What’s the appeal of Twitter.com, the popular micro-blogging site now being used by political campaigns like Barack Obama’s and news agencies like CNN?
A typical Twitter blog is a short burst of 30 or so words (no more than 140 characters), generally a quick news hit or status update. There are no pictures.
Tweets, as individual posts are called, are littered with unintelligible abbreviations, bad prose and inane personal details. Personally, I find Twitter an affront to grammar, a slap in the face of good writing and a poor substitute for interpersonal relationships.
So why am I addicted to Twittering?
Case in point: I present this week’s Web Jam, Twittered:
Toronto featured prominently in the new T-Pain video. Will I ever look at the city the same way? on August 27, 2008, from web.
Final Fantasy song, rhyming tits with clits, reaches blogs. on August 26, 2008, from web.
Dweeby Fox News reporter gets manhandled in protest outside Dem convention. Funny enough to be on Daily Show. on August 26, 2008, from web.
B. Obama confused about where he is. (Kansas City or St. Louis? He can’t be in two places at once? OR CAN HE?) on August 26, 2008, from web.
M. Obama wearing a off-turquoise dress w pendant. But why? Blogs demand answers. on August 26, 2008.
Listening to Buffet Libre DJs site, Rewind. A collection of 80s covers my roommate msg’d me about ystrdy. Good find, will try to pass off as my own. on August 26, 2008, from web.
Local blog critiques local burrito restaurant. Doesn’t it always? on August 25, 2008, from Web.
Roommate hits me up on GoogleChat about site of 80s covers ft. local acts VitaminsForYou and Dragonette. I blank him. on August 25, 2008, from web.
Vice Magazine is dropping letters section because they get too many emails, thinks emails are stoopid. on August 25, 2008, from web.
NYT does a profile on Burnt Marshmallows, a Canadian site dedicated to camping. Smores mentioned, pictured, craved. on August 25, 2008, from web.
Harper talking reckless about election. What about FIXED ELECTION DATES? on August 25, 2008, from web.
Ryan Adams is coming out with a new book. The cover art is on his Tumblr blog. on August 24, 2008 from web.
Canada ran a deficit in April + May. The dept. of finance doc on this is no longer posted on its site? Conspiracy! on August 24, 2008, from web.
Olympic closing ceremonies are live-blogged on several sites. Point being? I’d rather watch on tv. on August 24, 2008, from web.
Stumbled upon a YouTube of an 11-year-old girl playing Rush’s YYZ on an organ. on August 24, 2008, from web.
Kanye + Jay-Z + Lil Wayne + T.I. + MIA sample + leak to the Internet = Ayyy! on August 24, 2008, from web.
Jay-Z and Oasis now have a mashup tape together. I refuse to download it. on August 24, 2008, from web.
Fox News reports on similarity btw “Obama/Biden” and “Osama Bin Laden” several blogs explode in outrage. on August 23, 2008, from web.
Obama campaign text messages 2.9 million! Aside: what’s the point of voicemail anymore? on August 23, 2008, from web.
iTunes store is unblocked in China, but without Songs For Tibet. on August 24, 2008, from web.
Those who signed up on B. Obama’s site get this text: “Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee.” on August 23, 2008 from wweb.
Re: Rachel McAdams off market, back w What’s-His-Face several blogs explode in outrage. on August 22, 2008, from web.
NO! Dolly Parton is alive and well. on August 22, 2008, from web.
Dolly Parton died today? Read it on a blog, so… on August 22, 2008, from web.
China blocks entire iTunes store because of an album called Songs For Tibet. on August 22, 2008, from web.
joshuae@nowtoronto.com
