Random follow #294 - @LeithAitken

People with a passion, persistence and pride in what they do make a difference in the world.  For todays person their passion is for cinema.  Not just going along and partaking in cinema but writing reviews, critiquing with skill and an expert eye and then telling the world all bout how good, bad or ugly those films may have been.

@LeithAitken is a movie loving, cat fanatic whose tweets are full of interesting tantalising tidbits and mouth watering morsels of film news.  Leith is not one to hold back an opinion and fair enough too.  With 138 movie reviews penned this year there will be no shortage of good and bad - so why not tell it like it is?

As far as tweeting goes @LeithAitken keeps it spicy.  I was most impressed to see tweets going out to one of my all time long term follows @sakura_59 who is also has a wealth and depth of knowledge of film that is almost unsurpassed.  These two tweeters don't trifle around with who is wearing what on the red carpet.  rather the focus is on the depth of narrative, quality of cinematography and what the story is really portraying.

Being sharp of wit and quick to think make for a great tweeter - 

"Duck Dynasty sounds like the name of a Looney Tunes cartoon, not the title of a reality television series about a bunch of lunatics."

Also, seeing the possibilities and options in alternative situations is always amusing - 

"If I didn't think she'd pull it off and destroy it, I'd so attach a GPS to my sister's cat just to see where it goes every day."

And if any single tweet is to sum up @LeithAitken then it is this one - 

"Can we stop with the "worst of 2013" lists, please? Let's just acknowledge the films that deserve it and not promote hate watching."

If you are looking for an interesting tweeter who will add depth to your timeline with the cinema in mind then this is the account for you.  Just be aware that Leith can be quite talkative (which I consider to be a really GOOD thing) and is not afraid to tell it like it is (again a good thing).

With a new year quickly approaching there will be plenty of opportunities to savour some cinema goodness.   So get ahead of the game, follow @LeithAitken and that way you'll be sure to get all the good movies all the time.  

Random follow #293 - @LadyNgaire and @BookieMonsterNZ

Book worms, book people, book lovers.  These are the people that keep the mind inspired, the ideas flowing and unleash creativity and knowledge where there is a void of ignorance.  @LadyNgaire is the brains and personality behind the ever increasingly popular twitter account of @BookieMonsterNZ.  Its nice that she has two accounts because sometimes you really, really, really want to tweet something but you just don't have the right medium to do so.  These two accounts allows Ngaire to do just that.

So what are the different appeals to these accounts?

Lady Ngaire.  Fun, easy going, new to twitter.  This account is hot off the twitter account making machine and I am betting a dollar or two that over time it will become something of an institution in the social media world.  So for this account it is very much - watch this space and follow now so that you can claim to be an early follower when she becomes really famous.

Bookie Monster.  This account is actually well on its way to be legendary.  With so many followers and tweets posted this account is fantastic.  This has the ultimate blend of books, cats along with a whole lot of bits and bobs about absolutely anything and everything under the sun.

Here are a few things I know -

1. Ngaire is really nice.  Like REALLY nice --> "Public transporting it home. The driver on the 22 bus is lovely."
2. The tension, the suspense --> "#12daysofWake Day 7. I finished. Parsing. Quite sad. Review to come..."
3. She is really amusing --> "Those four magic words every facial hair lover wants to read: "willie apiata is following you"
4. As much as she likes to real she also likes to write --> "Have got two great blog ideas and three ok ones. Career path sorted then"

One terrific lady from Te Aroha.  Two terrific twitter accounts.  Its not so much a choice as to which one to follow.  The choice is more when will you follow them?

Random follow #292 - @SalSallySarah

@SalSallySarah is a lady who gives life her all.  Living on the other side of the world, in a city that is uneasy at the best of times tells me this mum is a person with a sense of adventure and purpose in life.  Sal is a lovely and bubbly lady whose smile is electric and catchy.

While not completely new to the twitter scene she is still relatively fresh.  1,500 tweets is still in the vicinity of being labeled a spring chicken (in social media terms).  What I do love about her account is that we both follow some of the very best tweeters in New Zealand today.

And in case you don't take the time to read her twitter bio it one of the more honest one's online today.  It reads like this - " talker of a load of shite".  I don't believe this for a second based on what I have read in her tweets.  Here a few little insights into her life.

Sal has all the same issues to deal with that most modern women do -

"Lets have a beer he says. To celebrate the christmas holidays he says.
Off to land of nod he goes without a word...."

Being a mum ain't easy -

"Despite my amazing breakfast the kid wants ham! I swear shes gonna turn into a ham sambo!"

Some days its the little things that count the most - 

"Cup o the finest tea and a slice of victoria sponge! 

Is there a better way to finish a Monday! #getinmybelly"

@SalSallySarah is a really great twitter sort of friend.  If you ever need her you just tweet and she will reply.  And if you've got nothing to say to each other it doesn't actually matter.  Why?  Because you can pick up your conversation with her wherever you left off and it will be east to do.

To conclude Sal is a really nice person who talks a lot, tweets a little bit less and is funny and full of life.  She wears a smile a mile wide that is totally infectious.  And she is on twitter.  What else could you want when looking for someone to follow?

Random follow #291 - @_jjw_

Intelligent, funny, sexy and entrepreneurial.  Three of these words I use with ease to describe @_jjw_.  Mr Wood is a tweeter of both substance and style.  Coming at you out of Wellington Jackson tweets with great clarity and intellectual agility a lot like the NZ Army.  He does a great job of keeping the peace through interacting with others and yet intellectual firepower that he can pull out at any time if needed.  (Which to be fair is not all that often).

@_jjw_ is also an incredibly nice guy who does great work for @nzdrug.  That is he works alongside the good folk at the Drug Foundation to try and prevent every day people from the risks and harms that drugs and alcohol can cause.  And this is really cool because twitter and social media isn't all about him.  It is actually about helping others in a positive and constructive way.

So how do I know those first four traits are actually true.  By his tweets if course - 

Mr Intelligence - 

"What's international best practise for figuring out international best practise?"

Besides this Mr Wood tweets quite a few journalists and other persons that both make the news and report on it as well.  That in itself does not make him intelligent but the fact that he interviews, writes stories and publishes articles about people in the news does testify to the fact that he is.

An excellent sense of humour - 

"Len has to wear a head mounted web cam streaming video at all times to ensure he's not up to mischief #LenBrownCensures"

Being that @_jjw_ gets to interact with persons in the realm of both local and national politics he is more than able to pass a quip or two about the events of the day.  And humor is often about timing.  So with political jokes the person delivering them needs to have their finger on the pulse.  Which is just what Mr Wood does.

Mr Sexy - I can't comment directly on this but I can say he is currently sporting one heck of a beard.  Which according to some ladies in my timeline is a total turn on.  You'll need to make up your own mind about this fact.

The rise of the entrepreneur - 

"Starting a new business: will write your twitter bio for $1."

Working in social media (for a majority of us) doesn't pay the bills.  In fact if doesn't pay anything.  What this means is that bright sparks like @_jjw_ go looking for opportunities to make a quick buck or two by providing a friendly, helpful service to fellow tweeters.  If you can spare a fellow tweeter a dollar and have him write you an absolutely spiffing twitter bio then everyone will win.

(Editors note - the whole twitter bio writing thing is a joke.  Although I have it from a reliable source $7 has been raised from this venture.  So there is money to be made in social media).

Now that we are heading into the final few weeks on 2013 now is a really good time to start following people who will add some colour and interest to your timeline.  @_jjw_ is one person who if you follow him now and continue to do so in 2014 then you won't be disappointed.  Merry Christmas.

Random follow #290 - @genkibeth

There is no secret sauce when it comes to be a great tweeter.  It all comes down to being interactive, being engaging, tweeting about interesting stuff and talking to people.  Thats all there is to it.  @genkibeth does each of these and does them well.  Actually she does them more than just well - she does them excellently.

Beth is a Wellingtonian with taste.  Taste for food and flair.  And helping others to find food with flair as well.  Coffee, ginger crunch and many many other delightful treats await you should you peruse her tweets.  Well those things and many more.  Such as -

"Why do people say "Man power" when "People Power" just sounds better. Consonance man, it's writing101"

Its always good when someone makes it clear about where they stand on an issue but are able to do it in such a way that you're left with a smile on your face.  Beth is quite good at that and I imagine that in real life she really knows how to string people along with the very interesting approach to life that she has -

"I've been vetoed against living in a big commune with my friends, but how the else will I ever own a house, big veggie garden and a goat?"

And as we quickly approach the end of the year there is a slice of reality that we are all having to deal with at the moment -

"Who ever called this time of year the "wind down to Christmas" clearly NEVER HAD A DAY JOB."

Beth does so much more than just tweet like this though.  She also has some really great pictures and lots of really great suggestions that relate back to one of her fave topics - food.  Not just food for foods sake but the recommending of some of the finest eateries, coffee suppliers and all the other fineries of life.

@genkibeth is a perfect example of your really great tweeter.  She doesn't give too much away, jumps in and out of conversations with ease and over all is a really fun person.  If you're looking for someone normal to follow then you won't go wrong by hitting the follow button for Beth.

Random follow #289 - @AshPookie

Its a hat trick ladies and gentlemen!  Three!  Yes three - brand new comers to twitter in three Random Kiwi Tweeters posts in three days!  I wish to introduce to you -

THE VERY LOVELY

THE VERY AMAZING

THE MOST FUN YOU'LL EVER HAVE - 

@AshPookie

Ash is a very fine lady whom I had the great pleasure of tweeting when we crossed paths while discussing this years @nzsecretsanta.  With a total number of tweets that is less than 50 she is most definitely very new to the twitter scene.  And yet she has found her feet quickly and with great ease.

This very eccentric and full of life young woman ticks all the right boxes.  Rainbows, tattoos and hard house.  What else could you ever ask for in a person?  Just so you know Ash is not a prolific tweeter.  She jumps in and posts a comment every now and then as the mood leads her to.  So you may not see her round all that much but when you do - it will make you smile.

So what can we ascertain about her from her tweets?  Well she's honest -->

"F* me days - went for my first run in a few months - Gonna feel the burn tomorrow baby"

She loves to party -->

"#OurHouseFestival Soooo looking forward to this >_<"

And she has damn fine taste in music -->

"Pure Bliss for ya ear-hole - Get in there - "Free Yourself" ~ Liquid Drum & Bass Mix.: http://youtu.be/UQJlx0ffLYo via @youtube"

Thats all I know about @AshPookie so far.  She completes a hat trick of fantastic and fresh tweeters who make social media fun and real for the rest of us who engage in twitter.  Go on and give them a follow.  It will freshen up your timeline and give the new one's amongst us some confidence that they too are contributing and making a difference.

Random follow #288 - @v8cortinagirl

Just putting it out there - the Cortina was and still is - a magnificent car.  Having owned one I can attest just how great they are to drive.  Smooth, silent and incredibly reliable.  Also you could pretty much fit everyone and everything into a Cortina - they were designed for families.

@v8cortinagirl embodies a number of these traits and qualities in the way that she approaches life and also social media.  She is smooth, reliable and all about the family.  Qualities that make for an all round excellent person.

Karen is really new to the whole twitter scene and yet has managed to make a really good start.  And in being new there is a real niceness and freshness about what she says and thinks.  So far in her first sub 100 tweets she has expressed lots of encouragement, lovely words and a positive outlook on life.

Karen is a beach type girl.  Being from the beautiful Hibiscus Coast life is a little more laid back up those ways.  Its like living in Auckland but still being far enough away to have the coastal lifestyle.  It really is the best of both worlds.

So here are a couple of interesting things about Karen - 

1.  She is about the same age as most of the people I know and follow on twitter.  So that means all the teenie boy band  tweets will continue but they won't be coming from her.  Cos she has fantastic taste - 

"Listening to #Davedobbyn right now along with some other 80's music, he's such a great talent. #reminiscing #whaling #th'dudes"

2.  @v8cortinagirl enjoys the finer things in life and knows how to kick back and just take it easy.

"Sitting on the deck enjoying the summer sun, glass of wine in hand...then the neighbours start up their chainsaw. #fail #noisyneighbours"

3.  Her priorities are in the right place.  Celebrating Christmas, family and food.

"Meri kirihimete everyone. 13 sleeps to go!"

Not only those things - there are also a few things I think we will get treated to in time.  Things like - cars, beach photos and more genuine happiness.

So what little I know of @v8cortinagirl is that she is really polite. very pretty, loves family and really is a truly genuine person.  Long may these qualities last and may others follow her example and be inspired by her.