Sounds like the biggest news of the day, or is it? Syria blocks Facebook according to Bloggers Blog. The story comes from Reuters

"…Syrian users of Facebook said on Friday the authorities had blocked access to the social network Web site as part of a crackdown on political activism on the Internet.

"Facebook helped further civil society in Syria and form civic groups outside government control. This is why it has been banned," women's rights advocate Dania al-Sharif told Reuters.

"They cut off communications between us and the outside world. We are used to this behavior from our government," said Mais al-Sharbaji, who set up a Facebook group for amateur Syrian photographers.

There was no comment form the government, which has intensified a campaign against bloggers, virtual opinion forums and independent media sites in recent months."

I'm not sure who is worse – Facebook is collecting a whole bunch of data and The wonderful horrible life of Facebook users and their data (or, "data hogs get slaughtered") on one hand, according to Jason Calacanis

"…All of this comes up because Facebook has done three things that are at once extremely innovative, extremely rude, extremely helpful, and extremely disconcerting:

1. They are collecting and republishing user data on a level not before seen by users.

2. They are allowing advertisers to use this data to reach these users.

3. They are not giving this information–information that has put their value at $15 billion–back to their users.

Depending on who you are, or what your goals are at a particular time, you might find extreme pleasure or discomfort in each of these."

On the other hand is Syria, a country I have no really affinity for at this point that is:

"…the authorities had blocked access to the social network Web site as part of a crackdown on political activism on the Internet.

"Facebook helped further civil society in Syria and form civic groups outside government control. This is why it has been banned," women's rights advocate Dania al-Sharif told Reuters."

So in my mind today – Syria = Facebook – or they both cancel themselves out.

Nah, actually, I'm enjoying using Facebook more, but I'm aware that many people are reporting the new Beacon advertising system is dangerous and an affront to people's privacy (being assailed).  I guess living in Syria is worse (I think it's worse) but maybe it's not so far fetched to say that Syria = Facebook.

Maybe it's time for me to stop posting and take a walk.