I love nature.
I love the night.
I love the silence and serenity.
I love being outside at night, where I can close my eyes, take in a breath of cool, fresh air, and listen to the sound of the night around me.
I love the cool breeze. Circling around my arms, my legs.
The cool, fresh, slightly damp air soaking itself into my skin.
It's difficult to put into words the bond I have to nature. I like to believe its to my Cherokee Indian blood that I have to thank for that. I feel as if the bond is as deep in me as the roots of trees.
When the sun rises, it's mesmerizing.
When it rains, it's calming.
When thunder is so powerful that you can feel the vibrations, it leaves me in awe.
When the fog in the morning is so thick that you can barely see a tree in front of you, it's breathtaking.
The green grass makes me want to lay in it and appreciate better this beautiful Earth we live on.
When I am with nature, I am at peace.
I love nature.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
iPhone 6 and 6 Plus: A Brief-ish Summary
Yesterday, Apple released the newest editions of their beloved iPhones: the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Today, I'll be going on some of the general details of the phones.
Size
As you've noticed, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are both larger than the previous iPhone 5S. Compared to the iPhone 5S, with a display size of 4.0", the iPhone 6 has grown by 0.7" and gained a new Retina HD screen (we'll get to that in a moment). To put this in comparison, the iPhone 6 is the height of a Poptart. The iPhone 6 Plus, however, is 5.5", 0.4" larger than the current Samsung Galaxy S5.
Along with making the iPhones larger, Apple has managed to make the phones thinner as well. The previous iPhone 5S was 7.6mm. If you've owned or used or just looked at an iPhone 5S, you know how thick it is. The iPhone 6, however, began a dramatic diet and is 6.9mm thick. The iPhone 6 Plus is 7.1mm. The edges of the devices have been smoothed to feel very comfortable in the hand.
Retina HD Display
I mentioned before that the new iPhones include a new Retina HD screen. What does this mean? To begin, we have to look at the resolutions of the displays:
iPhone 5S: 1136 x 640
iPhone 6: 1334 x 750
iPhone 6 Plus: 1920 x 1080
Samsung Galaxy S5: 1920 x 1080
Now, with that out of the way, I want to point out that everyone has heard of high-definition displays by now. The most common resolutions that are considered hi-def are 720p and 1080p. Notice that all of the phones I listed have a resolution higher than 1080p (I'm referring to the first numbers). This means that the enormous plasma TV you have with a 1080p resolution is worse quality than any of the phones listed above. Crazy, huh?
Photos
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus include an 8MP rear camera and a 1.2MP front camera (remember what I said about resolution before? 1.2MP may not sound like a lot, but 1280 [this is where the 1.2 comes from; there is a decimal between the 1 and 2 in 1280 ] x 960 is!) Now, you've heard that the Samsung Galaxy S5 has a 16MP rear camera. Yes, more pixels is good, but so is the quality of the pixels within the megapixel, and Apple notices this. Instead of cramming as many megapixels as they can into their devices, Apple has been working on improving the quality and depth of the pixels within the megapixels. And what about all the space those 16MP pictures are taking up on your device? I can promise you, the 8MP photos that the iPhones take will leave you with a lot more room for many more photos, while looking just as fantastic.
Apple has also been working on a new feature in the iPhones that makes the camera autofocus faster. Have you ever seen something you just had to take a picture of quickly? You whip your phone out, access the camera, and aim it at whatever you want to take a picture of. But the phone is so confused that it's not sure what to focus on. And so, you're sitting there waiting for your phone to focus in on this thing you want to take a picture of. Not with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The autofocus on the newest iPhones is faster, so no more waiting and waiting for your phone to focus in on something.
Videos
As for video recording, Apple hasn't done much to improve. The new iPhones both record in 720p using the front (FaceTime) camera and 1080p using the rear (iSight) camera. You may argue that the Samsung Galaxy S5 can record in 4K resolution. Yes, it can, but how many people own a device that can handle a resolution like that? Not many, unless you're happy sending 4K-resolution videos to your friends with other S5's, and good luck with that. Can you imagine the size of those videos? If you have time to wait for a video to send or have the money to buy extra space in your cloud storage to backup these massive videos, by all means, go for it.
In the iPhone 6 Plus, Apple has introduce a newly-improved image stabilization. Have you ever tried to record something while in the car and, when you look at the video later, it's all shaky? That's because the car was moving. With the iPhone 6 Plus, there'll be no more of that. Your videos will be silky smooth.
Wi-Fi and Cellular
In the newest iPhones, Apple has upgraded the wireless networking from 802.11a/b/g/n to 802.11a/b/g/n/ac. You're probably thinking, "Whaaaa?" Well, let me clarify for you. The difference is that Apple included 802.11ac in the newest iPhones, which is 3x faster than 802.11n. Not only is it faster, but it reaches further. Ever been at some place where you have Wi-Fi in one part, but not in another part? That's because of whichever wireless router the place is using. 802.11ac extends the range of the wireless Internet. So, getting up and moving to a different part of a place won't affect you as much anymore.
As for speed, 802.11ac can transfer up to 1,300MB per second. Incase you don't know, that's 1.3 gigabytes! Per second! If your Internet is fast enough for that, of course. If not, 802.11ac will just drag out as much as your Internet provider allows. Disclaimer though: The further away from the wireless router you get, the slower the Internet will be. Think of Wi-Fi like this a fan blowing air; the fan, even on high, can only blow so far. If you're far enough away, you won't feel as much of the air as you would if you were right up in front of the fan. Wi-Fi works the same way; the further away, the less of a bandwidth (Internet speed) you can receive. Anyway, with 802.11ac on the new iPhones, you can be further away and still receive the same bandwidth as if you were closer with a 802.11n reception.
Moving on, let's talk about cellular. The new iPhones can now handle up to 150MB per second over LTE cellular data connection. Alongside that, Apple is implementing VoLTE (Voice over LTE), which takes a normal cellular call and transfers it to the LTE line. All you need to know about that is that is makes calls a lot clearer, okay? Moving on... The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are also compatible with Wi-Fi calling. Wait, what's that mean?
Wi-Fi calling, in simple terms, is switching calling from cellular to Wi-Fi and vice versa. Say you're in an area without a good call reception. For example, the ground floor of one of the buildings at my college. It has 3 other floors above it, which cuts out cellular signal. So, if someone calls me, the call quality isn't going to be that great and I may even get disconnected sometimes. However, I have a strong Wi-Fi connection. This is where Wi-Fi calling comes in. If someone has poor cellular connectivity but strong Wi-Fi connectivity, the call they're making or receiving will be transferred to a Wi-Fi connection until they have better cellular service (like stepping out of the building, for example). Currently, Apple is only working with T-Mobile in the U.S. and EE in the U.K. to implement this feature. But don't worry! Other carriers will jump on the bandwagon soon enough.
Apple Pay
The new iPhones are both equipped with Touch ID, Apple's highly reliable version of fingerprint scanning. You can use this to unlock your device, purchase material from the App Store or iTunes Store, and also use it within non-Apple apps with the release of iOS 8 next Wednesday. Not only can you use it for all of these features, but you can also use it for making purchases in-person at a store using Apple Pay.
Essentially, Apple Pay is a means of taking your credit cards, gift cards, debit cards, etc. and storing them securely in your phone. So, when you need to purchase something in a store, instead of getting your credit card out, you can just take out your iPhone, select the card you wish to use, hover it near a transmitter, and place your finger on the Touch ID button for a few seconds and you're purchase will be made. Much faster than digging through your purse for your wallet (or just taking it out of your back pocket), searching for the card you wish to use, handing it to the cashier for he or she to swipe (possibly not even once if an error occurs), the cashier handing it back, you putting the card back, and, finally, putting the wallet back into your purse or back pocket.
Important Dates:
September 12, 2014: iPhone 6 and 6 Plus pre-ordering begins at 12:01AM PST (3:01AM EST, 2:01AM CST, and 1:01AM MST)
September 17, 2014: iOS 8 official release
September 19, 2014: iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus official release (pre-ordered iPhones will begin shipping, or customers can pick their pre-ordered iPhones up at an Apple retail store)
October 2014: (Date not specified) Apple Pay will be made available for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Beauty Pageants: Completely Hypocritical of Today's Teachings
Beauty pageant 101: Telling kids that it's what's on the inside that matters, and yet awarding them for being the most dolled-up and pretty, being able to walk a certain way, and have an admirable smile. Seriously, this is completely hypocritical.
I'll admit, there are some pageants that are for good causes, such as the Miss America pageant that raises money for charity and also serves as a scholarship program. However, how many pageants out there actually give back in some way besides making the host(s) and producer(s) money?
Yes, if there is a child that doesn't feel like he or she is "pretty" enough to win, and yet they do win once entered, it can help their self-esteem tremendously. However, boosting self-esteem and raising money for a good cause should be the end of it. Too much exposure and, more importantly, too many winnings of beauty pageants are not healthy for our youth.
I've been doing some research and I've found that, when people support beauty pageants, they include that the pageants are, for the most part, good for socializing and gaining confidence.
Firstly, I'd like to point out that you can socialize anywhere, i.e. school, church, the park.
Secondly, gain confidence? Yeah, when the children are all done up to look their best. Take that all away and ask them after they've lost a contest how they feel. Well, there went the "gain confidence" card.
"I wasn't pretty enough" or "I didn't walk the right way" or "My teeth weren't white enough". The list goes on and on.
Don't get me wrong, this is certainly not the case with every contestant. There are some out there that simply compete for the fun of it, being able to walk around a stage, strut, and have all attention on themselves and feel like a celebrity on the Red Carpet, but don't mind whether they win or lose. However, there are also contestants that compete over and over to prove to themselves that they're pretty enough. I've witnessed first-hand what over-exposure to these competitions can do to people.
For example:
My friend and I were talking with one another during class, discussions the ever-inspiring Lady Gaga and how she is fashionable (in a unique way, of course, but that's for another time). Just then, the girl sitting in front of me, a beauty pageant contestant all of her life, turns around and says, "Oh, me?" (I kid you not, she actually said that). Taken aback, my friend and I looked at one another and I replied, "No, we were talking about Lady Gaga." And that's not even the best part. After my reply, the girl turned back around in her seat and said to herself, "Hm! I'm fashionable." Conceited doesn't even brush the surface of this girl, I promise you.
Now, there could be contributing factors to her, uh, dilemma, such as her mom not showing her enough attention or not encouraging her enough and things of that sort, but all I know is that she has been competing in beauty pageants since she was very young. But I'm not placing her condition entirely on a youth of beauty pageant competitions. However, I'm not ruling it out as a contributing factor either.
In today's society, 11% of children and teens are diagnosed with depressive disorder by age 18, and self-esteem of young people is on a downward slope. So, ask yourself: Are beauty pageants really beneficial or, for the most part, are they ruining our youth?
I'll admit, there are some pageants that are for good causes, such as the Miss America pageant that raises money for charity and also serves as a scholarship program. However, how many pageants out there actually give back in some way besides making the host(s) and producer(s) money?
Yes, if there is a child that doesn't feel like he or she is "pretty" enough to win, and yet they do win once entered, it can help their self-esteem tremendously. However, boosting self-esteem and raising money for a good cause should be the end of it. Too much exposure and, more importantly, too many winnings of beauty pageants are not healthy for our youth.
I've been doing some research and I've found that, when people support beauty pageants, they include that the pageants are, for the most part, good for socializing and gaining confidence.
Firstly, I'd like to point out that you can socialize anywhere, i.e. school, church, the park.
Secondly, gain confidence? Yeah, when the children are all done up to look their best. Take that all away and ask them after they've lost a contest how they feel. Well, there went the "gain confidence" card.
"I wasn't pretty enough" or "I didn't walk the right way" or "My teeth weren't white enough". The list goes on and on.
Don't get me wrong, this is certainly not the case with every contestant. There are some out there that simply compete for the fun of it, being able to walk around a stage, strut, and have all attention on themselves and feel like a celebrity on the Red Carpet, but don't mind whether they win or lose. However, there are also contestants that compete over and over to prove to themselves that they're pretty enough. I've witnessed first-hand what over-exposure to these competitions can do to people.
For example:
My friend and I were talking with one another during class, discussions the ever-inspiring Lady Gaga and how she is fashionable (in a unique way, of course, but that's for another time). Just then, the girl sitting in front of me, a beauty pageant contestant all of her life, turns around and says, "Oh, me?" (I kid you not, she actually said that). Taken aback, my friend and I looked at one another and I replied, "No, we were talking about Lady Gaga." And that's not even the best part. After my reply, the girl turned back around in her seat and said to herself, "Hm! I'm fashionable." Conceited doesn't even brush the surface of this girl, I promise you.
Now, there could be contributing factors to her, uh, dilemma, such as her mom not showing her enough attention or not encouraging her enough and things of that sort, but all I know is that she has been competing in beauty pageants since she was very young. But I'm not placing her condition entirely on a youth of beauty pageant competitions. However, I'm not ruling it out as a contributing factor either.
In today's society, 11% of children and teens are diagnosed with depressive disorder by age 18, and self-esteem of young people is on a downward slope. So, ask yourself: Are beauty pageants really beneficial or, for the most part, are they ruining our youth?
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Tattoos, Tattoos, Tattoos!
Tattoos are a very popular trend these days. They express individuality, creativity, and that alike. And that's just talking about tattoos in general. Each one has a special meaning to the person whose body they make their home. Since it's such a popular trend, and because tattoos themselves are gorgeous, I've decided upon a few that I would like to get in the near future. Each one has a special meaning to me, and no way would I regret later in life any of the designs I've chosen.
This first I was inspired to get once I had watched Divergent. The birds tattoo that Shailene Woodley's character, Trish, had was gorgeous and I've always liked the bird tattoos that I've seen. Somewhat similar to Trish (not really), I want to get this tattoo on my pec. To me, the birds symbolize freedom. And, admit it, they look really cool.
This second one I was inspired to get in honor of my sister who was born a stillborn. Although I never knew her, I still feel like I have a connection with her that could never be severed. I've always believed, since I could remember, that she has been watching over me. In times of trouble, I feel her presence. Sometime in the future, I want to this tattoo on my shoulder blade.
When I saw this tattoo, I just knew I had to have it. I was in love instantly. It holds such a deep connection to me that I can't even describe what it's like. To me, this tattoo represents our days numbered. Just like the line at the end, our heartbeats will cease eventually. So, seize the day. You never know what tomorrow holds so make the best of what you have today. Like they say, the future is a mystery and today is a gift, that's why it's called the present. I really want to get this tattoo along my forearm and about the same size as it is in the picture. I do plan on making this my first tattoo. That's how enthusiastic I am about it.
This first I was inspired to get once I had watched Divergent. The birds tattoo that Shailene Woodley's character, Trish, had was gorgeous and I've always liked the bird tattoos that I've seen. Somewhat similar to Trish (not really), I want to get this tattoo on my pec. To me, the birds symbolize freedom. And, admit it, they look really cool.
This second one I was inspired to get in honor of my sister who was born a stillborn. Although I never knew her, I still feel like I have a connection with her that could never be severed. I've always believed, since I could remember, that she has been watching over me. In times of trouble, I feel her presence. Sometime in the future, I want to this tattoo on my shoulder blade.
Prey: Android's Version of Find My iPhone
By now, you've heard of Apple's Find My iPhone feature of iCloud. With it, you can track your iOS device, make it play a sound in order to locate it, enable Lost Mode so that if someone finds it, they can call you, and you can even erase the device completely. All from a remote computer.
All that's great... if you had an iPhone. More-than-likely, you're reading this because you want Find My iPhone on your Android device. Well, sorry to tell you, that's not going to happen. However, there is a FREE app called Prey that's very similar to Find My iPhone.
Prey features virtually everything that Find My iPhone does, including:
But that's just the start! Prey also features an option to gather information about the wi-fi network the phone is connected to (if it's connected to one at all). You can also activate the camera(s) on the device to figure out where you left it or even who is using it. These are two great features, but Prey offers even more! With Prey, your phone will detect when your SIM card is replaced. Think of it as the phone saying, "Nuh uh, honey. I'm stolen. You can switch me to another carrier if you want but my owner can still track me." Pretty cool, huh? Not only that, but if someone tries to uninstall Prey while the device it's installed on is labeled as missing, Prey will react by voiding the uninstall.
If you can't tell by now, Prey is a very handy app to have installed on your device. It's all the benefits of Find My iPhone--except the ability to erase the device completely-- but more! I highly suggest Android users install Prey on their device(s).
Prey is also compatible with iOS, so why not protect your iPhone buddies' devices by telling them about this amazing app as well?
You can find Prey on the Google Play Store, or go to the link here.
The iOS version of Prey can be found in the App Store, or by clicking here.
All that's great... if you had an iPhone. More-than-likely, you're reading this because you want Find My iPhone on your Android device. Well, sorry to tell you, that's not going to happen. However, there is a FREE app called Prey that's very similar to Find My iPhone.
Prey features virtually everything that Find My iPhone does, including:
- Tracking your device and displaying a map showing the device's location
- User-activated noise so that you can locate it
- Customized display message in case someone finds your device and wishes to return it to its rightful owner
- Remote lock until the correct password is entered
But that's just the start! Prey also features an option to gather information about the wi-fi network the phone is connected to (if it's connected to one at all). You can also activate the camera(s) on the device to figure out where you left it or even who is using it. These are two great features, but Prey offers even more! With Prey, your phone will detect when your SIM card is replaced. Think of it as the phone saying, "Nuh uh, honey. I'm stolen. You can switch me to another carrier if you want but my owner can still track me." Pretty cool, huh? Not only that, but if someone tries to uninstall Prey while the device it's installed on is labeled as missing, Prey will react by voiding the uninstall.
If you can't tell by now, Prey is a very handy app to have installed on your device. It's all the benefits of Find My iPhone--except the ability to erase the device completely-- but more! I highly suggest Android users install Prey on their device(s).
Prey is also compatible with iOS, so why not protect your iPhone buddies' devices by telling them about this amazing app as well?
You can find Prey on the Google Play Store, or go to the link here.
The iOS version of Prey can be found in the App Store, or by clicking here.
I Lost or Had My iOS Device Stolen! What Do I Do!?
First of all, it's what you did that's important. Once the device is lost or stolen, recovering it depends on what you did prior to losing it or having it stolen.
In iOS, Apple has provided a number of security features. First and foremost is iCloud. In the event of losing or having your device stolen, you can log into iCloud via a desktop web browser and select the Find My iPhone tab. From here, not only can you view on a map where your device is, but you can also view its remaining battery life. But that's not even scratching the surface of iCloud's usability.
If you've misplaced your iOS device somewhere in your home, you can simply select the "Play Sound" option. This will remotely turn your device's speaker on high and your device will begin to play a sound in order for you to track it down.
However, if your device is left somewhere outside your home, such as at the library or a local café, you can enable Lost Mode. This feature locks your device and displays a prompt on the screen, wherever it is, saying that your device is lost and will include the phone number that you've provided via iCloud if someone happens to find your device.
However, if you believe you're out of luck and that recovering your device will never happen, Apple provides a way for you to quickly erase all information from your iOS device with a simple click.
But, like all great things, there is a downside. Your device MUST be 1.) connected to wi-fi or 2.) using a cellular network. Otherwise, reaching your iOS device remotely is impossible. Also, you MUST manually enable Find My iPhone on your iOS device. Apple does not enable this feature for you; they let you choose whether or not you wish to use it. To do so, simply navigate to the iCloud section in Settings and scroll down until you see Find My iPhone. Tap the switch next to it and you're done.
All of this is in the event that you lose or have your iOS device stolen. iCloud has many other features, which I have covered here.
Alongside enabling iCloud, I suggest owners of iOS devices do the following:
Need to learn how to secure your Android device? I've written a separate blog for that here.
Want to learn of a service like Find My iPhone for Android? Check it out here!
In iOS, Apple has provided a number of security features. First and foremost is iCloud. In the event of losing or having your device stolen, you can log into iCloud via a desktop web browser and select the Find My iPhone tab. From here, not only can you view on a map where your device is, but you can also view its remaining battery life. But that's not even scratching the surface of iCloud's usability.
If you've misplaced your iOS device somewhere in your home, you can simply select the "Play Sound" option. This will remotely turn your device's speaker on high and your device will begin to play a sound in order for you to track it down.
However, if your device is left somewhere outside your home, such as at the library or a local café, you can enable Lost Mode. This feature locks your device and displays a prompt on the screen, wherever it is, saying that your device is lost and will include the phone number that you've provided via iCloud if someone happens to find your device.
However, if you believe you're out of luck and that recovering your device will never happen, Apple provides a way for you to quickly erase all information from your iOS device with a simple click.
But, like all great things, there is a downside. Your device MUST be 1.) connected to wi-fi or 2.) using a cellular network. Otherwise, reaching your iOS device remotely is impossible. Also, you MUST manually enable Find My iPhone on your iOS device. Apple does not enable this feature for you; they let you choose whether or not you wish to use it. To do so, simply navigate to the iCloud section in Settings and scroll down until you see Find My iPhone. Tap the switch next to it and you're done.
All of this is in the event that you lose or have your iOS device stolen. iCloud has many other features, which I have covered here.
Alongside enabling iCloud, I suggest owners of iOS devices do the following:
- Enable passcode
- Require then passcode immediately upon waking the device from stand-by
- Enable auto-lock
- Enable your device to erase all data after the 10th attempt to access your device
Need to learn how to secure your Android device? I've written a separate blog for that here.
Want to learn of a service like Find My iPhone for Android? Check it out here!
Using iCloud to Secure Your Data
Alongside iCloud's lost or stolen features discussed here, Apple has provided several other features to iCloud for both convenience and security. However, for this blog, we're going to focus on a feature very important to iOS owners in the event that they lose or have their device(s) stolen: iCloud Backup.
An area of concern people have is transferring contacts. Not to fear, iCloud takes care of that. By enabling the contact backup option in iCloud, your contacts across all of the devices using your Apple ID are synced via iCloud. For example, if you delete a contact from your Mac, it'll automatically be deleted from your iPhone and iPad as well and vice versa. And if you create a new contact or edit an existing one, it'll be synced across all of your devices as well. When buying a new iOS device, simply login to iCloud and enable contact backup to retrieve all of your contacts.
Less of a concern, but still a concern to some nonetheless, is backing up iCloud mail, Calendar, Reminders, Notes, Safari bookmarks, usernames, passwords, credit cards, and Reading List. Not to fear! iCloud has you covered, my friend. Similar to contact backup, all of your valued data is synced effortlessly across your Apple devices.
You've all probably heard the question: "How do I get my pictures and videos from my old phone onto my new phone?" Just like contact backup, iCloud handles your photos and videos as well. However, unlike the other features iCloud provides, your photos, unless enabled, are NOT automatically backed up to iCloud. To enable automatic photo backup, you'll need to navigate to the iCloud section within Settings and scroll to the very bottom. There, you'll see where it says "Storage & Backup". Tap the switch next to where it says iCloud Backup to enable automatic photo backup.
By enabling photo backup via iCloud, your entire Camera Roll (which is every picture and video you have on your device aside from the ones you've imported from a computer) is backed up to iCloud. Similar to contact backup, when you purchase a new iOS device, simply log into iCloud and enable iCloud Backup. Your device will then begin importing your Camera Roll.
Not only does iCloud Backup take care of your photos and videos, but also your accounts such as Facebook and Twitter (if you've entered them into your device), your documents, and settings. For example, say you've set a new wallpaper on your device and the next day, wouldn't you know it, you drop your device and it's broken beyond repair. When you purchase a replacement iOS device, that wallpaper you changed will be synced onto your new device.
Because Apple works to make things convenient for its customers, iCloud will begin auto backup when the device is plugged in, locked, and connected to wi-fi. So, if you're worried about your newest pictures from a crazy night of partying making it to the cloud, don't be. While you're sleeping, iCloud is securing your data.
Wondering if Android offers a service like iCloud? Find out here!
An area of concern people have is transferring contacts. Not to fear, iCloud takes care of that. By enabling the contact backup option in iCloud, your contacts across all of the devices using your Apple ID are synced via iCloud. For example, if you delete a contact from your Mac, it'll automatically be deleted from your iPhone and iPad as well and vice versa. And if you create a new contact or edit an existing one, it'll be synced across all of your devices as well. When buying a new iOS device, simply login to iCloud and enable contact backup to retrieve all of your contacts.
Less of a concern, but still a concern to some nonetheless, is backing up iCloud mail, Calendar, Reminders, Notes, Safari bookmarks, usernames, passwords, credit cards, and Reading List. Not to fear! iCloud has you covered, my friend. Similar to contact backup, all of your valued data is synced effortlessly across your Apple devices.
You've all probably heard the question: "How do I get my pictures and videos from my old phone onto my new phone?" Just like contact backup, iCloud handles your photos and videos as well. However, unlike the other features iCloud provides, your photos, unless enabled, are NOT automatically backed up to iCloud. To enable automatic photo backup, you'll need to navigate to the iCloud section within Settings and scroll to the very bottom. There, you'll see where it says "Storage & Backup". Tap the switch next to where it says iCloud Backup to enable automatic photo backup.
By enabling photo backup via iCloud, your entire Camera Roll (which is every picture and video you have on your device aside from the ones you've imported from a computer) is backed up to iCloud. Similar to contact backup, when you purchase a new iOS device, simply log into iCloud and enable iCloud Backup. Your device will then begin importing your Camera Roll.
Not only does iCloud Backup take care of your photos and videos, but also your accounts such as Facebook and Twitter (if you've entered them into your device), your documents, and settings. For example, say you've set a new wallpaper on your device and the next day, wouldn't you know it, you drop your device and it's broken beyond repair. When you purchase a replacement iOS device, that wallpaper you changed will be synced onto your new device.
Because Apple works to make things convenient for its customers, iCloud will begin auto backup when the device is plugged in, locked, and connected to wi-fi. So, if you're worried about your newest pictures from a crazy night of partying making it to the cloud, don't be. While you're sleeping, iCloud is securing your data.
Wondering if Android offers a service like iCloud? Find out here!
Securing Your Android Device
Recently, I covered how to secure iOS devices. By using both iCloud and security features Apple has built into the devices, you'll be making sure your device stays safe in the case of being lost, stolen, or, God forbid, dropped and broken beyond repair. But what about Android users? Not to fear, Google has your back.
*Disclaimer: I'm not as caught up with the Android know-how as I am with iOS, but I'll try my best to provide as much useful and factual information as I can in this post.
I wasn't aware of this until some time ago, but Android devices actually their own method of automatically backing up your devices' data. It's called... (you ready for this?) Google Sync! Imagine that!
Okay, so, to get to Google Sync on your Android device, you'll first need to head on over to Settings. From there, tap on Accounts. Tap where it says Google and voilà! All you need to do is checkmark everything you wish to have backed up.
BUT! There's actually a second way to backup your pictures and videos. Just like Google Sync, this is also built into your Android device, and very simple to setup. Head on over to the Photos app. Bring up your menu (usually by tapping an icon at the bottom of the device that looks like a box missing a side and with a couple lines in it), and tap Settings. Here, you'll see where it says Auto Backup. simply tap the switch next to it, and you're done! You can also tap where it says Auto Backup and play around with the settings. If you have a lot of photos and videos and don't want a high phone bill from backing everything up, I suggest switching the settings to backup ONLY on wifi.
However, we're not finished with all this backing up stuff just yet. If you wish to backup wi-fi passwords and device settings, you'll need to head over to Settings again. Instead of going into Accounts again, we're going to find where it says Backup & Restore. This should be simply under Settings. Now that you've found it, tap the boxes next to "Back up my data" and "Automatic restore" to checkmark them.
Now, if you want to backup your text messages and all of your calls, you can do that. But, in this blog, we're going to stick to basics. However, if you want to enable this feature, you can read more about it here.
Now, let's continue on with security. I mentioned in my blog post about iOS security that passcodes are a good idea if you don't want to give someone a free ticket to all of the data on your phone. But not just any passcode, I encouraged users to use a complex passcode. That is, a passcode that does NOT use four digits. Why? Well, think about it. There are 10 digits, correct? 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Even with 10 digits, a program that hacks phones will be able to crack your passcode much faster than it could if your phone was equipped with a complex passcode. So, what's a complex passcode? Unlike a simple passcode, a complex passcode uses not only numbers, but also letters, both uppercase and lowercase, as well as special characters. If any, I urge you most to put a passcode on your device.
However, as an Android user, you're not limited to numbers, letters, and special characters. You can also choose to have a pattern as your passcode. I even believe that, on some devices, you can opt for the device to unlock using facial recognition.
There are probably several options you can take to secure your phone and its data but, as I said at the beginning of this post, I'm not as knowledgable with Android as I am with iOS. For that reason, I must end this post here for fear that I will not explain certain options clearly, or that my own understanding of the feature is incorrect. However, I do believe this post will help Android users secure their devices and their data. If you wish to learn more about securing your devices, I encourage you to search the vastness of the World Wide Web for your answers. Good luck!
*Disclaimer: I'm not as caught up with the Android know-how as I am with iOS, but I'll try my best to provide as much useful and factual information as I can in this post.
I wasn't aware of this until some time ago, but Android devices actually their own method of automatically backing up your devices' data. It's called... (you ready for this?) Google Sync! Imagine that!
Okay, so, to get to Google Sync on your Android device, you'll first need to head on over to Settings. From there, tap on Accounts. Tap where it says Google and voilà! All you need to do is checkmark everything you wish to have backed up.
BUT! There's actually a second way to backup your pictures and videos. Just like Google Sync, this is also built into your Android device, and very simple to setup. Head on over to the Photos app. Bring up your menu (usually by tapping an icon at the bottom of the device that looks like a box missing a side and with a couple lines in it), and tap Settings. Here, you'll see where it says Auto Backup. simply tap the switch next to it, and you're done! You can also tap where it says Auto Backup and play around with the settings. If you have a lot of photos and videos and don't want a high phone bill from backing everything up, I suggest switching the settings to backup ONLY on wifi.
However, we're not finished with all this backing up stuff just yet. If you wish to backup wi-fi passwords and device settings, you'll need to head over to Settings again. Instead of going into Accounts again, we're going to find where it says Backup & Restore. This should be simply under Settings. Now that you've found it, tap the boxes next to "Back up my data" and "Automatic restore" to checkmark them.
Now, if you want to backup your text messages and all of your calls, you can do that. But, in this blog, we're going to stick to basics. However, if you want to enable this feature, you can read more about it here.
Now, let's continue on with security. I mentioned in my blog post about iOS security that passcodes are a good idea if you don't want to give someone a free ticket to all of the data on your phone. But not just any passcode, I encouraged users to use a complex passcode. That is, a passcode that does NOT use four digits. Why? Well, think about it. There are 10 digits, correct? 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Even with 10 digits, a program that hacks phones will be able to crack your passcode much faster than it could if your phone was equipped with a complex passcode. So, what's a complex passcode? Unlike a simple passcode, a complex passcode uses not only numbers, but also letters, both uppercase and lowercase, as well as special characters. If any, I urge you most to put a passcode on your device.
However, as an Android user, you're not limited to numbers, letters, and special characters. You can also choose to have a pattern as your passcode. I even believe that, on some devices, you can opt for the device to unlock using facial recognition.
There are probably several options you can take to secure your phone and its data but, as I said at the beginning of this post, I'm not as knowledgable with Android as I am with iOS. For that reason, I must end this post here for fear that I will not explain certain options clearly, or that my own understanding of the feature is incorrect. However, I do believe this post will help Android users secure their devices and their data. If you wish to learn more about securing your devices, I encourage you to search the vastness of the World Wide Web for your answers. Good luck!
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
A Brief Discussion About Internet Safety and Your Computer's Security
With all the Internet threats surfacing in the world today, such as the latest iCloud accounts of a few certain celebrities being compromised, I decided to take my accounts' security to a new, more-secure level by using two-step verification on Twitter, Facebook, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Apple, PayPal, and Google.
What does two-step verification do? If someone is attempting to access your account, they'll need a code either sent via SMS (text message) or e-mail. I highly suggest that everyone upgrade their accounts' security to two-step verification. The process is very simple and can be done quickly. Seriously, consider it.
Here is a list of the services that do and do not provide two-step verification: http://twofactorauth.org/
Data Encryption
If you have a Mac, I more than highly suggest enabling hard drive encryption. Without it, in the case of losing or having your Mac stolen, someone could easily by-pass your password and instantly gain access to all of the personal information that you've saved on your Mac. With hard drive encryption, by-passing the password is impossible. How to encrypt your Mac's hard drive is detailed at the end of this post.
But what about Windows? Well, rest assured, you can encrypt your hard drive as well. Although not as simple as hard drive encryption on a Mac, the procedure is fairly simple enough that anyone can do it. Details on how to encrypt your PC's hard drive are featured at the end of this post.
How about back-up drives? Yup, you can encrypt those as well. Instructions to do so can be found at the end of this post.
You can also opt to have your iOS device's back-ups encrypted when your sync your device to a Mac or PC. Simply check the box that says "Encrypt iPhone backup (or iPod or iPad, whichever your device is) under the Backups section within the iPhone panel in iTunes.
If your accounts or devices are compromised, there is really no one to blame but yourself. That is, of course, unless there is a proven flaw in the security of the service you're using.
I'm probably going beyond what I need to in order to make sure my devices, accounts, and personal
information stay secure but, in today's world, it's better to be overly safe than not safe enough.
-----------------------------------------
How to Encrypt a Macintosh hard drive:
1. Open System Preferences by selecting it in the Dock, or searching for it by selecting Spotlight (the magnifying glass in the upper right corner).
2. Click on Security & Privacy.
3. Click on the FileVault tab.
4. Click the lock in the bottom left corner of Systems Preferences and enter your password. This will unlock all of System Preferences so that you can enable features Apple believes should be password-protected.
5. Click "Turn on FileVault."
6. If there are multiple users on the Mac, System Preferences will ask you which users you wish to grant access to. Meaning, the users you select are the ONLY users that can log into the Mac upon start-up. After a user who has been granted access to the encrypted hard drive has logged on, all users then can log into their accounts on the computer. Click "Enable User" for all that apply.
7. System Preferences will then display your recovery key. It is important that you write this down and keep in a safe place.
8. After writing down your recovery key and continuing on, you'll then be asked if you wish to store your recovery key with Apple or not.
9. If you chose to store your key with Apple, you'll then be required to provide three questions and answers of your choosing. In case you lose your copy of your recovery key, you can contact Apple to retrieve it. However, your answers to the questions MUST match up with the ones Apple has on-file. So, choose easy-to-remember but difficult-to-guess answers.
10. After continuing, you'll be prompted to restart your Mac. The encryption process can not begin until you have done so.
*With an encrypted hard drive, you'll need to log in to your account as soon as your Mac boots up. Your Mac will NOT boot up and display the login window afterwards like it normally does. It will require you to log in first before it can boot up.
SOURCE: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4790
-----------------------------------------
How to encrypt a PC hard drive:
There are two methods to encrypting a Windows computer's hard drive. If your computer is running Windows Vista or 7's Enterprise or Ultimate version, or Windows 8 Enterprise or Pro version, you can use a built-in application called BitLocker. However, if your PC is not running any of the mentioned versions of Windows, you can use a third-party application called DiskCryptor.
First, I'll cover encrypting your hard drive using BitLocker:
1. Open Control Panel. To do so with Windows Vista or Windows 7, click the Start Menu in the bottom left corner and click "Control Panel." On Windows 8, click the Start Menu icon in the lower left corner. Click on the magnifying glass in the top right corner and type "control panel."
2. Depending on how Control Panel's view is set, you'll either need to click System and Security or, if your Control Panel is displaying many items, you'll need to find BitLocker Drive Encryption within the list.
3. Click "Turn on BitLocker."
If you're not running Windows Vista or 7's Enterprise or Ultimate version, or Windows 8 Enterprise or Pro version, you can use DiskCryptor. Here's how:
1. Download DiskCryptor by clicking "installer" here: https://diskcryptor.net/wiki/Downloads.
2. The company suggests that you create a LiveCD in case you run into booting problems later on. Instructions to do so are found here: https://diskcryptor.net/wiki/LiveCD.
3. After clicking "install" as mentioned in step 1, select "Run" when prompted as to what you wish to do with the download.
4. After the download completes, DiskCryptor will open.
5. Select the C:\ drive.
6. Click "Encrypt."
7. Follow the prompts to setup the encryption.
8. After the encryption has completed, back-up the volume header information to a USB drive. To do so, navigate to Tools at the top of the window and click BackUp Header.
*Using DiskCryptor means you will need to enter a password before your computer can boot. Create a hard-to-guess but easy-to-remember password. After entering the password, your computer will boot up normally and you will have to log in to your account as you normally would.
SOURCE1: http://www.pcworld.com/article/242617/how_to_use_bitlocker_to_encrypt_your_hard_drive.html
SOURCE2: http://www.pcworld.com/article/242614/how_to_use_diskcryptor_to_encrypt_your_hard_drive.html
-----------------------------------------
Encrypting Back-Up Drives:
Mac:
1. Plug your back-up drive to the computer via USB if it is not accessible via AirPort.
2. Open System Preferences by selecting it in the Dock, or searching for it by selecting Spotlight (the magnifying glass in the upper right corner).
3. Click Tme Machine.
4. Click "Select Disk."
5. Choose your back-up drive.
6. Check mark the box that says "Encrypt backups."
7. Click "Use disk."
8. Set a password to access the drive.
SOURCE: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14110
Windows:
The process for encrypting a back-up drive is very similar to that of encrypting your main hard drive. The difference is, you'll need to plug the back-up drive in before you can encrypt it.
For instructions on how to encrypt your back-up drive using a BitLocker-compatible version of Windows, click here.
If you're using DiskCryptor, the process is very similar to encrypting your hard drive. However, instead of selecting the C:\ drive, you'll need to select whatever drive your back-up comes up as. Make sure it's the right drive!
What does two-step verification do? If someone is attempting to access your account, they'll need a code either sent via SMS (text message) or e-mail. I highly suggest that everyone upgrade their accounts' security to two-step verification. The process is very simple and can be done quickly. Seriously, consider it.
Here is a list of the services that do and do not provide two-step verification: http://twofactorauth.org/
Data Encryption
If you have a Mac, I more than highly suggest enabling hard drive encryption. Without it, in the case of losing or having your Mac stolen, someone could easily by-pass your password and instantly gain access to all of the personal information that you've saved on your Mac. With hard drive encryption, by-passing the password is impossible. How to encrypt your Mac's hard drive is detailed at the end of this post.
But what about Windows? Well, rest assured, you can encrypt your hard drive as well. Although not as simple as hard drive encryption on a Mac, the procedure is fairly simple enough that anyone can do it. Details on how to encrypt your PC's hard drive are featured at the end of this post.
How about back-up drives? Yup, you can encrypt those as well. Instructions to do so can be found at the end of this post.
You can also opt to have your iOS device's back-ups encrypted when your sync your device to a Mac or PC. Simply check the box that says "Encrypt iPhone backup (or iPod or iPad, whichever your device is) under the Backups section within the iPhone panel in iTunes.
If your accounts or devices are compromised, there is really no one to blame but yourself. That is, of course, unless there is a proven flaw in the security of the service you're using.
I'm probably going beyond what I need to in order to make sure my devices, accounts, and personal
information stay secure but, in today's world, it's better to be overly safe than not safe enough.
-----------------------------------------
How to Encrypt a Macintosh hard drive:
1. Open System Preferences by selecting it in the Dock, or searching for it by selecting Spotlight (the magnifying glass in the upper right corner).
2. Click on Security & Privacy.
3. Click on the FileVault tab.
4. Click the lock in the bottom left corner of Systems Preferences and enter your password. This will unlock all of System Preferences so that you can enable features Apple believes should be password-protected.
5. Click "Turn on FileVault."
6. If there are multiple users on the Mac, System Preferences will ask you which users you wish to grant access to. Meaning, the users you select are the ONLY users that can log into the Mac upon start-up. After a user who has been granted access to the encrypted hard drive has logged on, all users then can log into their accounts on the computer. Click "Enable User" for all that apply.
7. System Preferences will then display your recovery key. It is important that you write this down and keep in a safe place.
8. After writing down your recovery key and continuing on, you'll then be asked if you wish to store your recovery key with Apple or not.
9. If you chose to store your key with Apple, you'll then be required to provide three questions and answers of your choosing. In case you lose your copy of your recovery key, you can contact Apple to retrieve it. However, your answers to the questions MUST match up with the ones Apple has on-file. So, choose easy-to-remember but difficult-to-guess answers.
10. After continuing, you'll be prompted to restart your Mac. The encryption process can not begin until you have done so.
*With an encrypted hard drive, you'll need to log in to your account as soon as your Mac boots up. Your Mac will NOT boot up and display the login window afterwards like it normally does. It will require you to log in first before it can boot up.
SOURCE: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4790
-----------------------------------------
How to encrypt a PC hard drive:
There are two methods to encrypting a Windows computer's hard drive. If your computer is running Windows Vista or 7's Enterprise or Ultimate version, or Windows 8 Enterprise or Pro version, you can use a built-in application called BitLocker. However, if your PC is not running any of the mentioned versions of Windows, you can use a third-party application called DiskCryptor.
First, I'll cover encrypting your hard drive using BitLocker:
1. Open Control Panel. To do so with Windows Vista or Windows 7, click the Start Menu in the bottom left corner and click "Control Panel." On Windows 8, click the Start Menu icon in the lower left corner. Click on the magnifying glass in the top right corner and type "control panel."
2. Depending on how Control Panel's view is set, you'll either need to click System and Security or, if your Control Panel is displaying many items, you'll need to find BitLocker Drive Encryption within the list.
3. Click "Turn on BitLocker."
If you're not running Windows Vista or 7's Enterprise or Ultimate version, or Windows 8 Enterprise or Pro version, you can use DiskCryptor. Here's how:
1. Download DiskCryptor by clicking "installer" here: https://diskcryptor.net/wiki/Downloads.
2. The company suggests that you create a LiveCD in case you run into booting problems later on. Instructions to do so are found here: https://diskcryptor.net/wiki/LiveCD.
3. After clicking "install" as mentioned in step 1, select "Run" when prompted as to what you wish to do with the download.
4. After the download completes, DiskCryptor will open.
5. Select the C:\ drive.
6. Click "Encrypt."
7. Follow the prompts to setup the encryption.
8. After the encryption has completed, back-up the volume header information to a USB drive. To do so, navigate to Tools at the top of the window and click BackUp Header.
*Using DiskCryptor means you will need to enter a password before your computer can boot. Create a hard-to-guess but easy-to-remember password. After entering the password, your computer will boot up normally and you will have to log in to your account as you normally would.
SOURCE1: http://www.pcworld.com/article/242617/how_to_use_bitlocker_to_encrypt_your_hard_drive.html
SOURCE2: http://www.pcworld.com/article/242614/how_to_use_diskcryptor_to_encrypt_your_hard_drive.html
-----------------------------------------
Encrypting Back-Up Drives:
Mac:
1. Plug your back-up drive to the computer via USB if it is not accessible via AirPort.
2. Open System Preferences by selecting it in the Dock, or searching for it by selecting Spotlight (the magnifying glass in the upper right corner).
3. Click Tme Machine.
4. Click "Select Disk."
5. Choose your back-up drive.
6. Check mark the box that says "Encrypt backups."
7. Click "Use disk."
8. Set a password to access the drive.
SOURCE: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14110
Windows:
The process for encrypting a back-up drive is very similar to that of encrypting your main hard drive. The difference is, you'll need to plug the back-up drive in before you can encrypt it.
For instructions on how to encrypt your back-up drive using a BitLocker-compatible version of Windows, click here.
If you're using DiskCryptor, the process is very similar to encrypting your hard drive. However, instead of selecting the C:\ drive, you'll need to select whatever drive your back-up comes up as. Make sure it's the right drive!
Monday, September 1, 2014
Let's Catch Up With The Times!
Well, it seems I haven't posted to this blog in three very long years!
Much has happened in three years, dear reader, much indeed. But, instead of explaining everything to you, because the past is the past, I'm going to kick off the undusting of this blog with a new post that's relevant to today's culture.
In today's society, the youth has created what we call "Man Crush Monday" (MCM) and "Woman Crush Wednesday" (WCW). Essentially, it's a means of displaying via photo someone a person has a particular fondness of. Originally starting as something of fun, such as selecting a celebrity as one's MCM or WCW, society has taken to the phenomenon to a personal level. People are now selecting their significant other as their MCM or WCW, which is fine to an extent because who wouldn't want to brag about their partner from time to time? However, there are some people who are taking MCM and WCW to the much more annoying level of selecting their partner every Monday or every Wednesday. Not only do I feel this is annoying to some, but I also feel that is inconsiderate and very well may even outline a fault in the relationship.
Now, some people will argue that posting pictures of one's partner every week wouldn't be annoying at all, that it's a means of bringing people to congratulate them on their happiness. But let's be real here, after awhile, it gets old. As I mentioned before, MCM and WCW were started as a means of entertainment. When it comes to the people that post their significant other as their MCM or WCW, it's almost as if they feel an obligation to have a MCM or WCW every week. Again, where's the fun? Not only has it been stripped of fun and originality, but it is also repetitive, and no one likes repetitiveness.
On a deeper level, I feel that displaying your significant other repetitively is very much inconsiderate. We all have those friends that are depressed, longing for a lover, disbelieve that love is meant for them, etc. In today's world, social media reigns supreme. Imagine, for a moment, that you're someone who has a low self-esteem, doesn't fit it, doesn't have very many friends, is bullied, and doesn't think that there is anyone out there for them. You're just scrolling through your Facebook News Feed and up pops a photo from one of your friends, displaying she and her significant other on a dinner date. At first, you'd probably say in your head, "They're so cute together." But then, just as luck would have it, your thoughts take a sharp turn and suddenly you're thinking, "I wish I had someone to be cute with. But it'll probably never happen. I'm not attractive enough and no one likes me." So, there you go, you've brought upon your friend a slight case of depression and reminded he or she of how they feel about themselves. Imagine this happening to you possibly multiple times a week, every week. Not a good feeling, huh? Now, I'm not saying not to post one's significant other at all. I just believe that people need to be more considerate of their actions towards other people and post less often their MCM or WCW. Possibly just post when one has hit a milestone, such as a one or two-year anniversary. After all, the only people that need to know of a couple's happiness is the couple themselves.
With that said, I move on to my last point I wish to cover. However, before I do so, I realize that this last point may not be a cause of one's posting their partner as their MCM or WCW every week. I do, however, want to acknowledge it, because it may prove correct in certain situations.
I believe that, in some cases, the cause of one's posting their partner as their MCM or WCW every week may be because of a fault in the relationship. This fault could be various things, and I won't be getting into all of the possible faults. I believe that, to some, posting MCM and WCW every week is more of a means to make their partner happy; to remind their partner that they are happy with them, which is nothing to be scolded about. However, I do not believe that this is the correct method of doing so. To me, it's as if the one posting the MCM or WCW is saying, "I'm not happy enough keeping my relationship to myself," or "I'm not capable of proving my happiness to my partner by myself. I have to post it online every week and let everyone know how happy I am, then my partner will know I'm happy because he or she will see me bragging about it all the time." Can you kind of see where I'm going here?
I'll end my post here by saying that it's nice to have a place to go to in which I can post my thoughts on certain events happening in the world. This was a topic I've been wanting to highlight for quite some time now, and I'm glad I have a place in which I can cover it.
Thank you very much for reading!
Much has happened in three years, dear reader, much indeed. But, instead of explaining everything to you, because the past is the past, I'm going to kick off the undusting of this blog with a new post that's relevant to today's culture.
In today's society, the youth has created what we call "Man Crush Monday" (MCM) and "Woman Crush Wednesday" (WCW). Essentially, it's a means of displaying via photo someone a person has a particular fondness of. Originally starting as something of fun, such as selecting a celebrity as one's MCM or WCW, society has taken to the phenomenon to a personal level. People are now selecting their significant other as their MCM or WCW, which is fine to an extent because who wouldn't want to brag about their partner from time to time? However, there are some people who are taking MCM and WCW to the much more annoying level of selecting their partner every Monday or every Wednesday. Not only do I feel this is annoying to some, but I also feel that is inconsiderate and very well may even outline a fault in the relationship.
Now, some people will argue that posting pictures of one's partner every week wouldn't be annoying at all, that it's a means of bringing people to congratulate them on their happiness. But let's be real here, after awhile, it gets old. As I mentioned before, MCM and WCW were started as a means of entertainment. When it comes to the people that post their significant other as their MCM or WCW, it's almost as if they feel an obligation to have a MCM or WCW every week. Again, where's the fun? Not only has it been stripped of fun and originality, but it is also repetitive, and no one likes repetitiveness.
On a deeper level, I feel that displaying your significant other repetitively is very much inconsiderate. We all have those friends that are depressed, longing for a lover, disbelieve that love is meant for them, etc. In today's world, social media reigns supreme. Imagine, for a moment, that you're someone who has a low self-esteem, doesn't fit it, doesn't have very many friends, is bullied, and doesn't think that there is anyone out there for them. You're just scrolling through your Facebook News Feed and up pops a photo from one of your friends, displaying she and her significant other on a dinner date. At first, you'd probably say in your head, "They're so cute together." But then, just as luck would have it, your thoughts take a sharp turn and suddenly you're thinking, "I wish I had someone to be cute with. But it'll probably never happen. I'm not attractive enough and no one likes me." So, there you go, you've brought upon your friend a slight case of depression and reminded he or she of how they feel about themselves. Imagine this happening to you possibly multiple times a week, every week. Not a good feeling, huh? Now, I'm not saying not to post one's significant other at all. I just believe that people need to be more considerate of their actions towards other people and post less often their MCM or WCW. Possibly just post when one has hit a milestone, such as a one or two-year anniversary. After all, the only people that need to know of a couple's happiness is the couple themselves.
With that said, I move on to my last point I wish to cover. However, before I do so, I realize that this last point may not be a cause of one's posting their partner as their MCM or WCW every week. I do, however, want to acknowledge it, because it may prove correct in certain situations.
I believe that, in some cases, the cause of one's posting their partner as their MCM or WCW every week may be because of a fault in the relationship. This fault could be various things, and I won't be getting into all of the possible faults. I believe that, to some, posting MCM and WCW every week is more of a means to make their partner happy; to remind their partner that they are happy with them, which is nothing to be scolded about. However, I do not believe that this is the correct method of doing so. To me, it's as if the one posting the MCM or WCW is saying, "I'm not happy enough keeping my relationship to myself," or "I'm not capable of proving my happiness to my partner by myself. I have to post it online every week and let everyone know how happy I am, then my partner will know I'm happy because he or she will see me bragging about it all the time." Can you kind of see where I'm going here?
I'll end my post here by saying that it's nice to have a place to go to in which I can post my thoughts on certain events happening in the world. This was a topic I've been wanting to highlight for quite some time now, and I'm glad I have a place in which I can cover it.
Thank you very much for reading!
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