If you have a Facebook account that you log into regularly, then surely you've seen the changes that have rolled out. If you're like the vocal people in my news feed, you hate every single one of them.

These changes seem to be more drastic than those in recent memory, and so far I've had a bit of trouble adapting to them, too. But what I find amusing is comments like this one, which was posted on Facebook's f8 page by user Gariné Koujaian:

I suggest facebook should stop making changes and go back to it's original ways unless they want everyone to just stop using facebook and go to google +. Facebook is getting out of hand!!!!

Oh, Facebook's original ways.

I remember Facebook's original ways - or at least their ways from seven(!) years ago when I signed up for a Facebook account. My oh my, how things have changed since then.

In fall 2004, it wasn't Facebook. It was Thefacebook. And this is what the login screen looked like:

And here is what your profile looked like:

You could only have an account if you had a .edu email address.

You could only post one picture, and it was your profile picture. There were no albums of profile pictures, so if you changed your profile picture, the other one disappeared. It wasn't until Halloween weekend 2004 that you could post photo albums, which I remember well because I attend Ohio University at the time, and surely you've heard about the annual Halloween party in Athens.

The wall used to be a small box in the lower right corner of your profile that anyone could type in. You had to hover your mouse over the text on the wall to see who wrote what.

There was no "Like" button, no sharing, no chat. (But as long as I have been a member, there has been poking.)

I remember one major update to the profile layout that involved being able to drag and drop boxes wherever you wanted them. Each of the boxes were apps created by outside developers. I had one in my profile that included a random bunny picture. It was adorable.

Facebook has been evolving a lot into what it is today, and it will continue to evolve as long as it exists. In fact, more changes will be announced today, when the annual f8 conference for developers opens in San Francisco. You can tune in to the live stream - beginning at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time - below:


A possible change to Facebook that was leaked: "Listen with your friend". A post on Tech Crunch last night summarized that you can listen to what your friends are listening to at the same time. Neat concept, though I'm very curious about the execution.

Like every change with Facebook, it will take some time to get used to. But I plan to keep my account. Remember, if you don't want Facebook to change how they're showing your information, don't give them information to show. (That's why I keep ignoring their request for my phone number - if I want my Facebook friends to have my phone number, I can give it to them without Facebook facilitating that.) Facebook can't do anything with your data if you don't post it, and you're kind of giving them full access to your stuff when you upload it to the public website, no matter how strict your privacy settings are.


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Hold your horses, friends--or maybe you should hold your oxen! MTV is reporting that a new version of the super old but super popular grade school game Oregon Trail is coming to Facebook.

I usually ignore just about every Facebook game or app request (no, I will not join your mafia or water your plants in Farmville), but I can definitely see myself wasting lots of time traversing the trails in a covered wagon and crying over friends and family as they die from cholera or dysentery.

Meanwhile, if your wanderlust is reaching past the old west, you can also try out the Facebook version of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. The scarlet-clad spy who put the "miss" in "missdemeanor" and (allegedly) stole the beans from Lima is coming back to our computers as well. Both games are slated to launch this February.

Check out the trailers for both games.

Oregon Trail:


Carmen Sandiego:


Now if only they can get Rockapella to come back and sing the Carmen Sandiego theme song...



Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

--Danielle Capriato
DCapriato@News-Herald.com

I'm not much of a TV person, on account of the fact that my nights have been occupied by work, school, homework or color guard practice for the better part of 12 years. I don't have a DVR and mostly just miss out on whatever cultural revolutions are occurring at prime time.

I'll sure miss seeing this guy's handsome
face every week on "LOST."

"But what about your obsession with 'LOST' and all those audiocasts you did during the final season?"

I got into "LOST" at the suggestion of a few co-workers at my last job and several friends who were obsessed with the series. A subscription to Netflix caught me up quickly enough that I watched the fifth season through VCR recordings, and the final season somewhat live with Entertainment Editor Mark Meszoros, who was kind enough to wait a day or two (and use his DVR) to watch it with me when I had time.

So now that that segment of my life is over (I'll never let go, Jack), I'm not sure what -- if anything -- can fill the TV void.

News-Herald TV critic David S. Glasier previewed the upcoming TV season in today's News-Herald, and he notes "The Event" will fit into the "LOST"-sized hole in all of our hearts (and DVRs [except mine, which doesn't exist (the DVR, not the heart)]). Meszoros and I have discussed giving it a try, and maybe if we can talk fellow "LOST" fanatic and Sports Editor Mark Podolski into it, we'll be doing another audiocast that follows this series. I really know nothing about it except that I'm supposed to like it. The previews kind of make it look like "Flash Forward" or "V" -- neither of which I've seen nor have any interest in -- so I don't know if I'll be giving up on "The Event" after its premiere next Monday.

A show I might actually like to give a chance to is "My Generation," which Glasier pooh poohed. Then again, I am a twentysomething who was in high school in the year 2000, and he was ... not. I'm interested because the cast is my generation and because I'm wondering what drama will be unfolding with or without Facebook, which most of my high school classmates seem to be members of. Facebook kind of replaces the need for face-to-face drama when you can just passive-aggressively judge your peers by their pictures and status updates (and the amount of time they spend on Farmville and Mafia Wars). I have a feeling I'll mostly be missing out on this one, however, because I can't imagine Meszoros finds the premise interesting, nor would he want to waste the DVR space on it.

If you're looking for a new TV show this fall, Associated Press writer Frazier Moore gave his thoughts on the 10 new shows to consider in last Sunday's News-Herald. Any suggestions for what I should tune in for? (Or, rather, make Meszoros set his DVR for?)


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

Not much going on right now with most TV shows gearing up for next fall and a pretty weak slate of summer movies. Nonetheless, in terms of the pop-culture scene, here are a few options for everyone the next few months:

-Check out "Night at the Museum 2" - My wife and I stumbled upon this flick simply because our other options didn't fit into our busy schedule. (That's what happens with a 7-month-old son at home). Simply put, it's a lot of fun. You won't be dissapointed.

-Watch "Rescue Me" - The best show on TV right now and it's not because it's one of the few to air in the summer. Dennis Leary hasn't missed a beat this season as a troubled New York firefighter. If you missed Michal J. Fox's appearances in earlier episodes, be sure to check out the reruns on FX.

-Create a Facebook account - I've reconnected with a lot of people I haven't scene or heard from in a long, long time. Just be sure not to spend TOO much time on the social networking site.

-Listen to a podcast - It's a much better option then live radio and why wouldn't it be when you can listen to your selected program anytime you want? Some of my favorites podcasts are Adam Carolla, ESPN's Bill Simmons' BS Report, the Lost Podcasting Network and Stuck in the 80s, which (you guessed it) tributes everything from the 1980s.

-This last one is for myself - Go see "The Hangover." I've heard nothing but great things about the surprise hit of the summer.

-Mark Podolski