h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

and as of yesterday I have a f*c*b**k account

I still agree with Ivan the Terribly Average that facebook is what happens when you fall asleep when reading. My only excuse is that this seems to be a way of keeping in touch with the offspring, especially DJ who is AWOL from time to time.

Already I've met a lot of old friends and aquaintances from HooToo and a couple of other cyber hangouts I visit. Guess I also should confess that I've been lurking around searching for old school mates and such. They will not be approached since I try to keep my cyberlife and real life apart.

Otherwise I've just returned from a week and a half long w*rk related journey to Venice and Padua. Long days, but I managed to get a few glimpses of the cities. Wouldn't mind going back there for vacation. It is impressing to have lectures at the same old building in Padua that has been part of the University since some 500 years.

I wasn't able to light a real candle for Terri Zendevil, so I lit a virtual one in her mermory. I did the same to my Dad, who died 43 years ago today.

I quite like Face I was able to locate two cousins whom I'd not been in touch with since we were teenagers, I feel part of their lives now other friends I have found include hootooers who had and some who just play the games I seem to have developed an addiction to There are some convos I have to ignore, like the chatter between my adult children and their partners etc but others are quite enlightening.

I especially like having found a famous extraterrestrial planet hunter who accepted my invitation and read my article on 55 Cancri A, and even gave me a quote for my PS.

i'm thinking of doing like some of the youngsters: one fb account for the official me, where i can meet with kids, parents, cow*rkers and such

and another secret one for close friends

It can be tricky with double accounts though.

I've got a spare one, and I have managed to post from the wrong account...

I finally set up a FB account as it's easier to stay in touch with RL friends that way than by email. I unfortunately only check it once a day if that, as social networks are blocked on the office server and I don't really get online from home other than on weekends- I sit in front of a computer all day at work and don't want to do more of it when I get home. I did find two of the three high school friends I wish I'd maintained contact with, and also added some of K's family members so they can contact me when they are planning something to which we're invited (because K never manages to tell me till the last second ).

Was pleased to see you on FB, dragonqueen, and to be invited to stay in touch that way.

I also like that I can keep up with bands/artists/etc I like (though I was doing that on MySpace for a long time before FB), and the notification blasts have been fairly useful.

Won't be doing double accounts- I just don't accept any friend requests from anyone I don't want knowing personal details about me. I didn't join up for a popularity contest, which is what some people seem to do. I see some of my former classmates who have added everyone they met in both high school and college. I didn't like or speak with most of them then; I certainly have no reason to now.

Usually I keep one account per cyber community - that's enough. But when the BBCid thing was going on this spring I got myself a spare one, just in case I should be locked out. I hardly ever log in to anyway.

Goodness, it's getting lonely out here...

No worries, Ivan. We love you anyway.

At least you've stayed sane.

But I actually managed to get a life sign from the hatchling who has gone AWOL - by sending a message via the Dreaded Place to one of his pals - who turned out to be in Taiwan - who in his turn contacted somebody else, who made DJ send me a short text. So at least I know he's alive.

I might yet recover from sanity, but I'm in no rush.

Funny, I'm thinking of going the other way. I use Facebook only for posting links to stuff I'm reading. I'm thinking of moving to a blog for that and dropping Facebook.

TRiG.

I still get lost in there

I made a facebook account a month ago and never used it yet

i met some old friends on fb. i will even be meeting one of them in real life

i opened an account on linkedin and just this week they told me that if i told more about my education i might have a better chance of getting a job

I assume you have good degrees in plundering and looting,

i never stayed long enough to see my grades

and anyway i don't want a(nother) job, i want retirement

I used to be an avid fan of Facebook but I've only been on twice since June as it was taking over too much of my time.

I've spent far too much time there the last couple of days. I've been in bed with a nasty cold and not in the shape to do anything sensible. I've been playing Mafia Wars a lot

i never play any of the games, takes way too much of your time