The Internet. The Good, The Bad and The Downright Stupid

Love it or hate it, the Internet has become a huge part of our lives. I've had time to ruminate on this as my internet has been out of action for the last three or four days when my Bigpond Network Gateway gave way.

I've been desolate without it. I feel lost, alone and out of touch with the world. This sense of loss I find very disturbing. Perhaps it's simply because I live in an isolated area and the internet provides me with the connection to people and places that I lack due to this isolation. Or, have I tied myself inextricably to this way of being?

So many times a day, I want to hop on the internet to check or discuss a recipe on one of my forums, contact a business, check something on Google, flick off an email, check the weather, find out the price of something, and much, much more.

Almost every business has a website where you can access contact & company details at your leisure. Almost everyone has an email address, many people have joined Facebook. People are contactable 24/7 through any number of ways via the internet.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I really don't know. For a business, it's effective since people can check your products out any time of the day, not matter what time zone they're in. I love that I can purchase products online any time of the day or night, especially with WA's draconian shopping hours legislation.

Facebook is a concern. Every single photo, comment, status update etc is on the internet forever. The main server for Facebook, owned by Mark Zuckerburg, contains every piece of private information that you have in your profile and everything you've ever typed or uploaded. Isn't that just a little bit scary?

I'm constantly amazed at the amount of people who chronicle their mundane little lives on Facebook. I do it myself on occasion, but not to the extent that many others do. One person who I've since "unfriended" detailed her whole marriage breakdown, minute by minute via her iPhone. It was excruciating to read.

That's why I like having a blog. I can scream, shout, whinge, celebrate and commiserate and no one needs to read it if they don't want. My blog is mainly about food, my main passion. But, as with most passionate people, I do like to air my views on other issues that affect me or that I feel are unjust or just plain stupid.

Imported Pork in your Bacon

Imported Pork! Yes, our little piggies are being sold on the overseas market because the local market is swamped with pork from Canada. They're waving to each other on the boats as they swap places.

Check your bacon packet - I bought the Woolies Home Brand Bacon recently (it was all they had on the shelf) and didn't notice until I got it home that it said, "Made in Australia from Imported and Local Ingredients".

This is one brand of bacon I will not be buying in future... 

A New Year, a New Start. The Quest for Housewifely Perfection

That's what I say every year around this time.

This year, I'll be much more organised; This year, I'll do the dishes and clean the kitchen before I go to bed every night; This year, I'll make the bed every day; This year, I'll walk three times a week at least; This year, I'll only drink wine on weekends etc etc.

Well, at least I'll try to do all these things. If I don't always manage, I won't beat myself up about it. I think that's a better resolution to have.