I've come to a decision about the future of the blog here as discussed a couple posts back in "Well." I think it's time to close Shade and Sweet Water's doors. I expect this will be the last post extant on this blog.
The reality of it all is that Google+ is the answer to my entire dilemma. From there I can blog and adjust the privacy of each blog post on a case-by-case basis. I can share the pop culture write-ups with one audience, and the personal tales with another and not have to worry about shutting it all off from the casual reader unless I specifically want or need to given the context.
If you want to keep reading my future writings and you don't already know how to find me on Google+, send me an e-mail at thewritestuff@gmail.com and tell me who you are and ask;I'll hook you up with how to find me from there.
To everyone who has read me over the years, whether I know you personally or not, you have been a part of my life and I hope you've enjoyed your time here. I'll be seeing you around.
Shade and sweet water,
Evan Peterson
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Why I am Liking Google+
By far the biggest attraction for me to Google+ thus far is the implementation of circles and what they mean for privacy.
I've seen friends who fell victim to workplace reprimands over things they post on Facebook. Where one "my boss sucks" post can make or break the rest of your tenure at that employer. One in particular led to a friend enduring years of harassment and estrangement from coworkers who had no business being in her business anyway.
Myself, I've dealt with an ex-wife blocked on Facebook who hacked our teenager's account in order to read what all I had to say about her or anything else, leading to having to create a filter there for sharing NOTHING with my kid other than the ephemeral friend connection with no social interactivity.
Circles have allowed for me to categorize and re-categorize everyone I know, or don't know, into groups I easily define as "ok to share this with" or "don't post this kinky link to" or even "hey everyone, I'm now dating so-and-so." Can't 'friend' mom on Facebook because she might disapprove of things you post? No problem here: just don't put her in your "100% Uncensored" circle--or better, make a circle of one and call it "mom" she'll never know.
This ability to pick and choose my privacy on a post-by-post basis is far more intuitive and easy-to-use than has been Facebook's (every time that site changes something major, it tends to reset my settings and I don't always catch it--now I don't feel as if I have to worry about that level of vigilance).
This has been heavy on my mind a lot since my recent quandary over whether to make my blog accessible to the public again. Doing so would mean exposing some raw personal stuff to people who I don't want exposed to it (or deleting it), but keeping it hidden keeps the most mundane movie review post, etc. blocked from all but my approved readers as well. Zero middle ground there...
So, Google+ you and I might just end up being pretty good friends.
I've seen friends who fell victim to workplace reprimands over things they post on Facebook. Where one "my boss sucks" post can make or break the rest of your tenure at that employer. One in particular led to a friend enduring years of harassment and estrangement from coworkers who had no business being in her business anyway.
Myself, I've dealt with an ex-wife blocked on Facebook who hacked our teenager's account in order to read what all I had to say about her or anything else, leading to having to create a filter there for sharing NOTHING with my kid other than the ephemeral friend connection with no social interactivity.
Circles have allowed for me to categorize and re-categorize everyone I know, or don't know, into groups I easily define as "ok to share this with" or "don't post this kinky link to" or even "hey everyone, I'm now dating so-and-so." Can't 'friend' mom on Facebook because she might disapprove of things you post? No problem here: just don't put her in your "100% Uncensored" circle--or better, make a circle of one and call it "mom" she'll never know.
This ability to pick and choose my privacy on a post-by-post basis is far more intuitive and easy-to-use than has been Facebook's (every time that site changes something major, it tends to reset my settings and I don't always catch it--now I don't feel as if I have to worry about that level of vigilance).
This has been heavy on my mind a lot since my recent quandary over whether to make my blog accessible to the public again. Doing so would mean exposing some raw personal stuff to people who I don't want exposed to it (or deleting it), but keeping it hidden keeps the most mundane movie review post, etc. blocked from all but my approved readers as well. Zero middle ground there...
So, Google+ you and I might just end up being pretty good friends.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Netflix is Putting Me in the Poor House
Yesterday I got an e-mail from Netflix telling me that on my September billing cycle the cost of my current plan (1 disc at-a-time plus unlimited streaming) would be raising from $9.99/month to $15.99/month as they are splitting the streaming and disc rentals into two separate services and this new price would reflect that. Me, I shrugged and figured I would figure out whether it is worth it to me or not later.
See, the kids alone watch an enormous amount of streaming content on Netflix. Enormous. I so very much get my money's worth on that and will likely never have to buy a kids' dvd again so long as I have streaming content available (granted, I am so tired of them watching certain kids' shows but I digress). As for myself, I've found myself less and less interested in the movies flying in via disc (I used to be on a much larger plan and so my queue shrank significantly this year). I have maybe 30 films in it right now and with the 1 at-a-time plan I see an average of 9-10 disc movies per month while I might add a total of 3 or 4.
I understand we hate changes in the status quo, I really do. And I understand that masses of people were up in arms yesterday when they received this price hike announcement. For me, I continue to shrug. Maybe I also shake my head a little. Don't we have anything more important or significant to be irate about? If I rented 9 movies a month at a rental store it would cost me at least $20. That's 125% Netflix's new price point with ZERO streaming titles included.
I think we should find something new to shake our fist at.
See, the kids alone watch an enormous amount of streaming content on Netflix. Enormous. I so very much get my money's worth on that and will likely never have to buy a kids' dvd again so long as I have streaming content available (granted, I am so tired of them watching certain kids' shows but I digress). As for myself, I've found myself less and less interested in the movies flying in via disc (I used to be on a much larger plan and so my queue shrank significantly this year). I have maybe 30 films in it right now and with the 1 at-a-time plan I see an average of 9-10 disc movies per month while I might add a total of 3 or 4.
I understand we hate changes in the status quo, I really do. And I understand that masses of people were up in arms yesterday when they received this price hike announcement. For me, I continue to shrug. Maybe I also shake my head a little. Don't we have anything more important or significant to be irate about? If I rented 9 movies a month at a rental store it would cost me at least $20. That's 125% Netflix's new price point with ZERO streaming titles included.
I think we should find something new to shake our fist at.
Well
I've been struggling with the decision as to what to do about this blog.
Having the time and inclination to write hasn't actually been a problem. I've been needing to figure out whether or not it would be best to keep this lot going or to shut it down and start somewhere new. If I stay here, do I keep it set to "invited readers only" or open it back up? I can't seem to get past the deadlock in my brain as to what I should do in this regard.
Thoughts?
Having the time and inclination to write hasn't actually been a problem. I've been needing to figure out whether or not it would be best to keep this lot going or to shut it down and start somewhere new. If I stay here, do I keep it set to "invited readers only" or open it back up? I can't seem to get past the deadlock in my brain as to what I should do in this regard.
Thoughts?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Two Months
Has it really been that long? It seems like only yesterday I was composing my New Year's "word" post in my head... and yet it isn't here either.
Sorry, friends. I guess I need to write more here again and will do so soon.
Sorry, friends. I guess I need to write more here again and will do so soon.
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