Professing our love (or hate) for social media

Came across an interesting blog post yesterday by Rob Imberger, a church pastor in Bendigo, who my wife is doing the Arrow course with. It's an interesting post on it's own, but it's also interesting that I've seen four other blog posts in the last 24 hours where people have professed their love or hate of social media. Why do we feel so compelled to do this?

Rob's original post that got me thinking...

But let's start with Rob...

Rob is shutting down his facebook account. Yep, finito. Deleted.

Why?
Well, he gives five great reasons in his blog post, which include:

1. "He wasted an inordinate amount of his time,
2. Being ‘liked’ by friends became as or more important than being liked by God.
3. He used Facebook as a relational shortcut.
4. Uncrowded space virtually disappeared from his life, and
5. An addict can’t dabble.

They're some pretty deep reasons here! (He's even quoting Mark Sayers book: The Trouble with Paris, which I've also read and loved, so you know he's serious.)

I won't rehash his points here in more detail because it really is worth a read there, but it's really re-asked the question of me: why do I keep up my 'online' appearances? Why do I 'try' albeit it poorly to maintain a blog? Not Tweet or Facebook?

Would I feel less stretched? More 'myself' if I wasn't trying to 'keep up' with something I can't possibly keep up with? Maybe, I might need more time to think about that!

Then there was Mike's counter-post: 4 Reasons I haven't quit Facebook

Mike's blog.

I don't know Mike, he seems like a nice guy, into sports and stuff and I don't know much about him, except that he is the Youth & Young Adults pastor.. He makes some excellent point about the enabling nature of Facebook and how it helps him to do his job better and be better connected with folks overseas.

But read to the end of the post to make sure you catch the hook...

Thirdly, there was Lindsay and Richenda's twin-posts:

•  You know you’re a social media junkie when… and
• Confessions of a Social Media Manager.

Lindsay's blog.

Both are amazingly dedicated social media managers for World Vision: Lindsay in the US, and Richenda here in Aus.
In their posts, they explore some of the funny quirks that come with being in the social media game and trying to 'keep up' and connected with the streams of content that come with the job. I know that Richenda is definitely as passionate and really does 'love' social media as much as she suggests in her post!

So... why do we feel compelled to profess our love (or hate) for social media?

• Is it because by posting our thoughts on blogs, Facebook and Twitter, we will get some 'link' love and that warm satisfaction from someone agreeing with our opinion?
• Am I doing that right now?
• Is it because, in Rob and Mike's case, we are worried that people are participating in social media 'mindlessly' without considering the broader implications on their lives, relationships, view of self?
• Is it because, in Lindsay and Richenda's case, they really do love it, but find that people don't quite understand what's to love?
• Or Perhaps L&R want to educate people and draw back the curtain on what 'Social Media Managers' do all day?

Maybe it's all of the above, maybe it's not. There's a blog post or two there exploring some of this more, but maybe that would just be me professing my own love of social media too.

Experiement: @Optus Cable internet at home

My wife and I have been living in our new place for about three months now. We've been putting off hooking up Internet at home and using our iPhones to browse the web or tether to our computer at home, but there comes a time when 3G speeds just aren't that speedy.

As I was looking for an Internet Service Provider (ISP), it became apparent that our house had two things:

1. Optus phone lines
2. Optus Cable connections

The Optus phone lines were the biggest issue - a whopping $299 to transfer to Telstra, from which we could then move to another ISP. Otherwise, we were stuck with Optus. (at least that's what the sales consultants at other ISPs told us.
I was really keen to go with TPG or iPrimus, but neither seemed to be able to help us out of this dilemma.

Secondly, Optus Cable.
I'd noticed it when we first moved in and thought it would be neat to try out.
Would it actually be fast?
Some people say "Yes - it's amazing!"

... whilst others (including a very vocal posse on Whirlpool) say "It's hideous and they want to gouge their eyes out, because it's so slow."

Experiment - Optus Cable internet at home
Yesterday, we plugged it in and are going to test it out over the next two weeks, if it doesn't work, we'll switch across to a somewhat more reliable ADSL2+ connection.
It went like a rocket yesterday morning, but was definitely temperamental throughout the day and got to a crawl late last night.

What happens next, we'll very soon seen...

Foods my wife can't eat - Fructose Mal-absorption

About a year ago, my wife Fee was diagnosed with Fructose Mal-absorption.
It's a food thing.

It means she can't eat fruit, onion, flour, wheat and honey (but more on that in a moment) 


When she first found out, she cried. But once she got used to the idea that food wouldn't make her feel bad any more - but actually make her feel good, well we were on our way!

Fructose Mal-absorption isn't exactly front page news.Most people who we visit for dinner don't really know what Fee can or can't eat.
We don't blame you. We want to help you.

So, if we're coming round to your place for a meal, here's a quick list for you to reference so we don't have to kinda leave that awesome apple crumble. Sometimes it's easiest to say 'Gluten-free-plus-no-fruit-and-onion'.

1/ Stuff she CAN'T eat -

• Onion
• Flour (wheat flour)
• Honey
• Beans and Legumes
• Apples, Pears
• Lots of garlic (small amounts are ok!)

2/ Stuff she CAN eat -

• All Meats including fish
• Chocolate
• Cheese
• Eggs
• Gluten free breads
• Oats (ie. porridge)
• Gluten free pasta
• Gluten free cakes (yum)
• Rice
• Rice noodles
• Dairy
• Rice crackers
• Ice Cream
• Some fruits, like Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Pineapple & Bananas (if you can afford them)
• She can eat oranges, but she's allergic to them, so she doesn't.
• ... and vegies, like Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Potato, Corn, Mushrooms, Capsicum, cucumber, zucchini, carrots, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes
  (oh wait, is a tomato a fruit? doesn't matter, she can eat it anyway!)

3/ Traps for young players

• Most 'stocks' have onion or onion powder in them, which is a shame.
• Maple 'flavoured' syrup: The fake stuff is not good for Fee, but 'Real' Maple Syrup is great.
• Most dips, salsas and sauces are made with onion somewhere too, which is a bit sad.
• 'Dehydrated vegies': check the ingredients list for this one, this typically means it had onion.

4/ Choice meals

• Meat & Veg
• Gluten free pasta and sauce
• Curry & rice (no onion)
• Risotto (no onion)
• Eggs & Bacon

Dinner soon?

Update: [SOLD] Bianchi 928 Carbon Fibre road bike

## Update: A great young guy who will be racing in a school team in Human Powered Vehicles at the RACV Energy Breakthrough this year, came and picked up this trusty steed this morning. I hope he enjoys it as much as I have! ##


The time has come to sell my wonderful Bianchi 928 Carbon road bike.
I'm compiled an album to show it off in all it's (current) glory here...

I've really enjoyed spending plenty of hours on 'Fast Eddy' over the past 6 years or so. Whilst I have tried hard to keep it in good condition, there have been a few inevitable scratches and war scars.
I've only recently upsized to a larger frame and a newer rig, as this one was a bit small (56cm) for me.

I'm 186cm and can't quite believe that I rode a bike that was too small for me for so long. I'd recommend to get measured up really well before you buy any bike. Mine included.


The drive train was all replaced (front chain rings, chain and rear cassette) in late 2010, so that's all running pretty sweetly too.

Here are the overview...
It's a Bianchi 928 Carbon, not the one with the Celeste Green decals), with a...
Carbon Fibre frame, and it was...
Handmade in Italy

And here's the finer specs:
Size: 56cm seat tube, x 56 cm top tube (centre to centre)
Levers: Dura-Ace ST-7700 (9spd)
Wheels: Mavic Cosmos
Chain: Dura-Ace 9spd
Front Derailleur: Dura-Ace FD-7700 (9spd)
Rear Derailleur: Dura-Ace RD-7700 (9spd)
Rear Cassette: Ultegra CS-6500 (12t-23t)
Brakes: Ultegra BR-6500
Cranks: Ultegra FC-6500
Seatpost: BBB Alloy
Saddle / Seat: Bontrager Affinty2
Headstem: ITM Millennium Bianchi - 130mm
Pedals: Shimano 105 widebody (new, fresh out of the box)

And here's the album with all the pics:

For Sale - Bianchi 928 Carbon

What I do at World Vision

It's been a while between posts ... over six months in fact, but it's not because I haven't had posts up there in my head ready to come out.

Since my last post way back in November, I've changed roles, but have still kept in touch with the RACV Energy Breakthrough & HPV community. I've bought a new bike (expect to see an ad for my old Bianchi 928 here soon!), celebrated my 4 year of marriage to Fee and have been certainly a lot more active at work than my 'year of reflection' in 2010. I think I'm getting better at saying 'no' too.

Since November last year, I've been the Digital Presence Co-ordinator for World Vision Australia.
I prefer the title: Online Guy, the myself, but hey - organisations are good at making up big titles for roles like mine.

What do I do at World Vision?

World Vision Australia homepage

Within our Digital Team, I find and publish stories, help with campaigns and do some project work for the World Vision website - worldvision.com.au. 

Think of me as like a Magazine Publisher, I don't write the stories or take the photos, but I collate them, play a part in finding them and commissioning pieces and deciding on where they fit into the website structure. Once these pieces of content are published, my offsider Carlos and I let our Social Media Team know and they tweet and facebook out the articles.

I also look after content and advise on web projects like the 40HourFamine.com, Team World Vision and Connecting Lives.


Do I enjoy it?

Yes! I feel like I'm in the right place at the right time. The people I work with (like Richenda, Keith, Jeff, Carlos and Prarth - amongst a host of others) are wonderful, really colourful people and I have a sense that I am able to give my best for World Vision in this role. The opportunity to take stories of need or hope from around the world and bring them to an Australian audience where people can respond - financially or non-financially - is a great one. I hope I can do the people in World Vision's projects around the world proud.


So, really ... why no posts lately?
I think it's really challenging to spend all of my days online to come home and write a blog. There comes a point where there is just too much screen time for me and I can't take it anymore.

Let's hope that I've turned a corner and I get my act together to post a bit more often!

No Crap November

Well, it's a bit off the wall from 'Movember' or 'Oc-Sober' or 'Dry-July' - but for this November, my wife Fee and I embarked on No Crap November.

Basically, in the lead-up we weren't eating particuarly well - we weren't doing terribly but we wanted to avoid chocolates, cake, soft drink and desserts.

How did we go? 
Really well for the first fortnight, then we struggled big time once I got to the RACV Energy Breakthrough (right) and Fee had a Staff Retreat, then a meeting in Bendigo and then a Alpha Board meeting.

Once we broke the routine, it was all over. Once we were seperated (physically!) we couldn't keep it up.

We've never really been into diets, but this little insight into how we go at giving things up could really translate to lots of other areas as well - work, exercise, paying bills, getting enough sleep.
If you go it alone, we're less likely to get through. 

Now for Christmas!

Off to Sydney for the Australasian Fundraising Forum (2010)

Well, I know I've been very quiet of late here on my blog, but I've been really busy trying to keep my head above water with World Vision's 40 Hour Famine campaign (Aug 20 - 22).

This year I was looking after the website and social media. It's all gone really well (if I say so myself) but I've also found myself quite stretched by the demands of both website publishing and being part of an online community through social media.

It even led me to give up technology myself and resort to a diet of oats and rice for 40 hours last weekend (Aug 27-29). Thanks to Crowey, James, Steve, Nathan and Kim who kindly gave me a few dollars!

Off to Sydney for the Australasian Fundraising Forum (2010)

With all of this recent knowledge, I'm packing my bags for the Australasian Fundraising Forum in Sydney to talk about how we used social media and why. I hope I can shed a bit of light on the idea of what all those 'social media people' are doing all day.

It will be a new experience for me - I've not spoken at a professional conference on behalf of World Vision before - and yet I've spoken at many other youth events for our supporters.

After I get back from Sydney, I'll be heading off to Pt Lonsdale for a week without computers again.

We're really looking forward to putting our feet up and switching off.