Brian Frein

In retrospect, the killer feature was the "Sign Off" button. AOL Instant Messenger was synchronous. Unlike texting, seeing a "buddy" online generally meant they were present and open to chat. After a while, you left (as though from a real place), and the sound of a door slamming shut confirmed your exit. You were no longer there, and everyone knew it. Life was good. Then we made chat asynchronous. You may think iMessage is the spiritual evolution of AIM, but they are not the same species. In an asynchronous experience, everyone is always simultaneously online and away. Not far enough 'away' to be 'offline', but not present either. You can only know if the other person is really here by sending a message and watching for the status to change from Sent to Read. Call it "Schroedinger's Chat" I know this sounds like an Andy Rooney bit (a reference only the AIM OGs will understand), but I am not asking to go back. I just think we left something behind that we need to bring back. We all live on the Internet now. We are 'here' every day for hours, and yet we have no presence. We are asynchronous ghosts in most of today's apps. We could use more synchronicity. At least enough to notice when someone isn't present. Enough to "Sign Off" and hear the door slam as you go.

@DailyLoud This doesn’t mean he won. He could have started a minute back in the starting line pack. It’s a timed race that starts when each individual person crosses the start line which is why you have a bib with a sensor. The guy casually crossing the finish could have a better time.

Man won the Delaware marathon after sprinting to the finish as his opponent was celebrating, thinking he won

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music

@zillowgonewild Midpoint of the TV is 36” above the floor and so are my eyes when sitting on my couch. This is the way.

Please reply to this thread with a pic of how high the TV is at wherever you are for Thanksgiving today 🙏🏼 🦃

@RealityByAshley It’s not AI… it’s being filmed with Meta AI glasses! I can see how the way they wrote “ft. Meta AI” could be confusing though.

I don’t think we’re meant to see this

@SwiftYouTube_ Chris Chambers @chrischambers84 @MiamiDolphins

Ball knowledge check. Name a forgotten WR from your favorite team I’ll start: Kenny Stills

@Spotify “Fell In Love With A Girl” The White Stripes

Name a song that’s criminally short 😭

Track Night in America 11/11/25 at Sebring International Raceway @sebringraceway @SCCAOfficial @Cadillac CTS-V

So @Disney launched keepmynetworks.com like it’s a national emergency. Calm down, I just want to watch the game without funding your next Marvel reboot. Stay strong, @YouTubeTV. Don’t raise my bill so Mickey can get another yacht. #KeepMyNetworks

@NFL_DovKleiman Shannon Sharpe @ShannonSharpe was really the first of the modern tight ends when it came to putting up big receiving numbers. Three-time Super Bowl champ, fast, loud, dominant. He completely changed the way teams thought about the position.

Age yourself by naming an NFL tight end you grew up watching. I'll start, Chris Cooley.

@InternetH0F 5 out of 6 of these psychopaths are goofy foot. That tracks.

men will see this and be like hell yeah

@ywomendeservles “He’s no longer with us” “Eegghhhhuuuhhhuuu” Sent me. 💀

@jamierkennedy It’s gotta be Max Homa!

Which golfer in 2025 has been the most disappointing?

@RobbyBerger Priest Holmes

Let’s go with forgotten running backs and I’ll lead us off with Matt Forte

@dieworkwear black or brown leather goods with navy?

@historyrock_ Man, SRV was straight-up otherworldly! Some kind of guitar-wielding alien sent to show us how it’s done. Pure magic!

Stevie Ray Vaughan playing with a rare Gibson acoustic guitar (1983)