Twitter has increasingly become a significant part of social existence.
From discovering breaking news to discussing meaningful things in 140 characters, it is a fabulous platform that has been a constructive vehicle to spend time in airports, waiting rooms and all those million other places where you’re bored to death.
Like Gmail often says “Important, mainly because of the people in the conversation” – Twitter is fun because of some of the comical, the sarcastic, the overtly serious, the perpetually random and the others as well.
The twelve I like best are:
- @TheHobbitMovie – the official Twitter handle of Peter Jackson’s three-part mega series. It is the first to share insights into the production, candid shots of actors on set, and all kinds of odd facts about Middle Earth. Any Tolkien fan would be nuts not to follow.
- @GoHawaii Run by the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, this account has the most lucrative product to sell. Hawaii. Open blue oceans. Volcanic rocks. White sand beaches. It must be heaven on Earth. I love them because they respond to traveller queries, re-tweet pictures and messages of good times and also address concerns that anyone might have. Very much like the @Myvisitmaldives and @Visitgreecegr who I am very fond of as well, but Hawaii takes the cake!
- @Haruki_tweets Haruki Murakami. I have not had the good fortune of reading his works yet, but I have browsed through some of his short stories, and they are without doubt mesmerising. As is his website – This is a profile that quotes Murakami from his books. And almost every second tweet is awe-inspiring. Here are some examples:
- “Deep rivers run quiet.”
- “When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”
- @NatGeo Who doesn’t know these guys. Their bio says its all – “Since 1888, we’ve travelled the Earth, sharing it’s amazing stories with new generations.” I grew up on the magazines, had over hundred at home at a point of time. The photographs, the stories, the places which I will probably never be able to tread. National Geographic brings them all to life!
- @HBO It’s not TV, they say. It’s HBO. Over the last year, it has been the channel to go to for the best in television in the US, which has percolated to the Indian subcontinent. Game Of Thrones was epic, and very well leveraged on Twitter. They have great content and often packaged brilliantly using various digital platforms. Hence, a part of this list.
- @UnusuaIFacts – Did You Know?
- 1 in 14 Americans claim they would murder someone for 3 million dollars.
- Drinking warm liquids can make a person feel more generous and trusting.
- Most people do not smile until about 11.16 on Monday morning.
- “Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia” is the fear of long words. These and many more on this fabulous handle!
- @mihirfadnavis One of the movie critics in India, I actually read. He is funny, smart and a tad abusive. But he loves the movies I do and writes beautifully! Must follow for those with an inclination towards the art of cinema.
- @moviesnowtv Without doubt, they are most favourite English movie channel in India. Introduced this year, they have gained attention from movie aficionados across the country because they are fresh, show newer movies and are less likely to develop a stereotype (Like Star Movies and Final Destination 5! I’ve won several wagers over this one.) Plus they don’t just broadcast movie schedules – they have conversations. Bonus!
- @VisitBritain It’s not just a tourism promotion tool this one, it is a little part of the UK. I’d love to meet the people who design its content. So fresh and British. 2012 was a big year, given the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and these guys did such a rocker of a job!
- @EuroDivers_MDV These guys are very cool. They tweet about the Maldives, the ocean, what lies beneath, diving and other awesome things. If you’re in Maldives, don’t bother going anywhere else.
- @benandjerrys This Vermont-based ice-cream company couldn’t have done a better job on the social space. Using Holsteins as mascots, they make ice-cream seem a lot more important that it is deemed to be. Follow them on Instagram as well – for added visual delights!
- @EdelmanDigital Lastly, the company that introduced communications on the digital sphere to me. A presentation at Edelman India, early into my recruitment in 2010, demonstrated the sheer power of the medium and the enormous scope of what it could achieve for clients. I’ve been awestruck by the work that Edelman Digital does and sincerely hope that one day I get an opportunity to work with them.
Coming soon: A dozen ‘fun’ things I did in 2012!
I saw, good going! And yay, seven more to go! 😀