What To Do

I am really not too sure why, but here lately I have been drawn to causes and people’s journey’s. 

Let me just say, this has always been the case for me.  As an example, back in 2000, there was a man that legally changed his name to “DotComGuy” and for a year he had to live in a house and had to order everything online, including his food and groceries.  That fascinated me.  Back in my bachelor days I would have been all over that! 

So my fascination with causes and journey’s really isn’t anything new, but the focus of those causes and journey’s is what has been intriguing me.  Since this was on my mind, I figured I would share a few of them with you.

The first one is charity : water.  (www.charitywater.org).  Now, I know I am probably late to the party on this one, but they are doing some amazing things.  For a $20 donation, they can provide water to a person.  To expand a bit on that, the average water project costs $5,000 and can serve 250 people…so $20.  There are some great videos on how water is tied to so many issues in the world.  I highly encourage you to check them out!!

The next one is TOMS shoes.  (www.toms.com)  Yep, shoes.  Now I know you are thinking “how is this special”?  But the genius isn’t in the shoes…it is in the concept.  For every pair of TOMS shoes you buy, they give a pair to someone without shoes.  One for One.  I have heard Blake (founder and chief shoe giver) talk several times about how this came about and it is a great story.  I highly encourage you reading about it and buying a pair of shoes!

The One for One concept has really taken off.  I was recently made aware of a charity that does the same thing for eyeglasses that TOMS does for shoes.  It is called Warby Parker.  (www.warbyparker.com).  So if you need a pair of designer glasses, you know where to go!

On top of that, TOMS has actually become the “One For One” company and they will be releasing their next project later this year, so stay tuned!

The last one isn’t a cause, but a journey.  And it is the journey of Steven, Emily and Eden Dilla.  (www.echoesofredemption.com)  Steven and Emily have decided with their one year old daughter Eden to leave D/FW and start a church in New York. 

I have honestly been fascinated with their journey since the day I found out about it.  Here are two people that both had great jobs at a large local church here (which is where we met them) and lived comfortable lives.  To quickly summarize, they quit their jobs at the church, got odd jobs to make ends meet, sold their house and moved to Annapolis, MD to start the process of planting a church in New York.  (Please note this was all calculated and it isn’t like they just woke up and moved the next day…lol.)

They stepped out of their comfortable lives and financial security to go live in an 800sqft apartment in Maryland with the goal of starting a church in the city of New York all the while depending on others for their expenses.   Heather and I wish them nothing but success and we highly encourage you to help them in their journey if you can.  Click HERE.

Heather and her friend Angie are always helping people find clothes for people in need.  Heck, she even rounded up bottles of laundry soap for The Ronald McDonald House not too long ago.   And even this week has helped another of our friends find clothes for foster children who had nothing.  What she has shown me is that people will give what and when they can.

So that brings this all back to me and what I want to do.  Truth is, I don’t know.

Do I want to donate my time and social media skills to churches and non-profits to help them spread the word about what they are doing?  Who knows?  I know there is something out there with my name on it; I just need to figure out what it is!!!

Facebook and Security

Those are two words you hear a lot about these days.  I see article after article about it online and how people are upset with Facebook that their account got hacked.  Or how they are suing so and so because private pictures of them got out.  I get phishing emails all the time from my friends whose pages were hacked and since I am in social media for a living, I figured I would try and help some of you out with some tips.

DON’T BLAME FACEBOOK – I love it when people’s accounts get hacked and the first thing people do is blame Facebook for their “lack of security” when the truth is, you should be blamed for your lack of knowledge. 

Yes, Facebook defaults their security on accounts very low and it will default to exposing more information than needs to be exposed.  But you are in control of this!  You can share as much information or as little information as you would like!  My rule of thumb and very high recommendation is LOCK IT DOWN.  Only share information to those that are your FRIENDS.  Not “Friends of Friends”…just Friends!

Here is the link to Facebook’s Privacy Help Page.  Educate yourself…today!

Facebook Privacy

CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD – This one sounds really simple, but you would be shocked.  I read an article the other day that a hacker, who was recently busted, used the email addresses found on Facebook (see first tip) and was able to guess their password based on comments left on posts, etc.  Once he was able to log in, he would change the password, locking the owner out, and would use the account to chat with their friends and get answers to the questions needed to change the password…like Mothers Maiden Name.  All he needed was one email address and it got him access to 1,000’s of accounts.  So change your password today and make it something other than your cat’s name.  If you are worried you will forget it, then you are on the right track!!!  :)

CHANGE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS – I know this one sounds funny, but let me ask you this…is your email account password the same as your Facebook password?  Over 80% of people who use Facebook use the same password that they use for their email account.  I am pretty sure you see where I am going, but if your Facebook account is compromised, so is your email account.  Email addresses are free.   Go to gmail or yahoo today and get one and start using it today!  I have one I use for all my online accounts so if it does get compromised, the damage is minimal.

KNOW WHO YOU ARE CHATTING WITH – Along the lines of the previous two tips, make sure you know who you are chatting with if you get an IM or a message from someone within Facebook.  Trust your instincts!  If you get a IM asking about your mother or your first boyfriend, keep in mind those are two of the security questions that are asked to retrieve your password if you “forget” it.  If you get an IM from some one you haven’t talked to in a long time, be cautious.  If it is someone you talk to all the time and all of a sudden they are asking those types of questions, shoot them a text and make sure it is them you are talking to. 

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ‘FRIENDS’ AND ‘FRIENDS OF FRIENDS’ – One of the security settings you can set your account to is “Friends of Friends”.  And while this seems harmless, it isn’t.  Here is an example of how this works.  Lets say you post a picture and you share it with Friends of Friends so Friend A is able is to see it, but so are ALL of Friend A’s friends. 

While on the surface this doesn’t sound bad, you have no idea who are Friends with Friend A and did you just post a pic of you on vacation, making it known to them that you were not at home?

KNOW YOUR FRIENDS – Once you get your page locked down, for people to follow you and what you post you have to approve them.  Do not take this lightly.  Do not just approve anyone because they want to be your friend.  Keep in mind, once you let them in, they can see ALL your posts and your information. 

DON’T GIVE AWAY THE FARM – While Facebook allows you to post as much information as you want in their “Info” section, this is not the best idea.  You need to keep some information close to the vest. 

Putting your phone number, for example, is NOT recommended in any scenario.  If someone wants your number, let him or her ask.  Remember, if you have changed your email address and they email you, they are emailing you to a safe email address so if anything goes wrong it doesn’t compromise your personal email account.

The bottom line to all is this to educate yourself, be smart and use common sense.  Facebook catches a lot of flack for their default settings, but no one ever talks about the resources they have available to help you get your settings right!! 

Hope that helps!!

Later

Opening Day 2011

For the first time ever on Opening Day, the Texas Rangers had something to defend!  If you look at the picture above, what we are defending is that blue AL Champions banner on the left meaning we were in the World Series.

Side note:  I will never forget waking up on my birthday and the headline of the paper being HELLO WORLD SERIES!  One of the coolest days of my life!

But since the Rangers had something to defend the bandwagon was really starting to fill up and getting our normal Opening Day tickets was a tad more difficult than it had been in years past.  We were finally able to secure some tickets so we were all set.

This was also the first year that we decided to take Alexis.  We did this for a few reasons...one being that the game was at 3 and her school would be out before the game was over.  But the other one was that she was really excited to go (she wanted to see "the horse and the dots") and we figured why not.

The parking lots opened at 10am and for so many years I have wanted to tailgate before the game and we decided with the late first pitch that this was the year.  We got a lot of our friends together that were going and tailgated.  It was a blast.  It will be a new tradition going forward! 

Considering how difficult it was to get tickets this year, our seats were really good and I am not going to complain one bit.

View from our seats!

The game was awesome (we won!) and did not disappoint.  The crowd was into it from the first pitch to the last and Lex had an amazing time!  However, the Rangers have replaced her "dots" in the dot race with Texas Legends (Davey Crockett, Sam Houston, etc) and she was NOT happy about that.  Try explaining to a 3 year old where her dots are!  haha...

I was able to get a couple of decent videos.  Here is one of the flyover by a B-52 and then one of the final pitch:

 

 

And here are a few pics from the game/tailgating.  You can see the rest of them on my Facebook page, so head on over!

Lex w/her antlers!  (Thx Aunt Gina!)

Note:  I would feel really bad if I didn't point out that Nick was just holding my next beer for me and was not drinking two beers.  LOL!

Lex was already for the game!!  Here we are walking towards the stadium!