Random follow #285 - @PoetryNightNZ

It takes a special something, a special someone with a very special idea to transform social media in a way that literally turns it upside down.  Where twitter can be very introspective and self serving there are a few accounts that help make it more than just about you/me/I.

@PoetryNightNZ is a very lovely, very lively and very exciting project that is all about community.  Yes there is a co-ordinator who pulls it together but the real value of it all is in the way that everyone pulls together and provides the content that makes it all so entirely rich.

Community is what makes social media.  Its about people coming together and communicating about about subjects and topics of great interest.  Poetry in this case is the currency of communication.  Poetry not just written but recited and read and played to you via Soundcloud and other means.

@PoetryNightNZ is an infrequent occurrence that comes around from time to time.  There is no set schedule and the tweets happen depending upon which way the wind is blowing.  But all of that just adds to the mystery of the art.  It also means that when you look at their account you can quickly locate tweets of poems from poetry nights gone by.

Here are a few samples for you to have a listen to - 

"Just a couple more for you. Got @kebabette back in here to read a poem by her sister Sarah Robertson, in London. https://audioboo.fm/boos/1767679-poem …" and

"Next up @kebabette reads Rick’s teen anguish poem (from Bachelor Boys, the Young Ones book, 1984 - remember?) https://audioboo.fm/boos/1768019-rick-s-teen-anguish-poem …" or 

"63% of all relationships start at places of work or education.’ It's @fogonwater reading MY ADDRESS by James Brown https://audioboo.fm/boos/1782853-my-address …"

I for one totally love this account.  Engaging with the world and social media on an entirely different level is both exciting and exhilarating.  In fact the next time its on - I might even try and contribute myself.  Who knows - lets just wait and see.

So @PoetryNightNZ is a twitter account for those of you who are looking for a little bit more in your tweets.  A little bit more depth, a little bit more life, a little bit more of that beautiful taste you have in your mouth as you savour something so delicious that everything inside you screams out MORE! MORE! MORE! 

Just in case you didn't know it this account is curated by the very talented @ashleigh_young.

"Poetry is the opening and closing of a door, leaving those who look through to guess about what is seen during the moment.  Carl Sandburg"

Random follow #193 - @billbennettnz

Having the ability to think for oneself and to communicate those views and thoughts in a manner that is both accessible to the masses while at the same time challenging enough to keep the intellectuals on their toes is a skill that few have.  @billbennettnz is a holder of these skills.  As a freelance journalist he has the interesting predicament of writing stories that are provocative and interesting while also ensuring that he gets employed.

The good thing about freelancing is though that after you have put in as many years as Bill has then the papers are magazines have a fair idea of the style of writing and what the content may look like.  The other side of the story is that is takes years of practise, hard effort, along with blood sweat and tears to make in an industry like this one.

Bill is no stranger to a good conversation and he knows where to go looking to find a really great one.  Its no surprise then that he has such a great presence on twitter.  His cool, calm and collected style is appealing because he hardly ever gets into a flap about anything.  Apart from mornings -

""Mustn't grumble". How passive aggressive is that expression?"

And he also knows how to conduct a good debate without being drawn into pointless diatribe or circular reasoning.  he can string together a whole series of tweets but when they hit your timeline rather than having the crushing power of a tsunami they act more like the incoming tide at the beach.  Whats interesting though is that while he can spin together 10 or 20 tweets in a conversation they tend to be at times when I (the blogger) am not actually online.  Which makes me wonder if twitter is a distraction?  (joking)

And then there are always the communications industry usual stories - 

"Unnerved when a PR offers an exclusive, which turns out not to be an interview or hard news, just a boring product press release."

Bill is also a techie geeky sort of guy at heart.  Not one of the hardcore ones for whom writing screeds of pages of code is fun.  But a down to earth and fun guy who enjoys uncovering new technologies and developments.  And he enjoys having a crack at them too -

"Amused by Google Glass users being described as "Glassholes". Witty and appropriate."

As far as twitter goes Bill will engage with pretty much anyone about the subjects that are near and dear to his heart.  He is highly entertaining, super engaging and very energetic.  Go and follow him.  You might learn a thing or two.

And to end this post it is important that we acknowledge the important people -

"My tweets do reflect the views of my employer."

Random follow #192 - @sneakybaker

There is a young lady from Wellington

Who does all her work in communication

Be careful to spell and do never tell

That you used incorrect punctuation

@sneakybaker has a career in one area that gives her the skills to be able to use social media really well.  You will find tweets and messages that have certain aspects about them that many others of us would fail to see or recognise (without training) - 

• Correct punctuation
• Proper grammar
• Capitals inserted in the right places

Communications is all about talking to people.  Its about figuring out how best to convey and communicate your message to others.  So when Ihapera tweets there is very little confusion as to what she really means.

Don't worry though she knows how to have lots of fun with her tweets - 

"It's 8.43 and I've already sent a disgruntled email to HR. How's your morning going?"

Not everyone is strictly defined by what they do for a job though.  Ihapera has chosen a twitter name that describes her interests outside if work too.  So when her twitter name is @sneakybaker you know when you see a tweet like this one that something good is going to be made soon -  

"Filling my (already full) carry on the only way I know how: buying secondhand enamel baking trays in Motueka"

Another aspect of @sneakybaker is that she is a dog lover.  So many, many tweets and photos are of the other four legged house creatures that many of us have.  But I stand in solidarity with Ihapera and claim that mans best friend is indeed well worth tweeting about.  Have a look and see - 

"Nelson so far: coffee, found a hound, osso bucco pie and caramel beignet from a Spaniard named Rodrigo, beach, nap. Life is perfect."

And whats always, always good is when someone can both think for themselves (as evidenced above) and she also has a very confident sense of self that enables her to express herself through the way that she dresses as well - 

"black metallic zebra stripe sweater, blue jeans, gold boots, 'try it, I dare you' red lipstick, smug last-day-eve face #kishi"

In conclusion @sneakybaker is a sharp, sensitive and intelligent addition to twitter.  

A lover of dogs, 

a baker of cakes

this is one tweeter

who has what it takes.