Fixing Facebook

Note: this info is current as of 11/15/2011.


OK so if all you want to see on Facebook is Status Updates, no videos, no games, no any-other-nonsense, then this is a good way to do it. It works only with Google Chrome. I haven't tried any fixes for other browsers, so I don't know what's available.

You have to install Google Chrome browser on your computer. If you haven't done that, get it here: www.google.com/chrome

Once you have that up and running, you can go to the Google Chrome Store here: chrome.google.com/webstore

Ok here we go. First, do a search for "Minimalist for Facebook"

You should then see this:

Then, click this:

OK the next step is to do another search. Search for "Hide Facebook SideBar Ticker"

You should see this:

Once again, click this:

When that is installed, close the browser completely. CLOSE IT!


Now open the browser again and go to www.facebook.com

Up in the address bar, you should see some little icons.

Click on this particular icon:

And you will see the pop-up menu appear:

Click on the options button and a new tab will open in your browser. (look up top)

On the next page, you'll see a menu on the left. For now, we'll just worry about the main menu options.

Once the page loads, you can make your selections here:

This is important! When you've checked all the boxes you want to hide, look at the top left of the page you're on.

Be sure to click the "Refresh Facebook to Apply" link.

 And that's it. You should only see the things you want to see on Facebook. I've hidden mostly everything, so I only see "status updates" on my page now.

Hope that helps.

Heroes Anyone?

CNN columnist LZ Granderson wrote an Op-Ed piece "America, a nation without heroes", http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/15/opinion/granderson-america-without-heroes/index.html?hpt=hp_c3 in which he concludes that few people are as good as advertised, and that we really don't have heroes anymore.

His statement that he sometimes just turns the TV off because he doesn't want to know "who's next." struck a chord with me. He says that if we look at our heroes from the past in the same way we scrutinize them today, we'd learn that America was probably never as great as we thought it was.

And that strikes a huge note with me.

Heroes have not changed. Trust me, there are plenty of people out there who are willing to do great things every day. Selfless, altruistic people really do exist, and we see evidence of that anytime there is a disaster, or someone is dire straits. People do step up.

What I believe has changed is our desire to cut people down. From the moment that someone steps into the spotlight, there is a subculture that sees a challenge. That challenge is to dig through every aspect of a hero's life, leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of imperfection, of that "juicy story" that will make millions.  And those millions will come from people who thrive on negative news. Gossip magazines exist solely because people love to see the famous at their worst.

Our heroes haven't changed. We have.

Think about it a second. Who benefits from seeing a matinee idol without her make-up? Or a pregnant celebrity dressed in less than her Sunday Best? Consider that TMZ has become a go-to news source. Why?

Frankly, I'm amazed that anyone would consider running for any office in this Country anymore. Accepting a nomination these days is like painting a big, giant bullseye on one's back. When someone steps into the political, the entire family becomes subject to the spotlight as well. The job of a publicist has got to be a veritable nightmare.

Now, I agree that it always feels good when some self-righteous, pompous ass gets taken down a few pegs. The downfall of Larry Craig brought smiles to a few faces, I'm sure. But why have we become obsessed with "crash & burn" stories? When Sully Sullenberger rose to fame after he safely landed his US Airways plane in the Hudson River, I remember thinking, "How long before we find out how many affairs he's had?"

Our heroes are out there. I will stand by my belief that it is just as okay to worship heroes as it is to revel in their downfalls. And the day I wake up a perfect human being, I'll be okay with expecting my heroes to be perfect.