American Idol Unfair-- Who cares?

Was the latest American Idol winner unfairly chosen?

Does anyone truly care? No, really. I find it hard to believe as many people care about American Idol as Fox executives claim.

Their method of allowing multiple votes per caller has always been controversial. However the fact it generates huge numbers of phone calls which can be touted on every news show and newspaper around makes it a very good idea from a marketing perspective.

Go Twit Yourself

TwitThis is a great way of spreading the word with a couple clicks. Log into TwitThis, type the name of the web site you are reading (www.news-banner.com for instance) and a Tweet is sent.

Seems slightly less complicated than pasting it into your Twitter stream yourself, but whatever works.
So, if you have a web site I recommend you immediately go Twit yourself...do it...right now!

Thank you.

Tweet-Up Thursday

At 5 p.m. this Thursday catch me (@jerrybattiste) and the rest of the Bluffton Twitterers at Tyger's Pizza in downtown.
We will swap Twitter tales; talk tech/games/pop-culture/media/local and non-local news; generally have a good time.

Stop by and check it out if you're around...

Don't Die Without a Locker

Just because you're dead doesn't mean you can't send an e-mail. Or, allow someone else to send it for you.

That's the gist behind this new service called Legacy Locker. 

The site allows user to create a sort of online will, passing on passwords and online property rights to whomever they wish. Creating an account costs just $30 a year, a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Besides, without Legacy Locker, that level 50 Dwarf fighter you created on Warhammer will never be able to avenge his owner's death...

Twitter biz model not ad based-says founder

It's being blogged to death that Biz Stone put the kibosh on an advertising business model for Twitter during a speech Monday.

This may or may not the case when Twitter begins to debut new tools later this year. What will drive the future business model for Twitter is what will work best. And what will work best for the service no one saw coming remains to be seen....

What makes Twitter Great

What makes Twitter great is the ease with which you can pass along interesting stories. Stuff like this Twitter gem: http://ioanghip.googlepages.com/ which came to me compliments of @dylanmcintosh

Here's the whole Tweet--or Re-Tweet:

RT: @dylanmcintosh Best usage of Twitter ever:http://ioanghip.googlepages... (via @timnovinger)

@dylanmcintosh is a very interesting guy; always has his finger on the latest cool technical innovation, even if it's simply a cat door. If you are following him then you have seen his often off-beat Tweets and probably have noted his interest in miniature games.

I've also started following @backyardpoultry

Here's his latest "RT: @backyardpoultry In case you missed it, here is the CNN special about backyard poultry that aired this weekend.http://tinyurl.com/owum2q"

You might ask yourself, "why would I want to follow @backyardpoultry?" My response is, "why wouldn't you want to follow someone calling himself @backyardpoultry?" 

@backyardpoultry is actually Andy Schneider, better known as the Chicken Whisperer which is about the best nickname I could think of.

In my opinion, the more likely it is someone will send me a link to something truly off-beat and interesting, the better. And being a part of the Twitter community makes that much more likely....

Twitter (Really Short) Fiction

Saw an interesting article at Salon.com on Twitter fiction, thought I'd pass it along.

The concept of serialized, extremely short stories is nothing new. In fact it's popularity as exploded in Japan recently, driven by the large numbers of cell-phone toting young women with ravenous literary appetites.
A recent (Keitai shosetsu) cellphone novel publication by a noted Japanese author sold more than 3.5 million copies.

The stories themselves are brief and use texting lingo. Talk about interacting with your favorite author, in Japan authors will actually craft their story from e-mails received during the creative process.

This type of social interaction during the creative process means readers have a vested interested in the story they are consuming. Anything that creates a tighter bond between the artist and their audience is a good thing.

Twitter Counter

Don't just count Followers, get yourself a Twitter Counter.

Twitter Counter is one of a handful of sites that will help gather and collate statistical data about visits (and visitors) to your Twitter profile.

According to the site: "TwitterCounter tracks millions of Twitter users and generates daily updated lists of who is social, active and popular."

It also has a nice list on the front page of the Top Ten most followed Twitter users. Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk) is still #1 with 1,7 million followers. But he is followed closely by The Ellen Show (@theellenshow) with 1.4 million.

Twitter fans unite at the Wiki

Don't just Twitter away in the dark, share your Tweeting love with other twitter fans at the Twitter Wiki page.

The Wiki is an interactive site edited by users (Twitter fans) to provide the latest news and information about the fastest growing social networking service since the CB radio...

All Twitter News; All The Time; AllTop

Looking for all the Twitter news your brain can handle? Look no further than Alltop: Twitter news without the fail whale

With links to stories like "It’s not just for kids and geeks - Twitter is good for business too!" and "Nonprofits Benefiting from Social Media and Online Contests" it covers the complete spectrum of Twitter and Twitter-related news.

Check it out!

Social Media News at Mashable

Looking for the latest news regarding Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, blogging or any of the multitude of other social-networking services? Look no further than Mashable The Social Media Guide.

Topics run the gamut from "Which Social Network is the Most Generous?" to "The New York Times, 31 Years From Now" and everything in between.

It's worth a look if you like to stay current.

"New & Improved" Twitter coming soon, whether you want it or not.

Check out Twitterfacts.blogspot.com for an interesting look at the future of Twitter. We know changes are coming to the social networking service, but exactly what those changes will look is still anyone's guess.

Twitter: So E-Z an astronaut can do it

NASA astronaut and mission specialist for STS-125, Mike Massimino, has been Twittering during his training for the upcoming mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
Massimino has said he is unsure if he will be able to twitter while space walking, but he's going to try.

Follow @Astro_Mike here.

Twitter bidders line up

In a shocking move, Apple may buy Twitter.

No it isn't.

Since 2006 Twitter has gone from weekend brainstorm to cultural phenomenon. It's no wonder people have stopped wondering how it's going to make money and started asking who's going to buy it first.

News-Banner 'Hyperlocal' is cutting edge

Hyperlocal news may be the life preserver traditional print media has been looking for.
For me, it just seemed like common sense. Like the old adage, "write what you know."

And we know Wells County.


Read more here:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/05/01/future.online.news.hyperlocal/index.html?iref=t2test_techtues

POTUS is blogging

Check out the new White House profiles at Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. In fact, all sorts of politicos are now online; get the latest spin before its spun too far out...

"Last Wednesday, Alaska governor Sarah Palin also debuted on Twitter feed and is reported to have attracted as many as 14,000 fans but currently the most popular tweeting politician is Republican Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is reported to have more than 65,000 fans."

http://www.domain-b.com/infotech/itnews/20090504_white_house.html

Tweet-Up Friday, Noon, El Camino

Rescheduled from last week, let's Tweet-Up for lunch Friday at El Camino. That's Noon. 12 p.m.
The hour just before 1 p.m.

If you can, let me know. If you can't let me know. Otherwise, I'll see you there!

No Tweet-up Tonight; Free Comics Day Tomorrow!

Tonight's Tweet-Up has been cancelled. Stay tuned next week. We'll be Tweeting-Up as soon as everyone is at 100% (This means you @libraritarian59 (we can't Tweet-Up without you!)

Also, tomorrow is free comic book day. Drop by MCS Comics and Cards on Wabash in downtown Bluffton tomorrow and score a freebie. Here's more info: http://www.freecomicbookday.com/

Check it out!!