Twitter Me This

I just can't get into Twitter. Something about the tiny URLs and deciphering all that abbreviation turns me off.

If I liked that sort of thing, I'd be a programmer. Or a hieroglyphics enthusiast.

Take this tweet (even the terms are ridiculous, no?) from an education critic I admire.

Honest sign at a middle schl: pic.twitter.com/q4e5NJfMzS (via @jjhoster). But did real education (or test prep) precede the testing?

Who could tell what he's talking about with all the @s, slashes, and parentheses?

To be fair, when you click the tweet (nope, still can't get used to it), the message is clearer.
The link brings you to a school sign that reads, "No classes this week due to state assessments. We resume your child's real education in two weeks."

Why not just re-post the sign or like it on Facebook since, chances are, that's where it originated from anyway?

Here's another one. I have no idea from where it came, nor do I know why it scrolled across my Twitter feed.

#Portuguesefacts #portuguesepride #PortugueseKids #Portuguesepower #LusoStyle pic.twitter.com/wLSV2VP5eh

Obviously it has something to do with being Portuguese and proud. But what does it actually mean?

And why all the hashtags (formerly known as the pound sign)? It's easier figuring out the daily word jumble than deciphering tweets like this.

In fairness to Twitter users and  the Portuguese , I decided to give Twitter one more chance. I clicked on one of the hashtag things and was brought to a post by someone calling herself "Jabba the Slut".

From what I could tell, it looked like Jabba was having some kind of relationship issue, perhaps with a Portuguese kid since there were about five more #s with the word Portuguese in there somewhere.

From there, I scrolled down and found another interesting tweet from Jabba, this one having to do with the properties of Portuguese urine, including how the Romans imported it as a key ingredient in ancient mouthwash. (I am not making this up).

This is when I gave up.

ps:  Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @DW_Wheeler #hypocrite #sellout  #andeggs.

Hail to the App

If you haven't noticed, apps are replacing software programs these days. They're quicker, easier to use, and far cheaper in most cases. 


Why buy the full version of Photoshop for $500 when I can get the app that does everything I need for $1.99? Plus it loads in seconds on my iPhone while I usually have to go get a cup of coffee before the complete version loads on my desktop computer.


Here are a few of my current favorites apps.

Thanks to Jon Briggs, I've found a way of keeping track of all those notes, thoughts, and reminders from my cell phone, iPad, and laptop in once place. Using Evernote, I can keep notes, write lengthy emails or memos, snap pictures, and tag everything for easy retrieval. An absolute must-have if you use more than one device and do any kind of writing.

The first time I used Dragon Dictation, I felt stupid for speaking my thoughts into a cell phone. Once I realized how easy and useful this app was (especially in stop-and-go traffic), I was hooked. A great app if you drive a lot, or just don't like to type. Get it here.

Zite assembles your own easy-to-read and navigate magazine. Just tell the app what (or who) you like to read, and it creates a personalized reading experience. You can customize as you go by tagging articles you like so the app gets an idea of your tastes.

On Social Media

I spent the better part of a rainy Saturday coordinating my online life.

Left untended, Facebook and LinkedIn profiles, email and Twitter accounts, and now, iGoogle, can become quickly cluttered and outdated.

It didn't used to be like this.

Back in the day I was a fierce privacy advocate, determined to resist this Borg-like social network of ours. Those were the days of moderated AOL chat rooms, and old-fashioned news groups.

Today we have elevated advertising, consuming, and branding to humanity status, a place where social networking and sense of self are one and the same.

In so intricately tying our social networking activities to our personal selves, our very identities, we have achieved a measure of privacy by giving privacy away.

People who wield power well learn to give power away. Instead of fighting for all privacy, we have given up collective privacy to achieve (or salvage) individual privacy.

This is just an illusion, of course. We don't really have much, if any, privacy at all.

For proof, check out this article a Southeastern teacher posted on her Facebook wall, which is what got me thinking about this in the first place.

After reading it, I decided to join the conversation rather than avoid it.

So now I have coordinated most of the social and networking sites I utilize in one place using Google Sites.

Am I selling out?  Maybe. But at least I'll be organized.

"Going to hell in a bucket, baby. But at least I'm enjoying the ride."