Reads and Rants

Two books have came onto my radar that I'd like to read. Maybe I should just order them when I get my Hebrew textbook $36...

The first is "The Watchers" by Shane Harris, subtitled 'The Rise of the American Surveillance State'. I like his writing in a magazine I subscribe to and I think the timing is good based on the recent stuff about the NSA. $28 from B&N.

Secondly is "The Skies Belong to Us" by Brendan Koerner, subtitles 'Love and Terror in the Golden Age of Hijacking' that was released today. It is staggering to realize just how many planes were hijacked in the 60s and 70s and by extremely diverse individuals. Again, something that works as interesting reading in today's climate and a little covered topic. $20.

Finally "The Son" by Phillip Meyer. A sweeping book covering 4 generations of Texans from 1840's onward. If you loved Michener then you'll dig this as well. $15

So roughly $80 dollars for four books I'll enjoy owning. The ebooks are hardly any cheaper and I'd have spent the same if I'd gone to four movies. With probably less to show for it in the long run. (I love you cinema but I loved books first)

Enough reading, now for ranting. And this will be full of fragment sentences and jumps in subject matter, like a typical rant, so just bear with me.

Would you walk around town with your email and cell number printed on your tshirt? Would you rent a billboard buy a busy freeway and put pictures of your kids on it with their names? That's what you are doing when you use social media and especially facebook (fb).

Information about yourself is worth something. That is why you keep it private. When you use fb you are just giving it away. And to who, you don't know and have no control over. Stop using fb if you care at all about your personal privacy. And twitter. I committed fb suicide well over a year ago and my twitter account is going to die this week as well.

But, but, but you say.... Your life will be soo empty without fb. Let's look at it this way? Are you the type of person who would eat fast food 2 or 3 times a day? If you're that disgusting then you should love fb because that is the type of social interaction "food" you are consuming when you use fb. You do it 'cause it's cheap and easy.

If you want a McDonalds diet for the majority of your social life, then by all means continue to use tons of social media and fb in particular. Cheapen your relationships and make them all about ease and convenience. When you use fb you are taking the easy way out (when is this ever the best way??) and giving away for free everything of your own private and personal value.

I may strongly dislike NYC but I hate FB even more and I think you should too.