Online Social Networks are Dangerous to Freedom - Play at Your Own Risk

By Lance Winslow

Whether an online social network is designed for business networking or fun socializing there are some things you need to be aware of. These networks reward an individual for compliance of behavior acceptable to the mob. Small clicks form, which soon turn into groups of pecking order and each group moves to force their will onto the larger group. Then there are disruptors, natural leaders, influencers and followers, indeed also a few unreasonable men. There are victims and villains, referees and attackers; and your experience can take you from emotional highs to thoughts questioning your strength of character.

All of this can occur for the participant in an online social network, a fake world of one's and zero's augmenting your reality in the here and now. As you experiment with these online social networks, you will see representations of both the best and worst of humanity, under the creative auspice of a so-called: "community" of other participants just like you, most real, but a few digital apparitions.

Either way you are there by choice and you can leave by choice. However, if you leave you miss a newly created part of you. Is it an addiction, or is it an innate need that is being satisfied by the digital online social networking platform? Humans have social needs; they are social creatures, after all. Yet the other side humanity is also ever present in online social networks, as much or even more so than within a troop of chimpanzees acting out in Primate Politics. And for all this, you are still so proud of yourself for your online social networking, and that my friends is the kicker.

You give up self, to participate in a fake world, where the political correctness of the mob eventually controls your every move, always waiting for a scrap of praise, or a reward signifying that you have complied in pleasing others. These others, who in turn give you false praise or condemnation in order to propel them selves up the social hierarchy ladder; all the while somehow forgetting that none of it is real. Whether you stay or you go, you are giving up self in the social "politically correct training" that these social networks are part. This digitized virtual reality pollutes your mind, steals your freedom and turns you into nothing more than a follower of the mindless mob - To this you aspire?

Have a wonderful Blogging Day, get yourself a drink, as there is no need to thank me for making you think.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/ Lance Winslow's Bio

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Home Insurance- Prepare For Flood Risk

By Chris Rowlands

According to a report released by the Met office; the organisation who supply environmental and weather related services, there may be further localised flooding to come. After the brief interlude of the last week in which we finally received a touch of summer weather it is forecast that we will now see heavy precipitation for the rest of the week to come and indeed the remainder of august. This presents a risk of further flooding for those living in and around already inundated flood plains.

An estimated £3 billion worth in claims were received by house insurance companies following the earlier flooding. They will be keen to avoid further claims due to renewed flooding. With this in mind one high street bank, namely; Halifax has released a guide to help those at risk of further flooding to help ensure as little damage as possible.

Firstly and perhaps a matter of common sense, they suggest you place sandbags around entrances to your property to help hold back any ensuing barrage should a flood be deemed imminent. You should follow this with removing your electrical devices to the second floor of your home, or perhaps loft if you live in a bungalow. Please do not try to carry the freezer up the stairs single handedly as this could result in a different kind of claim. Joking aside, any precaution you can take to prevent possessions being damaged should be taken. Once this has been carried out, or perhaps first on reflection, switch off the mains supply if you can to prevent shortage or possible electrocution due to water ingress.

The company also suggest keeping home insurance documents close at hand especially in times of high risk so as to be able to respond as quickly as possible to a claim.

If you are thinking of purchasing a property it would be advisable to run a check before committing to purchase to find out flood plain status. If you find the property is built on a flood plain; as are 2.2 million homes in the UK, you should not see this as a major cause for concern as the weather we have received this summer is deemed a once in a century event. It is worth taking note of and checking if it will affect the cost of your home insurance premium however as some insurers have predicted increases. It has been speculated that some insurers may cease cover in these areas. Again this is only theory and should not be a cause for alarm.

The best advice I can give for those of you who may live in these area’s is to keep yourself updated via the Met office and look out for any flood warnings by checking local weather forecasts and listening to the radio where possible. Remember “attack is the best form of defence” in this case attack can be likened to preparation, with this is mind ensuring you are one step ahead and prepared for flooding you should greatly reduce your risks of damage to your possessions and home.

House insurance companies reportedly received over £3 billion worth of claims after the flooding of June/July.

Ensure your home insurance policy is up to date and close at hand in case of further flooding.

Women Mountain Biking - Looking Beyond The Risks

By David Faulkner

The old saw about women being the weaker sex has, in recent decade, come up for debate as increasing numbers of women have begun to excel at many of the sports which were once considered the exclusive provinces of men. Women have even begun to compete in extreme sports, including mountain biking.

There is no anatomical reason why women mountain biking cannot manage the strong pedaling required, and enough of them have now taken up the sport that they are no longer a rarity on the mountain biking trails. But mountain biking, like any sport, can cause long-term health consequences in its participants.

There us a question of whether or not women mountain biking are endangering their reproductive systems. Research has indicated that male mountain bikers significantly increase their risk of scrotal damage overtime; there is good reason to think the women might also be at reproductive risk.

The Risks Of Women Mountain Biking

The studies done on men show that they may experience the growth of either benign or malignant scrotal masses as a result of mountain biking, and those results may imply that women mountain biking can develop assorted reproductive illness. One proven effect of women mountain biking is, in a few instances, hymenal rupture.

Even though there many be negative consequences for their reproductive systems, enormous and increasing number of women mountain biking today is a sign that most women think the benefits of mountain biking outweigh its risks. The strength-building, cardiovascular benefits, heightened reflexes, improved coordination, and tremendous self-confidence which women who mountain bike experience are certainly desirable effects.

And the large number of women mountain biking has had another effect; there are now several women’s groups organized to educate women about the health and safety issues surrounding women’s mountain biking.

One of the organizations in the forefront of promoting healthy women mountain biking is the WOMBATS, or as they are officially named, the Women’s Mountain Biking and Tea Society. The members of WOMBATS all have one thing in common--their love for the adventure of mountain biking. The group accepts women regardless of their age, ethnicity, or culture; the only requirement for admission is that an applicant be an avid mountain biker.

The myth that women are a weak sex is dead, and the reality that women mountain biking is taking the mountain biking world by storm is becoming clearer each day. If you don’t believe it, head for the nearest mountain biking trail, watch the women of all ages and physical stature taking the terrain in their biking stride, and then tell yourself they are the weaker sex.

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