As someone who has enjoyed and written about location-based services (LBS) since I first started using Foursquare and Gowalla at South by Southwest two years ago, and as a developer for a social app that uses the “check-in” concept, and as a close friend of someone who worked on it, I was anxiously awaiting the launch of Facebook’s “Places,” their take on the whole LBS thing.

Places went live in earnest today, and it’s rolling out slowly to Facebook users across the network. It’s available in the iPhone app and also on the touch version of Facebook’s website (tip: you may have to log out of and back into the iPhone app before the check-in functionality shows up for you).

This is a short list of random thoughts from my first impressions in playing with Facebook Places.

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August 27th, 2010

Status // 08.27.2010 // 6:23 AM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Fun web tool for “colors and shit,” by @shazow and @limedaring. Nice work! http://colorblendy.com/

August 26th, 2010

Status // 08.26.2010 // 5:53 AM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

How beautiful is this entry into the Dollar redesign project!? /via @khoi http://dowlingduncan.com/dowling-duncan-redesign-us-bank-notes/

August 24th, 2010

Status // 08.24.2010 // 10:05 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

I hate to say it, since I recently said otherwise, but I’m kinda getting into Mad Men upon giving it a second try. /cc @khoi @mideindustries

Status // 08.24.2010 // 9:44 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Pull over before you read this: http://tweetagewasteland.com/2010/08/pull-over-before-you-read-this/ /by @davepell /via @mikeindustries

Status // 08.24.2010 // 9:25 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Why do those who copy Apple’s products not copy their marketing, which prefers human and emotional over sci-fi geeky? http://bit.ly/di8txL

Status // 08.24.2010 // 5:39 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

RT @firewallender: Whoa… Harbor Steps is on fire! There’s a ton of police/firetruck/ambulances on Western. #seattle

Status // 08.24.2010 // 5:29 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

These are beautiful and interesting. http://urbagram.net/archipelago/

Status // 08.24.2010 // 4:54 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Is the fact that my iPad pretty much never leaves the house reason enough not to buy this bag? I’m thinking no. http://bit.ly/c1r4dE

Status // 08.24.2010 // 1:48 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

The most hyperbolic, hysterical, ridiculous piece I’ve ever read about social media. From a site I usually like. Sad. http://bit.ly/c7GsN2

Status // 08.24.2010 // 1:07 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Excited @limedaring’ll be on @bigwebshow with @zeldman and @danbenjamin. She’s terrific, and it’s nice to get away from the usual suspects.

Status // 08.24.2010 // 12:17 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Nobody puts baby in a corner. http://vimeo.com/14363611

Status // 08.24.2010 // 9:58 AM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Very ancient history of Django, posted on Quora by @simonw (who was there!). http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-history-of-Python-Django

Status // 08.24.2010 // 9:49 AM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Finally died in my first game of The Incident. Stuck at 50,077m (Orbit). Damn.

August 23rd, 2010

Status // 08.23.2010 // 7:48 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

My hunch: Web devs, by and large, understand the HTML5/CSS3 distinction. Other people don’t. And we’re better off because they don’t.

Status // 08.23.2010 // 7:13 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

This is the first non-ancedotal evidence I’ve seen of web developers being confused about HTML5 and CSS3: http://bit.ly/bFH9H6 /via @andr3

Status // 08.23.2010 // 7:12 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Yes, I mis-used “straw man.” I’m an idiot. Go ahead and make fun of me relentlessly. My point remains.

Status // 08.23.2010 // 6:55 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

If your response is, “I know a guy who…,” that’s a straw man. I’m looking for concrete examples. Name names. Give me links.

Status // 08.23.2010 // 6:30 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

I bring that up in light of @brucel’s rant on the topic. It’s hilarious and wonderful, if misguided. Check it out! http://bit.ly/a5DtFQ

Status // 08.23.2010 // 6:21 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Where are the straw men who think CSS3 is part of HTML5? If people really think that, it’s an issue. But I’m not convinced anyone does.

Status // 08.23.2010 // 5:45 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Huge progress today on an internal @ngenworks product. Can’t wait for you guys to see it — it might even make you some money!

Status // 08.23.2010 // 11:40 AM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Sometimes I think about the sheer power that must be built into Apple’s push notification infrastructure. http://gizmo.do/983d2l

Status // 08.23.2010 // 10:34 AM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Awesome: Frank Chimero on design. http://bit.ly/9kqXxs /via @wilsonminer

Status // 08.23.2010 // 10:21 AM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Dear karaoke friends: I got dibs on this new song from Ceelo. Don’t even try to steal it from me, assholes. http://bit.ly/bkdoA3

August 22nd, 2010

Status // 08.22.2010 // 11:07 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Fire in the disco. Fire in the disco. Fire in the Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

August 21st, 2010

Status // 08.21.2010 // 10:50 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Why do the lyrics to every metal song song like they were written by D&D players?

Status // 08.21.2010 // 10:45 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

I sang Get Low, by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz at Boxcar Alehouse, in Seattle, WA with @bahoo. http://playbarstar.com/PtR

Status // 08.21.2010 // 8:38 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Warming @mikeindustries home. http://yfrog.com/mtk3opwj

Status // 08.21.2010 // 2:34 PM // 0 Comments // On Twitter

Finally got a push notification for a friend’s Facebook Places check-in. So they exist. But I really need control of them. Please, Facebook?

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