Include Your Social Media Accounts in Your Final Arrangements

Talking about writing a will has to be one of the top ten most uncomfortable conversations.  But any family that has had to settle an estate will tell you the effort will make the process easier on the survivors.

Social media networks now have procedures in place to close or otherwise address the status of your accounts after your passing.  Some people find comfort in reviewing old posts and photos by their loved one;  others are just creeped out.

For both LinkedIn and Twitter, a next of kin or executor can contact the admin desk and make a request.

LinkedIn:  Deceased LinkedIn Member - Removing Profile
There is a form at the link to fill out and the information they require is:

• The member's name
• The URL to their LinkedIn profile
• Your relationship to them
• Member's email address
• Date they passed away
• Link to obituary
• Company they most recently worked at

Profiles will be completely removed and not preserved

Twitter:  Contacting Twitter about a deceased user or media concerning a deceased family member

The information required to deactivate the account is basically the same as LinkedIn.  However, Twitter also requires that the person reporting the death provide a copy of their legal ID.  AND - all information has to be sent via US Mail to an address listed at the above link.  The process takes a while.

Facebook has taken a proactive approach.  Every member is now permitted to designate a Legacy Contact, who can perform some management tasks after your passing.  They won't be able to post as you, but they can change pictures, decide to download your photos, etc.  

Article from PC World on the new feature

Step by step instructions from Facebook to add a Legacy Contact

Best of all, you don't have to jump through a ton of extra hoops to have an account managed for a deceased person.  The Memorialization Request is simple and just requires a single proof (online obituary, etc) to show the person has actually died.  Once that is confirmed, the Legacy Contact can take over the account per the deceased owner's request.  (More about Memorialized Accounts on Facebook.)

Take a few moments and make future plans for your social media.  It will make the details easier on your survivors.

Help Dunwoody Apartment Residents Displaced by Fire

UPDATE:  Thanks to an enormous outpouring of support, the Dunwoody Glen office is filled to overflowing with contributions.  No more assistance is needed at this time.

The fire at Dunwoody Glen apartments on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard damaged 10 apartments and displaced 30 residents.  True to form, other Dunwoodians are banding together with the apartment managers to help provide for their immediate needs.

The following Facebook post was just made by Councilman Terry Nall.  There are all kinds of ways to assist and all of the needs can be met if everybody picks one.

DROP-OFF InformationAll donations are being collected at Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Church (1978 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338).  Donations will be accepted beginning this Sunday February 1, 2015 from 8:30-3:30 and throughout the week during regular church office hours Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Post by Terry Nall for Dunwoody.

Google Fiber Redux: Read the Fine Print and Watch For Details

Google Fiber coming to 9 metro Atlanta cities
(but not Dunwoody)

Almost a year ago I posted some questions about Google Fiber's service that no one outside of the hardcore tech community was asking.  Many elected officials (eg, Kasim Reed) and others closer to home are going gaga over the idea of internet connections that seem to be as fast as thought.  But technology has a price and it is never Utopia.

First - here is the original post:   Google Fiber: Is anyone reading the fine print?

Second - why are our elected officials (in Dunwoody as well as other cities) not asking the questions I raised in the post?

My opinion about Dunwoody's omission from the plan still stands:  it's not a setback.  Google's decision plants our city squarely in the catbird seat.  Kasim Reed and other local mayors want to rush headlong into new technology, no questions asked.  I say, let 'em.  Let them take all the risks, endure the complaints, stumble across the problems, and work their way out of it.  Dunwoody can sit back, feet comfortably elevated, enjoying a cool beverage, and taking notes about what works well and what doesn't.  Dunwoody can learn about the quality of Google Fiber services and logistics without having to make an irrevocable commitment.

Before writing my original post in the above link, I researched the Internet for days.  I found terms of service after some serious digging.

But my Google search was almost silent about real-life customer experience and satisfaction (or lack of) with the service.

That lack of information alone should speak volumes.

I found *one* article describing a homeowner's real-life experience w/ Google Fiber installation and usage:
Basking in the Glow of Google Fiber: A Hands-On Experience With Gigabit Internet

So we have one anecdote filled with pros and cons.  But it was from 18 months ago with no updates.  I'm glad Dunwoody can wait and see if that experience is repeated closer to home before we have to decide if the experience is worth the work to bring the service to our own homes.