How I Tweet…

Image by Kevglobal via Flickr

Not to be confused with how you tweet, because, I don’t know how you tweet. Or why for that matter. The how, may tell you the why, and might give you some insight into, The Experiment. Or at least, be good for a laugh, as I know I have only three readers here.

I don’t know how this became the blog where I write about Twitter, but it is the idea that I have mastered, so, here goes: I type 55 words a minute, with only 2 errors. This is up from my middle school typing speed of 35 words a minute. I always added ten back then, as I was trying to impress a girl, so, if anyone ever sees Kim Sandefur, tell her she won.

At 140 characters or less, combined with my typing speed, I could crank out two tweets a minute, if I so desired. Most that follow me that won’t read this say that I do indeed tweet at least twice a minute, maybe more, I don’t know, as I don’t count, having never actually timed it myself. I’m sure the fine folks at Twitter have these stats, but they aren’t necessarily sharing them. At least, with me. Oh, I know my tweets are being graded as well, and I’ve spoken of that in the past both here and elsewhere. I get almost an A+ for my tweeting efforts, and I didn’t even study.

I follow almost as many as follow me, and I use TweetDeck as my app o’ choice, which allows me to manage how I see and respond to your tweets the way I like. There’s a button that I frequently use for Retweets, to the point where Chris Voss has made me one of his Top RT Guns. If I see a lot of tweets in a row that I like, It’s one click, and they go out to you. This could get my tweeting speed up higher, as previously discussed.

I have private conversations on an occasional basis, however, that is a rare occasion, and it usually comes in the form of a couple of DM’s after a conversation in the public timeline. I have nothing to hide, so, you’ll get to see these conversations every once in awhile, if you’re paying attention. If you don’t care, that’s ok too. Allow me the same courtesy to ignore your tweets, if necessary. Oh, and as always, don’t DM me if you’re not following. This has generated an unfollow on numerous occasions.

I tweet about what interests me. This may include a range of topics you may not like, to some that you do. I tweet all hours during the day, and I don’t have any ‘bots tweeting for me more than once a day. I have set up Twitterfeed to tweet a link to this and other blogs for which I write, and if I post, it gets tweeted. I don’t know if this counts as a ‘bot or not. I’d like to believe it doesn’t, as ultimately, I wrote the post that generated the tweet, and it only goes out one time, so, you can think of this as a many character tweet. Yes, I’ve gone over the artificial 140 character limit. I’ve billed myself as an intellectual humorist if that helps, and my billing rate is $150/hr, minimum 2, if that helps. I have discovered that the key to comedy is simply this: You have to be funny.

So, as my number of followers increases, that’s you, and the number of people I continue to follow decreases, I hope that’s not you, The above will continue to hold true. Let me know if I’ve succeeded, or exceeded your expectations. Which you may now adjust accordingly.

72 and sunny in Redondo Beach.

Please Retweet.

Almost 30 Thousand Tweets Later….

In less than a year. Some might say I tweet too much. Others, may not even see my tweets. I’ve had several varying opinions of what Twitter is, was, and will be. Most still hold today. I’ve posted them here and elsewhere, therefore, they don’t need repeating, however, they might need to be linked to. Or for those of you that are afraid to end a sentence with a preposition, to which I shall link.

I’ve talked in passing of The Experiment. Which continues. If you have yet to figure out what The Experiment is, then you have three choices, instead of the usual two. We’re so used to binary decisions, which come downto this or that, that we rarely consider, the other thing. Or, things. I have as of this writing almost 3600 followers that have decided to come along for the ride. Which would be an ‘E’ ticket, if Disneyland still gave out ‘E’ tickets.

I’ve tweeted about several subjects that interest me, and I’ve figured out how to tweet from more than one place. Hopefully, when this entry gets posted, you’ll see it first from a tweet that’s automatically generated. Then again, maybe not, as the last time I posted here, the link didn’t get saved to my bit.ly history. Not clear to me why that happened….

I’ve actively solicited funds for my participation in The 168 Project, which will always and continue to be my main focus. I’ve seen the work that myself and others have done as a result of this ministry, and it continues to amaze me that you can do quality work quickly to a deadline. Especially when that work is a ten minute film based on a Bible verse, and completed in a week or less.

I’ve made some good online friends, while at the same time, have been blocked by others, simply because I had one disagreement with them at some point in the past. In every case, I would still choose to follow them if I could, however, this privilege has been denied me. I could name names, however, I don’t want to embarrass them. I wear their block as a badge of honor.

I’ve discussed how Sturgeon’s Law comes into full force at the strangest of times, to the point of describing it as, The Law!!!™ I have mastered ideas, this one included. I’ll leave the thought leadering to those that have adapted the quaint practice as their mantra. Because as always, there is a third choice to the lead/follow paradigm.

A new conclusion that I’ve come to is simply this: I’ve enjoyed my time here, and will continue to do so. You may now reevaluate one of the three choices you made above. Your mileage may vary, Please retweet.

72 and sunny in Redondo Beach.

Adjust your expectations accordingly.

With Apologies to David Gerrold….

I used this phrase in something I wrote a lifetime ago, and I repeat it here, to expand on his original concept. Which I probably never would of come up with on my own, however, the sentiment may be garbled from the original article he wrote in Starlog roughly 30 plus years ago, and may need updating as well.

The concept is relatively simple which I go into at the link provided however, to reiterate and bastardize, your workplace is either a sandbox or a litterbox, and you should act accordingly. If you remember from kindergarten, when you played in the sandbox with your friends, and everyone in kindergarten was your friend when you played in the sandbox, you built a community, roads from your castle to the next one, shared your shovel and pale, and generally had a great time. Because you were playing. In the sand.

Now as you all know, a litterbox is used by a cat, to do its shall we say business, and when it’s done, it gets out. No playing allowed, encouraged, or even available. If you’re the owner of said cat, you need to clean up after it every once in awhile. I’d quote an actual length of time here if I’d ever owned cats and had to perform this action myself, however, I’m deathly allergic. To cats, not sand.

Some of the more astute among you may be saying to yourselves at this point, ”But wait. I’ve seen a cat use a sandbox as a litterbox!!!“ It is for you that the rest of this article is intended. Simply because, it doesn’t happen overnight.

A process like that takes time. When you get hired, you’re having fun, meeting new people, adapting to your workspace, and generally having an overall good time. For awhile. This awhile could last years, if you’re lucky. However, you might one day get passed over for a promotion. Or moved to another office, or worse, cubicle. If not another location within the company entirely. Hopefully, you don’t have to pack up your family and move them too. You don’t get the raise you wanted. Someone else gets put on the project you worked hard to get. Suddenly, you realize you’re on your own, and maybe it’s time for an entirely new situation. Your sandbox has become a litterbox.

These types of things happen all to quickly in the business we call show, and for all the wrong reasons. As an actor, you may get the part you audition for, however, you might not like the director. Or, worse, you like the director, but you don’t get the part. You read for a part, and get a different one. Not necessarily a bad thing, however, it’s not what you were expecting. Remember, its not Show Friends. Not be confused with the show Friends, which was actually quite funny on  a more than an occasional basis.

If you’re not part of the cast, and you’re a crew member, it’s even worse. There is a specific pecking order on every movie set, and unless your the director, or most of the time, the producer, you’re answering to someone else. Now, this may be all fine and good if you end up in the sandbox situation described previously. Everyone works together for the common goal of a completed film, on time, and hopefully, under budget. This situation is magnified for The 168 Project, which you may have read about either here or elsewhere. There is a specific timeline, and deadlines have to be constantly met, all the while putting together a ten minute short film in week. It’s not for the faint of heart, and it’s certainly not for those who would turn the sandbox into a litterbox, simply because, there isn’t time for that.

This will be my 3rd year in a row creating a short film based on Bible verse within a week, and the theme this year is “Hearing God.” Pray that I do, and that He speaks through me, on this incredible journey, which I have chosen to undertake. Again.

72 and sunny in Redondo Beach.

Adjust your expectations accordingly.

Yet Another Blog Quote…

I found this fascinating quote today:

Good reading illuminates your writing.  It enriches your work, gives it a compelling emotional and intellectual depth.  That’s something you cannot pick up from reading emo blogs.  See?  I remember all this after all, but I pay it no heed.
writingtoexhale.com, Surefire – But Often Ignored – Trick to Superb Writing, Sep 2009

You should read the whole article.

In Case You’re Building a Social Media Team…

I found this fascinating quote today:

3 September, 2009 | Written by Amber NaslundThe Social Media Team EbookWritten by Amber Naslund |altitudebranding.com, The Social Media Team Ebook, Sep 2009

You should read the whole article. This really stands alone, and needs no further commentary from me… Read, and enjoy

4th Person Plural

Image via Wikipedia

I found out who ‘they’ are. “They” don’t know that I know, either. “They” are not “we,” or “us.” “They” might be “them.” As opposed to, THEM. Why this elementary school English lesson? I’ll tell you. At the end. If you make it that far.

I tell my children, that I may or may not have, everyday; Study the English language. Why? Well, for one, situations like these. Any of you with at least an 8th grade education will know your pronouns, which are not to be confused with, professional nouns. There’s both singular, and plural of the 1st person variety, I or we. Second person gets a little tricky, as it’s you or well, you. And 3rd person is covered in the singular by he, she, or it, and in the plural by they. And that’s just the nominative case. There’s also objective case, as well as possessive.

But this is not the they that “they” are.

Well then, who are “they?”

I’ll tell you.

But first more English lessons, as you know, we speak American. You’re probably all familiar with the 1st person, as these parts of speech are when you’re talking about your favorite subject, namely, yourself. “I went to the store.” “I won the lottery.” “We went on vacation.” Probably because you won the lottery.

The 2nd person is a bit more unselfish, as you’re talking about someone you’re with. “You look great.” “Did you get a haircut?” “You have to checkout this new store!!!” “The rest of you, what do you think?” Well, I think they look great because they got a haircut, and checked out the new store.

Which brings us to the 3rd person: People you’re talking about. Most likely, behind their back. But that’s another column for quite possibly a different website to be named later. “He won the lottery.” “She looks great.” “They went on vacation.” Again, quite possibly because they were with the guy that won the lottery, and he was buying their friendship.

So, now that I’ve given you a crash course in pronouns and their use, have you figured out who “they” are yet?

If not, it’s simple: It’s anyone that’s observing the interactions of the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd persons, and is not even indirectly involved. Hence the term, 4th person plural, as it’s usually always more than one, reporting what they think they see to whomever, and where ever will give them space to do so. Whole industries have sprung up to service this phenomenon, and is nothing new, as I’m sure at least one of you has read a supermarket tabloid lately. Or visited their websites.

So, it is these people, that are “they.” Now, I could list specifics, but you’ve probably visited at least one or two of their sites on occasion. As I stated above, simply because redundancy is the key to learning. Or so my alleged daughter’s teachers would have you believe.

Now, the question becomes, who made “them” (possessive case, see above) the authority on anything? Well, we did, in the editorial sense. As I don’t make it a habit to give authority to anyone who doesn’t deserve it. In fact, I discussed this the last time….
So, in conclusion, “they” have indeed directly or indirectly, taken up my valuable time, and by extension, yours, simply because I’ve decided to talk about them, and if any of my three readers are still reading this far. Of course, I’m providing a valuable service by telling you who “they” are, so when it comes up in conversation, you’ll at least be informed.

My goal with the above has simply been to make you aware of a disturbing trend that I’m seeing, well, practically everywhere. Most are doing, saying, eating, feeling, etc. simply because “they” are doing it as well. No one is actually thinking for themselves. My suggestion to  you is simple: Do your own thing, and then one day, you too, could become one of “them.” Which will actually make you, one of “us.”

Adjust Your Expectations Accordingly.
Disclaimer: Mike does not purport to be an expert on anything, and if you don’t know what that means, look it up.

It’s Magic… Not to be confused with, It’s Magic!!!

Great stuff here. If you’re serious about magic, by all means, visit.

Originally posted as a comment by Batman on The Magic Newswire using Disqus.

Interesting comments here….

Image via CrunchBase

Cant’ afford my own domain right now, so, until that changes, my domain points to my Blogger blog. I guess I’m safe until Google goes down

Originally posted as a comment by Batman on Social Marketing by Michelle MacPhearson using Disqus.

Clearly, he doesn’t know how I got most of my followers… :)

Great stuff, although, I still disagree with #7…. However, I may not want to be followed by most people

Originally posted as a comment by Batman on Chris Brogan using Disqus.

You Can Get More Followers for only $14.95!!!

Ok, some of you who watch what I’ve dubbed, #UselessTwitterMetric(s), may have noticed that I gained about a thousand followers in slightly over a week. Incredible growth, right?

Not so fast.

Many of you have seen the various tweets to which I refer:

Just got more followers!

1000 Followers a Day!!!

100 Followers a day!

Followed by a link to a site that simply asks for your TwitterID and password. I’m actually ok with that part, although everyone should be using oAuth by now. I was ok, simply because I saw how many had used the site before more, so, almost two weeks ago at this point, I took the plunge. I’m not going to mention which site, simply because I believe them all to be the same, and more likely, not worth the dignity of the added publicity.

Signed off like I always do, and that’s when the flood of emails started. I got over 700 followers on that first day. Was really only looking for a hundred, but hey, I’m easy. Of course, I wasn’t ready for what happened next.

I autofollowed them all back.

Read that sentence again, and I’ll wait.

Those of you that know me, know that I’m not “That guy….”  I follow people that I’m interested in, or that make me think. Or laugh, or what have you. If you’ve followed me, and I haven’t followed you back yet, that’s why. I was following roughly 1400 people before this debacle, and was barely keeping up with that. Now, my tweetstream is overwhelmed with tweets by people that I don’t necessarily wish to actively engage with, much less converse.

There’s even a site that will sell you followers. Maybe two, I’m not sure. I’ve gotten all my followers by simply being myself, for free. If I’m following you, and you’re not following me back, that’s ok, just don’t DM me. There are probably people out there that are following me, that I’m not following, and that should be ok too. Thank you for playing. If after reading this, you decide to UFM, it was a pleasure having you as part of, The Experiment. Which as always, continues….