Facebook vs. FriendFeed

10Jul09

I almost got rid of my Facebook account a few months ago. Facebook had just debuted the new, new Facebook and did away with the status feeds. That’s all I needed Facebook for, actually: to make a status update so I could pull it into my lifestream. I was already sore about Facebook opening itself up to networks other the colleges, but having access to feeds made things better. So when they dumped it for the atrocity that is the new, new Facebook, I decided that I would delete my account at the end of the semester. And lo and behold, my dad sent me an email telling me he was on Facebook. Then my aunt, uncle and cousins showed up on Facebook. Then my mom. Then my brother. Then my family from the other side. I decided that I would have to keep Facebook around so I can connect with my family who live so far away from me. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.

But I’m not going to pretend that I like Facebook. It’s not the worst social networking site out there, but it’s getting into that territory. There’s just too much going on: too many apps, too many stupid quizzes, too many obnoxious people. Furthermore, the lifestreaming capabilities are minimal — and lifestreaming seems to be the next best thing.

This why I’m endorsing FriendFeed as a good replacement for Facebook. The lifestreaming in FriendFeed is FAR superior to Facebook’s. I can pick from a multitude of sites/social networks/blogs to pull in and even add my own if I want. There aren’t any stupid apps or quizzes that show up on my front page. I can sort my groups and friends into different sections (personal, favorites, and professional — you can add more) and have them appear on my home page or in separate pages. Recently, FriendFeed updated their user interface — which initially looked horrible and ugly and did away with the icons — with themes, so you can choose how you want your FriendFeed experience to look. Your friends can “like” or comment on posts just as they can in Facebook. Also, FriendFeed’s homepage updates automatically without you having to reload the page. You can also post original content if you don’t want to take advantage of lifestreaming.

The downsides? Well, the major downside is that FriendFeed isn’t Facebook. When it comes to popularity, Facebook smashes FriendFeed to bits. I tried explaining to my friends in person what FriendFeed was all about and no one knew what I was talking about. FriendFeed also does not have an iPhone app yet. If you’re an iPhone user and you dismiss anything that doesn’t have an iPhone app, I guess this would be a problem. But it does have a mobile site that works on all smartphones, so I don’t see this as a bad thing.

I am not saying get rid of Facebook. I know I can’t (at least not yet >_<). Maybe FriendFeed only appeals to those jaded with what you call the “Facebook experience.” Do I see Facebook going anywhere anytime soon? Not in the near future.

If you have not given FriendFeed a try yet, please do! You can subscribe to me too, if you want. ^_^

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Tags: lifestreaming, FriendFeed, Facebook

Google Stuff out of Beta

07Jul09

Google announced today that Google Apps and the enterprise/consumer versions of Gmail, Google Docs, Calendar, and Talk are now officially out of beta:

“Beta” will be removed from the product logos today, but we’ll continue to innovate and improve upon the applications whether or not there’s a small “beta” beneath the logo.

Wow, how long has Gmail been around? I’ve had my accounts for so long I can’t even tell. I don’t know if I’ll be able to recognize Gmail without the little “beta” sticker. Aw, I’m sad now. =(

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Tags: beta, Google

Great News for your Sick Sad World

06Jul09

I’ve already raved about it on Facebook and Twitter, but I’ll do it again here: after eight long years, Daria is coming to DVD in 2010!!

This will be the one DVD collection that I will actually go out and buy — no renting. Daria meant a LOT to me as a teenager, and she “graduated” high school the same year I did. I’ll always love Daria!

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Filed under: Television   |  1 Comment
Tags: Daria, DVD, MTV

Technorati Claim

06Jul09

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Tags: technorati

Posterous Is Good

06Jul09

Though I’ve had my Posterous account for a year now, only recently have I found a use for it. Based on Steve Rubel’s lifetreaming declaration, I am now a full-time lifestream-er! I still write essays that go to my Squarespace, Blogger, and WordPress blogs, but I’ll also be adding pictures, links and video to YouTube, Delicious, and Facebook. I don’t bother autoposting to Twitter or FriendFeed, since they seem separate from the Posterous experience (and since FriendFeed is a lifestreaming entity itself).

Posterous caught my attention last week when Mashable posted their Posterous vs. Tumblr comparison. To me, that comparison is unnecessary. Posterous and Tumblr are two different things: Posterous sends out to other sites; Tumblr pulls in from other sites. I don’t like either service better than the other because they serve two different purposes. I’ve used Tumblr longer because it’s been around longer, but that’s it.

I also heard Posterous mentioned on the most recent NATN podcast (#107: The Twittering Fridge). Someone mentioned that Posterous’ autoposting service might “clog up the tubes.” Of course, this is impossible: if there’s enough room on the internets for porn and LOLcats, then there’s room for replicated content. =) All of my essays go to my Squarespace blog; Ubuntu-specific entries also go to Blogger, political and tech-related entries also go to WordPress. If something gets shut down, I always have a backup; or if someone doesn’t want to go to one of my blogs, they can go to another. I lose nothing.

So, I like Posterous and I will continue to use it for lifestreaming. It doesn’t compare to Tumblr, nor does it do any harm in autoposting. =)

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Tags: lifestreams, Posterous

Thoughts On Palin’s Resignation

05Jul09

I’ve been trying to wrap my poor little brain around Sarah Palin’s reasons for quitting her term as Alaska’s governor (I think basketball was involved), I can’t help but browse CNN and Fox News for their input.

First, Fox News. What could the conservative news network have to say about their Princess stepping down at the end of the month? Well, not much actually. I took some screen shots of their various news sections to see if Ms. Palin could have been featured anywhere on their site. Big surprise, she wasn’t:

News Happening Now:

Most Popular Now:

Most Shared Now:

Most Emailed Now:

Nothing! Oh, there’s a lot of stuff about Michael Jackson’s burial and a serial killer in South Carolina, but nothing about Ms. Palin. Oh wait, my mistake! Here she is in the sidebar on some stupid memorial-like video…

…and in teeny-tiny print under the Fox Blogs.

But here’s what IS surprising: she’s not a big news story on CNN either:

Sure, she’s up there, but she’s lost amongst Steve McNair and Michael Jackson…again. I expect this sort of pseudo-journalism from Fox News, but not CNN.

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Tags: CNN, Fox News, Sarah Palin

June Favorites

01Jul09

Here are my favorite pictures taken in June. Some are with my BlackBerry, the others are with my Nikons. Enjoy!

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Argentina is Not the Appalachian Trail

24Jun09

God this story is just weird.

What’s weird about it? Let me count the ways…

1. He had his staff lie about where he was; granted, Argentina is much more exciting than the Appalachians, but not worthy to be lied about. The fact that he lied PERIOD suggests he was in Argentina doing nefarious things.
2. His state is in financial ruin yet he felt it necessary to take an expensive trip ANYWHERE.
3. His wife didn’t seem too concerned about his departure or his whereabouts, even though he missed Father’s Day. This leads me to believe she is either used to him taking off without notice or knows a bit more about his trips than she is letting on. Either way, her lack of anger and concern are telling.
4. A Democratic Senate Majority Leader was concerned for his “erratic behavior.” When your opposing party seems concerned for your well-being, you know there is a problem.
5. Oh yeah, did I mention HE JUST UP AND LEFT?!?

I won’t throw out what I think he was doing in Argentina (because it’s hearsay and speculation), so lets err on the side of caution. Say Sanford WAS just running away from his problems as a Governor. You CANNOT just get up and leave for Argentina, for ANYWHERE, when things get tough, especially when you’re a FUCKING GOVERNOR.

Update: Nope, I was right to speculate. That son of a bitch.

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Tags: Argentina, Gov Sanford, South Carolina

On Homeopathy

05Jun09

In contrast to the title of this article, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that homeopathy doesn’t kill people; stupid people who use homeopathy kill people. Homeopathy doesn’t do anything — therefore, how can it kill you?

Not that I don’t agree with what the article says. Homeopathy is not a new topic, it just has a revival in interest because of the cancer-stricken boy and his mother who ran away from a Minnesota court to avoid chemotherapy. And just this week, Newsweek published an article condemning Oprah for praising Suzanne Somers and her “bio-identical” hormone treatments. No, it’s not herbs and spices, but it’s the same crap that snake oil salesmen pitch to unsuspecting customers: “the experts are wrong and this is the only way to cure your sicknesses.”

To be honest, I have no problem with people looking to “alternative” medicines. Whether they choose to supplement their Western medicines with homeopathy or whether they chose to forgo all Western medicine period. My problem lies in claims that homeopathy is better than Western medicines. Tell that to the millions of people in third world countries who die of easily treatable illnesses — did taking three teaspoons of belladonna and a swallow of ox’s blood cure their influenza?

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Tags: homeopathy

Abortion Doctor Gunned Down, Suspect Arrested

31May09

Well, if you don’t know by now you should: Abortion doctor George Tiller was gunned down in his church this morning and, as the article says, a suspect has been arrested.

Hypocrisy: saying one thing and doing the total opposite. That is, the anti-choice front screaming that abortion is “murder” and that they are “pro-life” yet aren’t afraid to murder and be “anti-life” on a full-grown human being. It’s sickening how anti-choicers have convinced themselves that this is justifiable.

Feministing has an interesting article about Tiller’s death and what this means for rural-dwelling women in the area.

(Furthermore, killed on church property? Martyr him, why don’t you…)

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Tags: abortion, George Tiller, Reproductive Health