WORD IS BORN

I started this blog WAY back in 2007 as "Word Is Born." The spirit remains the same: my thoughts and photos, random as they are. Enjoy.

Latest Grams:

WE THREE ARE ITALIAN CITIZENS! 🇮🇹 🎉 (Note: Super weird to celebrate anything considering COVID-19 and Black injustice crises.) Twelve years ago -- way before I had kids, right before I met Amanda -- I started exploring dual citizenship. Perch&egra

WE THREE ARE ITALIAN CITIZENS! 🇮🇹 🎉 (Note: Super weird to celebrate anything considering COVID-19 and Black injustice crises.) Twelve years ago -- way before I had kids, right before I met Amanda -- I started exploring dual citizenship. Perchè no? I didn't know what the future would hold, but I knew opening more doors for education and work in my father's country and greater EU would be good for me and future generations. Oh, and the history, culture, landscapes, pride of lineage, etc. I wanted to power up from half Italian to full citizen. I set a first citizenship appointment in San Francisco in 2010, the same year Amanda and I married, but didn't get enough paperwork together time. I had some other stops and starts but thanks to some major legwork led by cousin @mikebaiocchi I finally set an appointment two years ago for a January 2020 appointment at the consulate in San Francisco. We made it a fun little family vacation. The appointment itself went well (after some fair shaming about my language progress). We came home and waited for confirmation but of course COVID-19 devastated Italy, and I didn't expect to hear anything soon. Well, the surprise came in the mail today 🙌🏻. Eliza and Matteo automatically gained citizenship. Amanda has a few more steps (notably a high level of language achievement) to gain citizenship through marriage, but I am super pumped to reach this longtime goal! Forza Italia! 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

Took the family for a (peaceful protest) walk around the neighborhood. 👊🏻👊🏽👊🏿

Took the family for a (peaceful protest) walk around the neighborhood. 👊🏻👊🏽👊🏿

Last day in Kent HQ (but not my last at REI!). I've spent some of my best years here in the Kent valley.

I remember after leaving Eddie Bauer, my next stop had to be REI. They had a co-op model, big stores, real community events! I knocked on t

Last day in Kent HQ (but not my last at REI!). I've spent some of my best years here in the Kent valley. I remember after leaving Eddie Bauer, my next stop had to be REI. They had a co-op model, big stores, real community events! I knocked on these doors and many kind people responded. @nattyluna and @jordowilliams kindly met me for informational interviews. @lux2, after intense interrogation, finally conceded and offered me a job on the social media team to join @kelly_ann_walsh. Shout out to some of my other bosses over the years: @rowleycraig, @sarahjeanneisme @mrajet and @ph9er. Too many colleagues and teammates over the years to tag but so appreciative of the shared time. The work we did in this place will define my career and the brand for years to come. OptOutside, Force of Nature, etc. I’ve been able to pay it forward and meet people for informational interviews and hire some of them myself. I’ve met a lot of great people and forged a kit of friendship with people who were also willing to come to Kent. Because the location doesn’t matter so much as the mission. Shout out to those who literally drove with me and endured the I-5 commute that future generations won't comprehend: @jruckle @angelafgow @halleyrebecca @shelb_hall. Next stop, REI Tacoma (work at home) and a smattering of new Bellevue HQ. Onward.

I published monthly letters for these Puget Sound saltwater 🐟. Link in profile. #deareliza #dearmatteo

October 02, 2006 in Uncategorized

The recent changes at Facebook, an online (formerly) student social network, are, in a word, disturbing.

According to Reuters, Facebook, the No. 2 U.S. social network (right behind MySpace), received an online petition from 500,000 members of its 9.5 million membership last month asking that the recently introduced "News Feed" feature be removed. The "News Feed" basically lets users know what other users in their network are doing on their Facebook accounts, in real time.

The petition states, "News Feed is just too creepy, too stalker-esque, and a feature that has to go."

Facebook mastermind Mark Zuckerburg, who created Facebook in 2004 while attending Harvard, responded, "We agree, stalking isn't cool; but being able to know what's going on in your friends' lives is." Great. Now stalkers can call their victims "friends."

Let's try an example. Just by looking at Kenna's page (above), I not only learn that Kenna added photos to her account, but I know how many she posted and the day and time she posted them. I know when she's communicated to her other friends. I also learn that Kenna is dating someone new and, by looking at the photo, see that the guy looks strangely like -- me. (It's NOT me, for the record.)

I hardly use Facebook at all anymore because I'm so turned off by these creepy features. I did join a new group though. It's called "Facebook... aka STALKERbook." The description of this group reads, "If this new 'news feed' has you feeling like every friend (or lack there of) can watch your Facebook-moves, and it fucking creeps you out, then we all have something in common." Count me in.

Facebook originally had some feeling of privacy, primarily because only people with college email addresses could register for accounts or access member pages. Some months ago, Facebook began allowing high schoolers, non-profits and military organizations to register for accounts. Now, anyone can ask to be "one of your friends" as Facebook has opened itself up to the general public -- making the "News Feed" feature that much more concerning, and giving reason to drop the "STALKERbook" membership.