Catching up on technology

To some degree the social networking aspect of the web has not yet caught my fancy.

I grasp blogging and the idea behind that. As a column writer myself that's something easy to understand. Basically, it's online column writing.

Blogs -- in the finest tradition of shortening English words "blog" is short for "weblog," which, I suppose, is short for "a log on the World Wide Web" -- are best written and read if the subject is kept short. I think the idea is to invite feedback to blogs and thus the interaction and social networking aspect comes into play.

I even understand Facebook and MySpace. Who hasn't come across a proud grandparent with a photo album full of pictures, for instance? Now grandpa and grandma can post those photos online for not just friends, but anyone, to see.

I set up a Facebook page myself about a year ago. I was reading about some high-powered newspaper execs who had their own pages. Immediately after setting it up I let my college student daughter know about it.

Her response was, well, let's just say she wasn't as taken with the idea of her dad having his own Facebook page as I was. And, I didn't even ask her to be my friend. That's people find each other's page (websites) on Facebook.

Lately a few other, um, mature individuals, FOB (Friends of Bud) if you will, started their own Facebook pages and invited me to be their friend. Take that college girl.

What I have yet to get enthused about, grasp is Twitter. Twitter is basically a running journal in even smaller snippets than blogs about what's going on in one's day. The idea is that you set up a Twitter profile and let everyone know. Those who would like may then "follow" you along as you post accounts of what's going on, what you're interested in at the moment or even ask questions.

I've set up a Twitter account and have had a few people log on to let me know they are "following" me. As I write this I have yet to add much of anything. Guess that makes for a boring life and sorry to disappoint those who have expressed an interest. I may try to get a little more active on my Twitter account and look for a few more "tweets." That's messages on Twitter.

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Props

Last week we had a little fun at the expense of Tyler Williams. We learned how Tyler was shirking his duty when it came to taking the family pooch out for its business, if you will.

In an effort to be fair, I need to let you know that Tyler has learned from his mistake and was observed walking the little white fur ball on two separate occasions last week.

When I said something to him about it, Tyler asked if perhaps now he was qualified for the White House job previously thought to be going to our local political guru.

I don't think so. And not because I'm pretty sure Tyler pays his taxes (which some think would automatically disqualify him from a position in the administration). No I think the White House pooch, a Portuguese water dog might be a little too much for him to handle.

Tyler and Shelly's can just about put their puppy in their pocket. "Bo" as the Obama dog is known (was it really named after a Pemiscot County farmer?) is a fairly good size dog. Might be more than Tyler can handle on a regular basis.

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DL

One reason Tyler may have thought there was an opening at the White House is because our local political guru put himself on the Disabled List last week.

We're glad to report Mike Mowrer is resting well and should be back in action this week, although on restricted duty.

The neighborhood was devastated to learn Mike was out of action just prior to his hosting of the Tea Party in Westgate. Oh, I know it wasn't anything official and none of the big news crews were coming to town for Mike's bash, but several of his friends and neighbors were looking forward to attending.

There's always next year, because I'm sure April 15 will come around again.

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Open House

"The new Baptist church edifice at Shady Grove is now completed and the first service will be held Saturday, April 30 at 11 o'clock, by the pastor, Eld. J. M. Blaylock. He will also preach on Sunday at 11. The formal dedication will occur some time in June, when, it is expected, there will be a great outpouring. The new building in one of the best in the county, used for church purposes, and it will stand as a monument to those whose liberality and tireless work made its completion a possibility. At the proper time, more will be said about it."

That little news item comes from the pages of the Dunklin Democrat published on April 29, 1904, courtesy of the DDD's unofficial, but much appreciated, historian Vivian Helton.

Bud Hunt is Publisher of

the Daily Dunklin Democrat.