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I don’t normally post about “nerdy” things. I’ve tried to stay away from it really. But… recently a couple topics have come to light that I want to pass along. This is the first.

Facebook has a couple new features. One is named “Pulse,” and it shows what’s popular with Facebook users at your school compared to all Facebook users – not a bad feature, though I find it hard to believe “The Notebook” is the #1 movie at HSU.

Also new is the ability to define how you know your friends… which is kind of neat, but say you define that you know a person because you dated them – it then shows fields to fill in how the relationship went, what your relationship is like now, and when the relationship occured… personally, that’s a bit too much info.

Info… but isn’t that what Facebook is all about? Well, yeah – in more ways than you or I know. Facebook has come up recently in the tech-web community a couple times, mostly because of the innovative things they’re doing, but the article that most recently caught my eye was an in-depth look at Facebook’s contributing venture capitalists (specifically the ones with potential ties to the CIA), and it’s privacy policies…

For instance, the last part of Facebook’s policy on collected information states:

“Facebook also collects information about you from other sources, such as newspapers and instant messaging services. This information is gathered regardless of your use of the Web Site.”

Is that not the least bit disturbing?

The article was posted by Jacob Morse, and if you are interested, I’d encourage you to read it here. While some of the points he makes are guesses at best, it does stir up some interesting thoughts. Don’t get me wrong, I love Facebook – but wouldn’t it be creepy if the Facebook turned into a government database?

While he doesn’t bring this up, do you know who invented the internet? If you answered “Al Gore,” you’re way off. It was a pet project of DARPA – a government owned/operated defense research agency. You think the government ever really let go of it’s control? No… in fact, the government still owns (and is fighting the UN to keep control of) the root DNS servers… I realize that most of you don’t know what a root DNS server is, but think of it as the phonebook for the internet – the name and number address for every website in the world. And they won’t let go of it because… ? Well, no one knows, really.

All this said, and sadly, most of the American public will never care. Most of the American public will say that the government needs this kind of control over the Internet to keep us safe… I for one am not so sure about that anymore. I’m not really big on consipiricacy theories, but with all the hubbub to do with the government and it’s collection of personal information lately, this looks more like fact than fiction.

On the lighter side of nerdiness, check out this engineer’s perspective on Santa Claus.

Still Currently Playing New Slang Oh, Inverted World By The Shins Preview in iTunes Music Store

British comedy is great. I’ve been listening to “The Ricky Gervais Show” podcast lately; he’s the creator of the British comedy, “The Office.” Hilarious.

Work is good. If you’re in the Irving area (around the 114, 161, and 635 triangle) around lunchtime, give me a call.

One thing about the Metroplex I could do without is the traffic… ugh.

I have to agree with my buddy, Chad – Coldplay’s “Fix You” doesn’t reallly fit in the new King Kong TV ads.

Just saw a Victoria’s Secret commercial that used a Switchfoot song… another strange musical choice for a TV ad.

It’s going to be 60 degrees on Christmas.

It doesn’t feel like Christmas.

I miss you.

Currently Playing New Slang Oh, Inverted World By The Shins Preview in iTunes Music Store

… to whoever reads this. You, the few, the brave, the proud (well, maybe not proud); merry 14-days-till-Christmas day to you.

I’ve got a feeling that not many people read my site (or rather, not many people remember to read my site) because it’s not a xanga or a myspace or whatever. Am I right?

Traffic was bad again today. Had to go to Kohl’s to get a couple belts (yeah, I left all my belts in Abilene… go me), and then I went to Texas Stadium to watch Hebron throw down on Frenship – and throw down they did. I got there about 5 minutes till halftime, and Hebron was up 7-0. About 38 seconds till the half, Frenship scored to tie the game, which Hebron was visibly not happy about. So, after the half, Frenship kicked, Hebron caught at the 2 yd. line, and Hebron blocked and ran the ball for a 98 yd. touchdown. It was a great game, and it was good to finally see Hebron play some good football (esp. the defense). Winning this game made them 4A State Semi-finals champions; next week they play Calallen in Round Rock, Texas for the 4A State title. Good luck, Hebron. Oh, and bring the wood.

Ok, time for sleep.

Well, partly anyways.

And so ends another semester at HSU. This has been an odd one too. I think the break will bring some welcome change though. I’ve missed home more this semester than I did either semester last year.

I start work on Monday, and I’m excited about that.

The last couple nights I’ve been preparing for and running spotlight for my church’s Christmas production, “A Carrollton Christmas 2005: The Singing Christmas Tree.” It runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Dec. 9th, 10th, and the 11th) at 7 pm. Directions to First Baptist Church Carrollton are here; if you come (and you should), come say hello to me upstairs at the spotlights. Also, come early, cause it’ll be crowded.

Also, I’ve decided I don’t like the freeway system surrounding downtown Dallas. This afternoon I went to pick up tickets for the DSO… I missed my first exit (traffic was heavy), and ended up making a giant circle around downtown – wasting a good 10 minutes – just to get back to where I was. Oops.