Case in point illustrating the problem with so-called social
media with regards to news: Wednesday evening I was visiting with
my sweetie at the hospital and one of the therapists, Jill, (who
was running Casino night that evening) came in and said,
”
Did you hear about the Amber Alert in Gilroy? A 3-year-old has
been taken.
”
So, while I pondered therapist telling editor of Gilroy
newspaper about Amber Alert in editor’s hometown and simultaneously
took out my phone to make the requisite call, she said that she’d
already sent a text message to 20 friends. A minute later, I knew
the Amber Alert message was a hoax and wondered about the likely
exponential growth of the rumor
– ah, the unleashed power of a text message Ponzi Scheme. So,
while social media, can be useful, it can also be destructive and
wasteful. When it comes to alarming text messages, buyer beware –
and don’t pass on the
”
news
”
on unless you’re sure it’s real.
Case in point illustrating the problem with so-called social media with regards to news: Wednesday evening I was visiting with my sweetie at the hospital and one of the therapists, Jill, (who was running Casino night that evening) came in and said, “Did you hear about the Amber Alert in Gilroy? A 3-year-old has been taken.” So, while I pondered therapist telling editor of Gilroy newspaper about Amber Alert in editor’s hometown and simultaneously took out my phone to make the requisite call, she said that she’d already sent a text message to 20 friends. A minute later, I knew the Amber Alert message was a hoax and wondered about the likely exponential growth of the rumor – ah, the unleashed power of a text message Ponzi Scheme. So, while social media, can be useful, it can also be destructive and wasteful. When it comes to alarming text messages, buyer beware – and don’t pass on the “news” on unless you’re sure it’s real.
As for my wife’s rehab assignment recovering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, it’s going well. Each day with spirit and determination, she’s becoming stronger. A heartfelt thanks to all who have sent her cards and e-mails, expressed best wishes and said prayers. Jenny will be coming home to continue her recovery soon.
The Raley’s Supermarket Web site recovered nicely after a faux pas that I missed despite a good tip. Apparently, the Raley’s Web site referenced it’s subsidiary sister grocery store as Nob Hill Hood …
But I did see Nob Hill Hood mangager Vito Corleone, er … Mercado at “secret” meeting of the Cosa Garlico last week in an impromptu taste test for pepper steak sandwiches. The Godfather, Sampson Bozzo, and his consigliere, Sonny Sakahara, manned the kitchen. After much mangia, the famiglia vote came down: Next week, prepare to eat an extra pepper steak sandwich at the 31st rendition of thee one, thee only Great Gilroy Garlic Festival, July 24, 25 and 26 at Christmas Hill Park.
It’s a Gilroy principle thing … Council members in year’s past often complained about former City Administrator Jay Baksa negotiating on behalf of the management employees because what he negotiated had an impact on his own benefits. So, how is it different when the Council approves contracts for city employees which, in turn, impact their own benefits? An inherent conflict of interest exists that the original City Charter identified and outlawed. That’s why a city employee cannot sit on the City Council. Yet, we’ve apparently passed a special law to provide for the Council’s own self interest which allows members to receive city benefits. That should be repealed.
Repealed should be the testimony of one older Gilroy resident who apparently used the editor of The Dispatch in court for a unique, if feeble, attempt to sidestep a red light violation. Officer Nestor Quinones let me know that the judge in the case heard testimony that I wouldn’t publish a press release on the GPD’s red light enforcement campaign because it wasn’t important and, therefore, she, of course, couldn’t think that stopping at a red light was important if the paper didn’t … Buzzer, gong … Ma’am, with all due respect, stop at red lights. It’s the law, and the safe and considerate thing to do. And for the record, I can’t imagine saying that, but maybe I’m just getting older and my memory is fading …
Will say this, though, for the record. One could hardly blame MayorAl if he secretly hoped the recall campaign about to be officially mounted against him by Mark Zappa succeeded. It’s a lousy time to be mayor.
But it’s a great day to be king for a day, especially if you’re 59-year-old Tom Watson who fired an astounding 65 in the opening round of the British Open Thursday. This is dream land for a golf fan, I know, but imagine a Watson-Woods pairing in the final round at Turnberry for the Claret Jug with Watson clinging to a two-shot lead … now that’s drama …
And I bet you didn’t know you could order a Jeff Garcia roll at Michi Sushi in Campbell. Neither did I until I went on a sushi hunt in unfamiliar territory to satisfy Miss Jenny’s craving. Felt right at home when I spotted a Gilroy roll on the to-go menu near the jalapeño-topped Jeff Garcia roll before spotting the picture of Jeff in the lobby happily wolfing down some fresh fish … can heartily recommend it as an inventive and tasty place to dine – almost as good as our own Ninja Sushi …
Sushi-loving daughter Cayla and sister Mariah hit the jackpot July 10 when they headed up to the Giants game with a strong Gilroy contingent which populated the left field bleachers and witnessed Jonathan Sanchez’s superb history-making no-hitter …
History in the making are the official shirts chosen each year by the Garlic Festival president … how about hanging them all up with the pictures of past president’s and having festival-goers vote for the best and the worst, just for G-Fest fun …
