In a society dominated by technology, much has been made about the security vulnerabilities that present themselves as our offline lives become increasingly intertwined with our online ones. These vulnerabilities were on full display over the weekend as many celebrities’ iCloud accounts were hacked, resulting in a mass release of explicit photos.

Cloud computing is something that we are all very familiar with, and utilize daily. It has streamlined our ability to share information in a seamless fashion, allowing all of our devices to operate essentially as one. While Cloud technology allows for instantaneous back-up capability and the efficiency of sharing files across numerous devices, this weekend’s leak of celebrity photos exposed how easy it can be for someone to access personal information and release it online.

The Cloud feels a bit like an omnipresent entity hovering above us. Everybody uses it, but few really understand how it works. With a lack of understanding comes a lack of attention paid to privacy options and techniques, leading to security lapses which create scenarios where hacks are possible. It’s a Frankensteinian situation of sorts, where the innovations that make our lives easier at the moment come back to haunt us in the long-run.

So is ease-of-use worth the potential for privacy invasion? Should companies like Apple who run these Cloud servers been held accountable for the malicious activity of others, or is the blame solely on those with insufficient passwords and security setups? One thing is clear, however; we all need to pay closer attention to our accounts, because as technology continues to advance, doors will continue to open that create situations where it can be used against us.

Awards shows are a guilty pleasure of mine. There’s nothing better than drunken rich people with microphones—it’s always a recipe for following day blog-fodder. Unfortunately, last night’s Emmys were the award show equivalent of watching paint dry. No stage-crashing. No rambling acceptance speeches that border on self-involved word-vomit. Station-to-station, it was a three hour exercise in “play-it-safe” emceed by human manila folder Seth Meyers. I miss Ricky Gervais. With that in mind, here are my highlights.

Breaking Bad Crushes It

As expected, Breaking Bad took home all of the major categories where it was nominated, the most contentious of which was Bryan Cranston’s win for best actor in a drama. Any other year and Matthew McConaughey would have taken home the Emmy for his portrayal of Rust Cohle in True Detective, but competing against the final season of Breaking Bad in any category is a recipe for a snub.

Billy Crystal’s Robin Williams Tribute

Billy Crystal’s touching memoriam to Robin Williams was right up there with the best moments in Emmy history. His story about Robin in the broadcast booth at a Mets game was a perfect example of Robin’s quick-wit and ability to find humor in any situation, and only made us miss him more. It was a perfect tribute that celebrated the joy that Williams brought to others, and did not harp on the sadness of his loss.

Bryan Cranston and Julia Louis-Dreyfus Make Out

Alluding to their onscreen kiss on Seinfeld while they presented an award together, they reenacted it later on when Louis-Dreyfus was approaching the stage to accept her award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy. It was some much-needed comedic relief in a show that had been particularly stale up to that point.

Stefani’s Botches Colbert’s Name

In one of the only flubs of the evening, Gwen Stefani channeled her inner John Travolta and mumbled through Stephen Colbert’s name. Not really a highlight or a lowlight, but in a show that went about as smooth as live-television can, it was worth a mention.

So there’s your 2014 Emmy roundup. Here’s hoping next year we see more sloshed celebrities and red carpet disasters.

I had full intentions of writing this about the uproar surrounding the new Facebook Messenger requirements. I was going to write about the dichotomy between increased information and privacy invasion. I was going to throw numbers at you. Possibly increase your paranoia.

And then I got the news.

Robin Williams was found dead yesterday, the result of an apparent suicide. I’m going to set-aside his accomplishments in stand-up comedy; his acting prowess. I’m going to set aside Robin Williams quite possibly being the most likeable guy in Hollywood.

Robin Williams, to the outside world, was joy personified. The man appeared the embodiment of happy-go-lucky—the epitome of exuberance. That wasn’t enough.

This is an issue close to my heart. There is a disturbing stigma attached to mental illness in this country—and beyond—and Robin Williams’ death is another tragic example that we are still insufficiently-equipped to deal with it. The human condition is predisposed toward self-preservation, and in the case of depression, often leads to suffering in silence for fear of social consequences. Too often it leads to Robin’s heartbreaking outcome.

It’s okay to ask for help. There’s nothing “weak” about admitting you can’t go-it-alone.

So today, along with reflecting on Robin Williams’ life and accomplishments, we should think about the people in our lives who we know struggle with depression. Reach-out to them—a phone call, a meeting for coffee, or a text-message. It just may be what saves their life.

With the arrival of two aid workers who contracted the deadly and highly-contagious Ebola virus in West Africa to the CDC in Atlanta—and one quarantined patient being evaluated for infection in New York City—pandemic paranoia has reached a (no pun intended) fever pitch.

A debate erupted into the narrative regarding the public-health implications of transporting individuals infected with the virus to American soil for the first time, and the potential for exposure. Plot lines from Outbreak and Contagion are rattling around in the anxious brains of the population and fueling Hollywood-scenario fears.

Thankfully, the condition of the two Americans being treated with an experimental drug seems to be improving; and media-sensationalism and online-conspiracies aside, the individuals receiving care in the United States has brought the massive Ebola epidemic in West Africa to the forefront of the national conversation.

The virus has already infected over 1,000 people in the countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, making it the largest outbreak of Ebola in recorded history. A section of the world improperly-equipped to deal with such a substantial medical-crisis, there was a disturbing lack of attention being paid to a situation that threatens to turn catastrophic. So while millions of Americans are irrationally freaking out over the virus’ stateside arrival, the spotlight is now focused on resolving the emergency in West Africa, as it should be.

The continued improvement of the two Americans who received the experimental vaccine is terrific news, and potentially tide-changing for suffers in West Africa. It took a national uproar to generate mainstream attention to the situation across the globe, and with the encouraging news from this trial treatment, hopefully it begins to subside.

Curiously, those with the most media experience seem to be the ones with the most recurring cases of foot-in-mouth disease. Last week’s patient was Steven A. Smith, ESPN talking-head and commentator known for his strong opinions and animated style. Unfortunately, he did not articulate this one as artfully as he would have liked.

Last Friday on ESPN’s ‘First Take,’ Smith provided his take on Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice’s two-game suspension for domestic violence, and amidst his diatribe, made the insane comment advising women not to ‘provoke wrong actions’ in domestic disputes.

Firestorm: engage.

Social media lit-up immediately, from calling Smith out as a misogynist to calling for his job. The story was no longer about Ray Rice, but about the deep and overriding issue of domestic abuse. Smith also did not receive any help from the NFL, who suspended Jacksonville Jaguars wide-receiver Justin Blackmon an entire season for failing a drug test, contributing to the conversation about their disciplinary priorities. Two-days for domestic violence. A season for smoking marijuana.

Smith issued an apology on ‘First Take’ yesterday, but for someone as boisterous and opinionated as Steven, came off as flat and rehearsed. There will be no Don Imus-esque reprisal for Smith, he will merely weather the bad press and remain in-place as an ESPN commentator. You would think that being a part of the media would instill a strong sense of media savvy in these individuals, but these situations unfold almost weekly. Blame it on the human condition, blame it on a hot-mic or a bad day at the office; but if you’re Steven A. Smith and you begin blaming the victim, the respect of your audience and overall credibility will assuredly take a hit.