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Living in Poverty: A Story for Blog Action Day

Living in Poverty

I flew through High School. National Honor Society, 1200+ on the SAT’s, all that crap. I never studied. School work was easy and studying was unnecessary. I spent a lot of time on my computer, a 286 purchased through the combined forces of my entire family. I went to Georgia Tech on scholarships  to study Computer Science.

I never graduated. I tried to get help to see why I couldn’t focus, but help didn’t come quick enough. Grades slipped, scholarships went away, debt mounted. Things fall apart.

A few years later, I’m working two jobs to take care of my wife and kids. We live well below the poverty line. My wife doesn’t get a job because that means we would need childcare and that’s just out of the question. We literally live from paycheck to paycheck. We eat the cheapest food we can find and live in a neighborhood where our neighbor sells drugs and prostitutes frequent the alley outside our window.

We can’t afford a phone, so we make calls at the payphone across the street. We don’t have a car, but at least the bus stop is right in front of our apartment complex. It takes me over an hour to get to work everyday. I barely even see my family.

I try a couple of times to go back to school, thinking maybe I can get a degree and then get a better job but, after two failed attempts over the years, all I have to show for it is more debt. Working two jobs and trying to go to school without reliable transportation is almost impossible.

Sure, I have the knowledge to work as a developer (I’ve been programming since the 4th grade), but nobody will hire me without a degree. I’m making $10/hr as a supervisor at my main job and that’s about as good as it gets. I’m stuck living in poverty and I’m not sure how to get out. Nobody can understand why I’m not doing better. I’m so talented and smart…so they say.

Is this your story, Rahsheen?

It very well could be. I most certainly never got a degree, but my mother wouldn’t have hers if I hadn’t taught her C/C++ and OOP (remember when that was a buzz word?). I have always hustled and scraped any way I could to try and provide for my kids. I have worked two jobs for most of my life. I have lived in poverty.

Anyone can end up in poverty. It doesn’t matter how hard you work. It doesn’t matter how smart you are. It doesn’t matter what race or ethnicity you are.

I tell you these things because a lot of people focus on the Why’s of poverty. They wonder why you let yourself live like that. They wonder why you don’t just get a better job. Why don’t you just go back to school and get a degree? Do you even have an ounce of pride in yourself?

Some situations are like quicksand. The more you kick and struggle to pull yourself out, the deeper you sink. There is nothing to grab onto. All your lifelines are gone.

Will you just walk past your fellow man and ignore their situation? Will you simply marvel at how they could have ended up in such a predicament? Will you wonder how they could have been so stupid? 

…Or will you simply give them a hand?

There are a million things you can do to help. For now, let’s keep it simple: 88 Ways to DO Something About Poverty Right Now.

Don’t just sit there….DO SOMETHING.

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Quick Diigo Bookmarking for Chrome

After reading an article about accelerating bookmarking to Delicious in Chrome, I got the idea to do something similar for Diigo. I like Diigo a lot better and it actually bookmarks to Delicious for me as a backup. To use this script:

  1. Download and install AutoHotKey
  2. Download the script here: ChromeToDiigo.ahk
  3. Run the script just like any other application

Now, when you want to bookmark a page to Diigo:

  1. Select the text you want as the description (or not)
  2. Hit Ctrl+Shift+D or Ctrl+Shift+B 
  3. Add tags and any modifications you see fit
  4. Click the “Add New Bookmark” button

Notes

This script overrides Ctrl+Shift+D and Ctrl+Shift+B, so you cannot use this at the same time as the above-mentioned Delicious bookmarking script. There is not a reason to run both at the same time, anyway as Diigo will send your bookmarks to Delicious for you.

However, you can always edit the script code to change the key sequences.

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MySpace Mail Integrates with Google Gears

Apparently, MySpace now interfaces with Google Gears to enable “super fast search and sorting” for your inbox. Yes, I really did just copy that from the graphic.

What does this mean? I’m not sure. Everyone seems to hate MySpace anyway. 

I actually like MySpace. Probably because I’m an artist and everyone is already familiar with it. Most people within the social media and early adopter community are “so over” MySpace. They think FaceBook is the bees’ knees. 

Even still, I don’t forsee ever using MySpace to search for old messages. If you want me to care about your message, I would assume you would just email me. 

Back to the subject at hand, once you fire up MySpace and connect it to Google Gears, it will begin indexing your messages:

 

I think it’s pretty cool that MySpace is actually still making updates to the service. I really wish they wouldn’t have added Apps like FaceBook, but that’s a whole different discussion entirely. This feature does seem, to me, to make MySpace just a bit more respectable in my eyes.

Holla at me on MySpace at http://myspace.com/microrahsheen

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The Eagle Eye is Watching Whether You Like it Or Not

There is no such thing as privacy anymore.

Go back and read that again….I’ll wait….

Now that you grasp that, don’t you feel a little better? Maybe like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders? Breathe.

Now, you don’t have to go around being so damn secretive all the time. You no longer have to try and hide things. You don’t have to stress out so much about Them finding out about that thing you did. You don’t have to keep wondering if They will ever get around to asking you about that thing you swore you would never speak of again.

They Already Know

That shouldn’t scare you. If they cared, they would have taken action by now, right? Here you are, beating yourself up and stressing over this and they don’t even care. Wow, don’t you feel silly. Whatever privacy you think you have is simply the illusion They have manifested before you so that you never really catch on to the truth. You, however, know the truth now. 

You’re probably reading this on a computer or cell phone. You’re connected. You’re plugged in. The very system that allows you to enjoy the convenience of information at your fingertips at all times is the same one They are using to track you’re every move.

They have your social security number, your birth records, shots, dental, medical, and financial records. They know what kind of beer you like, sexual preference, favorite TV shows and movies. They even know which hand you use to do that thing you thought you were doing in private.

The Red Pill or The Blue Pill

It always comes down to those damn pills, doesn’t it? 

The first choice is freedom. Do as you please with the knowledge that someone somewhere probably knows you did it, whether you wanted them to or not. It’s simply the path that technology and hyper-connectivity has placed us on. Keep updating Twitter everytime you eat a mango. Take grainy photos of yourself in the bathroom and post them on MySpace. Keep that relationship status updated on Facebook and for God’s sake, make sure you keep favoriting those racy photos over on Flickr.

If They are going to watch you anyway, you may as well have fun.

The second choice is isolation. Disconnect your internet connection, cancel your cell phone, close the blinds and lock your door. If anyone comes, send them away. Don’t talk to anybody, they could leak information about you. Cut all lines running to your home and for God’s sake do NOT leave the house. 

You never know who is watching

This Post is Stupid. My Privacy is Intact. I’m Careful!

Really? My mistake then.

Sorry to bother you.

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Ever Been Burned? Start Using Protection

The Internet is sometimes a dangerous place. We do a lot of things online for the shear convenience of it. The average person probably at least accesses their bank accounts, credit reports, and email online. If you’re into social media and social networking, you may have at least 10 different sights that you access multiple times a day. Most of these services require a username and a password to get into.

How do you remember passwords?

Many of us use the same password for every site we access. This is obviously the most insecure way to handle your business online. Most times, that one password we picked isn’t even a secure one.

Some of us think we have a fool-proof system where you have a few different passwords:

  • A low level password for stuff that you don’t really care about
  • A mid-level password for stuff that’s moderately important
  • And a high-level password for bank accounts and such

Guess what? That method sucks too.

Why? Because if you are memorizing passwords, the likelihood that you pick a very secure one is very low. People don’t really do too well in memorizing random sequences that would make secure passwords. You probably have some mnemonic and that is the fatal flaw.

How do we get around this?

Some people allow their web browser to store all of their logins and passwords. Whenever you hit a login screen, everything is already filled in. You just click a button.

Other people turn to third-party software programs to handle this memorization for them. Most of these programs even offer the ability to create a secure password for you. So, all you have to do when you come to a login screen is…well, click a button.

Great, Problem Solved!

Not really. I sometimes switch browsers. I may even switch computers. I run three different operating systems in my house.

  • Saving a password in the browser is only useful for that one particular browser on that particular computer
  • Using a software program means that software must be installed everywhere I go, it must run on every OS I use, it must run on every browser I use, and it must somehow sync easily across computers and operating systems
  • If something happens and I’m stuck using a computer that is not mine, I’m screwed because I probably don’t know my secure passwords by heart

PassPack To The Rescue

After checking out RoboForm, Sxipper, and MashedLife, I chose PassPack.

  • RoboForm bogged down FireFox, even when not in use. Apparently, IE is the only natively supported browser and you need an adapter to use RoboForm with FireFox. This would explain all the suckage.
  • Sxipper, a very pretty FFx extension,  caused more than excessive memory usage.
  • MashedLife appears to be a simple knock off of PassPack, as you can tell in their TOS, which they haven’t even bothered to update even after these accusations. (details here at TC)

I chose PassPack for a few reasons:

  • While your passwords are stored remotely, they are never transmitted in the clear.
  • I can login securely to most websites with a single click of a bookmarklet
  • If PassPack doesn’t know how to login to a given website, I can teach it how in 3 clicks
  • The interface is pleasing to the eye
  • I can use PassPack on just about any browser on any OS
  • It handles multiple logins for the same domain elegantly (Google Accounts, for instance)

Another reason for my choice was the quick responses I got from the PassPack team when I ran into issues and had general questions.

There are many other benefits to using PassPack, including anti-phishing protection, desktop interfaces, and various glowing recommendations from Cyndy over at Profy. but you don’t have to take my word for it. Go check out these examples.

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FriendFeed Beta Moved the Sidebar: Community in an Uproar (Better Beta FriendFeed v0.2 Released)

FriendFeed users are outraged today that they were not notified there would be a change in the layout of the popular aggregation site before it was put into place. The sidebar was moved from the right side to the left side and made slightly smaller.

FriendFeed should have tested the design first, maybe on a Beta site of some kind using a select group of users who could provide intelligent feedback. The early-adopter community would have been a perfect fit for something like this and it is still unknown as to why the FriendFeed developers chose not to go this route.

Wait…this just in: The changes were actually made on the Beta site a http://beta.friendfeed.com. We are still not sure what all the fuss is about, http://friendfeed.com is still intact and running the same boring layout that it has been using all along.

In other news, a new version of the Better Beta FriendFeed GreaseMonkey script has been released to accommodate the new design. If you miss your tabs with the latest upgrade, you can download the new version  of the script here:

http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/32513

Let me know if you have any issues….with the script.

Here are details on the FriendFeed Beta Design Update

To complain..uh…provide feedback on the new design visit the FriendFeed Beta Feedback Room.

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5 Ways to Use Ubiquity for Getting Things Done

Ubiquity is a new Firefox add-on that attempts to fix problems with the usability of the web. Developers and users alike can extend the web as they see fit. It allows you to control the web using regular language.

With search, you type what you want to find. With Ubiquity, you type what you want to do.

Here are a few ways that this new Firefox add-on can help you get things done and boost your productivity.

Schedule an Appointment

You can easily add an event to your Google Calendar using the add-to-calendar command. Simply describe your task in plain english:

add-to-calendar lunch with Louis and Scoble on Thursday

Check Your Calendar

Make sure you’re available for upcoming events with the check-calendar:

check-calendar thursday

Fire Off an Email

Sometimes I keep Gmail open in case I need to send an email real quick, but that’s no good for staying focused and on task. Ubiquity gives us the email command to make the process easier. Send a quick message by specifying a message and a contact from Gmail:

email Rahsheen is an awesome musician. Check him out. to Diddy

You can also select text and images from the page you’re on and do something like:

email this to Kyle

Add a Task to Remember The Milk

Being somewhat of a Remember The Milk fanatic, the first thing I looked for was a way to add tasks to my list. Google led me to this command:

rtm Finish mixing new song

Send a Message on Twitter

It’s possible that some people use Twitter to accomplish things besides broadcasting when they create a new blog post. For those people, you can use Ubiquity to send a tweet like this:

twitter I just ate a mango

Tying it All Together

Visit Mozilla Labs for an Introduction to Ubiquity. I recommend watching the video first. It doesn’t really make sense until you see it in action.

All of the commands above are included with Ubiquity except for the Remember The Milk command, which you can find in the Ubiquity Wiki. You’ll also find a plethora of other commands for your perusal.

Installing new commands is as simple as visiting a web page once you have the add-on installed.

Are you already using Ubiquity to increase your productivity? Tell me about it.

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Better Beta FriendFeed Greasemonkey Script Release

FriendFeed made the beta site available, but in doing so they broke all my Greasemonkey scripts. Better FriendFeed no longer works, Cleaner FriendFeed is broke, and a few others I was using. The only solution I could come up with to make sure I could still add custom tabs was to update my Better FriendFeed script.

Features in this release:

  • Add/Remove custom tabs (access any site inside of FriendFeed so you don’t have to leave it)
  • Cleaner FriendFeed support allows clearer color indicators for your comments and your friends’ comments, as well as making the text easier to read overall
  • Change the word “Like” to another word of your choosing so that you don’t feel bad about Liking bad stuff in your feed

Whenever this actually goes live, I’ll need to make a simple update to the script because it will only work on http://beta.friendfeed.com for now.

Download Better Beta FriendFeed

Update: My main man Andrew Trinh reminded me that you have to disable the Better FriendFeed script or it will clash with the Better Beta FriendFeed script  (thanks Andrew!)

FriendFeed Beta Around the Blogosphere

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I Guess Video Embeds DO Work in WordPress

I originally got a video camera so that I could post videos of me singing on YouTube. Yeah, I know, lame.

Anyway, I more recently began using Seesmic for recording a workout journal because I find it extremely boring to write down or type what I have done. This information is imperative in making sure I’m progressing, though.

One day, I decided I was going to record myself reciting a verse to one of my songs spoken-word style. A lot of people seemed to enjoy this across the blogosphere. This got me interested in doing more video, so I started my 12 Seconds To A Better Life series on 12seconds.tv.

Until now, I had not embedded any videos here because I remembered running into issues before, but I can’t for the life of me remember now what had happened then because, as you can see below, Seesmic embeds just fine. It seems YouTube, Google Video and a few others need a plugin like Viper’s Video Quicktags.

The moral of the story is to always track what you do. Finding a solution to a problem is like solving a maze. If you don’t keep track of where you’ve been, you will keep hitting the same dead ends. I guess that applies to life in general, too.

Look forward to seeing more of me. The type of content here probably won’t change much, but video definitely allows for more diversity in how it will be presented.

Just for fun, here is me reciting something else on Seesmic.

Follow me at 12seconds.tv, Seesmic, or YouTube

Need an invite for 12seconds? Be one of the first 8 people to leave a comment and ask me for one.

Also, feel free to comment via Seesmic right on my blog 🙂

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15 People Who Rock On Rejaw

I signed up for Rejaw a while ago and I was actually taken with it’s interface. Even with all the Web 2.0 stuff out there and everybody jumping on the AJAX bandwagon, there are still only a few sites I’ve come across that actually use these technologies to provide a rich and interactive user experience.

Recently, a bonafide internet celebrity joined the ranks of satisfied Rejaw users and brought with him an army of followers (658, last I checked). There is definitely a community feeling on Rejaw that I don’t see on many other services and, combined with it’s features, I find it a lot of fun there.

I know, Robert. It’s freaking ridiculous. Also, you forgot to mention Kwippy. I am going to guess that people are always looking for something new, especially tech people like us. I’m also guessing that developers can’t help but try and do it better than Twitter did. If these two things were not true, I think we would all be just fine talking on IRC and ICQ, but I digress.

Rejaw allows you to embed your music, movies, and images right into your updates and allows for threaded conversation around those updates. Here are just a few people that I find to be catalysts for conversation on Rejaw. Be sure to check them out if you decide to join us.

Mona – “So, I have a question. There are A LOT of people on Social Networking sites, who complain about Social Networking sites, yet they still participate. Why do they do that?” (Yes, THE Mona)

diozaliciouz18 – “whoa! so princess is back and no one minds my presence?! omg! where’s my hero and my heroine [s] ?!”

Kelly – “A big WELCOME to all the new people that just got here! I would stay and get to know you all, but I have to get back to sleep.”

Chachafance – “It’s funny how people are just now catching on to Rejaw, getting excited & joining. Don’t they realize they’ve been missing out for awhile now? lol”

Wayne Sutton – “Hello everyone, so Leo started a Rejaw Rush? we’ve been here for 2 weeks shouting and whispering. So how do you like Rejaw so far?”

Gwen Sutton – “Side effect of Rejaw, you find nice people.”

Avatar X – “Leo Laporte is here. get ready for the flow of new users.”

Ciro – “My public apologies to my followers…for having to endure my thread replies…me and AvatarX just beat a new Rejaw record…I believe…”

The Rejaw Team (yup, they participate)

Rejaw
Danny Burkes
Chris Boone
Satoshi Nakagawa
Kenn Ejima

Oh, and this guy is supposed to be kind of a big deal: Leo Laporte

You can Shout at me here: http://rejaw.com/rahsheen

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Get On The Move and Walk For a Cause

I just recently came across the opportunity to blog about the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk. Some of you who have been around for a while are already aware that I only write about things I find interesting or beneficial to my readers. This is definitely something I think can help a lot of people.

Many of you are already walking or running because you care about your health. Walking has to be one of the easiest ways to get healthy and stay that way. You don’t need any special equiptment, you don’t have to already be in the best of shape to do it, and you can involve the whole family.

That being said, I would like to offer you the opportunity to walk for a cause. By putting together a Memory Walk team in your community, you can help everyone do something good for themselves while supporting the millions affected by Alzheimer’s.

All you do is visit the site, choose a walk near you, and you will get your very own fund-raising website. All ages are welcome, so get your friends and family together or maybe get your company involved. Together, we can move closer to a world without Alzheimer’s.

Sponsored by Alzheimer's Walk

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There is No Road to Success

Do you believe that there is a road to success?

Some hidden pathway that will take you directly to your lifetime goals?

I have heard this term used all the time. I believe I have even used it on this very blog. But, now that I think about it, it just can’t be true. A simple road implies that:

  • Someone has already paved or at least cleared it
  • It has been traveled before
  • There are probably no obstacles

Now, I don’t know about you, but life is not simple and easy. Life requires hard work if you plan to get anything you desire. I have never known of anyone who found this road to success. So what gives?

You have to go through some stuff, to get to some stuff

Makes sense, doesn’t it?

  • Did you go through High School to get to College?
  • Maybe through Med school to become a Doctor
  • Went through a few bad relationships before you found someone who actually treated you right?
  • Did you suffer through years of turmoil before you could actually escape your parents?
  • Maybe you even went through countless jobs before figuring out your true calling

Didn’t you click a link or go through an RSS reader to get to this post?

The point is, you have to pave your own way. No one else can do it for you because no one else is you and no one else shares the same destination as you. Your individuality means that, not only is your destination different, but your path diverges as well.

So how can your road to success already exist?

The struggles you are going through now are like the vines and overgrowth of the jungle. Keep pressing on, cutting through and clearing your path. Huge unseen beasts growl in the distance and sometimes you feel like you just want to sit down and close your eyes. Maybe it will all just go away.

Many people stop and even turn back. You probably know some of them. They are getting nowhere fast and are quite unhappy about it. They are lost.

Smash through any obstacles you meet and eviscerate any low beast that comes near. Be persistent and don’t lose your determination. You have been given everything you need to succeed and, eventually, you break through into the Sunlight.