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Magic Hats Can Explain SOPA, PIPA, & Internet “Strikes”

January 18, 2012 by 2 Comments

It seems only appropriate that on this day, a day of protest here in the wild World Wide Web, I showcase the hat sent to me by BlogHer CEO Lisa Stone:

Blacked out

Just the hat though, that’s all you get to see…as I’m reading and educating myself on a very important Internet issue- freedom.

I’m starting by reading up on the two bills headed through (or stalled, or being changed, or fill-in-the-blank-status as of now) Congress and then I will contact my representative.

As a pioneer in making sure women’s voices are heard online and throughout the world, Lisa Stone (or as we call her at work, Lisa FUCKING Stone) sent me this hat with love. But she also taught me to never pass up an opportunity to educate. So educate yourself today on WHY people are so upset and some of your favorite sites have gone dark.

Can’t figure out why Google has that big, black, block over it? Want it easily explained with laughter? Can’t figure out why everyone is unable to look up stuff on Wikipedia? Click. Learn. And then decide if you plan to do anything about any of it.

And enjoy Lisa’s hat. 

Filed Under: BlogHer

BlogHer ’11: We Made It

August 9, 2011 by 27 Comments

I returned from BlogHer ’11 in San Diego to seven hours of iv treatment. I think that sums up my life pretty well. Days upon days of rest and relaxation, with friends close enough to finally hug, and I’m plopped right back into my routine of treatment and tests.

I’m trying to take all those hugs with me as I sit hour after hour, day after day, feeling that lingering presence of love that enveloped us in San Diego. It helped. It really helped. And along with those hugs came your donations at the first BlogHer Blood Drive:

Yay! #BlogHer11

24 pints of blood that saved 48 lives collected by the San Diego Blood Bank…good work BlogHers!

I’m not sure how to explain what our lives are like normally. For Aaron it involves a lot of worry. For me it involves endless doctor visits. I’m not kidding when I say endless. This week I will be at the doctor three out of five days for what is usually the entire day receiving treatment.

It’s figuring out who will watch the kids…Who can drive me to treatment? Who will cook dinner? Who will pick up my meds? Who will sit with me so I’m not alone with the kids?

Yeah, it’s a strange feeling to be babysat like the children. However even I’m not comfortable alone. In fact we are looking into things like LifeAlert and apps in case I have another stroke or otherwise.

So imagine just how different San Diego was for us. I got to speak to an audience about cyberbullying and the threats my family has been through, we got to see friends, co-workers, and, above all, we got to lounge by the pool and relax.
The view from our balcony #BlogHer

We slept with the balcony door open so we could feel the ocean breeze, we slept late, and we didn’t once see a doctor. Of course I remained unable to do a whole lot, and my trip was very limited…but at least I was there. My husband kept reminding me that last year I was too sick to even make the trip, so at least this year I could attend. Next year I will hopefully be able to do more.

It really is amazing what a little mental and emotional uplift can do when your life is a battle. So thank you BlogHer and all the friends we were able to spend just a little bit of time with. It made a difference.

Filed Under: #SUCKITLupus, BlogHer

BlogHer ’11: It’s Not About The Shoes

August 2, 2011 by 27 Comments

I’m taking my time packing for BlogHer ’11. I’m not really fussing over outfits, or shoes. No, this is unlike years past. I’m not worrying about what I will wear during parties, or during sessions.

Instead I’m packing what is most comfortable and what fits. Don’t get me wrong, you women in your fancy shoes and dresses will have a good time, I’m sure. But I’m going to be the one looking very comfy next to the guy in jeans and a t-shirt (he’s also comfy).

In years past I would have been obsessing over which outfit was for which night. I would buy new shoes and post photos of them to Flickr. Sometimes I’d even blog my new BlogHer shoes.

You see, this year it’s not about what I’m wearing or how I’m going to look…it’s that we’re able to attend.

Last year I was very ill and days away from having a total hysterectomy. I had just had 13-inches of my colon and my entire gall bladder removed and facing another major surgery in a few days it seemed smarter to stay home.

This year I’m still very ill, and only a week away from having had a small stroke…my second…but getting in the car with my husband and driving south to San Diego.

We plan on relaxing, seeing friends and rejoicing in our ability to come at all. I will speak on Friday, and will do as many activities as I am able. That might mean simply sitting by the pool and reading, but that’s enough. I will do my best to make appearances at parties and to be out and about, but honestly I may be spending a good amount of time our hotel room napping.

It’s amazing to me that I’m currently not freaking out over what I’m going to pack or wear or which shoes will go with which dress for which night. No. Instead I’m making sure I have all my medications and am ready in case we need to visit the nearest hospital.

I’m packing my most comfortable shoes and my most comfortable clothes in an effort to keep my body happy over the course of the conference. And I can’t say I have any desire to Flickr my sandals.

I’m also bringing along a new fashion accessory: my cane.
My new cane

Yes, it seems a long time ago that I cared which boots I was going to wear to a party at BlogHer, now I just care that I’m going.

So if you are headed to San Diego, keep an eye out for the comfy looking blogger with a cane. She’ll be happy to say hello.

Filed Under: BlogHer

2011 Super Bowl Ads: Go Granny & BlogHer = GEEK GIRLS FTW

February 4, 2011 by 3 Comments

As you know, I’ve had my issues with Go Daddy and dropped them like a bad habit.

Then, as if by some sign from God, my CEO and big boss woman reminds me, yet again, why Geek Girls RULE. Check out BlogHer CEO Lisa Stone, Cloris Leachman, and this Super Bowl Ad for Network Solutions:

Filed Under: BlogHer

The State of My Union

January 25, 2011 by 7 Comments

As I am sure you have noticed, I’ve stayed away from blogging my usual political rhetoric as I battle Lupus. I’ve done this for a few reasons, not the least of which is I get very passionate about politics and it gets me worked up. It’s hard to rest and recover when you are screaming at your television screen.

But I’ve realize something as I’ve sat on the sidelines, that I have known all along…
…politics is personal, and there is no escaping it.

Tonight the President will give his State of the Union address, and I am jumping back into my punditry and commentary. Not because I want my Lupus to flare worse, and not because I feel compelled to give you my take on whatever tonight’s hot button issue will become…but because I have realized nearly everything hitting the news cycle directly affects my life.

Health care reform. Violent political rhetoric. These are issues literally banging down my front door. Jobs, benefits, and the President’s new priority: education. These are issues I am dealing with every single day as an American citizen, mother, patient, blogger, and victim.

People can talk all they want about it just being ‘DC’ or it just being all hot air and men in suits…but when those suits decide the fate of things like ‘pre-existing conditions,’ ‘mortgage overhaul,’ charter school status, and motivate mentally disturbed people to shoot a Congresswoman and threaten my family…well, the term ‘just politics’ no longer seems to apply.

It’s personal. It always has been. And it always will be.

You can follow my State of the Union commentary tonight on BlogHer Chatter and Twitter.

Filed Under: #SUCKITLupus, BlogHer, Feeling YaYa, Stepford Crazies, TweetQueen

Kids & iPads: Fish Bucks Are Not FREE

November 9, 2010 by 17 Comments

crossposted at BlogHer.com

I’m now the proud owner of $20 worth of virtual fish for a virtual aquarium.

Why would I make such a purchase you ask?

I didn’t.

My five-year old daughter did on the family iPad.

My little bff's

Yes, it’s just that easy to make purchases in the App store, and even children can figure out how to add more veggies to their virtual farms, buy the updated version of Angry Birds, and yes, even fill cyber fish tanks with loads upon loads upon loads of fish.

Because let me tell you, $20 buys A LOT of pixel fish.

Of course this is all my fault. I did not turn off the online feature. I did not disable purchases. And just minutes before my daughter’s big “click,” I had entered my password to download a new app.

Totally my fault.

But as it turns out, I’m not the only parent who’s found out the hard way that some of these games cost REAL money and not all Apps are .99cents.

Mike Rohde’s son spent $190 in virtual fish goods:

“Today, iTunes enabled inadvertent in-app currency purchases via my 7 year old son, while he played the PlayMesh Fishies app on our iPad.

Read that again — from my 7 year old son.

It Started with a Free App

The story starts when we downloaded PlayMesh Fishies from the iTunes app store for Nathan to play with. It seemed innocent enough — a free iPhone app that let him create a virtual fish tank. Looked like fun.
When Nathan called me over, asking if he could buy some pearls for his new fish tank to get more items…”

And then there are the kids who are a bit older and wiser as to how the system works.

Mollierosev tweets:

My parents + little bro have a constant iTunes war going on. He buys music, they yell, he waits a few days and buys again.

But I think Issascrazyworld had the solution:

$25 bucks on puzzles on the ipad from one kid. CD on an iTouch from another. I changed passwords & put them on Plane mode.

Brilliant. I’m off to change my iTunes password, put the iPad in plane mode, and have a nice long talk with my kids about what to do when that blue screen pops up…and then after we’ll tend to our incredibly expensive fake fish.

Politics & News Contributing Editor Erin Kotecki Vest

Filed Under: #suckit, BlogHer

100 Grand

November 2, 2010 by 24 Comments

I’m closing in on 100-thousand tweets. Yes, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND. It’s a grand affair that requires celebration.

Real princesses get dirty

In honor of this insane accomplishment (?) I want to give back to the community that has given me so very much.

I am giving away a full conference pass to BlogHer ’11 in San Diego, California.

In order to be eligible to win you must be a follower of mine on Twitter and you must send me an @ message. It’s that easy.

I will choose a winner at random and announce it as my 100-thousandth tweet.

Why must you be a follower? Because this medium is about engagement and getting to know each other, and it’s not about randomly entering a contest.

*Update 11/02/10 3:48pm – I’m going to use a random number generator and count back to the winner whenever I hit 99,999 – so the more you @ me, the better your chances.

***BlogHer is my employer, yet I am paying for this out of my own pocket and this contest is in no way sponsored by BlogHer, Inc. It’s just me, loving and appreciating this community that has taken care of my family in sickness and provided me with hours upon hours of blog and twitter love and laughter.

Good luck, and see you at BlogHer ’11.

Filed Under: #suckit, BlogHer

Blogher ’10 – In Spirit

July 30, 2010 by 8 Comments

As I announced on BlogHer, I will be staying home from the annual BlogHer conference while I await surgery.

This community means the world to me and I’d love for you to participate in our ‘BlogHer ’10 at Home’ fun- because I’m not the only one who will be unable to get on a plane in a few days.

BlogHer '10

Filed Under: #suckit, BlogHer
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