Red, white and blue mania not for U.S. this time

The statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from the people of France. On October 28, 1886, Lady Liberty was dedicated to the United States. It as a sign of friendship, symbolizing universal freedom. A history: The copper statue, designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculptor, was built by Gustave Eiffel. The statue is of a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess, who bears a torch and a tabula ansata (a tablet evoking the law) upon which is inscribed the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. A broken chain lies at her feet. The statue is an icon of freedom and of the United States, and was a welcoming sight to immigrants arriving from abroad.

Given what happened last week in Paris, we'd be remiss if we did not acknowledge the ISIS terrorist attack that killed more than 130 people and left hundreds of others injured. We offer our heartfelt condolence and extend a hand of friendship and sympathy to those Parisiennes whose lives have been forever changed.

Many on Facebook social media added a blue, white and red screen over their profile images to denote solidarity with France. Buildings and landmarks across the USA and the world were bathed in France's colors, from the Sydney Opera House to Australia, to the walls of Jerusalem's old city, to the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, and the One World Trade Center in New York City.

CAPTION: The blue, white, and red of France's national flag are projected onto the sails of Sydney's Opera House following the attacks in Paris. JASON REED/REUTERS

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Sea harmony

Imagine using wind and ocean waves to create melodies found nowhere else, except perhaps a pipe organ? That's what this Croation "Sea Organ" does – creates enchanting harmonies! Learn more about this marvel here.

Not-so-smart TV

I recently purchased a Vizio Smart TV to watch Netflix and other online streaming programs. Imagine my dismay when I learned that it was tracking everything I watched, when I watched it, and any other devices I was streaming on (tablet, phone, etc.) because it now had access to my IP address.

According to a published report by ProPublica, Vizio's Smart TV is just one of several brands that can track your viewing tendencies and report them to advertisers.

"The feature, 'Smart Interactivity,' is already turned on as a default setting for millions of people who have purchased the device. Viewers are able to turn off the setting, that is, if they know it even exists."

After researching it, I turned off the feature on my Vizio. Here's how I did it.

Speaking of spying ...

Last August Ars Technica reported on a list of features in Microsoft Windows 10 that raise concerns for the privacy conscious. IHLS reports that "Windows 10 continually monitors and collects data on usage and operation of the system and reports back to Microsoft.

The features, it has now been confirmed, cannot be turned off. Windows 10 is set by default to track how you are using it and to send the information back to Microsoft." Learn more here.

Fun Facebook

Every now and then one comes across a site that's so filled with interesting and unexpected things it's worth a mention. Here's a fascinating glimpse at unusual things at a Facebook page called 3-D First Aid Visual Architecture. You never know what you'll find at this site.

Twittery debate

What can Twitter can teach us about John Kasich's (and everyone else's!) debate performance? Click here to find out!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner ...

Ever wonder what the Pilgrims ate at the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621 at Plimouth Plantation? National Geographic – or NatGeo as it's now called – says it was a bit different from the offerings on our contemporary Thanksgiving table.

Photo credit: National Geographic

For one thing, it went on for three days.

Migratory geese and ducks were plentiful in the autumnal New England area. Roasted on a spit, the fowl made for delectable eats along with deer (venison), fish and wild turkey. Lobster and mussels were plentiful as were harvested vegetables, and when added to the meat, made flavorful stews the early settlers called "pottage".

Add gourds of pumpkin and squash with a side of cornbread, washed down with beer ... and voilà! Incidentally, NatGeo reports the Pilgrims liked their brew, which they brought with them on the Mayflower. The 1621 harvest had yielded a crop of barley, which for the first time made it possible for the colonists to make their own home beer.

Learn more by watching NatGeo's two-night special "Saints & Strangers, The Pilgrim Story," beginning at 9 pm on Sunday, Nov. 22. View trailer here.