Facebook becoming the next Myspace?

A few years back, I was not only a member of Myspace (a claim I admit in shame), but I also hopped onto Facebook. Of course, back then, Facebook wasn’t nearly the site it is now. Registration was only open to those of us enrolled in a university (even then, not all universities and colleges were “supported,” for lack of a better word, at the beginning), and there really wasn’t much to it other than sending messages back-and-forth, posting on each other’s “Walls,” poking, and groups. I was only on Facebook because a number of old high school friends were on it.

Since then, Facebook has opened to allow more and more people to register, recently opening to the general public. All the while, Facebook has continued to evolve, everywhere from photo albums to minor tweaks here-and-there to the recent addition of their Application feature (all of which is pretty cool, I must admit). Basically, Facebook has turned into something more than just an online profile. It’s turned into something that can seriously compete with Myspace.

Admittedly, I’m not one to be in the position to give an accurate count of how Facebook has evolved over the years. I’m not too into the whole social-networking-site scene. I never really liked Myspace when I had it. Too many bugs, too much drama, and too many tween slut-wannabes. Basically, I hate Myspace (you’d know that if you’ve read some of my previous posts).

And, I’m afraid that Facebook might turn into Myspace. According to several sites (as mentioned by the article my post is linked to at the bottom), there’s a migration of people from Myspace to Facebook. Whether or not that’s a good thing can’t be decided until later in the future. But, I am hoping that the ones leaving Myspace are of the better variety (i.e. non-slut-attention-whores).

If it is true and that Facebook is becoming the next Myspace, the next few years of Facebook will be filled with the same-ol’-same that one got used to at Myspace until the next new fad rolls around. Until that happens and Facebook becomes a haven for drama queens and cleavage shots, I’ll stick around, keeping eyes on old friends.

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Time to Burn (faux) Paradise

Our political system is failing us. And we can’t blame it on the politicians. The politicians that everyone seems to want to blame are the ones that WE voted into office. Sure, those elected officials are the ones who have turned around and made the decisions we don’t want them to make, but we’re the ones who then sit on our hands complaining but not acting.

The President’s popularity is somewhere between the 9th level of Hell and China’s food safety: people think he sucks. I won’t go into what kind of people still think he’s doing a good job. All I can say is the good of the country is always placed lower than political loyalty these days.

This is why change is a necessity, just like what was stated in our Declaration of Independence. Though, I’m unwilling to call for a complete revolution, I do believe the American people need to step up and do what’s necessary. Clear the slate in Congress. Clean out political party leadership. These elected officials of ours need to realize they are in their respective offices because they are there to serve our interests, not their own special interests.

“…Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” Those words were written so bridges to nowhere could be built with money that should have been allocated for REAL needs. Those men didn’t risk everything so political cronies could be freed from jail despite obvious guilt, so that we could sacrifice our country’s honor and security for revenge.

Unfortunately, far too many peope are content with the status quo, repeating over and over how “we have it so much better than in other countries…and if you don’t like it, leave…” That kind of apathy is the reason why we’re in as much trouble as we are in right now. When we have to choose a president while saying the words “he’s better than the alternative,” you know we’re in trouble.

Yes, the United States of America is a much better place to live in than just about any other country in the world, but that doesn’t mean we should accept the recent slip in standards around here. We let our politicians dictate our wants and desires by instilling fear in us. Fear that if we don’t let them do what they want, we’ll be attacked again. Fear that if we speak out, we could end up in a cell or some terrorist watch list.

Feel free to read the Constitution, whether you agree with me or not, and see how much of what is said there and in the Declaration is how things are being run today.

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.