Archiving the Ephemeral: Twitter 12/1/13 - 3/31/14

My favorite Twitter conversations from earlier this year…

Religion:

• "I'm agnostic about god, but I may start telling people I'll 'pray' for them again. Saying 'you'll be in my thoughts' doesn't have weight. …" — "…'Praying' doesn't require a deity. It only requires an earnest, strong hope for something to happen. Praying is good without god." (2/14: @judetx, @allovus, @Linda_Atkins1, @rissy328, @CriminySTFU, @PumaBare, @johnpocalypse, @rundusty, @caracabe, @tillytoogood, @Linda_Atkins1, @NomdeB, @cantata21, @LC_Sun, @DickeyFuller, @MizMelly, @_timskinner, @AntRyanET)
• "Absolutely beautiful: Spend a few peaceful minutes in the Sistine Chapel" (1/12: @billraia, @ArtByAlida)
• "Classic: A frighteningly ignorant sign from the Creation Museum on how to date a fossil" (12/15: @marlenan21, @NomdeB, @picklestfc, @BMahadoBitch, @HeatherHastie)

Philosophy:

• "We must live without certainty, yet not be paralyzed by hesitation." (3/30: @MizMelly, @nishamohsin1) 
• "We have scrubbed the world clean of magic." (3/18: @willentrekin, @mmdoty, @allovus) 
• "What is evil? On one hand, you could say that there's no such thing. On the other, you could say that evil is all around us." (2/25: @TheGistOf, @Bdreamer7, @jaglister, @cantata21) 
• "'Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.' — Laozi" (1/5: @JustBeer_NoBull) 
• "I have come to realize that there *is* such a thing as magic, and it comes from the effect that art can have on the soul." (1/3: @NomdeB, @nay731, @aliceinthewater, @Teresa623) 
• "'If you love a flower, don't pick it up. Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love.' ― Osho" (1/1: @mariarfin, @allovus)

Society & Culture:

• "Interesting read; left me as confused as ever — The Gen X/Gen Y Generation Gap" (3/30: @Clevecarole, @nishamohsin1, @thestile1972)
• "Drug dealers aren't to blame for the heroin boom—doctors are." (3/23: @Resoguitar)
• "America is tired of the microwave." (3/20: @Stanmatthias)
• "The nut-jobs crawl out of the woodwork: Coca Cola Super Bowl Ad Inspires Racist Twitter Backlash" (2/3: @allovus, @pfontes95, @beebearninja, @RandyAW)
• "Detroit, followed closely by New Orleans, had the highest #murder rate in 2013." (1/2: @fleurdelivres, @Stanmatthias)
• "#Abandoned steel mill control room, #Detroit (by Jonathan Haeber)" (12/28: @ArtByAlida)
• "Unbelievably offensive advertisements from the past." (12/21: @tinacapalbo, @DianeLMajor, @joshuabigger, @deck449, @newfuneze)

Politics:

• "Capitalism vs. Democracy: Is worsening inequality an inevitable outcome of free market capitalism?" (2/4: @PostRacialMyAss, @RobynDesBois1, @jaglister, @novelsareborn)
• "What we're missing in politics is the great middle. Hanging out at the edges is doing us no good." (1/28: @dparkinson45, @RedwoodGirl, @RoxProgressive, @smokey_herring)

Personal:

• "I have never, nor will I ever, do drugs. It would be a point of no return for me. I have a hard enough time staying grounded as it is." (3/22: @Stanmatthias, @jaredjanes, @Resoguitar)
• "There is no 'I' in team. Well, there's no 'we' or 'us' in there either, dummy." (2/28: @CriminySTFU, @joeman42, @smeaters, @PirateWench, @MonasLists)
• "Friday morning confession: I'm a nice person…but sometimes, in person, I can come across quite harsh. I'm working on it." (1/17: @JustBeer_NoBull, @thomasatmyporch, @allovus)
• "When someone says they 'rock' any particular item of clothing…yes, I want to punch them in the face." (12/27: @DeputyDriscoll, @BoomerPJ, @Retacof, @Astorix23)
• "Teaching our Japanese guest the meaning of "redneck" is the most fun I've had in a while." (12/8: @jencutler1, @allovus, @fleurdelivres, @ArtByAlida)
• "I just do not understand why people "like" some of my more mundane #FourSquare check-ins, such as my office." (12/5: @debexpert, @AlphaNano, @fleurdelivres, @swirlOsquirrel, @Bdreamer7)

Psychology:

• "What drives success? A superiority complex, combined with insecurity and impulse control." (1/30: @MGBazemoreJr, @jaglister)
• "…Hard things you must do to be successful." (1/17: @Bdreamer7)

Economics:

• "The Jobless Ph.D. Generation" (1/15: @TheGistOf, @lakesideliberal, @bombidil)
• "The cruise ship industry: No minimum wages, no labor standards, no corporate taxes, no environmental regulations." (12/3: @thomasatmyporch, @savannastc, @WalterRosenfeld, @ShivaKap, @sharonLeMaster)

Great Twitter Conversations, 10/1/13-11/30/13

From the recent archives—my favorite conversations on Twitter from late last year. Thanks to everyone listed for making it so fun and interesting!

Psychology:

• "To read, and think about: Why Doctors Don’t Die Like the Rest of Us" — 11/27/13 (@komunik8 @thestile1972 @Bdreamer7 @MizMelly) 
• "I'm buying everyone's coffee at the cafe this morning, anonymously (except on Twitter), and it's great fun to watch people's reactions." — 11/5/13 (@ShivaKap @Bdreamer7 @Politijoeblog @mkhajdin @mariarfin @Renonys)
• "News—particularly when it's consumed obsessively—is bad for you, and giving up reading it will make you happier." — 10/8/13 (@WilliamBDevittI @dougiepen @nitpickette01 @Mr_dk @thomasatmyporch)
• "Sometimes it's better to ask forgiveness than permission." — 10/2/13 (@TheGistOf @billraia @homesweetyeg)

Religion:

• "Somewhere in the middle of America, a statue of a dinosaur is fighting on the front lines for ignorance." — 11/24/13 (@BrightEyedDyer @taminespr @DickeyFuller @Dena_K_) 
• "Last night we were telling our Japanese exchange student about Christmas, Jesus rising from the dead, etc.; she was like WTF? #Christianity" — 11/17/13 (@theseedsowerz @wicked_cricket @Bdreamer7 @ArtByAlida @MGBazemoreJr @picklestfc) 
• "I'm in the mood to make fun of religion today." — 11/4/13 (@lisapschneider @vickijee @homesweetyeg @NewReid @BrianDorn @NomdeB @TheGistOf @DickeyFuller @lajkirby) 
• "The state of #religion in America: 'To Stave Off Decline, Churches Attract New Members With Beer'" — 11/3/13 (@ShivaKap @komunik8 @billraia @fleurdelivres @greenjustice428 @TheGistOf) 
• "For anyone who doesn't already know what sick, religious propaganda #ChickTracts are…" — 10/27/13 (@MonasLists) 
• "Ignorance combined with boldness is catastrophic: Taliban ban on vaccination exacerbating polio outbreak in Pakistan" — 10/19/13 (@GameBreakersCan @johnpocalypse @billraia)

Politics:

• "I'm moving there — Vermont has passed a single-payer universal health care law: 'Everybody in, nobody out.'" — 11/19/13 (@edwscott @cantata21 @mmdoty @RedwoodGirl @Bdreamer7) 
• "Utah's welfare drug testing requirements, which apply only to "high-risk" cases, seem to work better than Florida's." — 10/16/13 (@fleurdelivres)
• "'Drawbridge Conservatives': People who get theirs, then cut-off the bridge of opportunity for the rest." — 10/2/13 (@ShivaKap @Matthew_Barlow @WalterRosenfeld) 
• "#Republicans are doing one good thing right now: Giving me strong examples I can show my kids on how NOT to be" — 10/1/13 (@GPBCNYC @fleurdelivres)

Media and Social Media:

• "Bad #Twitter etiquette example number 2,467: Calling people out publicly when they unfollow you. #desperate #crass" — 11/14/13 (@Jenthulhu @GPBCNYC @Bdreamer7) 
• "Unconscionable: Some Online Journals Will Publish Fake #Science, For A Fee" — 10/6/13 (@papicek @SimonRowe6) 

Economics:

• "Misguided attempts at austerity are damaging both the short and long-term health of the U.S. economy." — 11/9/13 (@fleurdelivres) 
• "American capitalism conjures value into being chiefly by convincing everyone it’s there." — 11/6/13 (@Brunothegrape @GPBCNYC @taminespr) 
• "Capitalism and growth are not ends. They are means to enhance our ability to live well, and meaningfully." — 10/30/13 (@mmdoty @WalterRosenfeld @RayChatie)
• "A shorter work-week would improve health, allow more time for personal fulfillment and be better for the environment." — 10/28/13 (@ArtByAlida)
• "The incredible shrinking Internet: How ISPs are lobbying to dramatically restrict content and data speeds" — 10/2/13 (@allovus @SingnPlay)

Non sequitur:

• "My wife has a set of kitchen towels that we use, and then another set that hangs for display from various hooks. Two sets of towels. #WhyGod" — 11/5/13 (@fleurdelivres @CriminySTFU @NY2NC08 @Dena_K_ @mark_hobbs @kgoak201) 

Philosophy:

• "I can't stop watching this: Pencils being sharpened." — 11/5/13 (@jaglister @picklestfc) 

Art:

• "Amazing: Ceiling detail of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia" — 10/17/13 (@cantata21 @louise3anne)
• "Map of Hell, Dante's Inferno" — 10/12/13 (@cecimor339 @billraia)
• "The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep." — 10/11/13 (@marieke @Dena_K_ @cantata21)

Milemarker: Interesting Twitter Conversations, 8/3-9/30

Here are my favorite conversations from Twitter during August-September 2013. Thanks to all for making it so interesting!

Values, society, morality:

• "Rats and roaches live…under the laws of supply and demand; it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy." (@aghastjan @dougiepen @MeierMac) 9/17/13
• "'We exist in a bizarre combination of Stone Age emotions, medieval beliefs, and god-like technology.' — Edward O. Wilson" (@cantata21 @linaolight) 9/16/13
• "For most Americans, life expectancy continues to rise—but not for uneducated white women. No one knows why." (@SuSmithJosephy @dianefischler @keishadarling) 9/5/13
• "Something to think about this #LaborDay: Why a medieval peasant got more vacation time than you" (@Comanchegyrl @phunphunphun @nitpickette01 @MmedeSevigne @On_Point_Prg @wisermann @maddie273) 9/2/13 *
• "We seem to be developing a culture in which we are fascinated by people with zero self-respect. #twerk #RealityTV" (@rdHunter7 @BombeRouge @JulesAboutTown @bollbar @_NIKD_ @RDeanCutting) 8/29/13 *
• "These superb #maps detail the racial #segregation in America's cities" (@MatthewStuart20 @boris3324 @CleanHouse2014 @DariMD) 8/27/13
• "'I pity the man who wants a coat so cheap that the man or woman who produces the cloth will starve in the process.' —Benjamin Harrison" (@TheGistOf @AuntieMEK @shereedre10 @nyzap @Dena_K_ @ddsnorth @bicchinella @bettyaberlin @ConsiderThis1) 8/27/13 *
• "You cannot separate spirit from science, art from finance." (@mmdoty) 8/24/13
• "Consciousness is the ‘hard problem’, the mystery that confounds scientists and philosophers." (@cantata21 @jaglister) 8/22/13 *
• "Unbelievable that people like this still exist" (@CriminySTFU @fleurdelivres @picklestfc) 8/9/13
• "If I teach my daughter to be smart about how she dresses, not to go overboard with selfies, etc…am I encouraging a #VictimShaming attitude?" (@tinacapalbo @ShivaKap @AuntieMEK @mpanutsos @luckylindy31 @fleurdelivres @ElizabMcCormack @Bill_McL @picklestfc @cantata21) 8/7/13
• "Sad reality…and likely not the only place this is happening: Suicides rise by 40% as Italy's economy slumps" (@MiekeInc @cantata21 @AuntieMEK @jaglister @RandyAW @Comanchegyrl) 8/4/13

Politics:

• "Are Republicans afraid that heath care reform may prove popular? (Answer: Yes)" (@AuntieMEK @donthebear @Barr16Linda) 9/28/13
• "What can we do to speed this along? RT @GlenHess: Texas Official Is Preparing for Secession" (@GlenHess @_NIKD_ @Bdreamer7Helene @luckylindy31 @dhvibe @cantata21 @Editright @fabianaugustus @Joycecurrier2 @Iservedrinks) 9/14/13
• "If verified, I'm pissed: RT @SarahBurris: Staffer from Koch-backed group indicates @Yelp has become a corporate member of #ALEC." (@SarahBurris @ArtByAlida @BerinSzoka @KagroX @sowsearsoup) 8/13/13

Religion:

• "Celebrate the day of rest with this: One-Third of Americans Under 30 Have No #Religion. That's a bright future." (@homesweetyeg @McCarmee) 9/22/13
• "The stupid is strong: #OneMillionMoms (really not a million), is trying to distribute a new anti- #evolution video" (@Britonomics) 8/18/13

Psychology

• "I can't decide whether it's better to have goals or goats." (@bch11 @KSPbama @DincusMincus @vote_out_haters @LennyTheGoat @TheWanjiru @AdamOICU) 9/20/13
• "Having a moment of clarity: I don't doubt that I'll achieve my earthly goals within 10± years. So I wonder, are my aspirations high enough?" (@cantata21 @bombidil @fleurdelivres) 9/17/13
• "I'm 40 and don't rule the world yet, thus I'm a failure. #HowMyMindWorks" (@billraia @IronicHeathen @swirlOsquirrel) 9/7/13
• "The 'wisdom' of crowds and the fallacy of #CommonSense." (@fleurdelivres @docrocktex26) 9/7/13
• "My goal is to buy a #Porsche before I look like the creepy old guy driving a Porsche. #materialism" (@rwrabbit @billraia @fleurdelivres @Comanchegyrl @CrookedKitty) 8/20/13
• "OK, this is really, really interesting: 'Meaning Is Healthier Than Happiness'" (@picklestfc @ColdDimSum) 8/3/13

Arts & language:

• "File under: Strange musical instruments - MT @billraia: Guitar-harp from 1910." (@Resoguitar @billraia) 9/29/13
• "Wow, this is amazing: Secret Paintings in Early 19th Century Books" (@beebearninja @SingnPlay) 9/10/13
• "Wow, check out this old hulk of a steam locomotive" (@josephstokesbar @Renonys @Stanmatthias @DavidJCole1948 @ozigeekette @juniber) 9/3/13
• "As we continue to observe the death of the English language - Oxford dictionary adds 'twerk', 'derp', 'selfie', more" (@CriminySTFU @SimonRowe6 @JBucknoff @VegasJessie @Whatawhich) 8/28/13
• "Dumb-asses have killed English a little bit more: In the dictionary, 'literally' now also means 'figuratively'" (@OverQuill @Jeanine_OConnor @G_times) 8/26/13
• "Dolly Parton's original recording of 'Jolene' slowed down by 25% is surprisingly awesome" (@ArtByAlida @TobyMeadows @allovus @G_times @TaylorCarman @distributedcog @keith_wilson) 8/17/13
• "Beautiful: An abandoned fishing boat, Point Reyes, California" (@G_times @allovus @Stanmatthias @driver_bob) 8/16/13

Non sequitur:

• "I'm always surprised at the level of response to my midnight tweets. What the hell are you people doing up?" (@tinacapalbo @ArtByAlida @allovus @Pamduckling @fleurdelivres) 9/14/13
• "Mind-blowing how many people are in the world, each interesting in some way. Wish I was a god; wish I had the time to get to know each one." (@BrightEyedDyer @DeputyDriscoll @taminespr) 9/2/13
• "Just passing this along: Plastic surgeon falls in love with woman after performing designer vagina surgery on her" (@sailorboyj @liberalboxer @YEGlifer @RichHeelan @Pamduckling) 8/28/13
• "I'm surprised it took so long: The adult-sized #BigWheel" (@Renonys @mmwlawtaos) 8/6/13

Social Media:

• "The problem with #SocialMedia is it makes everyone believe that their every thought should be publicized." (@YEGlifer @Comanchegyrl @Resoguitar @MGBazemoreJr) 8/19/13
• "Unlike some people, I don't freak out when interlopers engage me on Twitter. Remember, everyone: This is PUBLIC!" (@albertaadvocate @oMG_ITS_HER2 @AlphaNano @ArtByAlida @MGBazemoreJr @allovus) 8/14/13
• "Sign me up, too - RT @ModernSauce: 'As soon as there's an interpretive dance version of Twitter I'll be ON it!'" (@theflutterbee @ModernSauce @oMG_ITS_HER2) 8/13/13
• "I wish all my friends on Twitter would change their avatars to their real faces…maybe just for a day. Why the anonymity?" (@ShivaKap @proudliberalmom @BrightEyedDyer @renshaw_emma @TaliaFarrow @Sasa2455) 8/13/13
• "I'm surprised at how many active Twitter users seem to have no VOICE; they just post links all day with little opinion or interaction." (@ModernSauce @Dianora_1 @kaneguindreamz @thecookiebatch @Steve_SR_ @tinacapalbo @Comanchegyrl @notcreative388 @homesweetyeg) 8/9/13

Interesting Twitter Conversations (6/21 - 8/2)

Conversations I want to remember from my Twitter timeline from the past couple months:

Philosophy:

• "On the precipice of the period where we 'evolve' into a more cooperative species than we are now. I'll hold onto that." (@jaglister) 6/21/13

Politics:

• "'Should I give to the poor?' - 'No,' says #RepublicanJesus. 'They should get a job like everyone else!'" (@Dena_K_) 6/20/13
   
• "Republicans seem intent on downgrading America's middle class to 'peasant class'." (@IndigoSky @sailorboyj @LindaWildes @Lvci_frr @smartboyohboy) 6/21/13
   
• "Not making this up: Ted Nugent 'I have 9 children from 7 women, and I'm running for president'" (@padresteve @creditease @RustiResta @ChristiAnne67 @Yecora51 @mmdoty @Dena_K_ @CriminySTFU @BrianBuchbinder @taminespr) 7/5/13
   
• "I'm initiating a #Kickstarter to buy Texas and Florida, and then auction them off to some other country." (@nitpickette01 @MiekeInc @caracabe @picklestfc) 8/1/13

Morality and values:

• "Anti-abortionists aren't 'pro-life', they're 'pro-birth'—no concern for the development of the child's actual life." Part 2 (@CleveNole @AMFKNole @NoleFan86) 6/23/13
   
• "Truth is stranger than fiction: 'Gay cure' ministry closes down after its leader admits he's attracted to men." (@SingnPlay @thomasatmyporch) 6/23/13
   
• "Chief Justice Roberts says, 'Our country has changed.' Yes, it has. Racists have become much more adept at obfuscating their racism. #VRA" (@ModernSauce @kokobyrd @AaronWorthing @Teddyshouse2II @GregPiperMP @Edzones @Matthew_Barlow @ShivaKap @NerdKing52 @geo_love1 @jstines3 @JetNo) 6/26/13
   
• "Every morning, hundreds of thousands of workers show up for jobs that are unseen, uncertain & underpaid." (@Dena_K_ @EdDarrell @pfontes95) 7/2/13
   
• "This does NOT speak well of the profession: Court OKs Barring High IQs for Cops" (@Siiiimonsays @GodlessAndHappy @BombeRouge @vditucci @Green_fille) 7/15/13
   
• "Well. Doesn't Juror #B37 sound like a real class act."(@NANDEE218 @fgsweetdog @Bdreamer7Helene @mmboucher8 @SharonGibson3 @geekchicohio @mdrfl @mary73534 @lsalander13) 7/16/13
   
• "…aware of any study that correlates retailer locations by racial makeup?" (@thestile1972 @schmangee @lynnphares) 7/18/13
   
• "I work in #RealEstate, can confirm this: "Retail Redlining"—One of the Most Pervasive Forms of Racism Left in America" (@ShivaKap @jben1129 @alakshya2) 7/19/13
   
• "Most psychopaths don't become criminals they become CEOs & politicians" (@pfontes95 @SuSmithJosephy @cantata21) 7/25/13
   
• "'Crack baby' study finds #poverty is worse for child development than exposure to drug in womb" (@G_times @NicoleBonnet1 @nyzap) 7/25/13 

Non sequitur:

• "How to pretend you're Canadian when you #travel." (@De8or4h @SuSmithJosephy @tinacapalbo) 7/1/13
   
• "The unstoppable stupid: After Spending $11,000, Woman Sues Psychic For Not Lifting Curse On Her Love Life" (@tinacapalbo @G_times) 7/12/13
   
• "Behold the ineffable cosmos within the forest's cathedral" (@SisterBhugto @pjsirrah) 7/27/13

Health:

• "Quackery: About 50% of Americans use "alternative" medicine, and 10% use it on their children." (@tinacapalbo @RayChatie) 6/20/13
   
• "Study: Skipping Breakfast Could Increase Risk Of Heart Attack" (@ledfist) 7/25/13
   
• "I endorse this research 110%: Harvard study finds #coffee drinking tied to lower risk of suicide" (@Rebecca_Raphael @tinacapalbo @G_times @bombidil) 7/27/13
   
• "Inspiring: New #Alzheimer's blood test is 93% accurate in clinical trials" (@JRChristenson @MikeConundrum @ladyotomoofsaka ) 7/30/13

Religion:

• "Christian poll finds #atheists commit fewer crimes, divorce less, are better educated than Christians" (@amorYvida62 @joeman42 @gatheiststl @Lee123Sue @mksinsa) 7/3/13
   
• "I keep seeing these #Christian women on Twitter who are constantly posting semi-provacative #selfies with Bible quotes. Beyond weird." (@ShivaKap @Promethus_ @RayChatie @Dena_K_ @HollyTheNurse1 @Ms_PriyaS @BrightEyedDyer @MizMelly) 7/4/13
   
• "Ugh: Russia makes it illegal to insult the 'feelings of religious believers'" (@nais1998 @RedScareBot @Bonnieinchgo @pfontes95) 7/21/13
   
• "If we eliminated #religion & started from scratch, it would be different. If we rediscovered all scientific knowledge, it would be the same." (@ShivaKap @JonDrobny @SisterBhugto @HuntWithThimble @Resoguitar @ArtisanTheory @homesweetyeg) 7/24/13

Economics:

• "A goddamn sad state of affairs: #WalMart is the largest U.S. employer…and second? #KellyServices, a temp agency." (@YEGlifer @mierzwei @DesautelsLuc @pbtrue1 @GrainOfSands @Juicexlx @TheDavidMcGuire) 7/9/13
   
• "Now this is a damn good idea: Oklahoma City hospital posts surgery prices online; creates bidding war" (@taminespr @thomasatmyporch @RayChatie @CriminySTFU @bollbar) 7/11/13
   
• "Technology has boosted productivity without spurring job growth." (@milo9) 7/18/13
   
• "Due to low wages & employee reliance on government subsidies, a typical #WalMart costs taxpayers $904,542 per year." (@Princesswikki @diamondave13 @lfredsson @YEGlifer) 8/2/13

Media:

• "The illusion of choice: 6 companies control 90% of the #media in the U.S." (@Resoguitar @magda196 @Bdreamer7Helene @RanyhynRider) 7/14/13

Sustainability:

• "Trendy, pathetic, 'extreme' tourism: Mount Everest Is Now Covered in Litter and Human Poop" (@nitpickette01 @WilliamBDevittI) 7/25/13
   
• "Adaptive re-use: An abandoned #WalMart has become the largest single-floor public library in the United States" (@homesweetyeg @CriminySTFU @MindFreeZone @phunphunphun @YEGlifer @realtmo) 8/2/13

Social media:

• "I don't really have a schtick. Should I develop one? Twitter seems to like that. #SM" (@jlturpen) 7/24/13
   
• "I wish more people would use their real name & face on Twitter. Hiding behind anonymity gives a sort of 'hollowness' to one's voice." (@SingnPlay @YEGlifer @billraia @albertaadvocate @ElizabMcCormack @Truthseeker_013 @RedAnneBolynn @kma916) 7/28/13

Signpost: Interesting Twitter conversations, 4/28 - 6/18

I continue to enjoy the varied and deep conversations I have with people on Twitter.

Philosophy, Spirituality & Religion:

• "…man is a moderately gregarious, not a completely social animal—a creature more like a wolf, let us say, or an elephant, than like a bee or an ant." (@jaglister @mmwlawtaos)

• "I'm sick to my stomach: 'Faith-Healing Churches Linked to 2 Dozen Child Deaths'" (@LC_of_LA @GameBreakersCan @Ibti @jaglister @NabilAbuAmirah @The_Ben2832 @ledfist @OldIgby)

• "I wonder if there is an alternate universe where there's no suffering?" (@MizMelly @Bailey649 @darwinsbulldog)

• "What do you do when your religion is losing influence? Have more kids & indoctrinate them from birth! #QuiverFull" (@donkeyception @Socknitster @TheSurlyShirley @kerriet11)

• "How about we start with a discussion of the harmonic nature of cortical neural function? Those suckers are always firing." (@jaglister)

• "Today I learned about something—apparently real—that bothers me quite a bit: The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement" (@capelessT @allovus @alexa_v @laNitpickette @kropotsky17)

• "Dear Christians: Please read Matthew 26 carefully, and then let me know if you think Jesus would approve of your owning an assault rifle." (@JoeG2001 @geraldpeterson4 @ShivaKap @ASH_auldshaman @tillytoogood)

Urban Planning:

• "Is the [Cleveland] Opportunity Corridor a civil rights issue?" (@schmangee @jaglister)

Politics & Economics:

• "Bye-bye middle class: The share of national income going to workers continues to fall." (@tinacapalbo @BombeRouge @ShivaKap)

• "Ridiculous: Since 2011, Republicans have spent no less than 15% of their time trying to repeal Obamacare." (@jxjs12 @sweetsmithie01 @hrhsar @1Dad2Four @hausdorff80 @ScrewFoxNews @Didikatz)

• "A question about this #IRS thing; What if the supposed targets of the IRS were targeted because they were trying to avoid paying taxes?" (@FranchiseKing @mdrache @ftdatl)

• "I just realized that 'Fox & Friends' is almost exactly like a children's show. It's got the rhythm & content structure of Sesame Street." (@ASH_auldshaman @JoeG2001 @tillytoogood @BevinsElizabeth)

• "Politics aside, let's just appreciate this: #Crime is diminishing across the developed world (but no one knows why)." (@JoeG4Freedom @geekchicohio)

Privacy:

• "James Clapper says the @guardian's leak of #NSA data collection is 'reprehensible'. And the people of the world say: 'thank-you'. #privacy" (@ShivaKap @vickijee) 

Infrastructure:

• "Something NEEDS to be done - American Society of Civil Engineers grades U.S. bridge condition 'C+'" (@joecimperman @Dena_K_ @sjf1 @TheeMattMarquis @Matthew_Barlow @TheGistOf @Another_Wench @ODOT_Cleveland @TeacherReality)

Photography:

• "The canal near Shirakawa-Minami-dori, in the Gion district. #Kyoto #Japan" (@picklestfc)

Science & Technology:

• "Did you know that NASA is *actually* working on faster than light travel? This is not #SciFi." (@LisaToddSutton @TheGistOf @johnpocalypse)

Non sequitur:

• "Slow and steady wins the race. But I'm a little goddamn tired of slow and steady right now." (@BrightEyedDyer @TinaMorphis @mrbabypants @mbattistella @mmdoty @Tehelmin)

• "Last night I dreamt of a wonderful street fair, on a wonderful street that actually exists. The problem is, said street fair does not exist." (@MonasLists @allovus)

• "For better or for worse, I've learned that sometimes the optimal decision has nothing to do with being rational." (@SingnPlay) 

Interesting conversations, through 4/28/13

Memorable thoughts & conversations on Twitter over the past couple weeks:

Non-sequitur:

• "Decided to start a campaign to eliminate the abomination-word 'webinar' from the lexicon. Anyone with me?" (@BeKind2Other @mrbabypants @Gary_R_Walker @allovus @tree_hug_r @ShivaChimp @CriminySTFU)
  


• "Putting cheese after most words will make said word sound unpleasant. Foot cheese, scalp cheese, tree cheese, mustache cheese." (@FalconPiss911 @Another_Wench @PerturbSecular @ObservantLynn)

Economics, etc.:

• "Hmmm… Inside India's 'No-Frills' Hospitals, Where Heart Surgery Costs Just $800" (@ledfist @MattTaylor)
  
• "The level of stupidity here is profound: Sustainable Development could be outlawed in Kansas" (@Uppity1 @De8or4h @treehuggeruk)
  
• "Could we consider weather tweets to act similarly to bads in that they artificially inflate GDP?" (@CavsFangelo)

Religion:

• "Read God's laws in Leviticus14. Explain how it differs to voodoo. - Voodoo has dancing." (@ratminer @dawkinsassange)

• "Heartbreaking new poll: a third of Americans want Christianity as the state religion" (@CriminySTFU @drcreek @mariarfin @kahrviacree)

Psychology:

• "I present as an extrovert, but I also have very high social control, strong empathy and I recharge alone." (@picklestfc @DEATHxBLACKHOLE @susancain)
• "What you say and what you do represents who you are. Your intent means nothing. Your effect is everything. Take responsibility." (@picklestfc @indieKari @MiekeInc)

Gun control: "We need to dismantle the #NRA, and apparently also this Congress. Let's dismantle both, then re-build a new Congress." (@JoeG4Freedom @th3v0t4ry @osPatriot @Zionistchuck @demsforprogress @yulianagarcia @forgottentq @usernamenuse @BridgetteJohns2 @unclemiseryguts @ledfist @CriminySTFU)

The Internet: "A little help: there was an article circulating a while back about how viral internet stuff isn't really viral." (@kayaoakes @ChurchSnobTEC @malawijay @adamgurri)

Interesting conversations for the week ending 4/6/13

You'd think that 140 characters would limit one's ability to carry on interesting discussion. Apparently not…read on.

Urban planning: "In Cleveland, philanthropic foundations, for christ's sake, help fund highway projects…Unbelievable." (@schmangee @thestile1972 @CLEstreetcar @thisismycle @chezrebellion @theGreaterMarin @lynnphares @danmoulthrop)

Religion:

• "'Why do you have to go after religion? It gives people comfort; it doesn't hurt anything.' Oh, really?" (@jaglister @Bailey649 @SimonOkill @homesweetyeg) 

• "'You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.' - Anne Lamott" (@BevinsElizabeth @homesweetyeg) 

• "Can God create a future event of which he has no foreknowledge? If 'no', he's not omnipotent. If 'yes', he's not omniscient." (@jdvanlaningham @homesweetyeg @thestile1972) 

• "And this is why people keep laughing at Christians - Woman sees God in her goldfish cracker." (@homesweetyeg @JansensDickSays @Jessica_Effect)

Gun control:

• "Interesting idea - Democrats propose $10,000 fine for gun owners who don't have insurance" (@JoeG4Freedom @SarahSecord @ledfist @mariarfin) 

• "RIGHT. WING. NUT. JOB. - Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) links popular gun safety measure to bestiality" (@cheerbear34 @JoeG2001 @JoeG4Freedom)

Photography: "Dilemma…trying to decide if I should print one of my photos on aluminum for my upcoming show. 90% chance of awesome…10% chance of big waste." (@RudyHellzapop @cheerbear34 @thomasatmyporch)

Health: "Why has Obama approved a law giving immunity to the production and sale of genetically modified food in the US?" (@2008Cornish @Bailey649 @DemsChgTheTalk)

Drugs: "The war on #drugs is far more immoral than most drug use" (@Maddog_Squid @Bailey649)

This week's interesting conversations, ending 3/30/13

• Urban Planning: "…who wins the land use lottery in Cleveland? Not the people." (@schmangee @thestile1972)

• Religion: "What a horrible story Passover is…the killing of your enemy's first-born children by a 'just' God? Not telling my children this nightmare." (@G_times @Ibex67 @ShivaChimp @TeriInk @BombeRouge) - "What aspects of religion should atheists (respectfully) adopt?" (@G_times @mmdoty @alaindebotton)

• Social Media: "You scared avatar cartoon c---s. You egg c---s. Who are you f-----g Toons anyway?" (@FalconPiss911 @bustermante @Little___Sister @qx) - "Today I had a thought, and decided to keep that thought to myself. Because sometimes it's better that way." (@JoeG2001 @indieKari) - "Why must people always bicker on here. I mean really?!? Everyone just has to comment, just has to make a fuss! It's frustrating!" (@Skeptical_Lady @JenniferZenda) - "We are in the midst of a 'narcissism epidemic', enabled by the Internet. Enough selfies, people!" (@MiekeInc @mkhajdin)

• Politics: "PDX is considered one of the friendliest cities in the US and we need a politeness campaign? How could that backfire? Let’s count the ways." (@picklestfc) - "LOL: So-called 'small-government' conservatives in Idaho want to forbid any reference to premarital sex on television" (@JoeG2001 @JPHaukkavaara) - "Help me figure this one out (#GOPbubble): 'Fox News Calls Obama 'Enemy Of Israel' As Israel Gives Him Highest Award'" (@CriminySTFU @JohnWallace30 @JenniferKWarden)

• Economics: "'Trickle-down consumption' puts the middle-class in debt & leads to bankruptcies, divorce, longer commutes." (@ledfist @wcgirl1) - "Americans need only work 1/3 the time they did in 1975 to afford a common bundle of household goods." (@ledfist @thomasatmyporch)

• Futurism: "In 'Mining the Sky', planetary scientist John Lewis argues that our solar system can support 10 quadrillion people." (@ArtisanTheory)

• Non-sequitur: "Found in one of the dressers. [a small animal skeleton]" (@CriminySTFU @BombeRouge)

• Tech Security: "So I've been shopping 4 dresses because I'm going 2 Vegas show Sat. Google noticed, now every site I go to is advertising dresses." (@chellegaylor24 @Da_Philosopher)

• The Weather: "Everyone in #CLE is complaining about the snow today…but it's absolutely beautiful. Thankful to see this one last time before it warms." (@cheerbear34 @forgottentq)

• Personal: "Nobody is ever really "too busy". If it's important to them, they'll make time." (@LadyGirlPerson) - "Trying to be cool is…a sickness. Being cool means being aloof. It means that you don't get excited about life…you don't get it." (@Stanmatthias @tinacapalbo) - "My subconsciousness has been actively rewiring the neural networks in my head. True story." (@JoblessJeri)

Interesting conversations, week-ending 3/23/13

• Politics: "'I'm a libertarian' invariably means 'I don't give shit about anybody but me and mine.'" (@SarahSecord, @QrysBinThynkn, @Jason89, @leight75, @qx, @picklestfc, @PeacefulConserv, @ledfist) 

• Economics: "Elizabeth Warren: Why isn’t #MinimumWage keeping up with productivity? It should be $22 per hour." (@MitchNutter) - "Copyright wasn't meant to be near-permanent. Culture should be recycled to make more culture." (@G_times, @beebearninja) - "Why an MRI costs $1,080 in America and $280 in France" (@Maddog_Squid, @DrLearnALot)

• Gun Control: "N.R.A. Can’t Believe How Well National Conversation About Guns Is Going" (@cheerbear34, @forgottentq, @FranchiseKing) - "A global arms trade treaty would keep weapons out of the hands of war criminals. Of course, the #NRA is objecting." (@BraveBrewer57)

• Science & Technology: "The concept of #QuantumComputing blows my mind. It BLOWS. MY. MIND." (@HovellingHermit, @allovus) - "Don't fool yourselves, all those 'white collar jobs' are just people emailing each other all day." (@joshwalsh, @mtheoryx) - "Why do #Mac users never seem to use their apps full-screen? Don't they have a 'maximize' button? They're always squinting. #tech" (@MiekeInc)

• Non sequitur: "Liquid lunch..." (@jlqiv, @badmouthblonde) - "One of my favorite hobbies is doing nothing." (@Guri02, @johnpocalypse, @fgsweetdog)

• Health: "He should have had the quadruple bypass burger, he would have survived!" (@MadameRamotswe, @RainerPerlitz) - "I'm envious of your target. But call that a calorie spike? When doing 4HB we hit 5000+ on cheat day ;)" (@qx, @thelittlepecan)

• Social: "I'm going to present at @TEDxCLE next year about the benefits of hosting @TEDxCLE at a venue that doesn't sell out in 10 minutes." (@JoeG2001, @lzone) 

Interesting conversations, week ending 3/16/13

• Genetic modification, neo-feudalism & patents: "I got Monsanto to genetically modify me so that I produce my own caffeine." (link)

• Non sequitur: "Suburban moms are worse. Throw SUVs at them." (link) - "I just made a regression of my relationships. In chronological order vs. length of relationship and the results are very very depressing." (link)

• Racism, morality: "Albert Einstein called racism 'a disease of white people.'" (link) - "A liberal Muslim homosexual ACLU lawyer professor and abortion doctor was teaching a class on Karl Marx…" (link) - "If you lack empathy, then you are evil. It's just that simple." (link) - "properly implemented (ie no bias) eugenics is fully functional" (link)

• Economics: "Free markets are excellent at allocating resources in the short term. But they fail miserably at steering society in beneficial directions." (link) - "Perfect example of why capitalism doesn't always work: Male baldness research gets more funding than malaria." (link)

• Religion: "Francis totally needs to get laid // Preferably with an adult." (link) - "Right…Wing…Nut…Job…ALERT! - 'Society Never Gave Single People The Right To Engage In Sexual Intercourse'" (link)

Interesting Twitter conversation round-up, week ending 3/9/13

• Life: "… At some point, the opportunity cost of waiting around, forgoing your passion, overwhelms the potential risk from the venture itself." (link 1, link 2)

• The Beautify of the World: "'I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.' - Michelangelo Buonarroti" (link) — "I found the National Trust for Historic Preservation Barn Again.program. Texas has the most old barns!" (link) — "The…object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land. - G.K. Chesterton" (link)

• Religion: "Question for Christians: Does God deserve credit for creating HIV as punishment for homosexuality, or credit for the cure being developed?" (link) — "Why does God miraculously heal cancer sometimes, but never, ever, ever amputees?" (link) — "The Bible story of Job teaches us that God wants followers so mindless & utterly servile that they will praise him even as he tortures them." (link) — "Mental illness - 'Jesus is watching you vote!'" (link) — "Growing up Baptist, I can report that the parties hosted by preacher's kids were always the wildest." (link)

• Social Media: "Even though Twitter is public, people sometimes don't seem to like being challenged in their views. Seem to prefer the echo-chamber. Not me." (link)

• Economics: "I love this - 'Warren Buffett to American CEOs: Please Stop Complaining About Uncertainty'" (link) — "Wealth in an age of corporate personhood…why should it exist at all?" (link)

• Politics: "Racism: Israel introduces 'Palestinian only' bus lines, following complaints from Jewish settlers" (link) — "Most experts believe North Korea's latest rhetoric is just the usual propaganda engine cranked up to 11." (link)

• Gun Control: "Gun nuts talk about 'a second American revolution', call themselves 'patriots'…they're really just terrorists by a different name." (link) — "So stupid, it must be true: 'NRA Official Barred From Carrying Guns Because Of Domestic Violence'" (link)

Twitter roundup, week ending 3/2/13

So many (too many?) great conversations on Twitter this week:

• The best one was about, of all things…MILK! "Headed out to milk the cows, milk leaves my farm driveway in pure whole form." - @NYFarmer (link) 
• More on CATS: "OMG…and just like that we have cats…" (link) — "By the end of today, two black #cats will have taken up residence with us. We're almost as nervous about this as we were about having kids." (link)
• More on GUN CONTROL: "Owning a gun for anything other than hunting is a signal that you do not believe in our ability to maintain a civil society." (link) — "#Facepalm: Walmart Customer Shoots at Shoplifter to "Mark" Him for Police" (link) — "One year after fatal Chardon High School shooting, superintendent isn't interested in having teachers carry guns" (link) — "MIT campus on lockdown after reports of armed gunman wearing body armor" (link)
• On MEDIA: "Last night I watched the entire Oscars. I truly hope I never have to do that again." (link) — "Considering how intertwined 'real' life is with 'digital' life, I believe that all of existence is becoming a sort of #AugmentedReality." (link) — "My brain is starting to function in 140-character bursts. #SocialMedia" (link)
• On PHILOSOPHY: "'God sees murder and homosexuality as the same level of sin.' Sure He does, Sweetie!" (link) — "'I learn by going where I have to go.' - Theodore Roethke" (link) 
• On URBANISM: "I love being a tourist in my own town." (link) — "Rankning the happiness of cities by tweets: #CLE is 329/373 (bottom quartile). Buck up people!" (link) — "Well said - RT @schmangee: "'In NE Ohio, we treat land with the same respect we treat toilet paper.' And the reason is: Land is cheap here." (link) 

Great conversations on Twitter, week ending 2/23/13

• Dear Twitter counsel: Our household is thinking of acquiring two 6-month old black #cats. Making a huge mistake? They are fixed, healthy. (link)
• Religion requires faith; you're never really sure if it's 'working'. Science can be checked, confirmed. (link)
• What is 'community' in the connected world of 2013? I'm thinking a lot about this lately. (link) 
• If you’re white, you can be oblivious, passively accepting the status quo, and reap the rewards. (link) 
• Is it of any utility at all for an atheist or agnostic to pray…perhaps in a meditative sense? Currently pondering this. (link)
• When I hear people home school their kids, my first reaction is why? Inside voice, of course. (link) 

Observations on the social media ecosystem

Physical reality: connection by proximity. Facebook: connection by propinquity. Twitter: connection by predilection and proclivity.