Why I Hate Wall Photos

Facebook introduced a feature not too long ago that lets us mindlessly share images with messages we agree with but are too shy to flat out say. It lets us share funny comics without having to link to the artist's site. Who needs credit for anything, anyway? It also lets us share news stories (which are often partly or completely false) and chain messages. I think it's the most irritating thing Facebook has done yet.

Facebook used to be a generally safe-for-work environment. After all, it's all text. Unless someone is right over your shoulder, it doesn't matter what's on your screen. Now, though, I frequently have pictures of babies with cancer, deer with cancer, naked men painted to look like a rainforest, women dressed like hookers, half-dressed fat people, and dogs that have been abused and mutilated. 

Then there are the thousands of not-very-witty phrases in image form, which everyone seems to use to throw their views up on Facebook without having to actually say those things themselves. Sorry, but I never heard you complain about your husband before. Now all of a sudden your wall is 90% shared photos with clever sayings about how dumb and lazy he is?

Let's not forget the dreaded chain letters. "This baby has cancer! Some Company Inc. donates $1 for every share!" No. They don't. All you're doing is posting some hideous baby on my newsfeed. Have I ever mentioned I hate babies? Like, to the point that it's a serious phobia and they're about as gross to me as spiders? Now you know!

Point is, Facebook is not where I want to be anymore. Instead of updates from friends I don't see, I get their political views, their religion, motivation I don't need or want, and their really old comics that keep resurfacing shoved down my throat every time I want to see what everyone's up to. Tumblr exists practically exclusively for this kind of crap. Why can't everyone do it over there? 

The Surreality of Facebook

On Facebook, I've played quite a few games, which means I've added people from all over the world and gotten to know people from different states and countries. You see the Happy New Year posts when it's only 6 PM in your own timezone, get birthday wishes a few hours before and after your birthday, and hear about events in other countries that don't happen in your own. It's all sort of strange.

The weirdest thing, I think, is getting a tiny peek into everyone's lives. Right now, a friend I know through Facebook, and who happens to live only about 40 minutes from me, is missing. His wife and children have no idea where he is, and the police even revoked his missing person status simply because there's absolutely no trace of him. The people close to him are all very concerned and upset.

Meanwhile, it seems so insensitive to see the posts about people having trouble finding a new car or hating their homework. And yet, to them, my posts are a world away. While one of my friends is crying over a missing friend, another just lost a family member and another is having the time of her life on vacation. It sort of makes you feel tiny.

It seems naive to think that anyone cares where I'm going for dinner when someone just had a baby or someone else just ended a long relationship. It really helps to emphasize how much the importance of our actions really fizzles out the farther it goes from us, hugely impacting ourselves and the people close to us, and not even touching others. 

Hello, December!

So, I'm pretty sure November was the fastest 30 days of my life. That was gone in no time! :O

I'm going to spam you with updates now because I haven't done anything but writing tips all month. Sound good? Awesome.

Projects

-The second issue of my webzine The Dragon's Claw is here.

-The Devil's Blade is on hold for a few months while I make it 20% cooler and 80% more badass.

-I'll be working on the prequel to Among the People Lost that follows Dante and Hunter.


Promotion

Since you're all likely buying gifts and spending money this time of year, I'd appreciate any business you can send my way. :)

Dragonistic
-Facebook I'll be adding Christmas items really soon! Possibly tomorrow when I'm off.
-Zazzle
-CafePress

DeviantART prints

Among the People Lost


Personal

-Work is eating all my time. I won't be around as much, and holidays are going to eat the rest of my time.

-I'm not sick or dying anymore! Maybe.

-Work is doing several things to me. First, I have no time anymore to do hobbies. Second, it's fixing some of my health issues. I'm getting stronger from lifting things, my appetite has increased to a much more healthy level, I'm able to function on less sleep without feeling nauseous, and I don't get dizzy as easily. Third, I feel my mental stability going to hell. I don't think I can handle not having any time to release tension and ease stress with crafts and art.

How to Tell if Site Changes are Real

There are a lot of chain letters circulating right now that claim you'll be paying for Facebook soon. Which of these can you believe? Here's a handy guide:

Do not believe it if...
1. ...you read it in a chain letter and received no alert directly from Facebook.

Hope that clears some stuff up! :D

Christmas Cards for Soldiers

Being super active on Facebook, I get tons of invitations a day. Most causes I get are things I don't stand for, so I ignore them. One for Christmas cards for the soldiers is actually worth checking out and joining. You can join it here if you want. For those of you who aren't on Facebook but still want to hear more, the following italicized text is straight from their page on Facebook. I highlighted important info so you can quickly find it later.

The holidays are often a difficult time for those deployed. Often times there are troops who recieve little to nothing during the Christmas season.



Our goal is to have a card for each deployed soldier during the holidays extending them warm wishes and appreciation during what may feel like a lonely time for them.

Often times kind words from strangers are the very motivation that they need to stay focused in their mission of defending this country. We would like to ensure that by giving them a simple holiday card.

We would like to collect as many cards as possible by November 27, 2009 so that soldiers who wouldnt other wise recieve mail or benefit from generous care packages are not forgotten. They do so much for us, a simple card is the least we can do to brighten their day and holiday!


We all have left over cards from holidays past. Why not put them to good use and send over some much needed morale and support?


It truly doesn't matter what type the card as long as its seasonally appropriate, the troops will love it. If you wish not to send a holiday card a thank you card or note cards of warm wishes are always greatly appreciated!



Enlist the help of your children, pictures are always a welcomed addition as many troops have children of their own at home.

Just remember to write a small personal note for the holidays and even a thank you! Also, include your name and a contact information such as email if you would like to hear back from the soldier who recieves your card or picture.


Thank you all and please ask anyone and everyone you can think of and thank you all for the help and support of this program! All the ideas have been welcomed and greatly appreciated!


You can mail cards to:
Amanda Sullivan
Attn: Operation Christmas Cards

PO Box 102
Shrewsbury MA 01545

or email any questions you have to me.
cullanartstudio@aol.com

Thank you and God bless our troops!

We would also like to extend a special thanks to Bill Moore, who is a disabled Air Force Veteran. He runs a local chapter of Operation Homefront and has agreed to "find homes" for any cards that we may not have expected! THANK YOU BILL!!!
www.operationhomefront.net/maine

I think it's a great idea and I'll definitely be participating. :)

Facebook Gaming - Mousehunt

In Mousehunt, you must use various traps (comprising of a weapon and a base) and cheeses to capture mice when you sound the Hunter's Horn every 15 minutes. The mice in this game aren't your average field mice. They range from the irritatingly common dwarf mice to the elusive black widow. You begin in the Town of Nawnia as a novice hunter. As you progress through the game, you unlock new areas with more unique mice and trap components. In many areas, trap components and cheeses must be crafted from items that are dropped by certain mice. There are also hunting tournaments to enter.

The app page: http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=10337532241

Facebook Gaming - Castle Age

We all know that Facebook has applications for just about everything. Among those apps, you can find some pretty awesome games...if you look hard enough. Here's a tip: Zynga sucks. They're popular, yes, but their games aren't unique in the least bit. They seem fun until you try something truly unique that doesn't involve just clicking a button over and over again. Anyway, I've decided to regularly share some of my favorites. Up first is Castle Age.


Castle Age is pretty average as far as questing is concerned. Click a button to raise your "influence" to 100%. There are also subquests and four levels of influence, but they all work the same. Unlike some other games, you must equip different characters (called Generals) to gain influence for different quests. One thing that stands out is the battle rank system. You can battle other Facebook users for battle points, which unlock nifty items at certain points. My favorite feature is the monster feature. Items are gifted between players and combined using the Alchemy page. Once you have enough items, you can summon a monster, either a dragon, boss, or hydra. These monsters require a lot of effort and team work to defeat. I searched for groups on Facebook and found a dragon nhunting group, so now I am in an army of 20 people that goes around killing off monsters. Overall, I recommend checking it out, and if you like it, feel free to add me on Facebook so I can join your army. :)


My Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=692220024&ref=profile
Castle Age page: http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=46755028429
The group I joined: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=136978248289