WTJ Preparing for Next LAN Party?

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Steven Seagal to Zuckerberg: "How Much Is Enough?"

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologizes on The Facebook Blog for their handling of tracking app Beacon. I didn't know there was a Facebook Blog but what strikes me--and I know this is no revelation--is the blog's... style.

The multi-authored blog begins less than fully honest when Zuckerberg characterizes Beacon as a feature "to help people share information with their friends" without mentioning it's advertising and revenue-generating component. Another post begins "News Feed... has proven to be an extremely useful way to find out what is happening in your friends' lives..." Another starts "Facebook has always been about helping you stay connected with the people that matter to you."

My point is, real people do not talk like this. I thought the idea of a blog was to be candid, frank, informal, genuine. Attached to the posts are personal avatars--unprofessional photographs of the authors relaxing, cartoon animals, etc.--along with humorous postscripts, both of which convey the message: we are one of you.

Reading their posts I can only conclude these are pod people!

I have no problem with Public Relations but Facebook, keep the PR where it belongs and don't pretend that your blog posts are anything but.

Outside the Dome Gives Back

Reviewing my ancient posts, I came to the thought that:

1. 1. Damn, I'm hardcore and,
2. 2. These are some *really* good reader comments, you should all have a blog or something.

By way of thanks, some selections:

BeK on the teaser pages of sci-fi/fantasy novels:

What's doubly great about Centerforce is that you could make it a fantasy novel with just a few changes:

"Alvand'hel is on fairy dust.
Alvand'hel carries a sword of cleaving.
Alvand'hel is alone on the forest trail on his mugwump and

Alvand'hel is being scryed upon."

See what I mean?

Rob L. on the Governator:

Sarcasm directed towards our future President is un-American...or un-Austrian or something. This is the man who will finally unite the Republicans with the card-carrying Commie Liberials who run Hollywood. Shame on you.

RJT on the Orioles' potency:

One of the hidden crimes of 9/11 was the destruction of a piece of Met memorabilia given to me by Mr. Outside the Dome: a poster of Tim Bogar with the caption "Statistics Cannot Measure Tim Bogar's True Value."

I think the Orioles pose is a tribute to the scientifically enhanced potency of Rafael Palmiero's man-lumber.

Tim re: my statement that our porn will look like cave drawings to the future:

I don't know about you, but I think those French cave wall drawings are pretty hot.

Okay, maybe they have to be read in context but thank you for commenting.

For the record, The Onion A.V. Club stole my idea of the "novels of the lost." And I think my capsule reviews are better.

To the Blood Bank, Senator

Today in the OTD mailbox I found Seagalogy, an in-depth analysis of the entire Steven Seagal filmography by one Vern and courtesy of Wrong Turn Journal. While I've only started this 327-page trade paperback, this may be my new favorite book. Not only does it provide choice quotes and details but it judges each film under a singular focus: the amount and degree of ass kicked. On Seagal-in-the-hood's Urban Justice:

This is the type of Seagal movie I've been begging for... A simple, straight forward revenge plot. No convoluted intrigue, not too many factions, more time spent on ass kicking.

As far as Seagal's film future Vern believes that this could be his most productive era, an era where "Seagal made peace with his title as the king of straight to video action movies and let loose." I say the future is in freaks. Shockingly, Seagal in his long film career has never fought an android or mutant freak. Somebody needs to make this happen. Now.

Thank you, WTJ. If more of you would get me cool gifts I'd even write something about them.