Thought this was kind of amusing
I had and still have no real preference on the mini-feed, but I do agree that members ought to be able to exclude themselves from it if they choose to. I do like that they're working on improving the privacy options, it shows that they're listening. My issue with Facebook is that it's still just a profile-based community, and profile-based communities are boring. Content-based communities, like DeviantArt, are interesting, and discussion-based communities, like every forum ever, are interesting, but I could care less what your favorite books are, or your favorite bands are, if I can't even be like "Hey I saw on facebook that you also like 'Catch-22,' how cool is that?" I mean, that sounds pretty sketchy, even to me. I really think that the whole profile thing should be an aside to an all-out forum, because it's discussion that really creates a sense of community.
Speaking of a sense of community, Uru Live is coming soon (There's still no official release date, but it will launch by the "holiday season" this year). Basically it's an MMO (but not an MMORPG) set in the MYST universe; instead of going around fighting and leveling up and whatnot, you're one of many explorers setting out to unearth the secrets of, and ultimately revive, a long-extinct culture. The cool thing is that because it's online, the world you're exploring is literally expanding, with new content added dynamically rather than through expansion packs and sequels, and because it's set in the MYST universe, it won't be uncommon to literally discover links to new worlds in the quest for answers.
Anyway, if you're interested in that, it's being launched through GameTap, which I can vouch for as an increasingly worthwhile service. If you join using this link you get a free month of the service, and it also helps to support Uru Live specifically. If you're curious about GameTap, check out their ever-growing list of games. I like Super Gem Fighter, myself. And yes, I'm shamelessly advertising them, for free, just in the hopes that my friends will join, so that I can play against you in multiplayer games and see you in Uru Live. Also, the newSam and Max is coming to GameTap on Oct 17, so maybe some people will actually recognise my costume by Halloween. Not.
Speaking of Halloween Costumes, anybody doing anything clever? Obviously Halloween is still a ways away, but stores are starting to sell Halloween crap, and this is the time when you have to start planning, otherwise it'll sneak up on you, and you'll end up panicking and dressing as a slice of bread. I have no idea where that picture came from, I just did a google search for "bread costume" and there it was.
