Guest Column

Social media is uncharted territory that has the potential for great good and great evil

Social media is a product of our generation, it is uncharted territory that has the potential for great good and great evil. Sorting out the different pitfalls and fixing them will be tiresome and difficult. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was in the Senate warm, not hot, seat this week as he was questioned mainly about protection of privacy and bias within the company. One of the problems for users is the lack of competitive options. The other is that we are mostly old dogs for whom even this one new application came hard. Still, users hold the power, if we are concerned about how we are treated by Facebook we can close our accounts. We also can check information and shine a light on stuff that is untrue. We are able to use Facebook for free because, like radio, there are advertisers. Someone has to pay the bills. I do like the idea of having the same disclosures for political ads that we see and hear on radio, TV, and print material. I think voters need to know who is paying the tab. And I for one, do not like the ad by Senator Bill Nelson regarding Facebook. It is just the sort of thing that causes division and strife and prevents honest conversations, solutions and compromises to happen.

Is there still a need for this job?

At a community carers forum today there were people from a number of related medical and carers groups, some politicians but also a representative from the LGBTQI support and protection services. It seems sad and that the world has a long way to go when there is need for such services - especially protection.

We cannot ignore a dangerous situation

Let's say your neighbors have a volatile relationship. Usually they fight, scream, slam doors but one day you hear him threaten to kill her or you see him punching her. At what point do you have a responsibility to take action? Most of us probably think that how they live is their business until such point as someone is physically harmed or harm is imminent. And there is always the possibility of retaliation. One or both could turn on you for interfering. Still, we cannot ignore a dangerous situation. In fact, the shooting in Parkland is a stark reminder of the outcome of ignoring clear and present danger. If you take those lessons further, 6000 miles to Syria. How Syria (and other Countries) run their business is exactly that-their business. Democrats at one time and Republicans don't want us to be the policemen of the world. But, for years the world has prohibited to use of chemical weapons. They are a horrific weapon with horrific results. How can the rest of the world look the other way? Syria crossed a line. Can you justify their actions in your mind? Can you pretend that this is ok? "Evil prevails when good men do nothing".

I'm sorry (that I got caught)

After hearing and reading a number of recent apologies that basically said - I'm sort of sorry if you think I did something wrong although this is not an admission of guilt - that I thought I would make some suggestions for the spin doctors to use. The following might give some starting points and you can circle the words that apply. I did… This was wrong/illegal/immoral. I 'm sorry I did...(not just sorry that I got caught). I will fix it by… I won't do it again/I won't get caught next time. Yes, I am an idiot/politician/sports person.

Time to rewrite the book

The Bible includes the quote 'An Eye for an Eye' and this seems to be the current solution to the problems in Syria but there should be some consideration of the rest of that quote '…But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also' and the Koran adds 'But whoever gives charity, it is an expiation for him'.

Facing up to saying NO!

The solution to the Facebook Privacy dilemma is easy - set it, by law, as a default NO! or maybe NYET! at the start and reset every 3 months. There are many forms that ask for information and in most cases you have to tick to accept their emails and often emails from 'Third Party' groups which are generally advertising. As part of the sign up process you could choose which options you want and that could include the following;

I am happy to share with everyone except for that weird kid in second grade.

I am happy for Facebook to make billions out of my data - It makes me feel valuable.

I am happy to share with the Russians - especially those nice women who write to me all the time.

I am happy to help the Russians elect Donald Trump.

Who cares - I am so boring nobody would be interested in my shopping preferences.

(Tick any or all that apply to you) The only other option seems to be to not sign up or never use it again.

Wrong Clue

The clue in a recent crossword was 'Abnormally fat' with the answer 'obese' but unfortunately it's not abnormal but becoming normal. It's time to stop doing the newspaper crossword, get out of the chair and go for a walk.

Humanity shuld be more human

The search for proof of alien life has taken another twist with astronaut Buzz Aldrin having passed a lie detector test about having seen a UFO. There is no need to search that far for proof as the world leaders provide many forms of alien life starting with the humorous - a president with Orange skin and hair and then the horrific - a leader so inhuman that he would gas his own people. We don't need to look to space for inhuman beings, rather we need to look to Earth for more human behaviour.

A Poker Bluff

Apparently President Trump is going to 'double down' in the Tariff battle. This is real, not a poker game with a bluff being called, although there is something to be considered in the gambling lore of 'A Smith and Wesson beats 4 aces'.

Places like California would lose House members if an honest count of legal voters was done

Every 10 years we are required to take a census (tally) of the number of people in our country. Over time we have found it necessary to add pages of additional information, education, employment, what kind of house you live in and whether you rent or own, age, ancestry, internet use, health insurance coverage, whether you receive food stamps, income, fuel you use to heat your house and much more. But, oh the uproar at the suggestion that you would be asked if you are a citizen. Can there be a bigger hypocrisy? In my mind, the citizenship question should be #1. Much government planning is based on census data. In doing that planning, the number that are really eligible for some things is important. I would also contend, if we are not going to ask citizenship question, we shouldn't ask all the other invasive questions and save money by doing a simple head count. The real issue here is not protection of illegals, it is about votes, plain and simple. Places like California would lose House members if an honest count of legal voters was done.

The election of Pres. Trump has done little to improve the approval rating of Congress which stands at just 15%

The election of Pres. Trump has done little to improve the approval rating of Congress which stands at just 15%. The American people consider Congress virtually useless, unable to solve problems or even agree on simple matters. That is probably the reason that good people like Jason Chaffetz and Trey Gowdy are leaving. They are frustrated with the inability to get the work of Government done. Who can blame them? Most of us see that Congress functions on reelection stats, all decisions are made with an eye toward getting reelected. Shame on Congress for abandoning their jobs and the American people.

Turn - Don't Swipe

Being that it was close to April 1st I thought the story that beginner students at schools were 'swiping' their paper books rather than turning the pages was a rather amusing April Fools joke but it was actually a fact. The members of the National Union of Teachers (UK) have reported that this now a common event. Apparently it's a result of the overuse of iPads as a childminding device and the cost of paper books. As a child I was always happy to read a book and still do almost 60 years later although I read most newspapers online. Books rarely run out of power, they are ready the moment you pick them up and there are not ads at the bottom of the page. Print this letter out on paper and show your child how to physically read it. Regards, Dennis Fitzgerald

Tariff war: A numbers game

After teaching Math for over 30 years I have taught a range of students including some who found it 'challenging'. Even the least able were able to understand some simple arithmetic - if you charged someone $10 and they charged you $10 then nobody was better off and you were probably both annoyed. This works the same for larger numbers! Why can't our world leaders understand this? A tariff war with matching increases will not help anyone in the long term. Get back to looking for positive approaches. Regards, Dennis Fitzgerald

Still a long journey to a peaceful school

Recently Malala, the youngest Nobel Peace winner, returned home to Pakistan but didn't find the peace that she promotes. For a person who left as a gunshot victim and returned as a Nobel Laureate the biggest change was in her and what she has achieved but until it is safe for everyone to go to school in Pakistan and many other countries the world has a long way to go.

Australian Cricket Player available

Re: Cricket: Disgraced Aussie trio likely to challenge suspensions I am available for Test selection. I can't bat, bowl or field but I am honest. Regards

Waiting for the big announcement that everybody in Ontario gets free groceries for life for the liberal vote

Premier Wynne's 25% hydro discount was to cost a minimum of 45 billion dollars for 24 billion dollars of hydro relief if the government could balance its budgets for 30 years in a row and now the Wynne Liberals have stated they will run huge deficits for the next 6 years if re-elected with zero thought of getting a balanced budget.

"Upheaval" in the Trump administration

There's a lot of air time being devoted to the "upheaval" in the Trump administration. Let us remember that middle America supported this President and applauded his promise to drain the swamp. That is not an easy or quick thing to do. Many times vacancies are sought by more swamp creatures. And the parties are creating swamp creatures at an alarming rate. The example of David Shulkin comes to mind, under President Obama he served as an under secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department was failing our veterans, President Trump fired Bob McDonald and nominated Shulkin for the job. Shulkin was still an Obama era employee and it didn't work out. At least give Trump credit for trying to work with existing staff. It has been wisely pointed out that all Presidents surround themselves with staff who hold and support the views of the President. Barrack Obama was the most recent and glaring example. His staff was of one mindset. And they helped him advance his agenda in his second term. His first term was spent on his own re-election. This President has made mistakes but he has also accomplished more in one year than most Presidents accomplish in a 4-year term. And he certainly is not spending exorbitant amounts of time in front of the cameras. He is working. Polls show that nearly half of us see these truths.

Wrong Date, Maybe

A local newspaper ("The Australian", March 31) had an article headline I never thought I would or should see "Who do you believe, the President or the porn star?" Surely this would be more appropriate the next day - April 1.

Children, listen up. Do you know the meaning of hypocrisy?

Children, listen up. Do you know the meaning of hypocrisy? It means insincere or hollow. Your "March for Our Lives" was your cry for school safety, or at least I thought so. You think the 2nd amendment is a bad law, You want restriction placed on the right to bear arms. You feel that would keep you safe. Here's the hypocrisy part, if you were truly concerned about your own safety, you would welcome a rule requiring clear backpacks. But you don't like that rule, do you? It infringes on your constitutional rights, you say. Critical thinking is necessary to understand that constitutional rights belong to everyone, not just you. I think some serious civics education is in order. We, as Americans have rights. This is a free country. As long as people can move about freely and are not (hypothetically) subject to undue government interference or restriction, there could be danger. But, taking away freedoms is a slippery slope. And, the fact of the matter is that the Constitution reads like this: Amendment IV. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. That means they can't search your backpack without a reason. It does not say that the school can not require clear backpacks or ban backpacks all together. And, it doesn't say that school can't have rules. They have lots of them and we should be glad they do.

Switched off

Julian Assange has had his Internet access cut off and the world knows about it, although obviously not from him. He has made the use of the Internet his tool or weapon to spread information that others don't want spread and this has made him a number of enemies but seemingly few friends. With the spread of so much fake news there is a need to spread real news even if it is confronting, although there have been concerns that he may have endangered a number of people as well.