So what is it with Linconlin?

A few years ago I got an email and was asked to join Linkedin. I was flattered, thinking that now I was being invited to join an in group. Parties at the Hamptons, gallery openings in Dumbo, dinners on Nassau Street soon would be coming my way. I was in Linkedin. 

Well, not surprisingly, none of that happened. Today, however,  I get almost daily updates from friends, former co-workers, people I met once at long ago library conferences. They endorse me for my many skills. Sometimes I wonder how they know I'm any good at what I do. One conversation over a danish in 1994 and they can definitely say I am excellent at collection development.

I also get important information. John Belosconi is now connected to Shirley Winkowski, the marketing manager of a small firm in Austin. So. What do I care? Perhaps old John is having an extra marital affair. Maybe that's what brings him to Austin.

I get it!  people are active in Linkedin because they are job hunting. Perhaps they want me to endorse them on their many skills. I was meandering around Linkedin yesterday and was presented with photographs of friends, old girl friends, a former boss, someone I met at a meeting (I think I thought she was cute). Is such and such knowledgeable in Wordpress? Is such and such an expert in data marketing analysis? 

It must be easy to find help nowadays. You just look up the candidates Linkedin account and find out what skills they possess and immediately hire the person with the most endorsements.

Family gossip

Q

When our mothers leave us they leave with a trove of family stories and gossip.  They also make it hard to follow the trials and tribulations of one's extended family. While your mother is alive and able to use the telephone, male relatives are able to keep up with things through their mothers.

• Your cousin is getting a divorce. Your cousin tells his mother. His mother tells your mother and she tells you. 
• Your cousin got a DWI. Your cousin tells his mother. His mother tells your mother and she tells you.
• Your niece dropped out of Bucknell. She tells her mother. Your sister-in law tells your mother and she tells you. 
• Your cousin lost his job. He had to borrow money from your uncle. Your uncle told your aunt, she told your mother and your mother told you. 

One good thing about family gossip is that it often shows your parents how lucky they are to have you rather than the flotsam and jetsam of the extended family. However it is hard to keep up on things when mother passes away. Of course there's always Facebook. Unfortunately, Facebook posts tend to dwell on accomplishments, cute pictures of the kids and vacations. A keen eye may note a missing husband from vacation pictures, but mothers are a better source of what your cousins were really up to.