Why should companies use Twitter?

A time will come when sales and marketing reps and public relations students will be trained on the uses of Twitter for promotional and marketing tasks. There is no ignoring the immense reach and power of this medium.
Why is Twitter apt for public relations tasks? The reason is simple. "What's Happening" is a simple query that lets people candidly talk about something that they find is of great value, and believe that many will gain from. Therefore, the direct understanding is that when a person takes the trouble to share some information with the world, it might be useful information, information of value. Of course, this does not include "I am having my lunch" updates!
Therefore, when a public relations firm approaches the public through the medium of Twitter, it meets people with open minds. The first battle is already won!

in reference to: (4) Twitter / Home (view on Google Sidewiki)

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

It seems like I'm slow on the uptake on most everything... Twitter, blogging, mommy-ing, cooking, reading To Kill a Mockingbird... yeah, you heard me right...I didn't read the book till a few days ago... :/ But, hey! I read it, didn't I?

And I am loving it! It's a classic, and sometimes classics have a small problem... they were great in their time, but their reputation is often bigger than the actual effect it has on me. Its probably due to the fact that by the time slow-poke me gets to read them, I have already read more contemporary (meaning 'better') stuff or, well, the concept is a bit outdated. Don't blame the book, blame myself.

Pulitzer Prize winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird was an exception, and a pleasant one at that. If you are a slower-poke [ha! New word in your face!] than me, then I will tell you the story.

Spoiler alert (now that is irony! Warning a 'Spoiler Alert' for a book the whole world except me has already read, ha ha ha...spoiler alert.. get it?... get it?...Aah, never mind...)

The story of the happenings in the little town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression, is told through the perception of a 6 year old Scout Finch. Scout, along with her brother Jem and sweetheart Dill, observe people and events and share their thoughts with each other. The highlights of the novel are the questions they ask Atticus Finch, father of Scout and Jem and a lawyer who is seen as too progressive for his times.

The children's understanding of the world is tainted by the callous comments, narrow-minded prejudices and the baseless superstitions of the neighborhood. Sometimes, they act based on these - their fear of Boo Radley because they believe the wild stories about him - and sometimes, even their childish innocence refuses to believe the nonsense they hear - for instance, they refuse to believe that Black people are inferior to the White. When the children take their perceptions to their father, Atticus' response to them, and the way in which he interacts with black people and others who do not 'fit in', is what moulds the perception of the children.

The ultimate test for the prejudiced little town comes when Tom Robinson (a Black slave) is accused of raping a young White woman called Mayella Ewell. The irony of the situation is that it is the Ewells who live a degenerate life. A brood of unruly and unwashed children, a perpetually drunk father who beats his 20-something daughter, a daughter who made an inappropriate advance on the poor Black slave who feels sorry for her and helps her out with chores. Bob Ewell walks in on Mayella. Tom, who had been trying to refuse the 'White lady' without seeming too rude, runs with terror when he is spotted in this compromising situation. In his own words in the courtroom, "You would have done the same if you were a Black slave". True to his fear, he is accused of the rape of Mayella Ewell.

The jury believes a White woman's lie over the truth and condemns Tom Robinson to a death sentence. Later, Atticus is broken to find out that Tom was shot when he tried to escape from prison. As if enough tragedy was not going around, the children - Scout and Jem - are attacked by Bob Ewell, who comes after them with a knife to spite their father. Bob holds a grudge against Atticus, as the latter subtly exposed the degenerate lifestyle of the Ewells at court, in front of the entire town. The children are mysteriously saved by a stranger whom they did not see in the dark. Later, to their surprise they find out that it is Boo Radley, the same recluse whom the town has not seen for many year, who chose to remain indoors, watching the world go by. The only interaction he has with the children is to leave little carved figurines and other trinkets in the hollow of a tree. Jem and Scout would pocket these gifts with glee, but wonder who they are from.

Bob Ewell dies in the tussle, falling on his own knife, when he was pushed away by Jem. Atticus is now full of consternation and says that it is not fair to protect his own son from the law, since it seems the 12-year-old was in fact the one who killed Bob Ewell. To this, the town sheriff flatly refuses to acquiesce, and claims strongly that it was Bob who accidentally fell on his own knife. There was absolutely no evidence to prove to the contrary...

I told you...Spoiler Alert...!

Not much is known about Harper Lee, a woman from Alabama who chose to live life as a recluse and let her work speak for her. And speak they do. The poignant tale of childhood innocence trying to grapple with the harsh reality of an age of prejudice and injustice, is something that each one of us can relate to.

Now, if I can only watch the movie.... I know... I'm a slow poke... whatever...

The Third Twin - Ken Follett

After a really long time, I was able to actually sit down and read an entire novel! I started with a determination to finish this book, but I was surprised at how easy Ken Follett made it for me!

The Third Twin is a fast-paced story of associate professor Jeannie Ferrami, Psy.D, who works at the Jones Falls University. She is carrying out a study on the relationship between a person's DNA to the probability that he or she will have criminal tendencies... you know, like whether you are born bad, or just made so.

The most important aspect of her study is that it is done on twins who have been seperated and are not aware of each other's existance. Twins who have turned out to be entirely different personalities are of the highest interest to the beautiful professor. In the course of her studies she meets Steven Logan, who is to be one of her subjects for study. At around the same time, her close friend Lisa Hoxton is raped by a mysterious man in the commotion that followed the break out of a fire in the women's changing room. A red cap worn by the man, with the word 'Security' written on it, is the only clue that the police department has to go on.

Torn between her friend's misfortune, Jeannie's aging mother's sorry state in an ill-kempt old-age home, painful memories of her irresponsible father who is still serving term in prison for theft, and her slowly growing attraction towards Steven, the young and driven professor does all she can to make the scientific study a success. Added to this, is the fact that Lisa claims that Steven is the rapist, because he looks like the man who attacked her! What's worse is that another man who looks exactly like Steven is serving time in prison for murder!!

Inspite of what her rational mind says, Jeannie believes that Steven is innocent, and now is even more eager to find out his wicked twin. Her work is suddenly shut down when Berrington Jones, the very man who spurred her study on, uses his power in the University to get Jeannie sacked!

Convinced that Jones and his high-profile friends (who own Threeplex, a medical research company that also provides a great deal of JFU's funding) have an evil secret that they would do anything to hide; Jeannie sets out to unravel the truth, prove Steven's innocence, and find Lisa's rapist.

The novel is rendered more intriguing because of all the twins walking around. The biggest hurdle in Jeannie's way is figuring out which twin she is talking to at any given moment. It gets worse whene she falls in love with Steven, but cannot reciprocate his love for her, as she really is not sure whether the man sitting on her couch is a rapist, a decent man, or some totally strange third twin!!

If that doesn't make your heart pound, I don't know what will!

Ken Follett is not one of the most widely read novelists for nothing! Making a knot in a tale is fairly easy. It is the unravelling of the plot that has most fiction writers stumped. Ken Follett does not allow you to guess the ending...ever! How did he know I love to do that! Just when you think you know what is going to happen, something totally unexpected takes place, and your heart skips a beat!

Definitely un-put-downable, Ken Follett's The Third Twin is one of the best reads I have had in a long while. Have you read it? What did you think of it?

"Baby Einstein Made My Child Dumb"! Yeah, Right!

Learning begins at home. I am a staunch believer of that view point, and take my responsibility as my daughter's first teacher very seriously. My husband and I try to fill our house with fun-yet-educational toys, lot of colorful books, and educational DVDs. Debbie is perfectly happy looking at her books or playing with her toys. She also has loads of time to play outdoors, and loves running around the house hollering and chasing a ball as much as playing a tame game of 'cooking' indoors.

She is also a BIG FAN of children's videos on YouTube, and educational DVDs. She loves Baby Einstein videos, Sesame Street songs, Dora the Adventurer (her favorite!), and anything with lots of toys or animals, colors, and loud music! I admit that I have a very selfish reason for letting her watch them... that's the only time I can get her to stop hating food long enough to eat it!! Don't get me wrong, we do have really fun eating time, when we don't watch TV and concentrate on finishing what's on the plate. Debbie can feed herself, and she does enjoy doing it. But sometimes, she gets it into her head that she can live on love and fresh air! and there is nothing a mother can do to change her mind... other than switching on the computer or the television...

Apart from the obvious value of these videos and DVDs (!), I really believe they are useful to a child's learning process. Which is why I was shocked at the study published by the University of Washington, that the Baby Einstein DVDs make children... dumb... (to be very blunt)! The study says:

The scientists found that for every hour per day spent watching baby DVDs and videos, infants understood an average of six to eight fewer words than infants who did not watch them. Baby DVDs and videos had no positive or negative effect on the vocabularies on toddlers 17 to 24 months of age.

Well, I don't know about that. Baby Einstein videos have pictures of these large and colorful toys in the shape of animals and other shapes that a child needs to learn about. I think it is much better to let a child learn the names of shapes, animals, fruits, vegetables etc. through song, music and fun than through getting a book out, pointing at objects and loudly repeating the names!

And anyway, unless parents simply dump their children in front of a TV or computer for hours together, I don't think these DVDs are going to do any major damage. If parents want to take the easy way out and let their children watch TV all day, I think the children were destined for limited intelligence, DVDs on not! As a parent, it is my responsibility to decide how much time my child watches videos, how much reading time she gets, and how she learns about the world. If I go wrong with my planning, I don't think I have the right to blame any one else for my bad judgment.

The Baby Einstein Company seems to be doing something good for children across the world. They are parents too, so I am guessing they must possess some parenting experience! Give them a break! Come on!! They are normal parents who decided to make a fun video for their kids... we're blaming them that they did not do their research?!!? Ok, so the scientists who made nuclear bombs do a lot of research, so I guess wiping away an entire country is acceptable... I mean, criticising their work is one thing, but thinking people deserve a refund!?!?! Really now!

Too many people now are looking to shift the blame on some one else for just about anything. If your baby is not an Einsten before he is 2, maybe that DVD is to blame; if your boy is roughing up classmates in school, maybe the teachers are to blame; if your child broke the law, maybe the society is to blame... when a person commits murder, maybe the people who ignored him at work are to blame...

When did mistakes stop depending on the wrong choices a person made, and start depending on everybody else's behavior? When do WE take responsibility for our mistakes? And when will we teach our children that when they become adults, THEY are answerable for their mistakes, and that they cannot shift the blame?

I for one cannot believe that some DVD is being blamed for children's lack of learning. What do you think?

Poetry Prompts to Perk You Up! 2

Oh heck! Who am I kidding?! I am desperate to show off... So here are the rest of the poems...!

I Won’t

I will read the book that sits on my desk,

I will do the dishes promptly,

I will remember to get the groceries,

I will not forget the milk again, meanwhile.

I will smile at my child,

I will mean it.

I will not stare at the mirror,

And wonder where she went… I miss her.

I will stop picking at forgotten friends in forgotten memories,

I will forget the friends I forgot.

I will ignore the pain of those memories.

I will forget my singing voice,

I will sing to remember I can’t.

I will stop now…

I will make dinner.

_______________________________________________________

 

Where The Lost Go…

The keys dropped onto the table

Something was wrong

It had been right that morning.

The table had been bare when she left,

Except for the half-drunk coffee,

And the ring left by a wet coffee mug.

Where are the coasters?

Why was it so quiet?

The shower is usually running at this time.

Where are the kids?

And why is the television not on?

Why is the bedroom door closed?

It seems so Final.

Where are the shoes?

Who was in the closet?

(And the baseball bat is missing).

His clothes are missing…

He left one of his socks behind,

(She saw the little white dots where,

She spent an entire Sunday afternoon,

Mending his clothes… buttons, tears, holes for toes to peek out).

The lounge was gone…

He loved it.

His cologne was missing…

His smell was gone

He was gone…

---------------------------

The bar round the corner was always open…

The keys on the table were picked up... again.

______________________________________________________

 

Air-Conditioned Offices

Outside it is 40 degrees

Sunlight glares off everything

Car windshields, reading glasses, display windows,

My nose.

Switch on the stove,

And it just got hotter.

Steam does something for your skin,

But that doesn’t help the knot in your brain.

Sweat can run down any way it wants,

But it flows into your eyes.

And salt always stings.

The shower can wash the sting away,

But the sun is more persistent.

More scalding than warm…

I could use a cool drink.

I don’t; I have a reason.

You could leave all this behind,

And step in to the office,

Where swinging doors let in the cool breeze,

Of recycled carbon dioxide.

I don’t care, it’s cool inside; freezing cold…

I’m glad I didn’t take that cool drink!

_______________________________________________________

 

It Was My Idea

It was a bad idea,

To look her in the eye,

To pick up the hint,

To return the touch.

 

It was a bad idea,

To shake that hand,

To tell the secret,

To loan him the money.

 

It was a bad idea,

To buy those flowers,

To unlock the door,

To see what I saw.

 

It was a bad idea…

To introduce them.

_______________________________________________________

 

Beware of Signs

Do not trespass here,

There is nothing to see.

Keep to the bright side of the street,

Don’t stare at the dark side.

Beware of low-hanging grief,

Hard metal can knock you out cold.

Watch out for the poison envy,

It can turn you blue… or green.

This coffee is scalding hot,

Do not spill on self.

Do not speak,

It is too revealing.

Flush after use,

No one wants to see your past.

Keep It Simple, Stupid,

I am seeing others too.

_______________________________________________________

 

You are Back?

Out of Sight,

Out of Mind.

When you left,

I didn’t die.

Work was tough,

Pay was good.

We can live.

You should leave.

Close the door,

Don’t look back.

Note to self :

Do Not Cry.

_______________________________________________________

Poetry Prompts to Perk You Up!

There was a time, long ago (at least that's how it seems), when I used to write poetry.

And I was told I was good...by published and popular poets, no less.

And then, life

happened. And I was too busy living it to write about it. Sometime, in the silence of the kitchen, with just the sizzle of sauteing vegetables in the background, the memories would come creeping back - of all those poetry workshops and those pages of poetry stashed away in some forgotten shelf. And I would wonder if I could even write poetry anymore, whether my mind was still unfettered and potent enough to put thoughts to words.

It was then that I came across this wonderful blog on writing (Thank you Google Reader...I love you!). It's called PoeWar.com, and written by a brilliant writer called John Hewitt. The most fascinating thing about his blog is the 30 Poems in 30 Days series. The writer gives the readers creative prompts, and also writes his own poem based on the prompt. And I tell you, the prompts are really innovative! It certainly helped shake up some very sleepy and demotivated gray cells in my upper chamber!! So, I took the plunge, and wrote some poems of my own. Whether I was any good, remains to be seen! Tell me what you think...

Here's the first one...

Patterns

The pattern does not matter,

As long as it is how it is

To the very end.

Color in the dotted lines,

And be done with it.

You don’t have to replace spots with lines,

It is not normal, they said.

Just do it, follow the pattern.

Make it look like you know how,

Like your mother taught you right.

Follow the pattern,

And you’ll be alright.

I’m Not.

--- Jane Hamilton

...and another one for good measure...

Secret

I have a secret,

A part of me I willingly forget.

Then I remember, and loathe it.

My secret festers,

Guilt buzzes around it in dark clouds,

Settling briefly on little white incidents that led to it -

The thing that I will not speak about.

Sometimes, it smells.

Intrudes the little tunnels that lead

To gray cells, and dark thoughts,

Every time I gasp for breath,

When a kind word is offered,

Kindness I don’t deserve.

I look away, “Look, there’s a nice spot!”

Walk away, hold hands with Happiness,

Cover the secret with a smile… Forget.

But, it wafts back, now and then,

To cloud a picture-perfect view,

With the Secret.

--- Jane Hamilton

False Evidence Appearing Real!

I read somewhere once that FEAR stands for "False Evidence Appearing Real". I have to agree with that, in retrospect, that is. But when you are lying on your bed, staring at the ceiling, heart pounding at the very thought of that awful thing you fear so much, the evidence you dig up from the recesses of your mind seem anything but false…. You know what I mean, right?

I have a 2 year old daughter. I should stop right here, and let you make the obvious connections with FEAR, and fear in general. But, I love to talk about my fears, and so I will.

When Debbie was born, she was barely 5.5lb, tiny and fragile, her wail almost a squeak. Now, although she is still tiny for her age (only 22lb when she should be 27lb, and I get my share of flack about it from busybodies of all descriptions. In my defense I would like to state, both my doctor and this website claim this is quite normal.), she is growing up to be a source of admiration, jaw-dropping disbelief, and pure joy for my husband and me, every moment!

She is a lovely, delightful little girl! She runs around making shrieking noises when I try to make her eat food. She throws a healthy tantrum (the habit isn’t, but the gusto of the display certainly is!) when she is refused ANYTHING, yes, even the flames on the stove burner (?!?!?!) She sings non-stop (ie. When she is not shrieking or throwing a tantrum). In fact she can sing the entire alphabet song, even the last bit (“Now I know my ABCs…etc.), a couple of rhymes, can count till 10 in a random order (!), and recite a couple of Bible verses… *I’m on a roll here, aren’t I… ;-]… and you say “Mmhmm…keep going…”* She cries VERY LOUDLY (seriously, that is how it sounds, my eardrums are not what they used to be…) Sigh…, loves books, and dotes on her big brown teddy bear. She is healthy and happy. She is surprisingly intelligent and insightful for a 2-year-old, and did I say she loves books…oh yeah, if she is very quiet and you don’t hear shattering glass, she is definitely poring over a book. There is no need to worry, no need to lie awake at night wondering about the future. If we do our best, everything will turn out just fine.

However, and you mommies will surely understand, I sometimes have these fears… Will she grow up into a healthy adult, or will she inherit any of my health conditions problems? How will she stand up to a bully in school? Will she be able to cope with the harder lessons in school? Will she maintain good (if not excellent) scores throughout her student career? Will I be able to guide her well through her adolescent years? Heck, will she let me?? Will she meet the right guy? Will she love him? Will he love her long enough (‘long enough’ read ‘forever’…) Will she achieve all her dreams? Will she love me when she grows up? *Aside: Will she love me more than her Dad…* Aaaarrrrgghhh! Come to think about it, these are all Worries. I worry about her a lot, and which mother doesn’t.

And these worries turn into fears, slowly but surely. Looking around at the world, I do not receive much consolation either. Relationships of any kind are not what they used to be. Even in a relatively conservative country like India, divorce rates are creeping up the ladder, families are becoming more dysfunctional everywhere, psychos are created at every street corner (False Evidence or not, it is creepy!), educational systems losing quality, and the list is endless. Of course, there is any number of good things in a society that can influence a child: a good family, good friends, the church (or any religious institution), good teachers, true ‘soul-mate’ kind of love, and lots more.

But it all depends on the choices that my child makes. Will she let the bad influence her, or will she take in only good influences. As parents, we can guide her, but (I hate this part) we can’t make the choices for her. Sometimes, these fears make us let go of the Trust Factor and lay down absurd rules that curb the normal growth of a child. There really is a thin line between caring and controlling. So, you lay down the ground rules, teach your child everything they need to know, set a good example, and expose them to a loving and caring environment…. And wait. You Wait… to see how your child turns out…How do we do that? How did our parents do it? And what will my little girl be like when she is an adult? What kind of a woman, wife, mother, and human being will she be?

Now, tell me, how can I not let False Evidence Appearing Real creep up on me every night?

_______________________________________________________

This is my entry for the Write-Away Contest for the month of October, over at Scribbit - A Blog About Motherhood in Alaska.