According to ComScore.com, while new social network users in North America seem to be leveling off, the global trend shows that sites such as Facebook and…well, mostly Facebook, are gaining new members in the parts of the world where I’m pretty thankful I wasn’t born.

From Information Week:

The number of new users in the Middle East and Africa has risen by 66%, while the number of new users in Europe rose 35%. In Latin America, the number of new users on social networking sites rose by 33%.

Facebook.com has held the top spot among social networking sites worldwide since April 2008. The site experienced 153% growth in the past year, due in part to its use of natural language interfaces, ComScore reported. Most of Facebook’s visitors (49 million) still come from North America, although Europe appears to be catching up, with 35 million users. Growth in North America stood at 38%, while European users grew by 303% and worldwide users quadrupled, according to ComScore.

Finally the rest of the world is catching up on wasting their time. YAY INTERNET!

Thursday, July 31st, marks the birthday of much beloved, occasionally demonized, fictional character Harry Potter. This auspicious occasion will be celebrated by throngs of booknerds, who, tearing themselves away from MMORPGs and LARPGs (if you don’t know what these acronyms stand for count yourself among the lucky) will assemble in various theatres across North America and Europe, to witness full screenings of Wizard People, Dear Readers, a version of the first Harry Potter movie, The Sorcerer’s Stone with the original sound turned off and replaced with a recording of a narration by Brad Neely. We’re hosting a screening here in Chico at the Blue Room Theatre on Friday night (8 PM doors, 9 PM show), and if you are in the area you should probably attend. Here’s a sample of what is to come:

Dig the Silver Jews? Listen to our recent interview with founder David Berman here.

Bob Dylan, currently touring in Europe, has now added a slew of dates to his already full summer touring schedule. Check out the dates here. Santa Barbara Bowl sounds good…

San Francisco punk band and former Synthesis Band You’ve Never Heard Of…OF THE DAY!!111 La Plebe, is up to some big shit, touring Europe ( including a few dates with Lagwagon) and just being all around badasses. Synthesis correspondent Wyatt Nation hit them up a week or so back to chop it up and the results are ready for your perusal over at the old Synthesis.net music page.

Amy Winehouse’s trial date for a drug possession charge in Norway was postponed this week until further notice.

Super cool Blake Fielder-Civil (Winehouse’s husband who is also involved in the case) can’t make the trip since he’s currently sitting in a jail cell in Britain on assault and bribery related charges.

Anne Vedvik of the Bergen courthouse said Winehouse had been due to appear on Friday and “The hearing has therefore been postponed to an undetermined date.”

Winehouse was arrested at their hotel with her husband and her hairdresser in Norway last October after they were caught with marijuana in their possession. She was later released after paying a 500-euro fine. Interestingly enough, agreeing to pay a fine in Norway is the equivalent of admitting to the charges. This also makes it somewhat difficult
to obtain visas in the future - which is probably why she ran into trouble for the Grammy’s last week.

We here at Synthesis really hope she pulls herself together