What am I talking about?

The use of the internet as a vehicle of free speech and innovation has always been important to me. As a matter of fact, I started blogging because there were some things that I did not like and I sought to help change those things that I did not like. SOPA (Stop Online Privacy Act) can be used as an internet censorship tool.

Free speech and the internet matter.

So why, are most major news networks silent on the issue of SOPA?

On Jan 18th, my blog will darken and join the Internet blackout initiative to bring awareness and protest SOPA.

Put on your boxing gloves and join Verizon FiOS and Hispanicize on November 8, 2011 for the “Pacquiao-Marquez Boxing Match-Up” Twitter Party. How many times have these tough Latinos faced off? After a four-year hiatus from each other, they will be back at it again on Pay-Per-View available on Verizon FiOS. Before then, we’ll ‘chismear’ about boxing history, favorite fighters and match-ups, passion for the sport, and mucho más! Join us for a great conversation and the opportunity to win fantastic prizes.

Stick around. Check back soon, and all of that.

In one area we mean diversity in the workplace and our communities, free of prejudice and supportive of human concord. This can also be meant in the area of media where roles are taken up by actors to add a color spalsh to the big screen.

Then there is the other area that takes up culture and socioeconomics. This is an area of much passion as it discusses the hearts of people and many times when we say diversity in the media it is meant more than seeing mirror images of ourselves, but our stories.

Consider this the next time the topic of diversity comes up.

Things have changed as schools recognize it in their classrooms now, and companies often advertise their names and products in association with the month long hat tip.

In many way a whole generation was lost. Some pockets of younger generations rebelled against their parent’s ignorance and reclaimed their heritage through music, and the arts among other outlets. Yet still, others have marched off toward assimilation and acknowledge Hispanic Heritage month either by raising a glass or watching last night’s Alma Awards show.

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
- Robert A Heinlein

Taking cue from WordlessWednesday (which I think is very cool, but just not my thing) I thought about bloggers challenging one another in a friendly competition. Immediately, Spy Vs Spy popped into my head. But it’s not a “new” idea.

The very first blogger vs blogger, was done by a chess blogger named Dana, back in December last year. She made no claim for originating the concept, and just probably thought that it was just a cool idea. I followed suit.

“Everything’s a copy of a copy of a copy.” -Fight Club

Now on with the challenge.

Blogger vs Blogger

J.R. Graña accepted my challenge with Words With Friends.

Here’s how it went:

Blogger vs Blogger: Louis Pagan vs J.R. Graña

The opening was pretty standard and pretty tied up.

J.R. took a slight lead and maintained it for most of mid game.

Toward the end of the game it was pretty much neck and neck until the very last pieces.

Winner: J.R. Graña

It was a great game. We are doing another for a best 2 out of 3, but I’m getting my butt kicked due to a lack of vowels very early in the game.

For the next challenge, I think I have to dance on a typewriter or something.

Two things that I enjoy are Twitter and an occasional boxing match.

These two items are coming together next Tuesday in the form of a Twitter Party.

Check it out.

“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.”

-Albert Einstein

And then I said “Louis, you know better than that.”  I could have worked this quote in to fit into this post, but truth be known – Einstein made this comment in regards to the Atomic bomb This is a great example of media literacy.

Social Media has not reached any obvious compromise to our humanity, or will have an immediate and destructive impact  that such pithy statements need be said.

So, just what Albert Einstein say about Social Media?  Maybe, “Eureka! eureka!”

This is what I thought after spending some time browsing a few blogs that I’ve read years ago, and only to find that they have not been updated for almost a year or more.

There was the occasional “we’ve moved” with a link to a new blog URL, and then there was the rare “I no longer am blogging…”  But more often than not, they left their blog (and readers) flat with no such update. Going through the links felt like when walks through an abandoned place where people use to populate without clues to where they have gone. If this was real life a call to 911 would be placed with concern of a missing person.

Don’t do this to your readership.

Proper blogger etiquette  is to inform your readers that you lost interest or incapable of  blogging. It would be nice to explain why this is so, after all your readers took the time to read your blog, and if you were lucky commented on your posts, but if you don’t want to go into detail that is fine.

My head nodded in confirmation of a few committed bloggers as it was refreshing to see them still pursuing their craft and update their blogs over the years…prevalence being a hallmark of purpose here.  I felt a wave of satisfaction finding myself fitting into this fold.

Hey, I understand that everyone has different reasons for blogging and sometimes it just may not be your thing anymore. Still, beyond blogs I think it’s the natural thing for us to do by posting one last update and saying – Adios.