I wrote to Facebook.
Dear Facebook,
I use Facebook extensively and have over 1200 friends. While I actively weed out unwanted info from my Live News Feed by hiding people or applications… my Live Feed is still overloaded with plenty of info, more than I can ever really keep up with… but that has never really been a problem, thanks to friends lists.
I was able to make friends lists (one was “Radar” for potential dates/love interests, and also “Core”, for my closest dozen or so friends). I was able to make the lists, but much more importantly, I was able to drag and drop the lists I wanted most accessible above the “More…” line that by default hid everything below it.
This way, whenever I would visit Facebook, I had the following simple options on the left hand side, all only ONE click away:
News Feed
Radar
Core
Status Updates
More Lists >
This made Facebook easy and convenient. The information I wanted most was the easiest and quickest to access.
That is no longer an option… Now a friends list is buried under 2-3 clicks and even some scrolling down.
Here I will say, that I am not one to always complain endlessly about the changes you guys make to improve Facebook. Check my group history if you doubt it 
.
Actually, I very much like many of the changes made this weekend to Facebook. Notifications on the top bar, even more fully using the links and navigation possibilities of the left hand side, these are very positive moves.
However, as much as I appreciate the new changes to the home page, Removing the drag and drop functionality from the left hand side is a tremendous downgrade to the facebook user experience.
I know that I am but one voice among millions, but I’m sure you’re aware that a customization option like drag-and-drop link lists is a large one to be haphazardly tossed away. Please consider restoring/adding that function back to facebook’s overall very well-done home page.
My friends and women who may or may not know that I have crushes on them will thank you almost as much as I will.
Drew Allen
*Ahem*
Sometimes, the answer was looking at you in the mirror.
For years I have had numerous people tell me that I should look into doing voiceover work.
Well, after seeing some postings online for making money doing just that, I’m gonna do it.
I used my tax return to, among other things, purchase the tools necessary to start doing voiceover work from my house. These tools are essentially, a professional condenser-type mic, an audio interface to connect to my laptop, and the necessary software to record and edit my voice (Pro Tools Essentials).
I’m not at all going to discontinue my attempts to make it as a web designer, but if there’s even a slim chance I can make some reasonable money doing something I’m already very capable of doing well, that I also enjoy, then I owe it to myself to give it a shot.
Also, I’m writing this blog from a desktop blog program called Blogo. We’ll see how well this works.
Oh, and I did get an xbox360.
allen.
Well, I’m sitting in Hanahan, SC at my grandma’s house.
I’m actually on her ancient PC. Tweaking it a bit to get a bit more life out of it.
Chrome, Thunderbird, whatnot, etc.
What a weekend. I regret ever losing contact with the Allen family I have.
It was… just… absolutely delightful catching up, reconnecting, re-knowing these people who have been theoretically close to me for so much of my life…
I just can’t tell you how it feels to hear and say “I love you” to people and that you and they mean it. Because you’re family.
I had all but forgotten the very special connection the Allens share.
It was bliss to feel it again.
“A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” – The Godfather
Pics and video coming soon.
this one’s reasonably important. I’d love your thoughts, too.
my life is pretty much in time crisis mode nonstop these days. it’s made me stop and think.
I apologize by the way, this post is not supremely eloquent or very well thought out. Editing and revising a post on my personal blog is a luxury that possibly august will afford me.
I am turning my social knob down.
I don’t want to, really. But i have no other choice.
This is a phase in my life (read:single) wherein i have a unique opportunity to pursue the interests I want to, to grow and learn things in all the ways I really desire to. Many married people have told me while they don’t regret their marriage at all, they are jealous of that kind of freedom.
The problem is… i’m so socially motivated. I make friends easily. I tend to open up and love good, deep conversations, and love going to movies, and catchphrase, and pretty much if i can convert anything into a social event, I will.
This sounds good, but in the end i have
a. a large number of acquaintances (you’re all awesome)
b. a pretty large number of good to very close friends
c. a constantly changing list of people who are good friends of mine that are angry because I haven’t spent enough time with them recently.
d. nothing all to show in the way of progress toward any of the goals I have set for myself in life.
I have a high list of things that demand, nay deserve my time and attention, but I am too busy hanging out to give any.
I find myself neglecting responsibilities like working out, reading, or practicing drums (things I am passionate about growing in myself) for hanging out/catching up time with a certain friend or friends. This post isn’t about any particular group of friends, because they have all played that part numerous times.
If I were caught up on everything (which I will be someday soon), I might be able to be as social as I am now. but sometimes, growing up and being a responsible adult means saying no. “I can’t do that, really. I’d love to, but I have some things I have to take care of tonight. or today. or this morning. or whenever.”
Anyway. I just felt the need to write that here.
I don’t think anyone will notice a huge change per se. But I am doing, my self, my future, and my eventual wife a disservice to not chase dreams, grow, and learn all I can now at this phase of life. (including discipline.)
PS ON THE OTHER HAND,
At the band’s last show (Saturday Night), I noticed a trend: People not coming to the show because they had no one to go with. Please, I ask you not to make that a reason. See, what you might not know is, on any given night in gainesville, I have to be at or near the venue we play at until 2 am. We arrive by around 8 ish usually. Our set is usually 30-45 minutes. After that *I* am there and wanting to hang out with people (read:you). I can’t tell you how many times I have been alone at a venue ten minutes after we play. Don’t get me wrong I understand some people might have to get up early and so they leave after we get done. But still, I’m a lot of fun to hang out with and after we play, I’d love to actually have people there TO hang out with. So, come. If you can “survive” 45 minutes of stunning soul music while standing alone, then I’ll make it up to you by being extra witty afterwards.