Real Names No More

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Google Plus OK’s Pseudonyms: Google has finally reversed its strict real-name policy. According to Google, the real-name policy was an effort to make “connecting with people on the Web more like connecting with people in the real world”; but the fact is, the Web isn’t the real world, and there are very many reasons why people may prefer to use pseudonyms online, like privacy and personal safety for starters. Also, no one wants to feel like they are being forced into something without being given any options (see Danah Boyd’s post “Real Names” Policies Are an Abuse of Power”). People should have a say in their online identities, so this is definitely a step in the right direction for Google Plus. The Daily Dot

Zuck the Diva: The portrait of the Facebook king just keeps getting more and more peculiar; from engineer courtship walks to killing his own dinner, the Zuck now has a bodyguard. According to Gawker, he also has an email ghostwriter, and he just purchased a new Palo Alto mansion. Sounds like someone is turning into a tech diva. Gawker

Video of the Day: “Full House” theme in an awesome a capella version. Wow, John Stamos hasn’t aged at all, Maybe it’s all that Oikos Greek yogurt. BuzzFeed

Tumblr of the Day: New Yorker cartoon captions that wouldn’t quite make it into the New Yorker. The Monkeys You Ordered

Tweet of the Day: It’s Hammer time: MC Hammer is now a tech entrepreneur.  HappyPlace

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