Digital Me

Logging on to the social networks has been rather strange of late. For the last two weeks, I've been following the news of national and state politics through FB links provided by friends. I appreciate seeing the depressing reports of attacks on women and unions framed by the wise words of my lefty friends. It has made it a bit easier to take by reminding me that while the world "out there" is scary, I am not alone in my disgust and outrage. The odd bit about having spent so much time on FB recently is that interspersed with posts on the violence in Libya, attempts to slash funding for Planned Parenthood, and drastic cuts to the state's already pitiful education budget are updates on the inane bits my and my friends' lives. The absurdity of this has actually been comforting and I've appreciated FB more in these weeks than perhaps ever before.

The 'magic moment' is probably coming to an end, however. I've had a good run with FB, but now more and more of my extended family are finding me there. I've also had close encounters will students who know people I know. I'd prefer to keep FB confined to people with whom I have to censor little in my life, but unless I go more deeply underground (a la Dickish McBastard), this can't last and the idea of managing everyone with lists and settings that seem to get changed periodically by the powers that be at FB holds no interest for me. Ah well, for now cousins will just have to languish unacknowledged in my "friend request" folder while I milk this for a bit longer. I'm just not ready to give it up.

"That's So Gay!"

I spent a rare few minutes in the student-dominated world of the University Center yesterday evening. I needed food, had only a few minutes, grabbed a sandwich, and plunked down in a heavily populated section of the tables. A gaggle of young women with one young man in tow (literally, they were pulling him along) descended on the tables around me. It was like a car crash. I couldn't not look. Here is what I learned:

-current fashion trends dictate that one should coordinate one's bustier with one's shoes.

-platinum blond outnumbers any other hair color on women by about 4 to 1

-"laying out" to get a sun "tan" (though really it was a burn) is a popular activity in March in Michigan.

-if the guy you are crushing on comes into the building unexpectedly, you should dive under the nearest table, lest he see he when you are not "ready"

-the phrase "that's so gay" is still used by some twenty-somethings.