I’m about to embark on my first no-email vacation in 5 years. I will not be blogging, emailing, phoning or otherwise staying connected with anything other than the playa. Of course, that’s always a fascinating opportunity to watch as urban tribes come together in reality, build a community and tear it down. Somehow, i’m sure i’m going to learn more about social networks watching folks in the desert than i would sitting here behind my screen.

Anyhow, have a fantastic end of August and i’ll see you in September!

Note: when i return, i will be back in school officially. So, if you have the urge to email me, realize that i’m not prepared for my email overload and will probably take at least a month to make up for 2 weeks away.

I’m about to embark on my first no-email vacation in 5 years. I will not be blogging, emailing, phoning or otherwise staying connected with anything other than the playa. I love you all and i’ll see you in September!

When i return, i will be back in school officially. So, if you have the urge to email me, realize that i’m not prepared for my email overload and will probably take a month to make up for 2 weeks away.

Whenever i read about or hear about the Friendster/Fakester Revolution, i can’t help but think back to Kate Bornstein’s “Nearly Roadkill”.

For those who haven’t read it, it’s the story of a point in time where the Internet is controlled by corporations who serve the needs of the government. Outraged at having to constantly identify themselves online, a group of netizens gather to revolt. Of course, this is all told through a fun erotic story between two characters who refuse to reveal their gender, instigating an FBI search.

Check out Pretendster, a site that generates and manages Pretendsters on Friendster.

In a conversation today, i learned a new word/concept that intrigues me, but i still don’t fully grasp…. dtournement. It seems to be somehow related to parody… deconstruction… creative destruction and intertwined with the Situationists and Culture Jamming.

“It was Guy Debord and the Situationists, the muses and theorists of the theatrical student uprising of Paris, May 1968, who first articulated the power of a simple d[acute{e}]tournement, defined as an image, message or artifact lifted out of its context to create a new meaning.”

Something to figure out when i’m breathing again…