Archives for facebook

See all posts in the network tagged with facebook

Morning Lineup – February 24

It seems like every day there is more “news” about online social networking something-or-others. Most people don’t care one way or the other, but since this blog is online – and you come online to read it – some of it is of interest to us. A little while back we were talking about how and why large numbers of fire and EMS people were vacating the forums and flocking over to sites like Facebook and Twitter. Many are also signing up with FirefighterNation and JEMS social websites. These last two are more specialized in their content and offer a more efficient way to communicate within the emergency community.

While I think I understand why the forums suddenly lost favor, I’m still trying to understand fully the appeal of the so-called social networks to replace them. I think a major part of it is the ability to screen out the obnoxious few that you don’t want to “listen” to. And that’s where most of the forums messed up. They didn’t adequately monitor their chat threads and allowed a very few nutjobs to drive away their membership base.

With the inter-connected network system that is evolving now, you don’t need to log into several websites to check the latest offerings, just one or two of your favorites that you can remain logged on in the background while you use your computer to do/watch other things. And that brings us around (again) to commenting on those little tabs that you are seeing on many websites, not just blogs - including this one – where you can choose to share information that you would like your friends and correspondents to see. By simply clicking once on the tab, you can forward the page that you are reading to your page on either of the two networks. Currently, this is how news is flashing around the globe as it happens. It’s an innovative way to “spread the word.”

* * * * *

If you are following the men’s hockey in the Winter Olympics, today is an exciting day for the fans. Canada came into the tournament as the favorite to win the Gold, but their upset loss to USA set them back to where they had to play an extra game yesterday and win it just to stay in the playoffs. They did by beating Germany, but now they have to play again today and they will be facing off against Russia, a very formidable opponent who didn’t have to play yesterday. In fact, Firegeezer would be willing to bet a few ducats that Russia will take it all.

Team USA will be facing off against Switzerland, who played yesterday while USA rested, and if the win they will next play the winner of today’s contest between Czech and Finland. Don’t count Finland out on this one. I know that the USA v. Swiss game is being televised at 3 pm Eastern, noon Pacific today, but I need to check on the Canada v. Russia game and then get back with an update for you. It should be shown because they are two top teams and only the winner moves on.

Update: The USA v. Swiss game will be shown on NBC at 3 pm Eastern/noon Pacific.
The Canada v. Russia game will be shown on CNBC at 7:30 Eastern/4:30 Pacific. Note the time change.

Right now we need to move on and get this equipment checked out. I’ll go get the coffee started and then check that tv schedule. See you back in the day room.

Posted by firegeezer on February 24, 2010 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged: facebook, social networks, Twitter

Morning Lineup – February 19

Comments

As you surf around the FireEMS Blogs community, you will start seeing these little tabs in the upper right-hand corner of all the individual postings:

You will see more of them on other websites as well. They are like a “speed dial” for social network sharing of favorite articles that you would like to send to your correspondents. Let’s take the “f / Share” tab, for example. If you already have a Facebook account, then by clicking on that tab you will automatically open the famliar little posting window that has the link to the story already there. Up in the top box, you add in your message, same as always, then click on “Share.” A reminder: on the link box, don’t forget to scroll to the pic that you want to display.

For your Twitter account, it is even simpler. A simple click on there brings up the ReTweet box with the link already in it and you add your brief message. The first time you use the ReTweet button, you will get a “permission” screen asking if you want to use the Tweet Meme Access program. This is a security measure and it will be the only time you will be asked. Future retweets will post unimpeded.

So if you want to, just for the fun of it and a learn-by-doing experience, click on the tabs that you see on the upper right (not the sample box I posted above on the left) and see how it works.

* * * * *

If you didn’t see that impressive video that we posted yesterday of the mudslide-in-progress in Calabria, Italy, then take a minute and CLICK HERE to watch it. It’s a stunner. This morning I’m posting this video of a couple of firefighters surveying what looks to be the same spot showing the aftermath of it. It’s got to be tough on those folks. The entire town of just over 2,000 people has been vacated.

Well, let’s count our blessings and then get this equipment checked out. I need to start some more coffee.

Posted by firegeezer on February 19, 2010 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged: Calabria, facebook, mudslide, retweet, Twitter

C’mon …. Grow Up !

Comments Off

Firegeezer notes: This story has to do with police officers, but you can bet that it’s just as liable to happen in fire and ambulance stations. Make this story one of your 15-minute drills to remind everybody that this is not a game we’re playing and to keep your eyes open for the few who still don’t get the message.

A NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, POLICE OFFICER IS being investigated today following the revelation that she has posted a photograph on her Facebook page of what appears to be a body laying in a pile of litter in a residence. The department is determining if the photo is an actual crime scene, a medical emergency call, or a spoof photo staged for the purpose. Posting pictures from a crime scene on the Internet is a violation of departmental policy and the penalty can be either suspension or termination.

WCVB-TV has an informative video report that explains the circumstances:

WBZ-TV is reporting:

The officer’s superiors are now investigating. “This is not a joke,” said Lt. Jeffrey Silva. “It’s not a laughing matter. We don’t want the public to feel betrayed when we go into someone’s home to investigate.”

And the mayor, who has the final say on any disciplinary action, was also concerned. “The person in that picture is someone’s family member,” said Scott Lang, “and it shows a lack of compassion to put that photo on the Internet.”

The officer has not been identified because police are trying to be sure she was the one who took the photo, and put it on her Facebook page. But one investigator told WBZ the officer in question is connected, by family, to several politically-powerful people in the region.

The officer’s Facebook page is set to “private,” but the photo was e-mailed to a Rhode Island television station.

This is not the first time that the New Bedford PD has experienced thoughtless internet use by one of its officers. Last year, Police Officer Norman Duchesneau was suspended after police verified that he posted a picture of himself in uniform under the “casual encounters” section of Craigslist. The ad sought out women interested in “friends with benefits-type relationships” who was “willing to play out police fantasy.”

Posted by firegeezer on January 6, 2010 • Filed under: News, Videos, labor • Tagged: facebook, New Bedford Police Department, unauthorized photo

Texting While…..What?

Comments

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING SLIPPED TO #2 on the list of dangerous activities back on November 21. That’s when a groom interrupted his wedding ceremony to log onto his Facebook page and change his status from “in a relationship” to “married.” Then he sent the news out on Twitter.

The high-tech event took place in Abingdon, Maryland, and just as soon as the minister pronounced the happy couple to be “man and wife,” the groom, Dale Hanna whipped out his cell phone and immediately updated his Facebook page, and then he Twittered the news to all of his friends who couldn’t make it to the ceremony. As the guests in the audience started giggling, the minister who was in on the stunt, told everbody that the groom was updating his relationship status. After the quick posting, he handed his bride Tracy’s phone to her and she did the same on her page.

Hanna later explained, “I have a lot of family scattered around the country and we all use Facebook a lot to keep in touch. So when Tracy and I were engaged, most of my family found out via Facebook because we updated our statuses.”

In case you’re wondering what Dale tweeted from the altar, here it is: “Standing at the altar with @TracyPage where just a second ago, she became my wife! Gotta go, time to kiss my bride. #weddingday”

Was this Tacky, or Techie? Tell us what you think in the Comments.

Posted by firegeezer on December 2, 2009 • Filed under: Twitter, Videos, culture, technology • Tagged: Abingdon Maryland, Dale Hanna, facebook, Tracy Hanna, Twitter, wedding ceremony

3 UK Teens Arrested for Fire Death

Comments Off

THREE TEENAGERS IN CORNWALL, ENGLAND, WERE ARRESTED TODAY in connection with the fire death of a 59-yr.-old woman this past Thursday night. The woman was trapped inside her home with her 17-yr.-old son after somebody dropped a lit firework through her letter slot in the door. Mary Fox pushed her son out of a 3rd-story window, saving his life, and then attempted to find her cat when she was overcome and then died.

Mary Fox

Police suspected arson immediately when they found the firework remnants just inside the door. Responding to local scuttlebut, they began searching Facebook pages where they found incrimnatory statements from the suspects. “Some of the information has come via Facebook – indeed it is unusual these days for Facebook not to feature in a case such as this,” said one of the investigators.

After Mary’s son Raum leapt from the window, he ran to neighbors to report the fire and the FF’s arrived within just a few minutes. But it was too late to save her. Mary had eight other children, all of them adults in their 20’s and 30’s.

The Telegraph filed this video report:

The Times has MORE.

Posted by firegeezer on November 9, 2009 • Filed under: Fires, Videos, arson • Tagged: arrests, arson, Cornwall, facebook, fireworks, teens

Facebook Wins Large Judgement Against Spammer

Comments Off

LATE LAST WEEK FACEBOOK WAS AWARDED a judgement of $711 million against a major “spam king” who never showed up for the trial. CNET News is reporting:

Judge Jeremy Fogel of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California granted Facebook’s application for a default judgment against Sanford Wallace for violating the Can-Spam Act, which bans “false and misleading” marketing e-mails. Fogel also found that Wallace “willfully violated” a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction issued in the case and referred the matter to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution of criminal contempt.

“The record demonstrates that Wallace willfully violated the statutes in question with blatant disregard for the rights of Facebook and the thousands of Facebook users whose accounts were compromised by his conduct,” Fogel wrote in his judgment order, which also permanently prohibits Wallace from accessing the Facebook Web site or creating a Facebook account, among other restrictions.

Wallace had operated a major “phishing” scam using Facebook members’ addresses to send out millions of spam mails. He has also had several other multi-million-dollar judgements issued against him from other web operators. His failure to pay his judgements and his continued practice of continuing to behave this way is probably why the “criminal contempt” charge has been referred. In March, 2008, Firgeezer reported (HERE) on another unrepentent spammer who refused to stop and eventually received a 26-yr. prison sentence and had all his assets seized.

Read the CNET News article HERE for the full story on this current judgement.

Hat tip: John S.

Posted by firegeezer on November 4, 2009 • Filed under: Law & Justice, News, crime • Tagged: facebook, judgement, phishing, Sanford Wallace, spam

“Change Facebook Back To Normal !!”

Comments

THAT’S THE TITLE OF A NEW FACEBOOK “Organization” page that was launched just a few hours ago.

Throughout the day and evening on Friday, Facebook friends were logging on and finding a mell of a hess on their Facebook page. Instead of leading off with the listings of the most recent postings of their friends, they were getting random selections of posts that were inserted as many as 16 hours previously.

The only way you could get the expected listings was to click around on the index and found “Status Updates” which had to be clicked every time you log on.

So the inevitible happened…..a “friend”ly revolution was born and the Change Facebook Back to Normal !! group was spawned. Apparently this bomb has really touched a lot of nerves because when I first found it at 11 am it already had 123,000 members. Now here it is at 11:45 and the membership roster is up to 145,000 members. Go Team, Go!

I was glad to join and put in my 2¢ worth. Will the “New Facebook” go the way of the “New Coke”? Maybe we’ll find out in a few days. The peasants have grabbed their pitchforks and are manning the barricades.

Posted by firegeezer on October 24, 2009 • Filed under: Technology & Communications, communications, culture • Tagged: change, facebook, revolution

Morning Lineup – October 19

Comments

The early shake-down of the new blog adventure, FireEMS Blogs, has passed pretty smoothly. This wasn’t something that just came out of a box and was plugged into the internet. It took many months of programming, designing and “imagineering” to get it up and running. I’m very impressed with Go>Forward Media’s accomplishment. As far as my little corner of the blogisphere goes, it went well. I think there were one or two sudden-panic moments when it first turned on, but they were quickly straightened out.

And the new Comments program appears to have been easily adapted by our readers. It’s functioning just fine, but at my end I’m still discovering some new features of it. As an example, I made an entry on Twitter yesterday referencing one of the postings and it also showed up in the Comments of that story. It’s my understanding that this will also be applied soon to Facebook entries. If somebody posts a link to one of my stories on their Facebook wall, then you can comment on it directly from there. I’m not sure how that works, but we’ll learn by doing, I suppose. As I said the other day, this is the beginning of a new era in digital communications.

Speaking of Comments, one of our readers sent us an email yesterday saying that he wasn’t getting any “confirmation” back after “registering” as a Commenter. In fact, this is something that has been confusing since we first started publishing back in April, 2007. There is a box somewhere that can lead you to believe that you have to register before you can leave a comment. But this feature has always been turned off on our site. I don’t know why the publishing program (WordPress) displays this when it’s been disabled, but it does and sometimes leads to people filling out the little box and sending it in. So I will remind everybody, you don’t need to “register” before you leave a comment. Just ignore that thing.

The value of Comments was quite evident last night and this morning. Following our posting about the Grand Island FD putting bone drills on their ambulances (HERE) we have received many comments from medics who are already using this device in the field and they are very pleased with the way it operates. Now Firegeezer hasn’t seen the inside of an ambulance since the crew of the Bounty mutineed, so this was the first I had heard of this handy tool. But within a few hours, we’re getting lots of valuable feed back on the device. That’s the internet on cruise control ….. doing what it’s meant to do.

And thanks again to everybody who took the time and effort to email us complimenting us on the new design. It’s truly appreciated.

I am sorely in need of some coffee, so I’m going to go get a pot started while you take care of the equipment check. It’s Monday, so the list is a little longer. We’ll meet back in the day room in a little while.