Freedom

This 4^th of July, I’m feeling grateful for the freedom our country enjoys. We have seen some amazing changes with the “Arab Spring”, as the world watches more countries struggling with this very issue. I hope the people of those countries, as their revolutions evolve to the next step, can finish the path to freedom.

For me freedom allows me the practice of my religion, one not in the majority. It also grants freedom of speech and expression. Both of these freedoms I hold dear. A big thanks to all those alive and that came before to achieve and defend this freedom.

There are prosecutions going on in the Middle-East countries right now for people trying to achieve these goals for themselves and their fellow countrymen. People that can’t use their own face or name on Twitter, Facebook, blogs and other social networking sites. These people are true heroes, standing up for what they believe in, what they believe is right. Here in the USA, I enjoy the privilege of having my name on this blog, having my face on my Twitter account, using my real name on Facebook.

myspace.com lays off workers

Last week myspace.com laid off 30% of their workforce. I was worried that I was going to lose one of my only friends (besides my wife), Tom. (The Huffington Post: MySpace Layoffs: Slashing Workforce 30%)

 

Tom: 1 of my 2 friends

I only signed up for a myspace account to follow some bands, and really haven’t pursued it as a social networking site. In fact, most pages give me a headache. I really can’t stand it for that purpose. I guess I’ve always been a Facebook guy.

Myspace always seems like the wild west. I could add blinking images, I could put together colors that didn’t work, I could make pages a mile long. Most of these are eyesores that hurt my head. Facebook, while extensible with apps, keeps a consistent look and feel. They also do a good job of hiding older things, while giving you the option to see more.

I don’t mean to make this into a Coke v. Pepsi debate. I’m sure there are some die-hard myspacers out there. Myspace has taken a former Facebook exec as their new CEO. And not to worry, Tom, one of the co-founders I’ve learned, is still there. And hopefully will remain my friend.