Column: Something About Nothing

Let’s all sing like the birdies sing. Tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet. Those are the words from the song of the same name written in 1932. In those days when you heard the word tweet you thought about birds. Now when you hear the word tweet you immediately think about Twitter.

Twitter is a social networking site that lets you answer the question “What are you doing?” I joined Twitter a long time ago because I was curious. I think I have tweeted once because I can’t imagine anyone would care what I was doing or thinking at any given moment. I also can’t imagine being tied to my cell phone or computer to give or get updates.

A few nights ago while watching one of my television shows, instructions bleeped across the screen to log on to Twitter as one of the stars was tweeting during the show. My thoughts were “How can I watch the show and watch the tweets at the same time without losing content.” We are definitely in a multitasking world, but now we multitask in our electronic world while we are resting.

So while I was watching my show I could tweet, text, email, check Facebook and answer my cell phone. I was so rested and recharged after my multitasking. You have to know that is a joke. I will admit I am addicted to technology. I might miss something on Facebook or in my email if I don’t check it and respond regularly.

I haven’t checked out my Twitter account in months as I don’t see too much of a value in tweeting. I decided to see what I have missed. I am following Dr. Oz, Oprah, the Albert Lea Tribune and Tim Engstrom, editor of this paper. He tweets as much as I do. I have one tweet. He has three.

Apparently because I didn’t check my tweets I missed Oprah’s Virtual Tweetup. There is another new word, tweetup. A virtual tweetup is a world meeting between groups of people. I missed Dr. Oz’s delicious recipe for Post Grape Nuts Crunchy Granola Snack. I missed the breaking news of Rosie O’Donnel moving to Harpo studios. I missed so much by not checking my tweets.

I also followed Elizabeth Taylor. I was curious about this beautiful lady. Her tweets were very inspirational. An example of one of her tweets was “Every breath you take today should be with someone else in mind.” Elizabeth’s quotes always seemed to be about giving to others and encouraging others. She was a beautiful lady.

I decided to see who else I could follow but I I couldn’t think of anyone that I wanted to stalk on Twitter and follow their every tweet.

It is also the time of the new media. I was reading one of my magazines the other day when I noticed some symbols in the corner of a page. Curious, I read the directions. The idea is that you snap a photo of the symbol and send the photo to a number. Tips or videos will pop up about the product or the subject in the magazine. It made me tired looking at the symbol. It is another fix to keep us tuned in and busy. I didn’t try it, although I was very tempted. These companies would then have my cell phone number and I did not see a disclaimer telling me that a telemarketer would not be calling me.

Yes, we need to be plugged in to the new social media. We need to know that Sharon Osborne’s dog Bella has not been well lately. We need to know that Kim Kardashian’s workout was tough, and she is extra sore. I don’t know what I will do if I miss all of that news.

Let’s all sing like the birdies sing. Tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet.

Wells resident Julie Seedorf’s column appears every Monday. Send email to her at thecolumn@bevcomm.net. Her blog is www.thankfuljoy.com. Listen to KBEW AM radio 1:30 p.m. Sundays for “Something About Nothing.”