I write a weekly column on “Tweet Nothings” for Want2Dish.com. Here’s what I am talking about today:
I found out about the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial via Facebook with this simple status update by a friend, “ ….unbelievable…”
Although shocked, I knew immediately what had happened.
Not Guilty.
The Casey Anthony trial, dubbed “the social media trial of the century” by Time magazine, has generated unprecedented attention worldwide. The story became an immediate legal spectacle on Tuesday when outrage erupted over the Florida jury’s decision to acquit the young mother on charges that she killed her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.
Within minutes of the verdict being handed down, Facebook pages devoted to Casey and Caylee Anthony filled up with hundreds of comments whileTwitter streams overflowed with expressions of outrage.
I’ve compiled a sampling of reactions (outrage, skeptics, witty & ironic) from across the world and the social media sphere HERE.
JOIN ME IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA FOR A “TWEET DREAMS” EVENT!
Q. What is ONE THING every parent is lacking in?
A. Excessive Whining
B. Dirty Laundry
C. Sleep
I don’t know about you, but the last time I got a good night’s sleep was prior to my son being born in 1999. That is almost 12 years of restless nights and insufficient relaxation. Have little ones? Then you know what I am saying is true!
Which is exactly why I am so excited about what I will be doing on Saturday in Fairfax, Virginia! (Pssst…. Local folks pay close attention – there is something in this for you.)
On Saturday (after running 1/2 marathon in the morning – I kid you not) I will be at the Fair Oaks Mall Sleep Number store helping them unveil their new Sleep Number i10 bed. Now, this isn’t just any ole unveiling because, really, how is THAT fun?
Instead Sleep Number and I are going to give YOU a chance to win Sleep Number products in a series of super-simple challenges. Not only that, but “my” store in the Fair Oaks Mall will be competing with another blogger’s (my wonderful pal Lara DiPaola) store in Bethesda, MD to benefit charity! (I love a little competition, don’t YOU?)
And because I really want to GIVE AWAY PRIZES, I’m revealing the day’s challenges here so you can be prepared ahead of time!
WIN BIG PRIZES!
Challenge 1: Individual Fit Competition. After we are fitted for our own personalized Sleep Number settings, it’s your turn. Stop into the either the Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda or the Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax (mine!) and get fitted for your personalized Sleep Number setting right in the store. Each store will be competing to see which can fit the most folks during the course of the day on Saturday. Sleep Number will donate $500 of free bedding to a local charity on behalf of the first store/blogger that wins the challenge. For this event, the Fair Oaks Mall store supports the Fisher House of Bethesda/Rockville. Time: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Challenge 2: Best Books Before Bed. Reading is a great pre-bedtime ritual to help you unwind from the day. We’ll be discussing our favorite books to read before bed on Twitter! The first 10 people to come into the stores and reveal their favorite books win a free Sleep Number pillow gift certificate (valued up to $49.99).Time: 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Challenge 3: Guess my Sleep Number ® setting. After we are fitted for our Sleep Numbers, you need to try and see if you can figure out what it is. One winner will be selected from all the correct guesses and will be mailed a gift certificate for a free Queen or King Sleep Number Lyocell sheet and pillowcase set (valued at $269.98-$314.98).Time: 2:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Challenge 4: Scavenger Hunt. For this challenge, we will post a list of 10 items for Twitter followers to bring into each store. Lara and I will compete to see whose followers can bring these 10 items into each store first. (Spilling the beans: book, scented candle, a pair of slippers, a bouquet of flowers, a blanket, a teddy bear, ear plugs, a housecoat, a sleeping mask and an alarm clock.) The first 10 followers who bring items into the store win two standard size Sleep Number True Silver pillow protectors.Time: 3:00 -7:00 p.m. ET
Challenge 5: Fun Furry Fashion Show. This one is for the kiddies! Kids can participate by bringing in their favorite stuffed animal. And just for fun, all will get a chance to take professional photos! We’ll be sure to post them to Facebook and Twitter so all can see! Time: 4-5 p.m. ET
Challenge 6: Just Like Mom. This is a great Mother’s Day gift idea! Win temperature-balancing Sleep Number In-Balance Pajamas ($100 value) by participating in an in-store pajama party (you have to be wearing your PJs to win!). The first five people to come to each store in their PJs will receive a gift certificate for these incredible pajamas, so be sure to get to the store right at 5 p.m. to participate. There’s also an online chance to win: Post a photo of mom/family in their PJs on the Sleep Number Facebook page and one lucky photo will be randomly selected to win mom some Sleep Number In-Balance Pajamas.Time: 5-6 p.m. ET
So if you are in the Washington, D.C. metro area, stop by MY Fairfax store and participate in these challenges! There will be an official “Tweet Dreams Photo Booth” ready to snag some great pics you can share on your Facebook, Twitter or blog pages. (Who doesn’t love a good photo booth?)
If you’re not in the Washington, D.C. area, no worries—you can still participate. Just follow Lara at @dipaolamomma or me at @jennifergerlock and follow the #sleepnumber hash tag to participate and for chances to win. Please also follow @SleepNumberSara who will be sharing news throughout the day, and “Like” Sleep Number on Facebook.
Hope to see you—either virtually or in-person—this Saturday!
Tweet dreams!
Disclosure: Sleep Number has compensated me for my time, this post and participation in this event. That said, all opinions stated are my own.
Just read a report by Tech Crunch alleging that the New York Times issued an official memo to its writers “asking them to severely cut down on the use of the word ‘tweet’ outside of “ornithological contexts.”
So first of all I just have to ask, what the heck does “ornithological contexts” mean anyway? I attended college (I swear) but I can’t seem to place that God-awful phrase. Wait, let me Google it… Okay, so an ornithologist is someone who studies birds so yeah, no tweet references unless referencing bird-type-things, huh?
Times standards editor Phil Corbett, writer of the memo, argues that the word ‘tweet’ is silly and is not yet standard English. He also claims that many people have no idea what the word means, particularly if they are not on Twitter.
REALLY? Regular people don’t know what “tweet” means?
At this point you just need to read the memo, it is hilarious: (Obtained by Tech Crunch. Major props to them for getting a copy.)
How About “Chirp”?
Some social-media fans may disagree, but outside of ornithological contexts, “tweet” has not yet achieved the status of standard English. And standard English is what we should use in news articles.
Except for special effect, we try to avoid colloquialisms, neologisms and jargon. And “tweet” — as a noun or a verb, referring to messages on Twitter — is all three. Yet it has appeared 18 times in articles in the past month, in a range of sections. (Who counts this anyway?)
Of course, new technology terms sprout and spread faster than ever. And we don’t want to seem paleolithic. (Yes, for the love of all that is holy they definitely don’t want to seem paleolithic!) But we favor established usage and ordinary words over the latest jargon or buzzwords.
One test is to ask yourself whether people outside of a target group regularly employ the terms in question. Many people use Twitter, but many don’t; my guess is that few in the latter group routinely refer to “tweets” or “tweeting.” Someday, “tweet” may be as common as “e-mail.” (Really?! E-mail, Phil?) Or another service may elbow Twitter aside next year, and “tweet” may fade into oblivion. (Of course, it doesn’t help that the word itself seems so inherently silly.) (And the New York Times is certainly anything but SILLY.)
“Tweet” may be acceptable occasionally for special effect. But let’s look for deft, English alternatives: use Twitter, post to or on Twitter, write on Twitter, a Twitter message, a Twitter update. Or, once you’ve established that Twitter is the medium, simply use “say” or “write.”
I can’t write anything more. Just too much to make fun of. I leave you with this “chirp” sent by @justinkownacki
As I shared with you in my Project Me update, I’m actively seeking out technology to keep myself together and on task. My focus in January is to set myself up with tools to help me FOCUS and be PRODUCTIVE.
If that is one of your goals as well, then perhaps I can recommend the following to help:
iPad – I’ll admit, at first the iPad was nothing but a new very expensive toy. I used it mostly for games and entertainment purposes. (Angry Birds, much?) These days it is a power tool in my arsenal. I use it for Facebook updates and monitoring (clients and personal), Twitter, news and information, email account synchronization, productivity, file access and so much more.
Google Reader / FeddlerRSS - I know that I am late to the party here. I confess that in the past I used my reader sparingly. Since I invested in an iPad I now find that I can’t get enough input. I’m a subscribing maniac. I use the free Feddler RSS app for my iPad and read pretty much everywhere – walking on the treadmill, hanging out while the kids play video games, in bed, you name it. Trust me, give it a try. This will change the way you read your subscriptions.
Audible – Obviously I am an input junkie. I’m just going to put that out there right now. I probably need some therapy or professional help. If you are a multi-tasker like me then you will love Audible. I have a monthly subscription and use it to download books that center around business (well, mostly) so that I can listen while doing tasks that I would otherwise abhor. (Like laundry and dishes and well, pretty much anything that fits into the category of housework.) I’ve gotten through some amazing reads this way : Linchpin & Purple Cow by Seth Godin, Love Your Life by Victoria Osteen. Right now I am listening to ProBlogger by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett and Trust Agents by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith.
Dropbox - I need to be mobile. I need my files to be accessible. I used to think that it was impossible to sync everything together until I opened up a Dropbox account. This one little account revolutionized my work functionality. Now I can even access my files from my phone in the middle of nowhere while waiting for a soccer game to start. If you need a hub for your important files, Dropbox will save your life. You don’t need a mobile device to access this. It is web-based.
Hyper-Alerts - If you are an admin for a Facebook page (blog, client, business, etc.) you really need to sign up for Hyper-Alerts. Not only is it free but it also sends you real-time updates when people post or comment on your posts. Best thing about it? You DO NOT have to be an admin of the page to set up an alert. If you want to see who’s posting on a brand’s page or even your competitor’s page, all you need to do is enter in the url. Your days of obsessively checking are over.
Got any other recommendations? I’d love to hear how you keep it all together!
Working momma. Flibbertigibbet. Family environs upkeep manager. Deadline juggler. Intellectual magpie... Random postings from a life of a working DC Metro mom. Unapologetically myself.
I found out about the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial via Facebook with this simple status update by a friend, “ ….unbelievable…”
If that is one of your goals as well, then perhaps I can recommend the following to help:
