Nikki Forgette, Vital Cog

Some of you reading this will not know who Nikki is, so a a brief description is a prequisite. She is a twenty year old lady that I have known for quite some time, has reddish/brownish hair, freckles, and a fairly ample bosom.

She also happens to be a vital cog in the grand internet machine.

She plays the dual role of archivist and collector. On facebook, more than any other person, I see her uploading, collecting, tagging, saving, and archiving the pictures and video that describe us. She plays an essential part in the innerworkings of the emergent social network system. She is the emergent cell that establishes the system, and she more than does her share of the work in that system. She is a digital human, whether she knows it or not, and is fufilling a vital, vital role.
Lets raise a glass to Nikki Forgette: A single cog in the soul-machine.

Life, Hacked

Today, I received what I have been waiting near three years for:

My Special Studies major, Titled “Digital Humanities”, has been approved by the relevant committee at Central Connecticut State University. It is an undergraduate studies major, with a minor being taken in journalism.

I have a list of people to thank. Mom and Dad paid, both with their money and with their support… and their time, and their 2001 dodge neon and technically also 7000 dollars of a Hyundai Santa Fe. My sister and the rest of my family did what they coud to keep me in check. My friends never left my side, despite irritability, whimsical monologues, and fits of oddity. Special thanks go out to Rachel, Jerry, Matt, Josh, Nikki, and Christine, who never knew it, but often gave me that critical break when I needed it. Whether it was an instant message, or a lengthy discussion of my plans late at night before falling asleep. I cannot say how much you all helped, whether or not you know it. I am truly happy to have you all here.

And, of course, Doc. You pushed me when I needed to be pushed, and have never once apologized for my Geekiness. We spar on many fronts, but I cannot as of yet perfectly construct a sentence that would both eloquently express my deep feelings of respect, camaraderie, and friendship towards you while surviving your fucking scrutiny. Thanks.

I am nothing without the people mentioned. It is because of these people that I was able to move forward, to get the fuck off of my ass and DO. I love them with all of my heart, and any success I am afforded is because of them. Thank you all, so, so much.

Well.

Lets fucking do this, then.

The Face Book, Or: Please write!

So, some people noticed the little story I posted below (it’s the post immediately preceeding this one) and purported to like it.  Well, I think the idea of cyberpunk-ish stories set around a very common social networking tool, my imagined and not-at-all-cleverly-named “The Face”. So, I want all of you to write up some stories about the face! You only need to include these four criteria:

1. It needs to make mention of, or directly utilize, the facebook-esque program ‘ the face’.

2. The face works in mysterious ways. Find unique applications that aren’t currently existing, or extend current applications into a cyberpunk world, elaborating and expanding on their capabilities and usefulness.

3. It has to be set in a cyberpunk setting. Implants, digital-human interaction, all of that is commonplace. Check both my story and wikipedia for clarification.

4. And this is important: The technology, setting, or environment of your story cannot contradict a story that has already been posted. This is like cyberpunk-short story-improv.  I want to build a universe. To really give people after you a springboard, add in little details like my Juan and Gyro BS. Add in history, but I wouldn’t give it a concrete time or year. Do whatever you’d like, just fit in the universe we have right now.

So, come-on, creative types. Email me at Alex dot jarvi at gmail dot com, subject “The Face”, with your stories. I fully expect No one to respond to this, but it’s fun to consider anyway.