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Tech trends: Twitter tips
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 All aboard the Twitter train! The tiny "microblogging" service that lets people send out short, 140-character posts known as "tweets" is one of the most popular social networks out there. As of 2012, there are over 140 million active users, who generate over 340 million tweets a day.

In my experience, people seem divided into two camps when it comes to Twitter: those who use it and those who don't "get it." I'm firmly in the pro-Twitter camp. I love it. I use it to get news, for entertainment and to interact with various people, both people I know and complete strangers.

For those people who tell me they don't "get" it, there isn't really anything to "get." It's a way to interact with people. Share stuff, rant, ask questions. Do whatever, really. It's kin to Facebook if Facebook was only "status updates."

One of the people I've been following on Twitter for a long time, an Apple enthusiast-turned-film director named Josh Helfferich, tweeted this summary of Twitter a while ago, which I think it spot on:

"Twitter will be known as the remarkable invention that allowed strangers to explore life together and become friends."

I don't think I could have said it better.

@FakeAPStylebook - twitter.com/FakeAPStylebook
Ah, the parody Twitter account. One of most popular trends on Twitter is the satirical parody account, often mocking a celebrity, corporation or public figure. And @FakeAPStylebook is no exception, taking aim at the real @APStylebook, a Twitter account set up by the Associated Press as a companion to the news wire's famous journalism writing guide. For the literature and writing enthusiasts as well as fellow journalists, this is one account is a "must-follow."

FakeAPStylebook tweets are pure satire. Claiming to share "style tips for proper writing," their tweets are a collection of off-color jokes and spoofs on phrases, definitions and how-to tips on writing and reporting, often relating to current events and pop culture references.

Here are some of my favorite tweets:
• "Thorough research is the key to quality reporting. Read the ENTIRE Wikipedia article before writing your story."
• "Only spell it "errbody" if literally every person in the club is gettin' tipsy."
• "Avoid corporate buzzwords such as "paradigm" and "synergy." Simply use "bullsh*t."

@RobDenBleyker - twitter.com/RobDenBleyker
Rob DenBleyker is one of the four authors of the popular online comic strip, Cyanide & Happiness. And as one would expect from someone who create jokes for a living, Rob DenBleyker's Twitter account is pretty funny.
This guy's tweets are pretty hilarious. Here are few of my favorites:
• "I'm so glad television redefined the word "marathon" to mean the exact opposite of physical exercise."
• "I wanna see a remake of Titanic that exclusively focuses on the backstory of that one dude who hits the propeller."
• "Ugh, here I am stuck at a midnight show, only to learn that Hunger Games is not, in fact, a film adaptation of Man Versus Food."

@neiltyson - twitter.com/neiltyson
Neil deGrass Tyson is probably the coolest scientist to come along and hit the pop culture mainstream since Bill Nye, the Science Guy. An astrophysicist, Tyson's day job is the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History. He is also a research associate in the astrophysics department of the museum.

As a science communication, Tyson has appeared in the media numerous time. His currently the host of the science TV program NOVA ScienceNOW on PBS and is frequent guest TV shows such as the Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

So, this guy is ridiculously smart, and as it turns out, quite funny. If you want a dose of knowledge with your humor, you should definitely follow him on Twitter. Here are a few favorites:
• "April 12, 1961: first human in orbit. April 12, 1981: first flight of SpaceShuttle. April 12, 2012: Snooki in 2nd trimester."
• "Just an FYI: Stars in the Universe far outnumber all sounds & words ever uttered by all humans who ever lived."
• "In 5-billion yrs the Sun will expand & engulf our orbit as the charred ember that was once Earth vaporizes. Have a nice day."

@bluthquotes - twitter.com/bluthquotes
Are you a fan of the cult hit TV series, Arrested Development? If not, then this Twitter account is not for you.

Seriously, it won't make any sense if you haven't seen the show. The Twitter account @BluthQuotes is for the dedicated Arrested Development fan only.

It primarily tweets quotes from the TV show, that FOX stupidly canceled because apparently FOX hates good television shows, despite the show garnering critical acclaim. At least the show lasted for three seasons.

There's good news though, after years of rumors, the show is going to start back up again with a fourth season airing on Netflix in 2013 followed by a feature film in the summer. Hooray!

Now for the tweets:
• "‘I'll have a vodka rocks' ‘Mom, it's breakfast time' ‘And a piece of toast.'"
• "I'm sure Egg is a very nice person. I just don't want you spending all your money getting her all glittered up for Easter."
• "And although the intervention didn't work, it turned into one of the Bluth family's better parties."

William Brawley is the Electronic Media Producer for The Covington News. He is an Apple fanatic and camera geek. If you have any tech issues or other questions email him at wbrawley@covnews.com.