Martha Mihaly

I’ve discovered a whole new demographic that is using social networking sites for a primary means of communication. 

It’s the homeless.

As unlikely as this seems, they use public computers (in libraries etc.) to go online and to get in touch with one another.  No one knows you’re homeless online, and frankly it would appear to make perfect sense to have your virtual community know your where abouts, your status (are you safe) and to use the platforms such as FB to keep in touch with your family.

Not everyone who is homeless is homeless because their families don’t care.  Many choose the life of their own accord.  Perhaps for the wrong reasons.

My friends are lovely people, with a wonderful home.  Their daughter just wanted to live on the street.  The glamour  drugs and sex.  I saw her on a street corner today begging.  I stopped in at the bakery and bought her some food…talk about an akward conversation at a red light.

She keeps in touch with her mom on FB and posts regularly.  It’s sad, but effective.  I am glad for the public libraries, and for the internet.

Thanks to Boris at The Next Web for highlighting this problem again.

It is not news to me, but somehow it catches the internet geek squads by surprise that 20% of the US population has not accessed the internet or email ever. According to the Parks Study Report nearly one third of the head of house hold had never used a computer to generate a document.

It’s a topic that I have been ‘hot’ on for the last year and a half.  Colleagues of mine in Europe were incredulous that interent access is an issue here.  I see it as one of the barriers to access for women, who in rural areas have even fewer resources to access the internet and enter the web 2.0 world.

It will take monumental efforts by government and industry to finish re-cabling North America and to get us all ‘up to speed’.

With the school year ending and summer approaching it appears this is the time when all my volunteer commitments pick up.  All of the last minute planning for the end of year events, the September welcome events, and the grant applications at the three schools where I sit on the parent council are falling into place.  Heather’s Hootenanny for Hope planning and organizing continues at a frenzied pace.  The puppy continues to grow and has now mastered several commands.  He is as cute as a button and has settled into our home nicely.  The kids are gearing up for year end trips and concerts.

I have been asked to apply for a local job at 20 hours a week.  I’ll have to make some careful considerations in the next couple of days about this.  It would be a pleasant job, 12 minutes walk from my house, Tuesday-Saturdays with 4 nights a week until 8 PM.  The hours are decent.  The pay is alright.  It boils down to the commitment factor. 

After having been a full time mom for 12 years, and having worked out of the home for 1.5 years on a free lance basis I have really come to value flexibility and freedom.  I can work at the cottage, at home, at the library.  On my own terms, when I like … I’ll have to think about it as I don’t want to commit to something only to decide it isn’t for me…

It is always difficult to decide what to do, to weigh the pros and cons of work/life balance.  The extra money would be nice but not significant, and would have tax implications for my husband which we would have to consider.  He also travels a lot for work, and that would make it more stressful all around when I had to work evenings or weekends.  Then there is the question of holidays (petty issue for some I am sure).  Shall I let a part time commitment interfere with family holidays based on the primary breadwinner’s schedule?

So many things to think about, and so little time.  I think I’ll have another cup of tea and head off for a walk in the rain.  Best thinking for me is often done when alone, walking in the rain in the woods.  It’s peaceful.

I just finished my daily tech news ’round up’ and my eye was caught by an ariticle on Mashable about women’s top social networking sites.    I am not sure how they came up with the list, but it is awful.  Each one is about fashion, diet, makeup or mothering.  How about some serious stuff? 

Any of you who read my blog know that I love my kids and family BUT am also an entrepreneur, a thinker and that my interests as a woman may stretch beyond the colour of lipstick that I wear, or the time out method I use with my kids. 

There are so many great sites out their for those who are into social networking.  In fact, I am not entirely sure that breaking the list out into “sites for women” and “sites for men” is what we need to be doing.  How about sites for people who are interested in fluff?  or in fashion?  or in tech related things?

Maybe I am way off track… but let’s try some that are slightly more interesting to me like TED, or Webgrrls. 

I don’t have many, but they are dear to me and are always there when I need them.  Thank you.  I love you.