Utilizing Facebook

For most people, signing into their own facebook is just entering their own personal and digital space but for others facebook has taken on a whole new significance. As we learned in our media class, facebook began as a social network created in 2004 for college students by a college student. Although it was made to appeal to our younger demographic, facebook has grown and transcended what people expected of a social network. Facebook is now utilized by people of all ages not just young adults and adolescents. Due to its overwhelming popularity, the site now has many applications and settings to personalize the type of experience the account owner is looking for. Some facebookers don't care who sees their information and are not concerned about the privacy aspect because they are just looking to communicate with their friends. While other social networkers or users need privacy for jobs or from family members. Some people have unique purposes for their facebook as well.

As I was looking into amazing and inspiring stories surrounding people that met over facebook and are now getting married, I came across a story of a woman that found her son that had been kidnapped over facebook. Can you imagine the technological world reuniting you with a missing child? This post (http://www.tomsguide.com/us/missing-boy-found-facebook-superpoke,news-4021.html) tells the story of a woman whose son was abducted by her husband after going to have Thanksgiving dinner with him in Hungary in 1982, 27 years ago. Avril Grube looked for her son for many years but her efforts were unsuccessful. Until her sister searched her nephew "Gavin"'s name on facebook because she was simply curious to see what would come up, Gavin Paros came up. Grube's son Gavin was now apparently 30 years old and a father himself. His father had also died in the time that had transpired. Gavin had three children and had created a facebook to reunite with his American family. Grube and Gavin were reunited before she had a stroke and entered a nursing home. I found this story to be amazing because what are the odds that a police investigation could not locate a missing child but facebook had the power to 27 years later.

I also found a facebook dedicated to finding a missing child. Although this story is a little more depressing, I could not help but be amazed that there are facebook pages dedicated to the search of missing children. There also many facebook pages remembering people that have passed since owning a facebook. In some way these pages keep their spirit alive, at least technologically they do. People can still post their thoughts and sentiments to the deceased for years to come. Some people might think its beautiful and others might think its outlandish. The medium of facebook has indirectly shaped so many aspects of life. Facebook has made it possible for a social network to find connections that people did not think were possible.

Other stories:
http://www.click2houston.com/news/23933020/detail.html

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/facebook/7045759.html

An HBO Favorite Ends Its Seventh Season

This past Sunday, September 12th, 2010, the HBO hit sitcom Entourage aired its season finale of its seventh season at 10: 30 pm following the finale of True Blood.  The popular series happened to have quite the competition, considering the 2010 Video Music Awards was also aired on this entertaining evening.   Despite this minor complication, fans still managed to tune in to catch the last episode of the season.I know I did.  Like most of this season, the finale left viewers saddened for all of their favorite characters.  It was definitely a rough season for “Vinny Chase”, the leading character of the sitcom who developed a serious relationship with a questionable celebrity and became an out of control addict.  This obvious change has not only affected Chase but the rest of his crew’s well-being as well.  We watched this season while Chase’s reputation fell apart and while Ari Gold, the show’s comedic relief, lost about everything he has worked to protect, his family and his fame in the movie industry.  What will happen next season?  Will Vinny being taking a trip to rehab or jail?  Will Ari be struggling through a rough divorce with Mrs. Gold?  Will Chase disown his brother and the rest of his friends over his love for his partying lifestyle? Only time will tell…  Fans sit with anticipation until next summer’s premiere of the eighth season.  But, the bigger question is did this season’s ratings decrease or increase?  Many fans were either delighted or disturbed by the show’s incorporation of sexuality, nudity, language, and drug use.  

 The finale brought in 2.724 million viewers Sunday according to http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/07/27/sunday-cable-ratings-true-blood-entourage-the-glades-kourtney-khloe-more/58344. I guess Entourage is not doing too shabby, just as I had hoped.