“ …and California is a place in which a boom mentality and a sense of Chekhovian loss meet in uneasy suspension; in which the mind is troubled by some buried but ineradicable suspicion that things had better work here, because here, beneath that immense bleached sky, is where we run out of continent.
— Joan Didion, “Notes From a Native Daughter”
Sorry i’ve been neglecting you, Tumblr. Elections in Iran and MJ’s death have showed me the awesome power of Twitter. But don’t fret, i’ll return to you shortly.
Sincerely,
Sunil M. Pai
-www.twitter.com/sunilpai
Let the countdown begin! Many people predict that facebook’s servers will crash instantly after users are able to access this new change. Someone please remind me why this is something to get so excited about. It seems to me that this is just another (foolish) attempt by facebook to become more twitter-like. This is unfortunate because it means that your profile will now be searchable to anyone who Googles your name.
But, on the bright side, it is kind of cool to be able to choose your own username. It’s always a problem - when you’re introduced to someone new and you want to be able to contact them later (asking for a phone number makes it seem like you’re interested in them, and asking for an email address seems a little too ..dorky) so, instead, you say something like “see you later - i’ll find you on facebook!”—In light of this new facebook feature, I can now say something totally awesome like, “hey, it was nice talking to you - you can find me at facebook.com/sunil.holleratchaboy.pai”
(i’m also considering “facebook.com/sunil.floatlikeabutterflystinglikeabee.pai”. Other suggestions welcome.)
This whole username customization thing is awfully reminiscent of UC-Berkeley’s campaign to encourage students to change their old, numbered student ID’s to something a little more…hip. Remember this annoying picture that popped up anytime you tried to log in to Airbears?:
No. No. NO. I do not want to change my collegiate digital identity to SID VICIOUS from the Sex Pistols (I was never a big fan of European punk rock). I’m quite happy with my eight digit, university issued, standard ID. More importantly, what happened to Oski Bear?? What did this clearly drugged, green mohawked, slobbering, punk rocker do with our beloved mascot?
“This course does not require prior knowledge, although previous enrollment in PS120A will facilitate grappling with some of the more theoretical debates covered in this course. Students interested in enrolling should be prepared for a demanding class that will require proactive involvement, mandatory attendance at weekly sections, three exams and several written assignments. The class is also reading intensive: two books, totaling 600 pages, are assigned for the first week of classes alone.” - An email I received from my future professor, Ron Hassner.
