Bing Search- Now with 40% More “Pointless Babble”

Microsoft’s answer to Google, Bing, is adding Twitter to its search results.  If I recall correctly (and since I looked it up- I do) that Pear Analytics said that forty percent of things said on Twitter are “pointless babble”.  I would like to inform the presumably well informed folks at Bing that this also means that Bing will now be sorting through 100% of Twitter posts…many of which are useless.

Creative Commons Search

I use Twitter, it took me a long time (several months) to follow people that were interesting.  I see Twitter as kind of a word based ant farm- I’m not expecting anything super cool, but if it happens then I’m thrilled.

Here’s a link that will allow you to run a parallel search of Google and Bing.

Twitter to Allow users to Tweet Location

In the rush of social media users heading towards complete disclosure Twitter will now allow users to share their location when they “Tweet”.

Image by Flickr user Shovelling Son. CC-licensed

Soon, when users post tweets of up to 140 characters they will be given the option of including the longitude and latitude.  This will be offered to developers first to allow them to create new applications for Twitter, and then eventually to all users.

Friends, I know big brother is watching, but I try to not to put too much out there.  I will be tweeting from my desk at home all the time; however I might use it if I go somewhere interesting.  I think this kind of technology is very interesting and also frightening.  Anything that can be used for good can also be used for bad.

I plan to watch this for a while before I jump in.

Localized Social Media: Flash Mob

Social Media is a big thing.  As businesses get into it, and as CMC becomes a more widely regarded medium for relational and phatic communication, social media too is going to morph into a very large thing.

I read this morning about a flash mob at the University of Kentucky.  Presumably using Facebook, Twitter, and or the red headed step child of social media…Myspace, college students organized something as awesomely pointless as a flash mob.

At about 9:00 pm about 300 people crammed into the library and began dancing, chanting and otherwise being unruly.  The president of the student government spoke highly of the student spirit shown here.

Even though many people boast hundreds of Facebook friends, and thousands of twitter followers, it’s awesome to me to see social media used on such a local scale.  This is what it’s all about, it’s not about living a “second life” it’s about being closer and having a more effective relationship with the real people around you.  It’s just healthier that way, this isn’t academic, and it’s just common sense.

1. http://improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/

Happy Easter: What do Tony Hawk and the Easter Bunny have in common?

Happy Easter to my faithful readers.   It has been a lovely Easter afternoon.  I got up early and started cracking on work, went to church had lunch and now I tell you about it.

It seems that Tony Hawk, the skateboarding legend,  is trying his hand at being the Easter Bunny this year on Twitter.  After noticing an influx of Tweets from him. I discover that he has placed skate boards in several cities, and people are going and finding them.  Like a Twitter easter bunny.   Pretty cool.

He even went so far as to put a tracking device in one of them:  http://mobile.instamapper.com/ext?key=17328078344700892221

Many users responded with pictures of the boards:  http://twitpic.com/37z3o

Twitter Power

Apparently Twitter is on its way up.  According to CNN a woman tweeted Demi Moore a note indicating she was going to attempt suicide.  Fans got tracked the message  and notified the authorities.  I haven’t heard of anything like this on FB or MS.  Could this be an advantage/disadvantage to live time social media.

From my preferred source:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/03/moore.twitter.threat/index.html