebook during the day - or at least, not playing hour after hour of games on there, but rather just reading people's status updates to know what people are up to. It's a nice break, because unlike when I was working in an office and would take a break by talking to only my coworkers (not that I am at all dissing any of my coworkers), now that I'm working from home, I don't really have that option but find that I can socialize with my friends around the world, and am not restricted by geography.

Okay, this is totally sounding like an ad for Facebook, and as I think back, I know that I did stay in touch with many of my far-off friends through email. But this really is better.

So anyhow, I started thinking what a wonderful thing this would have been for me before I started working. I mean, if I was able to be this connected with the world before I went back to work, would I have ever gone back to work? But then I remembered Friendster. I was connected to the world back then. But somehow, I wasn't as hooked on Friendster.

Someone was talking recently about whether Facebook will last or not. I mean, it's really got to be a generational thing, and the popularity of Facebook will fade over time, or, at least, it won't grow exponentially. I mean, how many people want to be in the same social network as their parents? I suppose you could be really cool and well adjusted and you wouldn't mind, but is that the exception or the norm? Wouldn't, by default, the trend be to have the next generation find an alternate site - one that their parents just don't understand or even want to understand - and join that instead?

Friendster, MySpace, Orkut, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn - there's no limit to the number of these sites that could be created to connect people. But as my kids get older, Facebook will be passe, old news, archaic. The key now is not to compete by creating another similar site, but to come up with the next idea. And sadly, I have no idea what that will be.

Paper Houses in the Rain

I was watching CNN this weekend, and it was scrolling different comments that watchers had submitted along the bottom of the screen. One person commented something like "Who cares about the financial crisis? We in SoCal are *burning*." Okay, I can sympathize with that - for about a minute.

I know I'm not about to win any popularity contests here, and am likely eliminating any chance for ever running for office. But when did common sense become optional? Last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, and the year before that (do you notice a pattern), there was a fire in southern California. Guess what. That's nature's way of handling overgrowth of trees. Controlled forest fires keep forests from being too dense and cutting off all sunlight to species that live closer to the ground. When trees are cleared to build houses - in the natural path of these fires - homeowners take on the risk. Just as you wouldn't take a phone call standing on the middle of a highway because you've got better cell phone coverage there, you shouldn't build your house - or buy a house - in a known fire path. Insurance companies know this, and actually charge a much higher premium to houses on the wrong side of a highway that divides the fire path from the non-fire path. And when you decide to rebuild your home, consider what is likely to happen again next year if you choose to rebuild on the same spot.

But what really gets me is that because of the sheer devastation, this will once again be declared a national disaster, and government money will be spent to help out those victimized by these fires. I probably shouldn't even bring up my thoughts about rebuilding in New Orleans, a coastal city build below sea level...

When discussing this very matter this weekend, my husband asked whether we should be allowed to complain when it rains. My response, "Only if we build paper houses."
Then, apparently, we have the right to complain, to be bailed out, to make others pay for the fact that we didn't put enough forethought into a major purchase that seemed too good to be true. Yes, I feel bad for people who have struggled hard to save enough money to buy a house, and who default on their loans because the primary breadwinner is injured and can't work ("The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair comes to mind). But for those of you who tried to scam the system and take advantage of a deal you knew (or even suspected) you couldn't afford, shame on you. Why should I have to bail you out?

The Longterm Effects of Underwire Technology

In the interest of some day not having breasts drooping down to my belly button, I'm curious. Mind you, I'm far from being at risk of having that particular problem, but as gravity is still likely to affect me, I - with a scientist's curiosity - am wondering if any studies have been done regarding the long term effects of underwire usage.

Underwire was added to brassieres to help boost and enhance cleavage. This was, I'm sure, the invention of man (as opposed to woman, not gorillas). I can personally attest to the fact that they are not particularly comfortable, although yes, some bras can be found that are comfortable. But since they tend to set off security alarms at airports, I at least (though I cannot speak for all women) am aware of which bras have underwire and which do not.

So here's my question. Do breasts have muscular memory (or whatever term it would be for whatever breasts are made of)? Is there any long term benefit to using underwire bras versus non underwire bras? After thirty years of discomfort - wearing underwire bras and high heels (another one of those man-made inventions I could blog about - perhaps another day) - could a woman stop wearing bras and still be perky and upright? Or will gravity hit her the same as it hits some sports bra or non-underwire wearing woman of the same proportions?

Then again, can a judgment be made that the woman who was not a slave to underwire is less likely to be adversely affected by the effects of gravity?

But then, was she then less likely to have benefited from the - how can I say this politely - positive opinion (aka ogling) that her breasts - and subsequently her general appearance - may have received for said thirty years?

And how does breastfeeding factor in? Does the variation in size relax the tissue, making it more apt to sag, or does the breastfeeding itself strengthen the tissue overall?

And finally, why do we care? Why is it okay for women to show cleavage (though not someone too young, that's just wrong) but not to breastfeed in public?

Just a thought, Mr. Fox.

Paperback Writer

When I was watching my son's soccer game this weekend (where our team actually scored two goals and should have tied, except they let the game go a little long and the other team scored a last second - technically past last second - goal to beat us), I spoke with a fellow mom about how I've signed up to write a novel this month. She commented that it would probably would get in the way of my writing my blog, to which I responded that I haven't exactly been particularly regular at writing in my blog anyhow. But it's true. If I'm devoting countless hours to writing, and I have people actually reading, then is it fair to withhold my writing from these people (I wouldn't go as far as saying "fans"; more like "friends" and "relatives" - anyone who doesn't know me personally, let me know - I'm curious how many of you there are out there).

Does anyone remember the song Paperback Writer by the Beatles? The sound is kind of messed up, but maybe it'll remind you that you've heard it before. It's kind of my theme song these days.

Anyhow, so I'm writing a novel this month, and it's called "The Jamal Road Manor Mystery". I'm writing it in a wiki, which means I'm writing it online, and my sister and brother both have access to the pages and can comment on the writing as it happens.

It kind of reminds me a Monty Python skit (that I've only heard but never seen; which movie is this from, anybody?) called Novel Writing where people are watching Thomas Hardy write his novel, The Return of the Native, at a stadium, cheering him on as he produces word after word, with commentators spewing statistics about the words he has written.

Yesterday, as I was writing, I noticed that my sister was reading the page that I was still writing, and it was strange. Very strange. A little like stalking, I suppose, except that I invited it. But here's the thing. I don't believe that writers need to live in isolation. And if I am writing a first draft, and I release myself from the stress of having to write perfectly - since it is, after all, a first draft - then why should I not share the novel as it happens. Who knows where it might end up.

So, for the month of November, that's my experiment. I am going to try to write 50,000 words this month - all as part of this story called 'The Jamal Road Manor Mystery' - and I'm going to share it with you all as I write it (although with a day or two delay).

Or, perhaps, I will have deep thoughts completely unrelated to the lives of Rashmi, Ritu, and Rahul as they visit their relatives in India, and I'll write about that instead (or if enough people write to me saying that they're tired of the story, then I'll stop copying it here).

So, enjoy. Next time, the Preface.