Yeah, what the hell, what have I got to lose, what's the worse that could happen, and other such platitudes... I finally decided, after an annoying number of prompts and requests and so on, to join the time-sucking black hole of frivolity that is Facebook. Thus far I've used it to piss around and post pictures like those below - but isn't that what it's for?
Apparently it can serve some of useful purpose, but I'm sure I'll get to that eventually. If I slowly start to lose interest in the blogosphere, you'll know why. And if you want to know who to blame: Max Blake, j'accuse.
Now get ready for all the hundreds of friend requests... mwuahahaha!
At least one from me.
Welcome to the Dark Side...
Say good bye to spare time - and some of the time that wasnt spare....
Any pics you put up become copyright of Facebook Inc.
I've found facebook most useful for sharing snaps with friends and arranging events.
You could consider making a fan page, so that all of us fans who aren't actually your friends can add you.
Oh crap. Really?
Friends/fans - - what's the difference?
This link has more info on how they could use anything you post on there.
http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/07/21/facebook-and-the-law-8-things-to-…
No. 4 is probably most pertinent.
Hmm. As Lando said, this deal is getting worse all the time.
Darren, please don't waste time on Facebook. Facebook is tailored specifically for people who don't have a popular blog and who have no prospect of ever having a popular blog.
on the profile vs fan page it depends how you want to use Facebook really.
If you want to keep in contact with friends, arrange events and share snapshots of friends a profile is the most useful.
If you want to have a Tet Zoo presence on Facebook a fanpage is less personal but still allows you to post links and photos as well as people being able to 'become a fan' of Tet Zoo and talk on the wall.
Facebook doesn't seem to have rss feeds; ie, in order to get notified of anything interesting you do there I would actually have to log in to FB. This is reminiscent of the fail that was pre-1989 Compuserv email. Remember when you could only send mail to other Compuserv users? Is there a way around this?
I'm actually not on Facebook, so... Who's the beautiful lady next to the turtle?
FB reminds me a forum with a single thread-its been nice
for keeping up with scattered family, but otherwise...meh.
What is the creature in the bottom left photo above, by the
way? It looks like something out At The Earth's Core
( As long as we're on the subject of frivolous nonsense...)
Craig unless I'm enormously mistaken its one of the Victorian era Crystal Palace dinosaur scultptures made back when only fragments were recognised as dinosaurs and people thought they looked like giant reptilian rhinos. I think that's meant to be Megalosaurus. Other genera they modelled include Iguanodon and Hylaeosaurus.
I struggle to believe that the tail dragging view of dinos lasted so long did no one think how difficult it must be and how much it must hurt to drag your unprotected tail around on the ground?
Darren I will say this only once.
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING?
Cancel your account now and get out of there. You do NOT have time for this, especially given the end-of-2009 deadline. Seriously: don't make me lose all my respect for you. Seriously.
I actually signed up for Facebook a few minutes ago, and as soon as my account is activated I am deleting it and heading for the hills. I don't know what's wrong with me (maybe heterosexual male syndrome :-|), but I am captivated by that beautiful lady in green there. Darren isa awfully lucky to know her, whoever she is.
"I struggle to believe that the tail dragging view of dinos lasted so long did no one think how difficult it must be and how much it must hurt to drag your unprotected tail around on the ground?"
Crocs and lizards must be in constant pain then, genius...
It was because modern reptiles usually drag their tails, and since dinosaurs are reptiles, it was assumed they did as well. There actually are a small handful of theropod and sauropod trackways that show them dragging their tails, but of course these make up a VERY tiny minority of the trackways known.
It ain't worf it! You're a young man with prospects--get the hell out of there. Don't make me send Mike to kick your arse.
Send him in, Matt! Darren needs out of there NOW!!!!
Darren, it`s your face but i would rather read a book.
You are SO getting a friend request...
Its also worth mentioning that facebook and similar sites are excellent ways for any malcious person trying to get answers to any security questions you have chosen for your banking, online accounts etc. It is remarkable how often people reveal so much of their personal lives on Facebook etc that answers to all of the security questions they have selected are readily available. As far as I am concerned this is insane.
Anonymous - I assumed that the lady you refer to is Darren's wife, so careful what you say!!!
Darren, Two main reasons why Facebook is GREAT:
1. As an expat in Peru facebook has given me much pleasure the last year keeping better in touch with my brother and my grown-up daughter in Sweden, as well as many friends spread over the world that I have not seen in decades. Next: My Mom just got a computer and a Skype account. Soon she'll be on Facebook as well.
2. As a birder, I now have Facebook friends (no they are not real friends - but share the interest of birds) from all over the world. Whatever your thing is, you should be able to connect, network and share with others with the same interest. This is best done on a Facebook Friend to Friend basis, in spite that there are many groups. The groups tend to be rather stagnant and if you send out a request or question it will often take days before you get a reply in groups, while friends tend to answer in a blink.
From a birders perspective I wrote a tutorial on my blog - if anyone is interested.
http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/index.php/facebook-f…
Saludos from Peru
Gunnar
As a heavy Facebook user who also devotes a lot of effort into trying to blog regularly, I take umbrage at Nathan Myers' assertion. =)
My Facebook account is devoted mostly to non-nature and zoology stuff. Now, if only we can get you to join Twitter...
Facebook is good for two things, as far as I can tell:
1. Being invited to events.
2. Letting ex-girlfriends from high school look you up and demonstrate that they're still crazy, thus letting you know that you did indeed make the right choice all those years ago, which gives a nice little self-esteem boost.
But maybe that's just me.
"Anonymous - I assumed that the lady you refer to is Darren's wife, so careful what you say!!!"
I think you misunderstood, I giving compliments!!!
Although comment 16 endend up sounding pretty creepy, realy not what I intended at all.
Oi anonymous of reply 16:
"Crocs and lizards must be in constant pain then, genius..."
I know that lots of reptile tail drag however none of them approach the size of an average dinosaur and when moving at any real speed larger reptiles (crocs, dragons etc) high walk and in fact don't tail drag very much (or its only the tip that touches the ground). There's a big differences between a gecko dragging its tail and a sauropod doing so plus there's no reason for being a rude w*nker in your reply!
I wasn't offended. I am very pleased to report that the beautiful lady in green (see comment 16) is indeed Mrs Toni Naish.
"Oi anonymous of reply 16:
'Crocs and lizards must be in constant pain then, genius...'
I know that lots of reptile tail drag however none of them approach the size of an average dinosaur and when moving at any real speed larger reptiles (crocs, dragons etc) high walk and in fact don't tail drag very much (or its only the tip that touches the ground). There's a big differences between a gecko dragging its tail and a sauropod doing so plus there's no reason for being a rude w*nker in your reply!"
I was just kidding around! I really should have put a smiley face to clue you in, though. Better late than never:
:-)
Welcome to the Facebook community, Darren!
I don't know why there are so many naysayers about Facebook esp since it is a powerful tool to reconnect and keep up with your friends/fans. You really don't need to stare at Facebook, checking it once or twice a day would suffice.
When should we expect you on Twitter? ;)
RStretton- Thanks for the info! I have seen engravings of
some of the late 19th century models, but never a photo of
the ( ahem ) genuine article.