Signs of the Times – Warning!
Things they are a changin’. If you want to be happier, and survive in today’s world, there are some new things you should constantly be aware of. Here are some of those things…
#1 – Warning: Don’t let anyone take your picture if there is any chance that you don’t want the entire world to see that picture. It’s sad, but people nowadays are inclined to put all manner of pictures on the Internet. It doesn’t matter how personal the photograph is, and it doesn’t matter that you and the photographer swore to secrecy. Just assume that any photograph of you will eventually find its way to some social network or photo posting site.
You’ve got to really think about this one and overcome your desires to keep and/or share some of your memories. Today’s pleasant memories can easily become tomorrow’s embarrassing, anger-inducing moments. Ask anyone who has been divorced about wedding photos, for example. But it gets much worse than that relatively commonplace scenario.
Letting people have pictures of you – doing whatever or being with whomever – can become a real horror story when you stir in Photoshop. If someone decides to alter a photo of you and post it, you will find damage control to be quite difficult. Once the photo is out, it’s very hard to convince people it was altered.
You cannot protect yourself from every abuse of your photo, but some caution will help you avoid the worst of situations.
#2 – Warning: Remember that you are always being filmed. It doesn’t matter where you are – a parking garage, a party, your classroom, standing in line at the bank – you’re on camera. Always assume you are being filmed.
Before you pick your nose or flip off your teacher, think about it. Guys, better wait to adjust your ‘package.’ Girls, if your bra is riding, wait to fix it until you’re all alone. Unless, that is, you want to see it all over YouTube.
Cell phone cameras are practically impossible to see. And as one can readily see on YouTube, those in charge of security camera footage think nothing of pulling and posting clips. Just be careful what you do when you are not totally alone.
#3 – Warning: Don’t think that emails from your friends and family are safe. Your brother or sister or mom or best friend certainly had no intention of harming your computer, but it doesn’t matter. If their system gets infected by certain malware, it can pass it along to your system without their knowledge.
If your relatives and friends are really computer savvy, then it’s likely okay to open their emails and attachments. If you are absolutely positive that they have and maintain good protection software, that includes email protections, then you are probably okay. But do not just assume that an email and attachment is safe just because you know the sender.
#4 – Warning: Be careful what you say on your telephone, people are listening. The government now routinely listens in on phone conversations. Even if you’re kidding around, be careful what you say. Avoid any words that might be used by terrorists or criminals.
Did you know it’s a crime to threaten the president – even if you’re kidding? Better think before you speak. Certain words tell listening computers to monitor more closely. Better to be safe than sorry.
#5 – Warning: Don’t assume that the food you buy is safe to eat, simply because it is for sale in the US. This is a scary one indeed. How are you supposed to know what is safe to eat or feed your family? It is simply not practical to setup a testing lab in your home.
You can double check meats and dairy products for smells and visual signs of deterioration. Reduce the amount of prepackaged foods you use. Only buy name brands. They cost more, but seem have fewer problems.
Study up on knowing the signs of food-based illnesses. Also learn what to do for someone who has ingested tainted food.
#6 – Warning: Expect politicians to do what they think is ‘right’ or ‘best,’ not what the people they represent want them to do. I don’t know when this started, but it did. Nobody stopped it, and now it’s simply the way it is.
Politicians are representatives of the people. This is the way it’s supposed to be, anyway. This is true of all politicians, from councilmen to presidents. They are elected to do the will of the people they represent. But that’s just not the case anymore.
You can tell this is what’s going on by simply looking at polls – or talking with your friends and neighbors. For example, the number one concern for Americans right now is the economy. The vast number of Americans believe the war in Iraq is dragging the economy down rapidly. This should mean that the war is ended, but that’s not the case.
Politicians are elected now because of the way they say they think about things. The plans they have for the people. But they should be elected by how well they can gather the consensus of the group they represent, and then how well they can implement the desires of that group.
In today’s America, politicians ‘sell’ ideas to the public and then go about the business of taking actions not necessarily included in the sale of the idea. Notable case in point, WMDs in Iraq. During the sale of the Iraq invasion, nothing was said about the war lasting longer than WWII – nor was anything said about staying there indefinitely.
Leave a Reply