FiremanRich End of Year (2010) Review

The 2010 Year of being online Blogging, YouTubing, Tweeting, and Audiobooing for me has been a good fulfilling year of fun, as well as a year that has been interesting and knowledgeable in what other had to say or express. I guess I can throw Facebook into the mix also, but I’m still not fully convinced that Facebook is all that it’s been made to be when compared to other online social media platforms. I’m still keeping an open mind about Facebook though. At any rate, if it wasn’t fun and interesting of doing what I’m doing on the internet I wouldn’t be doing it, so I’m still here with my presents on the internet that started with my blog Tioga Fire Protection and Fire Prevention.

Since creating the Tioga Fire Protection and Fire Prevention on Blogger I have started a second blog this year called FiremanRich: Different Various Subjects To Include Fire Protection And Fire Prevention over on WordPress.com to be able to write & post on subjects other then “Fire Safety,” though my main reason for blogging is for the interest I have in fire protection & fire prevention subjects. It’s been a good part of my life and I think it’s always a good thing to share information that will keep one safe. I’ve even branched out even still to where you can find FiremanRich on HubPages which are interesting to do if I find a particular subject to write/post about to a place in a different online format other than the typical blog posting. HubPages are fun to do also.

On the YouTube front I have the TFPFP Channel but also started a second YouTube channel which would be the RichTVTioga Channel that has a pretty good video intro. Think I need to work on a intro for the TFPFP Channel in 2011, :: makes a note, intro for tfpfp youtube ::. Doing the YouTubes have been great fun and having the second channel gives a flexibility to doing YouTubes where again one channel is for fire safety/protection subjects and the other channel to branch out with different subject matter. Plus on RichTVTioga Channel my good friend & pal Max can appear as my side kick.

Though I don’t have the big number of subscribers on the YouTube channels as compared to other YouTubers, for me it’s not about numbers as it is about the fun in doing them. With a total of 25 YouTube videos done from both my channels for 2010 I have had a lot of fun and plan on continuing doing the YouTubes in 2011. I do get some views and knowing that they are being viewed and receiving comments makes it worth the time & effort.

Here’s a video expressing some additional thoughts and outlooks as we begin to enter into the New Year of 2011:

I sincerely wish everyone an awesome New Year! I’ll end this 2010 year by saying to you all. . .

May your heart be light and happy,
May your smile be big and wide,
And may your pockets always have
a coin or two inside!

Best of Luck to you in 2011!

Happy New Year! : )

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Something New On Facebook!

I was working a long 12 hour day yesterday and I’m still catching up on the news of the Facebook’s new privacy controls that rolled out yesterday (Wednesday, May 26, 2010).

An explanation of these new privacy controls can be reviewed & checked out over on http://www.facebook.com/privacy/explanation.php

Here’s a YouTube video of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg talking about the new privacy controls . . .



Wanted to and thought it was the right thing to do to follow-up on my “To Facebook or Not Facebook?” blog post with one that indicates to me that the people of Facebook are listening to the customer and user. Plus it’s current up-to-date information that those that use Facebook need to know about. It’s coming straight from the CEO’s month too in the YouTube, so it seems to me their serious as well as, at least, trying to help to make things simpler. You’ll still have the critics that won’t be satisfied with Facebook's new privacy protections. If you’re not satisfied then move on and that is always an option if you’re not happy with something.

I’ll be checking the new privacy controls over the next few days and I hope you do so also.

Oh, you can also follow Tioga Fire Protection and Fire Prevention on Facebook at . . .

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tioga-Fire-Protection-and-Fire-Prevention/109187259118803

I’m go to continue to use, post, and have fun on Facebook. Also to understand how usefully Facebook can be and has been thus far in maintaining contact with family, friends, co-workers, and the possibility to meet new friends on this social network program. So if your doing the Facebook do so safely and enjoy the fun that the platform has to offer you.

I’m even reading the book “The Accidental Billionaires” about the founding of Facebook to better understand it. Maybe that’ll be a future blog post for a book review.

Have a good weekend all and I’ll be seeing you out there on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and on the Blog Sphere.


(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; this is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

To Facebook or Not Facebook?

There’s been some talk that’s popped up on the internet radar that I’ve seen over the last week about bailing from Facebook on May 31st, 2010. A “Mass Exodus” sort of speaks over the privacy of personal data that may reside on individual Facebook accounts. There’s even a web page for the “Mass Exodus” over at http://www.quitfacebookday.com/ .

Now concerning the “privacy of personal data” on Facebook, I do recall this past April 27, 2010 of a new Facebook privacy setting update for me, as well as others using Facebook, called “Instant Personalization” that shares data with non-Facebook websites and it is automatically set to "Allow.”

In order to remove this “Instant Personalization” setting form “Allow” to “NOT ALLOW” you simply go to Account > Privacy Settings > Applications and Websites and then uncheck "Allow". Again you have to “UNCHECK” the box to “NOT ALLOW.”

Oh, by the way I am a Facebook user for a little over a year now. I find using Facebook pretty good in maintaining contacts with family members, friends (both current & old).

Matter fact it was a few good friends that informed me of the “Instant Personalization” setting and advised me it's best to uncheck for better “privacy of personal data” when using Facebook. Seemed like a good idea and I took their advice and did the simple instructions that updated my security posture on my Facebook account.

Will I be taking part in the “Quit Facebook Day” on May 31st, 2010? Probably not because the reason given to quit is “Sick of Facebook's lack of respect for your data? Add your name and commit to quit!” is somewhat… well…lacking. Facebook in my opinion is providing a pretty good online social service for us all on the internet to meet up on and I think they respect to a certain degree all those that have an account. Of course I’m not going to put my life story and bank account numbers or other really, really personal information. Let me see…something to the affect of…ummmm…using common sense comes to mind.

We are all responsible for what we do and what we say in this world we live in. At least that’s the way I was brought up. I have at times not shut up when it’s best not to say anything and found myself in a pickle or sort. We live & learn, part of life’s lessons, and hopefully for the better.

There have been a few examples in the pass weeks of an individual’s sort of getting caught in what I would call a Facebook Pickle…

The first Facebook Pickle being about how a “Facebook post costs waitress her job”. Basically waitress waits on customer, and custom ore leaves a less then fair tip for services. The waitress cries/complains about it on Facebook, and then waitress’ boss sees the Facebook post. The result from the waitress’ boss is that this was “…violating company policy against speaking disparagingly about customers. … “ and that a another policy was broke by “… casting the restaurant in a negative light on social networks. …” Sometimes it’s always best just to let it go and not cross a line in such a public place that Facebook can become to vent off to where it comes back to bite you.

The second Facebook Pickle happen last week when five fire fighters from McMinnville City, Tennessee posting on Facebook while on duty. The five fire fighters were using laptops that they owned but they were doing their Facebook posting while on the City McMinnville’s time. I would take it that there is a city policy that while you are on duty, apparently, you are not allowed to doing this type of activity because the five firefighters were given & received an oral reprimand and a copy of the incident was placed in their employment records. Basically a slap on the wrist but hopefully a lesson learned not only by the fire fighters but for the city government also to ensure that all policies are clearly stated, and if there is a gray area then explain it to where there is none.

We all must educate our selves with the uses and changes when dealing with Facebook. We all make choices and hopefully they are the best choices. Everyone is putting something online with the result being someone will see it. I put this blog post online for others to see & read and to learn a little.

As far as “Facebook Privacy” goes you have to do it with a “K.I.S.S.” (Keep It Simple Stupid) and in the following video from our very good online friend Chris Pirillo, over on http://chris.pirillo.com/ , the simplicity of being careful couldn’t be made anymore simple. Thank-you Chris for the best advise one could use on their Facebook account, greatly appreciated. View and enjoy…

Chris Pirillo’s perfect two-step plan to help solve the problem of me To Facebook or Not Facebook?

Step 1: STOP SHARING SHIT ONLINE THAT YOU DON’T WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW.

Step 2: Repeat step 1.

This simple two-step plan can apply to Twitter, YouTube, Home Web Pages, Blogs, and even emails. Once it’s out there, it’s out there, so take responsibility and be careful just like anything we do in our daily lives.


(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; this is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Happy Birthday TFPFP!

WOW! I've been having a lot of fun this past year doing the "blog thing." I've also been haven fun with the Social Media of Twitter and Facebook .

Oh, did I tell you that you can follow me on Twitter @FiremanRich.

Here it is a year later after starting Tioga Fire Protection & Fire Prevention (TFPFP) and today, yes today is the blog site's 1st birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Tioga Fire Protection & Fire Prevention!

This birthday blog post makes my 95th blog post for me. Lots of articles and lots of views over the last year. Maybe not as much as a Joel Comm, (@JoelComm), Chris Pirillo, (@ChrisPirillo) or even as much as The Fire Critic (@FireCritic), all of who are big time online celebrities, if I do say so myself. The blog posts I've made over the past year are a significant amount to where they are a big deal to me. They express a view and outlook of Fire Protection/Safety that is very important to me and allows me to be able to pass on this knowledge to each and everyone.

I really wasn't sure where this was all going to take me. When I first started I figure let me give it a try and see where it'll takes me. What would result is knowing that if I can blog then anyone can blog by just giving it a go. It has sparked an interest to learn a process and to pass on that knowledge as well as to encourage others who would not otherwise try doing a blog or create a twitter account.

Blogging isn't for everyone but if you have something to say or knowledge to pass on it's a great format to do so. Blogger by Goggle has worked out very well as a blog host for me. Couldn't beat that price of using it either, which is FREE!

The blog platform to work from has been and will continue to be a good place for me to share Fire Protection & Fire Prevention practices, thoughts, ideas, or just some general discussion. Doing so I found it keeps me engaged on the subjects and keeps its exciting. It's a work in progress for me, that’s fun. With all the other Fire Service Blogs that are out there now, reading them helps me become a better informed fire fighter with each blog post.

Now there’s that FIREFIGHTER netcast out there for us to listen to. Check it out you won’t be sorry, I know I wasn’t. . .

I’ve been in the process of listening to all the podcast since the start of them this past January. Their online and their on iTunes too! Lots of GREAT information that’s current for todays Fire Service. I’m hook and I’m a fan. Plus there’s some exciting things coming up so take the time to visit FIREFIGHTER netcast .

Well, time to have some cake & ice cream. The cake is a cupcake with one candle on it.

Part of starting a 2nd year of blogging, Tioga Fire Protection and Fire Prevention has a Facebook Fan Page now. . .

Isn’t this World Wide Web and Social Media Great! : )

Thanks again for all the visits to TFPFP and I look forward to future visits when I’m a doing the “blog thing.”

Be Safe Out There and God Bless.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; this is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)