Facebook

Just so you know, I have deactivated my profile on Facebook. It is not that I am not interested in your lives, it is more that I want to have more of these interactions done in a more personal manner.

Maybe this means that I am getting older, or maybe this means I am becoming more and more cynical regarding relationships.

So, I am around and I will still be probing the depths of social media. Just not on Facebook for the time being.

This could be an amazing day!

Union Hockey

Thanks, Doug!
Union plays Ferris at 4:30 today. (See you local provider for television details.)

There has been some interesting press on this, including this piece in the WSJ, Dear Alma Mater: I'm Sorry.

To say that I am excited about this would be an understatement. To say that I am proud of my alma mater would be a gross oversimplification.

From the Concordiensis: Hockey History: Dutchmen skates to success on and off the ice

Go U!

And for those of you who do not care about hockey...
Baseball is back and the Mets are back this afternoon!

Oh, by the way, the guy who wrote and directed Field of Dreams...Union alum. Ayup.

The Mets play at one and then the Dutchmen play at 4:30. This is a great sports day.

Presented without comment
I saw this image floating around yesterday and I felt the need to share it.

Thanks
Thank you to All Over Albany for including me in the What's Up in the Neighborhood post for this week.

What is Facebook was invented in 1994?

Via Nerd With Swag

Edit:

Things that I forgot to add earlier.

Another E-Card That I Love


Overheard
Guy to Woman: Well, I just finished that Ron Paul book if you want to come over and borrow it.
Woman: **starry eyed**

After I recounted this to my assembled friends: "Only a RPI Girl"

Superb Sunday

Loving Timeline
Thanks to Facebook Timeline, this photo was commented upon on Facebook Friday and yesterday and that made me happy.

The picture is from June 2010 and it shows TEA and I playing laser-tag after we have suited up. That there were people commenting positively about what is one of the better times that TEA and I have had together made me very happy. Happy about Timeline, social media in general, and the people that are my friends.

The Worst Movie Ever


Are any of you familiar with "Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer"? Yeah, I did not think so. TEA wanted to watch it on Friday night after ribs and fries and I agreed. (NetFlix Instant is great that way.) He fell asleep so we finished it on Saturday. Watch the trailer and then think on this statement from my brother.

"This movie should be subtitled, "Heather Graham needs to pay her mortgage.""

Well played, hermano, well played.

(Janet Varney is in this as well. The reason I bring this up is that I have had a crush on her for a while and last night, like a number of other women I have crushed on from afar, I found out that she had been in a relationship with Chris Hardwick.)

Being active
I thought about taking yesterday off from running and any type of long walk because my butt was really sore. (Yes, I know that some of you are going to run with that statement. Go ahead. It is a gift.) However, around five, I started feeling antsy* and wanted to get out and do something. I did a really abbreviated warm up, three miles, and then a quick cool down. (Most of my runs have been in that range. I need to take a break but I do not want a blank space on my calender.

So, I am trying to figure out what I want to do today. What I really want to do is go for a hike but the weather does not look conducive to it. I should go for a run, which is probably what I am going to do. (I have not even thought of the route. Maybe RT 7 to McChesney and out that way, but...it is cold and wet outside. Oh, and if someone says "What about a treadmill?" they will be dead to me like the others.) I am looking forward to the weather being consistently good so that I can cross train effectively. For now, I am going to do some yoga and meditate about how awesome coffee is. Any ideas, please text me.

If the weather was a little nicer, I would go for a bike ride. Thanks to Google Maps, it would look like an 8 Bit Adventure.

Awesome, no?

Read more about it at io9.com

Nook Tablet
Do you want your Nook Tablet to act more like a Tablet and less like a Nook but you do not want to root it? There is a way to Dual Boot it. FAU, I am thinking of you as I am posting this, but @danap2170, you should try it too.

TEA and Vacation
TEA and I were supposed to go to Florida next week for spring break. See what I did there? Past tense. There are a number of reasons for this but the one that it overriding is that TEA does not want to fly. Going to Florida generally requires the use of an airplane, though there are other ways to do it. Now, I thought about pressing the issues, but I was afraid that his fears would lead to a panic attack on the plane and that would me a) vacation was ruined and b) TEA was traumatized, and here is where my fear would come in...I would be more concerned with spring break being ruined than with my son who was having a panic reaction. I do not ever want to be that dad.

The Great Beer Walk of 2012
I have been doing some asking around and I am trying to gauge the interest for this. It would, in all likelihood, be in either Troy or Schenectady on a late spring or early summer Saturday afternoon. Any preferences?

Hey! I resemble this!

Another awesome E-Card

Food, Glorious Food
I made myself an amazing dinner last night.

No, seriously...I did. Take a look.

What is it? Well, it is jasmine rice and edamame, with a soy sauce glazed chicken. I do not generally like chicken that is not in wing form. (And I do feel for those people who do not live in New York, as they really do not have a chance to understand that art that is the chicken wing. Just sayin'.) It was tasty, especially with my new favorite stuff (the red stuff).

What is it?

Oh, it is Roland Oriental Style Hot Chili Sauce.

It has become my go to condiment. It has a nice heat and good flavor and it makes everything just a little better.

The song that I had stuck in my head for the bulk of the weekend.


No, there is not a story for this. It just happened.

Questions on this Monday morning.

Why does Facebook provide "Recommended Pages" from people that you have taken the time to marginalize within Facebook? I am sure that they can see how I have my lists set up?

If you work out, what do you listen to, if anything? Music, news, books on "tape"? I listen to podcasts, most of them news related. Six years ago, my now-ex-wife asked me, when I was serious about spending at least 90 at the gym per day, what I was listening to and I answered with the news, she was incredulous that I was both killing myself and listen to some of the more boring podcasts ever committed to re-writable memory. These days, there is some news, but it is soft news.

I am really curious about who is visiting AFM these days. I mean, I have always been curious about you, but in the past couple of months, my traffic has spiked to the point where I have no clue is reading any more. I know what you are reading and generally where you care coming from (In this order, New York, California, New England (it is really unfair to lump them together, but they are more alike. Massachusetts leads NE) and Texas, which makes sense.) but I would love to know more. Maybe a survey?

Has anyone read Drift yet? Loan it to me? (Yes, I know it does not come out until Tuesday but some of you are awesome and get copies early. I would appreciate it.) (If you have no clue about what I am talking/writing about, you can read an excerpt here.)

Did you see Rachel on Meet The Press talking about it? (Oh, and DKG was on Meet the Press as well, so the good will that I had because Rachel was on was lost because that...woman...was on.)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

And finally, those of you that have successfully quit smoking without the used of a nicotine replacement...how long did you have really vivid and really odd dreams? Was it longer than two weeks? I do not want to use a sleep aid, but I am willing to if it is going to be so very very weird.

Recapping for a Monday Morning

Radiohead was on Saturday Night Live:



Would it be wrong if I admitted that this was one of the highlight of my weekend? (Rhetorical. I think it was awesome. There are a surprising number of you who missed the Radiohead train. I think that is to your determent.) Well, that and Sunday Football with TEA. Yes, TEA and I headed out to watch the Giants beat Michael Vick the Eagles like a dog (too soon? too crass?) while also watching Brady and his Patriots lose to a CFL team. It was, a win-win with pulled pork sliders, boneless wings, and southwestern egg rolls (they were surprisingly okay).

I have, unfortunately, succumb to the great plague of the modern world, or at least those of us who have smart phones that are not...ancient. (If my father has had two phones that are more current than yours, you are using ancient tech. All I see when I see you talking on it is Lee Atwater.) Yes, I am speaking of Angry Birds. Why did I do this to myself? I cannot remember my thought process at the time, but...the download was so easy and the gameplay so distracting and then...three hours later I am wondering where my afternoon went.

Speaking of apps, has anyone used Layar? I like the idea of Augmented Reality in the palm of my hand and this seems like an interesting implementation of this. However I am wondering if there are better implementations or different uses for the technology.

One final thing: I like the new user interface for Facebook. I think that the lists are great and I enjoy seeing more of what my "friends" (because if we are being honest, how many people are we actually friends with on Facebook) are doing and I have set up those lists to see what is showing up in the feed. If you are uncomfortable with the amount of information you are sharing, then maybe you should reconsider being on a social media network. Also, the likelihood that someone actually gives a damn about what you are doing is remarkably low. Just sayin' is all.

Oh, and a mea culpa: FAU, yes, it is my fault that the Yankees lost on Sunday night to the Red Sox. I know that I should not mention the score of any game to you on the phone on a Sunday or Monday evening because that will lead to the team that you are rooting for to lose. I take full blame for that pitch.

Social Media Guilt

"It happens every year whether you want it to or not: your Facebook wall is assaulted by people you haven't heard from in six years with birthday greetings. The one-line exclamations tend to be the generic type of happy birthday wishes that used to hide behind the five dollar bills in greeting cards from distant family members. In a neatly packaged metaphor, Facebook birthday greetings represent the problem that the social network has become. Always billed as a place to connect with your real friends, Facebook is now crowded with shallow or even fake relationships."

The Problem with Facebook Birthday Greetings

Between this, and the original Plotz piece (H/T to FAU for that), I have a little bit of guilt when I decide to say hello to someone when Facebook lets me know that it is their birthday. It may be another way to overthink my place in relationship to social media, and it most definitely is wanking of a sort, but I now think about it. Thank you for ruining my nice gesture, Plotz.

The Contest - Here It Is

Remember when I mentioned a contest? Dinner a New World Bistro with me? Dinner on me (All Over Albany, actually)!

Well, here it is and it is open for the next week.

First, become a fan of AFM on Facebook, then, on the Wall, answer one of these three questions:

1)If you were to be wrongly accused of a crime, which crime would it be and why?

2)What was your worse date ever?

3)You are stuck on a desert island, and you are going to get a companion, but...you can choose one person in the world not to have join you. Who and why? (Hitler is a cop out.)

The person who wins the contest, and with it, dinner with me, is the person whose answer gets the most "Likes".

Tell your friends, family, and the people you know in prison who are checking Facebook on their smuggled phone.

Anyone can enter, so long as they have a Facebook account.

The rules again:

Become of fan of AFM
Answer one of the questions
Like the best answers.

The contest will end on April 22nd at midnight.

I reserve the right to change the dynamics of this contest at any point.


JMFJT had some suggestions. Take them with a grain of salt.


1. Must be shorter than 5'09"
2. Must be mildly intelligent (this can be measured with a question like what year was Kennedy killed.....and yes, a lot of people don't know that)
3. Must be willing to give it up (help the gland)
4. Must like music, not necessarily your music but an interest in music is always appreciated
5. Must like children (seeing you have a kid)

15 Vocalists?

(Maura tagged me on Facebook with this meme.)

The rules: Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen vocalists that will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than five minutes.
(Starting at 2:26)
1. Liz Phair
2. Robert Smith
3. Morrissey
4. John Darnielle
5. Meghan Ball
6. Sinead
7. Johnny Cash
8. Thom Yorke
9. Elvis Costello
10. Sting
11. Bruce Springsteen
12. Kurdt Cobain
13. Courtney Love
14. Paul Simon
15. Colin Hay
(Completed at 2:28)

Wonderful Things from my Life on the Web

• Sarah Palin may be my favorite snowbilly hick right now.  She is commenting on her own Facebook fan page using the account Lou Sarah.
• Chris Matthews' President of the World was interesting, in a fawning sort of way.  The Huffington Post decide to have some fun with it, showing how it would look if other networks produced it.
• If you set yourself a limit of $20 for fresh food for the week, would using $0.90 of change be cheating if you didn't count it against your total?  I say, "yes".
• The Sounds have a new album coming out and they streamed their new single last night, Something to Die For. I happen to like it, but, I like the Sounds and I am willing to understand those who don't care for them.  Understand does not necessarily translate to "like" though. 
• When I find myself agreeing with Mike Lupica, there is a problem.  Especially when it comes to NBA basketball, which I only try to maintain enough attention to so that I do not look like even more of an idiot. Yep, the Knicks got played, and 'Melo, while very good, will not be the savior of the franchise.
• As I mentioned on Facebook, I created a playlist in iTunes called "Superficial Douche" and if I do so say myself, it is a wonderfully quirky mixture of indie and faux indie rock. 
• I just applied for what may be my dream job.  I will be sure to post cryptic updates about the pace of my application.
• "It would be quite an accomplishment for Union, the last-place team in the ECAC four short years ago, to be the champion. But I’m guessing that a first appearance in the NCAA tournament as a Division I team would mean a whole lot more to the Dutchmen. And, really, it should mean something to all of the ECAC and show those teams that are struggling to get by now that better times might not be too far away." USCHO Tuesday Morning Quarterback
  

Some links

Beer Commercials Are Not Stupid but they are aimed at 16 year old boys (or their mental equivalents).

Ted Hall speaks: You know, the guy you just needed to spend one more minute with the woman at JFK and screwed up traffic patterns on the East Coast.

I am very happy that I have an excuse to watch CurrentTV again.

All Over Albany had an ARA piece on choosing a restaurant that could be a skit on a sketch comedy show. (I am looking at you, Portlandia.)

But Elizabeth has GF and vegan banana bread, so that could answer some of their questions.

Heather at Sugar & Spice made a spinach and chickpea soup that looks amazing. It looks like something that would be perfect for the cold and windy night that we are experiencing here.

Foreign Policy has a slide show about the Art of the Egyptian Protests. Some of them are interesting, some of them surreal.

Kitchen Condescending proves to you what you should NEVER USE PREGROUND PEPPER.

While the Clean Eating Project proves that everything is better with bacon. (Though, I disagree about vodka infused with bacon. It can be very very good.)

And finally, the Winklvi speak to The Daily.


Edit at 6:17 pm EST:
I forgot to post this above but it sparked quite an intense reaction from FAU. Someone was more cynical about the Volkswagen Darth Vader commercial than I could every be.

Social Networking Fail

There are few things about social networking that irk me more than the poor communication exhibited by otherwise smart people.

I could update with something like "I think my spleen ruptured" or "I had dreams about death camps again" and someone will "Like" it. I see this on other people's pages as well. "My immune system has failed" followed by "6 people like this".

No.

You shouldn't like this. There people should be your friends and loved ones and you should never "Like" when they are hurt or in harm's way.

Instead of "Liking" it, how about a quick note expressing sympathy, or maybe a call.

Another End of the Year Update

The Year in Facebook Pictures



There are some great pictures here and...some wonderful memories.

(End Navel Gazing)

I am amazed by some of my friends and I am looking forward to a wonderful 2011.

Everyone else is doing it...why not me?

My Year in Facebook Status Updates

I had an...interesting year.

An Inside Joke

Oh, Interwebs, you are cruel and dehumanizing.

Best Facebook Screenshot Ever

Lady, you are AWESOME!

Via The Awl

Honesty Box

Really?


Every single on of my friends has been embarassed to be seen with me.

I am the friend that if you are going out with me, you tell the people in your life that you are working late.

Poll of the Day

Really?


Well, I suppose it is okay. I mean, the rules are different for those who have achieved a certain amount of "celebrity".

Those people have earned their fame...Like those Kardashians.

Amazing

That the Poll of the day thinks that this is an appropriate question...


I am going to love TEA regardless of whm he ends up being and I am going support him for who he is.

Please donate to Movember!

http://us.movember.com/mospace/392590

Follow-up on the Farmville Post

I wrote earlier about how irked I am with the Farmville spam on Facebook.

There is an application for the iPhone that will weed out App Spam.

Facebook Focus for the iPhone will list application notifications on a separate menu so that you can avoid it or take a look at it when you want.

Just sayin'.

Farmville

I will admit, I am annoyed when my Facebook wall is filled with people find sheep, losing sheep and getting fertilized on a minute by minute basis.

I am not a farmer.  I know a few, but the people playing Farmville (for the most part) do not suffer from the ability to make things grow in the dirt.

However, I guess I may be alone because sixty eight million people are playing this on a monthly basis.

68 MILLION...

Anyway, NPR had a piece on this on Saturday.

----

Donate to Movember!