Social media, paparazzi and the public's right to know...everything,

     Okay, I am participating in social media right now. I am now on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and I now even have a blog that you are nice enough to read. I did none of this 5 years ago. I even just signed up for Skype and may get one or two of those webcam chat things, now that I (finally) got myself into the 21st century with a computer with a built in webcam attachment. I even have a Kindle Fire tablet which goes with me everywhere. (Yes,I am serious). All of these things are nice to have and they do help when you are hours and/or thousands of miles from your family and friends back home, like (most) of our brave service members, contractors and DOD civilians are around the world and you want to communicate in (many cases something close to or in) real-time.
   Still, I must say that one should consider the use of social media as a privilege, not a right. The tings you say or tweet or show can have consequences, maybe not today, or tomorrow, but it could matter 10 years down the road. You should realize the power it gives you to communicate, and that power has responsibilities, as well. Yes, we laugh and gasp and do other things when we look at those gossip websites like TMZ, Media Take Out and the like and see the crazy stuff that (famous, usually) people do in public (or in private, or what they though was private). Many of those things we probably should not be saying. One wrong word in a email, one unflattering photo or one no so good tweet can trash your reputation or crush your career before it get started....for most of us. The old saying is: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. That is so true. For a lucky few, those bad photos or tweets work out well for them. Emphasize lucky few. Some of us make money by taking these paparazzi photos, digging out these stories and things like that. Don't hate them for doing their job, but realize that if you do stupid stuff that they find out about, you make their work easier and your life harder at the same time. Seriously.
    Most of those who will read this blog are not famous (at least not beyond where they live or maybe the state where they reside). Famous or not, reputations matter. Your good name matters. Look, let's be honest. Most, if not all of us, have something about us, big and/or small, that he or she does NOT want the general public, much less family or friends to know. Many (okay, most) of us have some physical imperfections and/or emotional issues or the like that they may not want everyone to know about.
    Some of us may like to do things in our private life that, though it may be legal, some may have issues with. Some drink (more than they admit, but still responsibly), some go to parties or places where they see and/or do things that some may have issues with (that covers many things). For military folk and their families, there are things they cannot and must not discuss in social media due to operational security (or OPSEC, for short). The simple reason is that if such information got out and the enemies of our great nation got their hands on such...bad things can and will happen. People can and will die as a result.
    So we ALL must be careful with what we say in public or tweet or post or show on webcam. Whether you are in the military, work in the private sector, are a housewife (or husband) or a teenage kid, OPSEC matters. Your reputation matters. Your good name (and that of your family members and friends) matters. Be careful.
 

Danica Patrick and the Daytona 500

   In about a hour and a half (if the rain stays away), Danica Patrick becomes the third woman to start a Daytona 500, after becoming the second woman to start on the pole for a Nationwide series race (1st at Daytona) yesterday. Good for her. Let's make it simple. You want to diss because she is a woman (and happens to be a attractive one? Hey, hey, this is true, but she is married, so chill!) or because she markets herself using her (mostly) obvious assets and has so for years in IndyCar? Well, not only are you sexist, but you are stupid.
    She can drive the hell out of a race car. And has done it in two major racing organizations. And has won a IndyCar race, and almost won their biggest race (Indianapolis 500) before that! That is more than you or I or 99.8% of the men AND women on this planet can do, so be quiet! Okay, she got wrecked in the 125, and in the Nationwide race. And? At least she is okay to drive this race (thank you SAFER barrier)! That could have been any driver on the track.
    Whatever happens today, or this season or over the next (however many times she races), remember this: She IS a woman, and a nice looking one. No arguments there. But first and foremost, she IS ALSO a top-level race car driver and one of the BEST RACE CAR DRIVERS IN THE WORLD. She earned her place in this sport. That cannot be denied. By anyone. And to respectfully (paraphrase) quote D-Generation X, " and if you aren't down with that" SHE "has just two words for you: Suck it"!

Linsanity!!

    Okay, Jeremy Lin is the Tim Tebow (ouch, hands burning on this Raiders fan for typing that ******* name!) of the NBA. Fine. Cool. Few teams in this league needed a boost like what he has given more than the New York Knicks. You know the history since the 70s, so I won't rehash it here. He is a great story, and he is exciting. One wonders, would this be as big of a deal, IF he wasn't Taiwanese-American (meaning Asian), and/or IF he wasn't with the Knicks and the extra large spotlight that even the smallest (sports) story gets, good or bad and/or IF he didn't graduate from Harvard (yes, THAT Harvard!)? The true answer to all three is no.
   This story wouldn't be as big in DC or in LA or in Chicago or Charlotte. Okay, maybe in post-LeBron Cleveland. Maybe. Most other places would not care that Lin is Asian. I don't. Most places would be possibly surprised that he went to Harvard, which says "smart guy, but can he really ball with the big boys?". How many Ivy league athletes make it to the top ATHLETIC leagues? Not many more than who make it from the service academies (who all have a mandatory military commitment to do before they can even think about pro sports and they know this. Ask David Robinson or Roger Staubach about that!). But when they do, look out! And the two men I just mentioned from the Naval Academy? They are in the Hall of Fame in his sport. Look it up!
    Now, I am not saying Jeremy Lin will be a future Hall of Famer. No way to know yet. But a kid who excelled in the classroom AND on the court at a Ivy League school, which is NO SMALL feat in a league where on the best students get into the school and the league's schools give NO athletic scholarships at all, I think he is pretty damn special. Just remember, he is only started about a dozen games. This is his 2nd year in the NBA. Let's see how the second half goes. Let's see if Lin can help the Knicks into the playoffs and if so, help them do something other than one-and-done. If he becomes a footnote, too bad. If he does something big, good for him! Either way, he has the brains and the right attitude to kick butt at whatever he is doing. That is what a college education is supposed to help cultivate. Enhancing one's athletic skills to the part that one makes it to the top league in his sport as well? Well, that is a nice bonus. Understand, kids?

My quick thoughts about living in South Korea

    What is it like to live in Seoul, South Korea? Let me say off the top that the South Korean people are great to live with! They are respectful, fun and truly are great friends of the United States. Seoul is a great combination of modern city and a city with people who honor and respect history with great reverence. They love visitors and so many of them have learned to speak English! (Some speak it better than some Americans!). That means a lot. Seoul has well over 10 million people here, and yes, they have monsoon seasons, lots of the steepest hills you will ever walk or drive on outside of San Francisco (and their hills are not as steep, I believe!) and weather that can be crazy in winter (snow here is no joke on these hills!). And yes, many of the South Koreans are some of the WORST drivers that I have ever seen! Even so, I have been honored and proud to have spent the last 21/2 years here.
    I worked with some great people in my office and met some wonderful people in my wife's office and around Yongsan (US Army) Garrison. There are some seriously good bowlers here too This is my first overseas tour, and I cannot imagine a better place to live. I visited Daegu and Osan Air Base more than once and enjoyed those places too. South Korea is different than living in the USA, but it is still fun and comfortable. We Americans could learn a lot from these people.
    I am sad about leaving Korea this weekend and proceeding to our new assignment in Wiesbaden, Germany. But we have been told that it will be a great place to live and we are looking forward to it. I plan to tell stories about my time here, and hope to have new stories to tell in our next home. One day soon, we hope to visit South Korea again. I am enriched for having been here, and I am blessed for that.

Super Bowl Sunday!

    Today is one of the craziest days of the year. Super Bowl Sunday. Unofficial national holiday. No matter the teams who play or who wins, this is a big day, even if you hate sports or football, in particular. Here in Korea, on base at least, this day (well it is Monday morning when the game starts here) it is just as big of a deal. I cannot watch the game live because I am working, but I will watch the updates on someone's website and will watch the replay in the hotel tomorrow (Korea time) night, if AFN shows it(likely). We don't see the commercials (AFN rule, no live commercials on any show) or the halftime show (unless you watch it on AFN at home), but that is fine. I can see such online later.
    Obviously, I cannot want the Patriots to win since I am a Raiders fan (tuck rule, enough said), but I respect what this team has done in the last 10 years (after that call that screwed Oakland for 10 years). Win or lose, Brady is a Hall of Famer, especially coming in as a unknown 5th round pick. I only hope for a great game to honor all who played. So, everyone, enjoy the hoopla, enjoy the commercials, enjoy the game! Just do it responsibly!