It was a plan of epic proportions, so of course it was destined for an epic fail.

The Facebook group titled “The Facebook Blackout” has garnered 1.3 million members since its start back in September of this year.

Its complaint: “Administrators don’t care about what we think!”
Its solution: “But what will happen if we all decide to stay off of facebook for 1 day !”

I can answer that for you: absolutely nothing.

From 6 p.m. December 15th to 6 p.m. December 16th, the group invites you to “really make an happening” by staying off of Facebook. Seriously…I couldn’t make this up if I tried. For more on how to waste your life, click here.

The group has it’s mission statement posted in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and other languages. It seems like an unprecedented international movement, the voices of Facebook speaking out as one! And their message will be, of course, ignored. Why shouldn’t it be?

It is true that Facebook makes money from advertising, and by having reduced traffic coming through the site and seeing those ads, advertisers are technically losing money. So 1.3 million people should have some impact right? Well sure, if you ignore the other 138.7 million members still floating around.  I’m sure Mark Zuckerberg isn’t going to lose any sleep over it.

And then there’s the fact that a number of members on the group page seem content with simply heckling those who think they’re making a difference. Kudos to them. Normally I wouldn’t endorse trashing someone else’s opinions, but by all means, full speed ahead. With cancer, AIDS, poverty, starvation, the environment and other worthwhile causes to fight for, I think a free social networking application ranks pretty low (see: bottom).

But I shouldn’t hold it against them. It is, in fact, far easier to click a few buttons and join a group than it is to actually make a donation or go out and be a part of something. This is something I think we’re all guilty of at some point or another.

I hate some of the new changes just as much as everyone else, but in the end, it’s a free and convenient way for me to stay in touch with my friends across the country. All I’m saying is choose your battles. In the meantime, I’ve got to go change my status message.

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Bruce Springsteen played a free concert on the Parkway Saturday October 4, 2008 in support of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.  Amos Lee was among those that opened for Springsteen, along with talks from Senator Casey and Governor Rendell.

photos by Rachel Playe

On September 7th, 2008, South Street hosted the 3rd annual Philadelphia Green Fest. The festival featured more than 200 vendors, live music, and clothing swaps throughout the day.

Photos taken Inna Spivakova

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Check out Temple-News.com for a slideshow coverage by TTN photographer Andrew Thompson of the annual Miss Francisville Beauty Pageant. Last Saturday, the neighborhood just below Girard st and west of Broad came out to support the young women.

When you graduated high school did you know what you wanted to do forever. I mean, you may have picked a major but were you really sure?

For some brave unsure high school seniors a gap year before the start of college is a great way to figure out thier future. Students who engage in a gap year are often highly motivated but unsure where to direct themselves.

A recent New York Times article tells the story of Lauren Clark. Clark put off college for a year and spent her time helping villagers in Ghana and studying art history in Italy.

Her time spent in Ghana introduced her to the field of international development and led her to enroll at Tufts University.

Have any of you out there done a gap year, how did it impact you?