It might go something like this (start from the bottom and read up)

 

A helpful guide I found and wanted to share. Because that’s the kind of guy I am :-)

Click to view full-sized

Since we’re on the topic of social media, here’s another one…

 

 

Between e-mail, text messaging, Twitter and Facebook, I normally have several ways to stay in touch with the virtual world.

But not this week!

If you follow me on Twitter you might have seen on Saturday that I was on a bit of a road trip. If you follow me on Twitter AND you possess exceptional powers of observation you may have noticed my absence for 11+ hours during the day on Sunday.

I’m certainly not what you would call a prolific Twitterer, at least I don’t think I am, but I do tend to at least keep up with my timeline and occasionally chime in with something, so I’m not completely invisible. I also do my best to respond to e-mails and if I’m really desperate I’ll log on to Facebook. Hey, that’s where family is; it’s boring by default! What I’m saying is, is that I can often be found online in some form or fashion during the day, as work allows and my extended absence on Sunday was very unusual for me.

The reason for my trip this week is for a training course, part of which is taking place somewhere with very strict security measures, so strict that visitors such as myself are not allowed to even bring camera phones into the building. I can’t try to cheat and bring my phone with me anyway, we all have to pass through a security checkpoint, including metal detectors, to enter the building.

For a few hours in the morning I felt like I was going through technology withdrawal, but as the day went on it got better and after a while I didn’t really miss it all that much. Sure, it would have been nice to randomly text Veronica to tell her I love her and was thinking about her, but after 20+ yrs, she knows that anyway :-)

I realized a couple of things Sunday. For one, I spend too much time online, even if I’m not interacting with others. I practically have Twitter ADD, checking it much more often than I “need” to. It’s a good thing all of these online connections and friends weren’t around when I was in grad school, I never would have graduated!

While this cartoon is true to some extent, I need to start pulling back some…

Feb 222011
 

I’ll start by saying that I really enjoy Twitter, damn near any time of day ( or night, do some of you ever sleep?) there is someone there I can chat with, and I don’t even follow that many people. I’ve made friends, found new blogs and websites to read, and with my vanilla account keep up with several news and sports sites and personalities.

But some things on Twitter just fucking annoy the hell out of me

Follow Friday
Or is it Friday Follow? I don’t give a shit, either way it annoys me. For the uninitiated, Follow Friday or #FF in hashtag-ese is a way for people to suggest people that they think are worth following. Here’s how NOT to do it, an actual tweet from last week:

#FF @EmpPalp @eva_knievel @evrythingmustgo @hannahsatana @hubman38 @JackSht @Joey_bagodonuts @JohnnyHardass @jeffwcpa @Lord_Voldemort7

Just a list of people, no reason why any of them are the least bit interesting. To top it off, the person who posted that tweet has never interacted with me and I don’t follow them back. So why on earth are they suggesting that others follow me? My timeline on Fridays is full of crap like that, the only thing that is worse are the people who tweet over and over and over, listing seemingly everyone they follow, as if every one of them needs to be followed by the rest of us. Even better are the people who re-tweet every tweet that they are mentioned in- “hey look at me, someone said you should follow me, so I’m going to repeat it to everyone who already follows me”

The only time I’ve done a #FF, it looks something like this: #FF @VeronicaASM because she’s smart, sexy, and funny. Never mind that she’s married to me :-)

Maybe my reason for suggesting her sucks, but at least I’m giving you a reason why I like her.

Locked Accounts

See that sidebar on the left? There are my latest tweets, or here is my Twitter page where you scroll back as far as you like. You see, you don’t have to have to follow me on Twitter or even have a Twitter account to see what I’m saying, but not all accounts are like that, some people feel the need to keep their accounts private, only people they approve can see their tweets. Now I’ll admit that there may be perfectly good reasons for doing so, a psycho ex-, for example, or if a work-group is using Twitter as a means of communication.

Others, it’s like a power game. “Oh, Mr zero tweets and following 100 people, you want to follow me? I don’t think so”

Why not? It’s social media, why are some people so damn anti-social about it? It’s like there’s some secret litmus test people have to pass in order to be allowed to follow someone.

Me? I want to be approachable, not snobbish. And it that means I have a bunch of spambots and people who never interact following me mixed in with the people I regularly interact with, so be it.

Following back

You’re following me? Thank you. But don’t expect me to follow back out of some sense of courtesy. I follow people who I find interesting, who have something to say, who like to engage others in a conversation. I see Twitter as a big room filled with clusters of people talking about a wide variety of topics. You’re standing quietly at the side of the room saying nothing? Sorry, I’m not following you back. You’re talking non-stop but never listening to what others say, even when it’s something in response to something you said? I’m not interested in monologues, I like conversations.

So don’t get pissy with me if I don’t follow back. And feel free to unfollow me if you don’t like it, I won’t mind in the least.

That’s enough, I could go on, but I’ve done enough ranting for one post…

 

No, I’m not talking about the ‘celebrities’ who will tweet about something or someone for a fee.  This is about Twitter and how they make their money.  You think that Twitter is free?  Think again.  From ReadWriteWeb:

Twitter announced today a new partnership with social data streaming service Gnip at the Defrag Conference outside of Denver: Gnip will offer 50% of all the messages posted to Twitter for $360,000 per year, or 5% of all messages for $60,000 per year. Pricing is not yet on the Gnip site, but was disclosed in an interview with ReadWriteWeb.

Customers will only be allowed to analyze the messages, not display them, and resale of the content itself will remain prohibited. The two companies emphasized that this is the first time a structured, reliable arrangement has been available for the many customers interested in purchasing a large quantity of streaming Tweets. Sale of the 100% full firehose will remain in the hands of Twitter itself. The full firehose contains approximately 1,000 Tweets every second.

Just remember, every time you tweet something, someone else is archiving it and reselling it to whoever can afford it.

I saw elsewhere that protected accounts are not included in this deal, nor are direct messages.  I wonder how long it will be until Twitter starts charging people to have protected accounts, since those are not revenue producing for them under this deal.

I really wonder what would happen if the restrictions on resale or display of individual tweets are lifted.

Would your tweeting habits change?  Or do you feel that since you’re already tweeting in a public forum that it’s fair game for others to use your tweets as they see fit?  Forget about any sort of copyright infringement on what you write, according to Twitters Terms of Service you already forfeited that right.

For the smug “I’ll stick with Facebook, I don’t need no stinkin’ Twitter” crowd, do you really think it’s any different?  Facebook has to be making money somehow, you provide the content they make their money from.

 

Here is part of a conversation that took place on Twitter on Monday afternoon:

NippleCharms: Can you be a swinger and conservative? I just had some emails and questions. What is everyone’s opinion?

Hubman38: @nipplecharms I have trouble envisioning a “conservative” swinger. Conservative how, though…

NippleCharms: @hubman38 @lordbeazley politically conservative and a swinger sexually. is it possible?

Hubman: @nipplecharms I equate politically conservative with socially/sexually conservative, so I would say no. But maybe I’m wrong…

Hubman: @lordbeazley I can’t think of a single swinger friend who identifies as politically conservative. How about you? @nipplecharms

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What do you think, dear reader, am I wrong to generalize this way?

Here’s what I’m thinking.  When I hear “conservative” I think of an emphasis on a “traditional” family structure, less acceptance of homosexuality and gay marriage, an opposition to abortion, etc.

Anyone see an acceptance of multiple partners, group sex or bi-sexuality in any of that?

Obviously whenever we generalize about a group, there are exceptions that prove us wrong.  But thinking about the swingers that Veronica and I have known, intimately or not, I can’t think of any who I would call “conservative”.  Are some of them fiscally conservative?  Sure, after all, that’s how I would describe myself.  Are some of them advocates of smaller government/less taxes/deregulation, etc?  Again, I can see that.  But conservative on social issues and swingers?  I have trouble envisioning that.

I maintain that the following individual does not exist:
- is a swinger/in an open marriage
- is pro-life
- is anti-gay marriage
- is a devout member of a Judeo-Christian faith

Go ahead, someone prove me wrong, that’s what the comment box is for!

 

Friday I was off from work and resolved to enjoy the day to the fullest.  Earlier in the week Veronica scheduled a massage appointment for me in the morning, then I headed out on my motorcycle.  The inspection sticker was going to expire at the end of the month, so I had to take care of that first and went to the shop where I bought the bike, which is literally right down the street from Gillette Stadium.

After I took a few pictures around the stadium, I posted this tweet and headed out for more riding.

Where did I go next? Why to check out a strip club that Veronica and I have not been to yet!  The club gets a thumbs up- nice atmosphere, decent drink prices, good looking girls and a lap dance from a cute little thing who wasn’t shy about grinding up against my crotch.  I think I’ll have to take Veronica there one of these days ;-)

May 212010
 

It’s time for another random topics post…

I now have concrete evidence that our dog is getting old and lazy.  When she was a pup, she was a dedicated escape artist, bolting out the door at every opportunity.  And let me tell you, the little fucker was QUICK! She’d run around the neighborhood, me chasing after her like an idiot, her eluding me until she decided to let me catch her and bring her back home.  Sometimes this would go on for 15-20 minutes, me cursing the entire time.

Now? Not so much.  This evening PP and I took her for a walk around the block and once we returned, we hung out in the yard.  I let the dog off her lead and left her loose in the yard.  Except for a 30′ wide area by the driveway, our yard is fenced in, so as long as she stayed away from that area, I didn’t have to worry about her.

We spent 30 minutes relaxing and playing in the yard.  Not once did the dog even attempt to escape!

===================================================================================

Not only did Veronica have no luck finding a playmate when she was in Miami with Southern Vixen last weekend, she had a girl-date scheduled for this evening, but her friend had to cancel.  Later in the day I sent her a tweet and she replied”If I don’t get some girl action soon I’m going to need a lap dance”

Can anyone help a girl out? If so, can I watch? ;-)

===================================================================================

Speaking of Twitter, I can’t help but chuckle when a discussion with someone leads to them getting all pissy with me, telling me what a dick I am, announcing they are unfollowing me, then blocking me from following them any more.  Then, a month or two later, I get an e-mail notifying me that they’re following me again!  It’s happened to me twice in the last week or two.  Maybe I’m not such a bad guy after all….

Do people really pay that much attention to how many followers they have on Twitter?  Some people apparently do, but not me.  Nothing gets me to unfollow you faster than asking for more followers because you only need however many more to reach some nice round number.  Well that and the stream-of-consciousness Tweeters who never reply to what others say.  If there are times when you tweet 3-4 times per minute, you might what to shut the fuck up once in a while and listen- Twitter is more fun when it’s a conversation, not a monologue!

===================================================================================

Thursday morning Veronica and I started the day off right with some early morning love making.  When we got home from work, she pulled me into the bedroom, locked the door, started to suck my cock and suggested that we had time for a quickie, as long as the kids continued to cooperate and leave us alone.  As I was fucking her, she announced “hey, if you cum in my mouth we’re tw0-thirds of the way to a trifecta, you wanna?”

“Oh, you want me to fuck you in the ass later tonight, do you?”

“Sure, why not?!”

I gave her a nice big mouthful that she was kind enough to show me before she swallowed it all down.

But we were both too tired once we finally got to bed and fell asleep without completing the trifecta.  Tonights another night, however ;-)

===================================================================================

The day after Memorial Day I’ll be going to Baltimore for the rest of the week for work stuff.  I’ve been on a roll and have succeeded in meeting friends, old and new alike, on just about every work-related trip in the past year, but I think my streak may end with this trip- I know no one in the Baltimore area!

Or do I, and you’ve just been hiding?

 

Sunday evening Veronica and I had the opportunity to meet our Twitter friend @Just JadeJames for dinner, as she’s visiting the area for a few days. As Veronica and I were walking from the Boston Common parking garage to Jade’s hotel, I turned and saw this view. Not too bad of a view, huh?

Jade, thank you for a very nice evening, it was truly a pleasure to meet you!

Feb 232010
 

No real coherent post today, just some thoughts on various topics…

A reader commented the other day “Not really a swingshift topic, but it would be interesting to get both of your takes on Tiger after that (pathetic) news conference. You’d think he killed someone by the tone of it.”

Okay, here it is:

I. Don’t. Care.

I’m a big Tiger Woods fan, have been since I saw him come from behind to win a US Amateur (or maybe it was Jr Amateur) open.  I watch golf if he is in contention to win or I don’t watch at all.

When I heard he was having a news conference, I purposely avoided the TV at that time, when I was home and certainly could have watched if I wanted.  I haven’t seen any of the clips or read the transcript, all I know is he apologized profusely.  It was a 13 1/2 minute statement? I’m glad I didn’t lose that 13 1/2 minutes of my life listening to him.

That’s how I feel.

=========================================================================

A little over a week ago, I wrote that I was considering self-hosting Hubman’s Hangout.  Well, I’ve taken the first step and Hubman’sHangout.com is mine now!  You can click on the link if you’d like, but there’s nothing there yet.  Veronica is taking the kids to NY this weekend for her step-dad’s retirement party (I have work obligations and can’t go), so I’m hoping to migrate all of the content then.

For my blogger friends who self-host their blogs, consider yourself warned, I may be bugging you for help!

=========================================================================

I had a nice little rant written about some things I don’t like on Twitter, but I deleted it.  Rather than appear to lecture others on how to use a form of social media, I’ll just keep those thoughts to myself and quietly un-follow anyone whose feed no longer interests me.

=========================================================================

Sunday afternoon I made the kids bundle up and we took the dog for a walk around the block.  For some stupid reason, I decided to propose a game of “guess how many times she pees and poops on the walk”.

Anyone care to guess what the dominant conversation piece was for the next 10 minutes?

Yeah, I won’t be trying that idea again!

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I was a little sad to read last week that the TMI Tuesday meme might be coming to an end soon.  For many of us, TMI Tuesday, along with Half-nekkid Thursday, has been a reliable, sometimes risque, source of blog content while we were trying to find our individual blog “voices”.  While I haven’t played all that often lately, I’ll still miss it, if it really is going away.

That being said, I believe that Professor Fate has offered the keys to TMI Tuesday to anyone who is interested in taking the reigns and continuing the tradition (mixed metaphors anyone?).  His contact info is on the TMI Tuesday page.

=========================================================================

When Veronica bought the DSLR for me for Christmas, she got it at a store that offers a free 4 week/2 hrs per week course in digital photography.  Tomorrow night is the first class, and I’m excited to start learning how to take full advantage of my fancy-schmancy camera.  By the end of my Project365 I hope to be shooting in manual mode more often than not.

Happy Tuesday!!!

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