March 26, 2009

September 11th 2001

One of the most significant incidents to happen in modern history and one of only two events that i can honestly say that I remember exactly where I was when it happened, i had been on Night shift and woken up and put the TV on and the first tower was smoking watched it from there. The second event i Can place myself was the Dunblane Massacre it hit home mainly due to the fact that i live in Scotland and i was off during the day at that point working in the evenings.

i have to say at the time while I felt terrible for the people affected i have to be honest and say that it did not really affect me emotionally at the time. However I have since been to New York, (April 2008) and have to say that going to ground Zero was actually quite intense, they have the globe from the lobby in it's current state and you just wonder the hell that it must have been to have been there.

The reason I feel compelled to write something down was that last night i watched a documentary from the History channel called 102 Minutes That Changed America. It is un-narrated and is simply footage from that day, home footage and news films from all angles including the second explosion. All i can say that 8 years on i felt their fear for their lives and their loved ones. Also their admiration for the rescue services NYFD and NYPD and the ambulance services the work those guys and girls did in the cities time of need while must of felt like putting a sticking plaster on an amputated limb the fact that they continued to work to save those trapped and the injured and at the last to make sure that they got as many people away from the area at the end when the second tower came down.

I have to say that my respect for the resilience of the New york people is amazing and the only anger I have is that when you stop at ground zero they tell you not to buy pictures as they are simply hustlers trying to make a buck and it upsets me that people will try ans make money off of anything.

Anyway I just wanted to note that I have total respect for the survivors of 9/11 and the rescue service men and women that serve every day and if you get the chance it is a fantastic city to visit when given the opportunity.

March 21, 2009

Social Networking

What is social networking, too me it is meeting new people in a social situation, meeting people that you may speak to in the future. To me this makes me think, Pubs, Parties and through sports, either playing or watching. The media and majority of people seem to think that the only real way to socially network is online, through the Major sites, My Space, Face Book, Bebo, twitter and online Forums (Simply Syndicated FTW.)

Now I do not have a problem with these sites I actively twitter and have had all the other sites at one time or another and i have to be honest and say that I have met a lot of excellent people through twitter and Simply Syndicated. however the biggest problem i have with this id the fact that the media are pushing these as terrible things from one point of view and the greatest thing in another.

While the sites themselves used in moderation are a fantastic thing and should be used properly to get the most out of but they should not be used as the only way of meeting people or communicating with people.

I think that as long as it is not the only socialising you do then online social networking sites can be good for you, just remember what they were designed for and use them correctly.

On a final note and the main reason i only use twitter and online forums is the fact that the front pages become so overloaded with apps and you get bombarded with friend requests from people trying to build their friend levels, see who can have the most friends for no reason than the number and contact from ladies wanting your money. Also the fact that people follow or friend request so they can sell you something, what is the point if you have something i want i will find you or you can drop me a note and ask if i want to buy rather than just the random requests.

So in conclusion not for me on the grander scale but good for those that enjoy them.