Last ten active days in Twitter.

• No more Twitter Digests
  

  Image via CrunchBase

  I’ve made a decision to halt the posting of daily Twitter digests, not because of reader feedback (I rarely get any) but because the very few comments I get are usually on those digests, and that means one thing only – YOU NEED TO FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!

  Another reason is because whilst I prefer micro-blogging, as you can say so much more with a lot fewer words, the digests seem to clog up my blog with too much text when I’d prefer to use it for occasional ruminations accompanied by pictures.

  So, if you actually looked forward to a daily round-up of my thoughts, perhaps to gain an insight into what a day as a teacher in Vietnam is really all about, or just because my often acerbic opinions amuse you, you’ll have to create a Twitter account and follow me – www.twitter.com/rockportrait

  Why do I need a Twitter account?

  If you’re still in the “head in the sand” crowd who really don’t understand what the Twitter fuss is all about, let me guide you gently into that world.

  Yes, there are a vast majority of Twitter users who tweet inane garbage – oxygen thieves of the Twitter world. However, the key is to find those you relate to or are interested in, and it’s not hard to do that. A few keyword searches and a few days of browsing the resultant streams will set you up with some core opinions and aggregations. Of course, you should also find your friends and add them.

  After a few months of reading, culling and adding, you’ll eventually have a set of solid follows, and therefore a very valuable information resource. Not only will you stay in touch with your friends, but you’ll also be well ahead of the mainstream media, gaining access to news as and sometimes even before it happens.

  Be assured, you don’t read EVERYBODY’S tweets. You only read those from the people you follow, and even then you can filter them down to just the most critical each day, leaving the slightly less interesting for rainy days and weekends.

  OK, I’ll try it

  Importantly, whilst Twitter itself has improved it’s online interface, you really should download a dedicated client to get the most out of it. I recommend Seesmic Desktop. If you really don’t want to install software then Seesmic Web is brilliant.

  UPDATE (18 Jan, 2012): I am now using Hootsuite as my laptop Twitter client, but both iPad and iPhone are perfectly suited for Twitter. Try Osfoora or the pre-installed Twitter client.

  Finally, if you do choose to try Twitter, don’t get frustrated when you can’t do something. Everything good in life has a learning curve. Drop me a line with your concerns and I’ll help sort them out.

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• Twitter Updates for 2011-04-02
  • The RockPortrait Weekly is out! http://bit.ly/hQ9WKN ▸ Top stories today via @mienhpham @manandultraman @sbsnews @veryvietnam #
  • Enough already. It's not FOG!!! #
  • Wanted to watch the historic AFL game with fellow fans but the stupid cricket final is blasting noise & dominating the screens. Forced home. #
• Twitter Updates for 2011-04-01
  • Personally I don't respect fans who don't buy a band's music, so I'm not going to like the crowd at Metallica's VN show. cc @hanoi_ink #
  • Do I attend "Bob Dylan in Saigon" because of the double iconic connotations, & to be social, or stay home because he's mostly rubbish? #
  • Buds, we come here because you seem to be kind of Western. So why don't many of your staff speak even any English at all? #
  • How did dirges like Status Quo's "In the army now" & Scorpions "Holiday" become such big hits in Vietnam, or anywhere for that matter? #
  • Cost me a full green to fill the tank last night. Used to be lapping the rim with 70. #
  • Can anyone explain why GoDaddy is suddenly getting Twitter time, and people are talking about transferring domain registrations? #
  • Listening to tourists discuss the train they're taking tonight or the bus tomorrow really wears me out. Doesn't sound at all relaxing. #
  • Watching a couple of middle-aged Aussies getting mauled & taken to the cleaners. Oh the humanity! #
  • They don't have any hot bar staff here so they're playing Aerobics Oz Style on the Telly instead. #
  • Security Guard waits for the sale to be made then aggressively orders them to move on. Women with tiny kid underfoot gives knowing wink… #
  • 60yo sex tourists act childishly, playing peekaboo with the 18yo street girl for whom childhood is, unbeknownst to them, a distant memory. #
  • Hmmm. Maybe April Fools Day is the reason I've been paid for 2 weeks rather than 4. #
• Twitter Updates for 2011-03-31
  • Bum. There, I said it. #
  • If you're going to wear a wig to school every day, choose one that looks real, isn't ridiculously big & long, and is an authentic colour. #
  • I despise Saigon taxi drivers, & where are Vinasun & Mai Linh? RT @Christian_Berg: …Taxi Mafia at the airport http://bit.ly/ehId6m #
  • Two kids studying some rather on-topic textbooks. This is funny. http://yfrog.com/gytp1cej from http://bit.ly/hoSTOR #
  • I'm in strife, timewise. Thanks to @PedroInSaigon I've got a responsive Facebook service back. #
  • My new Buoi (Pomelo) drink coasters http://t.co/26YBFoP #
  • "No-one's ever done Elton John with a reggae swag", some chick from AI. Oh really? Elton John himself did, you nong. Stop running mouth now. #
  • Uploaded 57 images from DepSkillz Jam – March 2011, Cafe Thi, Saigon. http://flic.kr/s/aHsjuhGLz9 #
  • Jamming at DepSkillz March 2011, Cafe Thi, Saigon. DJ & others… http://flic.kr/p/9uMvWx #
• Twitter Updates for 2011-03-30
  • Teaching Iron Maiden to a group of Vietnamese Grade 7's right now. It's hilarious! Yes, it's the prescribed curriculum. #
  • What's an acceptable way of dealing with evil religions/cultures/regimes, without harming women & children? http://t.co/1X0ap8U #
  • This could be interesting… “@AsCorrespondent: Malaysian official to prove women not bad drivers http://t.co/DTdzZHd #Malaysia �� #
  • Whoah! I'm over 10000 tweets and I missed the moment! #
  • Something's wrong with me. I haven't heard a Lady Gaga song I don't like yet. Get me some therapy!!! #
  • Just occurred to me how close I live to Mt Everest. Got me thinking about a trip to base camp in the next few years. #
  • Phew. Heard a Gaga song I don't like. Kandy Life – eugh. #
  • Tweeters: Most won't click on your link or photo unless you accompany it with a meaningful byline/caption. LOL doesn't cut it. #
  • Annoying ex-pats #17 Weathered, cynical long-timers who write blog posts canning other ex-pats for being weathered, cynical long-timers. #
  • 13 volcanoes in Japan showing signs of eruption? Hmmm. Could the earth be ready to explode? http://bit.ly/iet5Zy #
  • 25yo girl stares longingly at stranger's baby in arms; 25yo male moves in front to leer brazenly back at the girl. Saigon traffic creeps. #
  • Starting short Vietnamese course next week – Tue/Thu nights. Nervous about spending money on this. #
• Twitter Updates for 2011-03-29
  • I think there's a need to educate a few people about literal vs figurative speech. #
  • Grrr. I hate those with no respect for nature. RT @madsmonsen: Vietnam poachers nabbed in Palawan http://bit.ly/f2mDtE #
  • Speaking of Slash, some hotshots from a Flickr friend in South America. http://bit.ly/e5rMvF cc @NoddyQ #
  • No, but I'm keen. Looks great! RT @CotterVN: Has anyone seen/used an iTwin?? http://www.itwin.com #
  • Cute story about Maximus the very long Aussie scrub python. http://bit.ly/ia71Gp Girlfriend's name is Minimus. #
  • Tax debacle will only be solved by 1 staff member taking personal time off to help us. Great that she will, but total disinterest from HR. #
  • Judge is a wuss. Perp is a moron. RT @abcnews: Man jailed for blowing bubblegum, lawyers claim magistrate "lost it". http://bit.ly/ekGCjr #
  • Just looked at the outside of a house. Great location, great price, well recommended. I'm considering it seriously without even going inside #
  • “Viet Thanh, 67 Thap Muoi, P2, Q5. Your mileage may vary but go for your life.” @PedroInSaigon They only carry up to size 45. #
• Twitter Updates for 2011-03-28
  • Did I just wake up in mid-summer Melbourne? Where did all the Saigon pollution go? #
  • Very relevant opinion re social networking – "…my husband wants more of my focus and attention". And rightly so. http://on.wsj.com/eFlymR #
  • When you ask people to do something for, you quickly find out who really cares, and who the selfish are. #
  • Got growing suspicions that there's something amiss in the Gmail world. Uncharacteristically small amount of mail received in last 24 hours. #
  • Gmail – what are you doing?! Why do I suddenly see so much valid email in my spam folder? #
  • Kids are missing 3 full weeks of class to prepare for a "Physics Olympics". Sacrifice personal education for school reputation – real smart. #
  • Cool! I have my own hashtag! RT @NoddyQ: It is Bob Dylan spam #rockportrait but in a world without Facebook, options are limited… #
  • Perhaps that radiation cloud made it to Saigon after all, as there's a record number of temporary citizens & oxygen thieves on the streets. #
  • You can't be serious. The Vietnam block list includes the BBC? Come on!!! What a bunch of total morons. #
• Twitter Updates for 2011-03-27
  • The garbage I hear from the mouths of "educated" people makes me so glad I left the corporate world. Life experience beats Uni every time. #
  • My stint of Sunday breakfasts at Western-style Q1 restos ends today. Can't stand the fake, inane conversation from "best-friend" ex-pats. #
  • Or perhaps I've gotten too used to the peaceful joy of not understanding a word of what is said around me. #
  • Weather looks pretty bad north of the city. Was going to get adventurous with some badminton tonight, but the potential rain puts me off. #
  • Played badminton after all. Quite proud of myself. Kept up with a dozen kids half my age & even won a few games. I've only ever played once. #
  • Well well well. Facebook is unblocked for me again. #
  • Saigon Rock and Soul from the Vietnam War era. http://t.co/02Iw9It via @TheoMiller #
• Twitter Updates for 2011-03-26
  • Confirmed after many weeks of experiments that the time you need money the most is the time the ATMs are down. #
  • The RockPortrait Weekly is out! http://bit.ly/h1AMEL ▸ Top stories today via @veryvietnam @artcontests @mienhpham @josh_ross @fisheggtree #
  • We don't need this sort of thing here. Make a noise. Who knows, they may get deported. http://goo.gl/MZbCN cc @fisheggtree #
  • Looks like it's just me, Stromboli and the XBox tonight. Oh well, could be worse. #
  • Forewarning – next weekend is AFL time for me. Historic game: Carlton v Gold Coast. No other appointments will be accepted. #
  • Oops – pizza arrived and I realised I don't have enough money. Thankfully Da Vincis are really nice & let me pay next time. Great service. #
  • Totally forgot I had pomelo in the fridge. My night is now slightly less miserable. #
• Twitter Updates for 2011-03-25
  • Don't we know it. “@HerDailyDigest: Men are like bank accounts.Without a lot of money they don't generate a lot of interest.” #
  • Very large, very public funeral procession making it's way up Ba Thang Hai, to meet the trucks parked in front of my school. #
  • This funeral is HUGE! I count 6 large buses & a very large tray truck carrying flowers & wreaths. #
  • All these ideas about what makes a cafe cool are well and good, but apart from drinking coffee, what do you actually DO there? #
  • Anybody able to give compelling reasons for upgrading to Firefox 4? #
  • Oh Freddie, Bon, Brian C & Ronnie, where are you when the world needs you most? #
  • I wonder how many years I'll be able to ride a bike? My bad back is contributing to some serious hip & pelvic pain after riding distances. #
  • First time in Yoko. This isn't the place to come alone. I feel like a fish out of water. #
  • You don't clink your plastic bottle of water, you silly little girl. If you can't drink properly sit out of the mot hai ba's. #