Somehow I had the great fortune to tap into a quality group of very well connected and very interconnected people in Minneapolis, MN.  @irishgirl is one of these people.  Not only is she well known, she is well liked, funny, and is making a difference online through her site Geek Girls Guide.

From Clinton Forry (@wd45):

I am heartened by Meghan’s work with Nancy Lyons on the Geek Girls Guide blog.  Not only do they give tips on technology, but also tips on how women can succeed in a largely male-dominated tech world. She is breaking ground with it.  Being the father of a young daughter, this work is VERY important to me, and thankfully Meghan has the smarts and the wit to do it well.

-clinton

From @kedrock:

On twitter, facebook and her blog, Meghan has educated me on women/diversity in technology professions, the role of social  media in traditional and nontraditional marketing, parenthood and how our high school computer teacher inspired her.  (We went to the same school.) The biggest thing that stands out about Meghan is the genuineness of her posts. She never comes across as pushing an agenda or claiming expertise that she doesn’t have.

Mark Kedrowski

How do you use Twitter/What do you use Twitter for?

To me, Twitter is a utility. Like a telephone. Sometimes I use it to stay in touch with people I know. Sometimes I use it to reach out to new people. Sometimes I use it to keep in touch with people after meeting them at an event. And, just like I use the phone to have a million different types of conversations, I use Twitter to talk about many different things to many different people.

In a word, I use Twitter to connect.

But just like my phone, I can’t always answer right away and sometimes I shut it off to get some peace.

If you had the opportunity, what would you do improve Twitter?

Honestly, I don’t know. I used to wish Twitter would allow users to create groups or lists, but then I found TweetDeck and created lists there. Which was possible because of Twitter’s open API. Which, if you think about it, is part of the brilliance of Twitter. They just built this dead-simple little thing, and allowed other developers to build all kinds of other stuff around it and on top of it. They outsourced innovation and, in some cases, they later absorbed it (like Summize, which became what we all know now as search.twitter.com). Anyway, then Twitter added Lists and it’s kind of like what I was looking for, but I still use TweetDeck for now.

But the strength of Twitter is its simplicity. The more stuff they add, the more it’s going to suck.

I can tell you what I don’t ever want in a million years and that’s for Twitter to get rid of the 140 character limit. I hear people complain about that and I’m just mystified. Seriously? Like there aren’t a MILLION other places where you can blather on and on? Get a blog, dude. Also, people who basically write a blog post by sending a chain of tweets? Splargh.

What I love about the character limit is that it forces an economy of language. You have to be very creative in how you communicate something. Unlike what I’m doing here, which is just rambling on and on. Let’s see what the next question is, shall we?

What do you like to do when you are not connected to the internet?

I love movies. If I could, I would watch a movie every day (or a really good movie-like TV show like Battlestar Galactica). I love going to the movie theater, and my husband put a DIY home theater in our basement. That’s been great because it’s hard to get out to see movies with two young kids at home.

I started running last spring and I like doing that, too (though it gets pretty tough to get out in the Minnesota winter!).

I wouldn’t be a good parent if I didn’t mention how much I love hanging out with my freakin’ kids. They are 4 and 1 and they are the cutest, smartest and most amazing kids ever. Of course.

What is your favorite website to visit other than Twitter, and why?

Man, that’s like picking a favorite kid! I visit my Google homepage constantly to scan headlines from most of the sites I follow. I like Hulu for shows, Go Fug Yourself for snarky celebrity commentary (and midday mind-clearing) and fuckyeahrobertpattinson for…um. Wait, no. I don’t go to that last site. Ever. Nope. Never heard of it.

What attracts you to social media over traditional media?

Hm. I don’t know that I’m attracted to social media over traditional media. I mean, if I could have a TV channel and a radio station I would, but it’s not financially feasible so I’ve settled for a blog and a Twitter account.

Seeing the two terms side-by-side like that makes me realize that I think social media is a misnomer. We need a new word. The word “media” is part of what causes companies and agencies to misunderstand each social tool as another medium through which they can push their message. To me, as I said above — it’s a utility. It’s a means of connecting people. So, what attracts me to social media are the other people, not the media. If Twitter went away tomorrow, it’s not Twitter I would miss. It would be the people I connect with there.

What is your favorite Laffy Taffy Joke (One-liner joke)?

Knock Knock.
Who’s there?
Interrupting Cow.
Interruping cow, wh…
MOOO!

What is a question to which you would answer: “D. All of the above”? And, what are A, B, & C?

What is your favorite Bollywood movie?
A. Fanaa
B. Bunty aur Babli
C. 3 Idiots
D. All of the above

What would you do if you had a time machine?

Use it for a dirty laundry hamper.

What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know?

I wish more people knew about my secret life as a spy, because then they’d know that’s why I look so tired all the time.

What song lyric sums up your life thus far?

I’m Lucky by Joan Armatrading. The lyrics are painfully simple (kind of like me) but when you hear the music it just puts a bounce in your step (you just have to embrace the ’70s sound of it.)

I’m lucky, I’m lucky
I can walk under ladders
Yes I’m so lucky that I’m as lucky
As me

Listen on lala

What is the one thing that gets you out of bed every morning?

My two kids climbing on my face.

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Stumble to the bathroom and brush my teeth. Unfortunately, I taught my 4-year-old the phrase “dragon breath” — and now I hear it every morning.

If you weren’t doing what you are doing for a profession, what would you be doing?

Wow, I don’t know. I love what I do, and I get to do such a variety of things that it’s hard to imagine doing anything else.

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve had to learn so far in your life?

That once you say something, you can’t take it back. Which is doubly true in social media because not only can you not take it back — it lives forever in digital space.

What’s an idea you have that, if implemented, could change the world?

I don’t know that I’ve yet had a world-changing idea. I’m working on it, though.

What drives you nuts?

People who auto-update every status on every social network: like, tweeting every check-in on Foursquare and posting it to Facebook and having every Facebook status create a tweet and every tweet updates their LinkedIn status. Good Lord. Context, people! The people you’re connected with on LinkedIn and Twitter and Foursquare and Facebook don’t all care about the same stuff. I really believe that your connections are much richer when you take the time to share relevant information vs. spamming every site with every bit of data. When you do that, people become numb to you. Your updates are like white noise.

What actor or actress would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

Angelina Jolie

What super power would you like to have?

I don’t know if this is really a super power, but I’d like to be able to go without sleep. Sleep gets in the way of all the stuff I want to do. You know, like spy stuff.

What question would you add to this list and what is your answer to it?

What is the best thing that has happened to you as a direct result of Twitter?

I have lots of cool things that I can point to and say, “Without Twitter, that never would have happened.” (including getting some free tickets to Avatar for my mental health day last week!) but my favorite, most mind-blowing experience was getting a DM from David Allen (the author of Getting Things Done, known as GTD) in response to one of my tweets inviting me to one of his seminars for free. I got to meet him, and in later months he interviewed me for one of his web sites. It just blew my MIND that I got to meet and talk to a person I had admired for years, all because of a tweet. What the hell? In what crazy universe does that even happen?!

Who should I write about in future weeks, and why?

@ishakeitup is a writer and producer in California who uses Twitter to promote some of her projects, and to connect. She’s funny and creative and being connected to her means I’m one degree of separation from Ralph Macchio, which makes me sweaty to even think about.

@iamdez is a funny, interesting and all-around good guy that I used to work with. He has good observations about lots of stuff. I just wish he’d quit tweeting all his @foursquare checkins.

@patrickrhone is another really interesting guy, and he has some strong opinions about the Twitter. He’s got a really interesting new site called Practical Opacity which is his reaction to the radical transparency notion. We don’t always agree, but I think we both like the debate! He’s also a fellow GTD’er.

@KarenGillespieH is a Twitter newbie. @Nylons and I taught her how to use Twitter a couple of months ago and it’s been so fun watching her embrace it. She’s a good soul, just full of good energy. The kind of person who’s nice to be around (which makes sense — she does massage).

Thanks to @irishgirl, @JenKaneCo, @jdbird, @wd45, @DanMandle, @kitalooclef, @kedrock, @mplsmaven for all your help with this week’s article.

The person who suggested @lolife was @Nylons and since she knows Michael so well, I asked her to write the introduction to this article:

There are those people you meet in your lifetime that change the course of it and Michael Koppelman is one of those people for me.  My professional relationship with Michael started about 14 years ago.  My friendship with him was immediate.  In the time I have called him friend and business partner he has been a teacher, a confidante, an advisor and, in a few special and irrational moments, my rent-a-husband.  Michael is, hands down, one of the most brilliant people I know.  His love of life and his love of learning inspires me and everyone around him.  Michael is a musician, a music producer, a composer, a scientist, a mathamagician, an astronomer, an engineer, an entrepreneur, an adventurer, a father, a husband and a friend.  And he embraces each of those roles with equal intensity.  He doesn’t do anything he doesn’t believe in.  We hear so much about the need for authenticity and some people are so deliberate about it.  Michael has always been one of the truest people I know.  In fact, he is fearless in his willingness to tell the truth.  He doesn’t care what people think.  He enjoys healthy debate.  He is even tempered and calm always.  When I need someone with whom to process complicated or stressful issues he is the first person I call.  When I need some zen-like balance in a room, he is the first person I call.  When I need additional, rational perspective, Michael is the man.  He calls himself lolife on Twitter.  Those of us who know him appreciate the irony.  He’s the antithesis of his Twitter handle. I’m fortunate to call him my friend.

Twitter User Of The Week Questions:

How do you use Twitter/What do you use Twitter for?

I use it solely to amuse myself. I don’t have any personal or professional goals with Twitter and I’m generally suspect of people who do.  It’s sort of like asking “What do you use your friends for?” I don’t use my friends, I have genuine relationships with them.

If you had the opportunity, what would you do improve Twitter?

I would do very little. The biggest risk to Twitter is that they try to improve it too much. It works so well because it is simple.

What do you like to do when you are not connected to the internet?

I play and record music, fly high-power rockets, get data at my astronomical observatory, play with my kids, a bit of gaming, a bit of biking, trying to learn Spanish, read lots of books…should I keep going?

What is your favorite website to visit other than Twitter, and why?

Google Analytics. I love that thing. I spend hours playing with web metrics for fun. For distraction-seeking I like popurls.com.

What attracts you to social media over traditional media?

I make friends there. While there is tons of potential for leveraging social media for business purposes,  it is friendship, in a very broad sense, that drives social media for me personally and, I suspect, for most people.

What is your favorite Laffy Taffy Joke (One-liner joke)?

There once was a guy who asked me what my favorite Laffy Taffy joke was…

What is a question to which you would answer: “D. All of the above”? And, what are A, B, & C?

Have you ever:

A. Worked in the studio with the musician Prince?
B. Observed a gamma-ray burst with your telescope?
C. Created the coolest f-ing company in the world?
D. All of the above.

What would you do if you had a time machine?

Kill the two mosquitos that Noah took on the Arc.

What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know?

That I’m actually a fairly decent songwriter.

What song lyric sums up your life thus far?

Long you live and high you fly
Smiles you’ll give and tears you’ll cry
But all you touch and all you see
Is all your life will ever be

What is the one thing that gets you out of bed every morning?

An undying ambition to amuse myself.

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

I try to guess what time it is. I’m almost always within a couple of minutes. I deplore waking up to an alarm.

If you weren’t doing what you are doing for a profession, what would you be doing?

Probably something in the music business, which was my first career, or in astrophysics, which may be my last career.

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve had to learn so far in your life?

Some people can’t be saved.

What’s an idea you have that, if implemented, could change the world?

Little pods that turn sunlight and water into hydrogen.

What drives you nuts?

Just about everything. I need a zoo to keep my pet peeves in.

What actor or actress would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

Viggo Mortenson, maybe? My wife suggests Javier Bardem.

What super power would you like to have?

Definitely “stop time”. Then I could get enough sleep and still do everything I want to do.

What question would you add to this list and what is your answer to it?

Q. What’s your favorite sexual position?
A. I find that offensive and refuse to answer.

Who should I write about in future weeks, and why?

@georgehrab is a funny/weird/interesting guy. @chuckhermes is one of my favorite people.  I am totally, professionally in love with @irishgirl. @simostronomy is one of my best astronomy buddies. All are fun to follow on Twitter.

Thank you to @lolife and @Nylons for participating in this week’s Twitter User Of The Week article.

This week’s Twitter User Of The Week is @KyleInDenver.  He is quickly becoming the number one guy for Fly Fishing companies looking for a Social Media strategy. He has literally changed the game for his customers by generating high quality traffic, more leads for his customers, and awareness for not only the industry itself but for the issues that are held close to the hearts of the industry members.

I know Kyle personally and in the time since I met him he has been nothing but a great friend to hang out with, talk shop with, and meet up for a beer under any pretense. If you are in Denver, you should meet and hang out with Kyle. If you are on Twitter or in the Fly Fishing world, he is quickly becoming the guy to know who can make things happen for you.

Normally, when I ask for information I get a couple tweets from people telling me in 140 characters or less why this week’s subject rocks.  When I asked for information about Kyle, one of his friends in the industry sent me an email:

Hi there,

I saw your plea for some words about kyle and thought I’d drop you a line (kyle gave me your email). Anyway I met Kyle through Twitter about 8 months ago just as we were launching our site. He really liked the site and has been a tireless promoter of it ever since. He’s even represented us at trade shows in the US and introduced our site to numerous fly fishing businesses.

This would never happened if it wasn’t for Twitter and more importantly Kyle’s understanding of the medium. He’s is an extremely generous, trustworthy, helpful and knowledgeable person- the perfect candidate really if you want someone to help promote your site. Its very easy to see these qualities in his tweets and the main reason why I was happy to let a complete stranger represent us in the US without even meeting him.

Anyway I look forward to reading your piece about him

Kind regards

Ed Burgass
Owner/Founder
www.flyfishmap.com

Twitter User Of The Week Questions:

How do you use Twitter/What do you use Twitter for?

I use twitter to listen, learn, and converse. It’s also introduced me to new friends that I may not have ever met. I like to be myself and support people and causes I believe in.

If you had the opportunity, what would you do improve Twitter?

I would love to see a better way to track conversations between myself and others. Maybe I’m not using the right app, but it get’s confusing when several conversations are going on at once. Or, if someone hasn’t replied in a day or two.

What do you like to do when you are not connected to the internet?

Spend time with my beautiful wife – fly-fish wherever/whenever I can – eating sushi with friends

What is your favorite website to visit other than Twitter, and why?

I like the Drake Magazine message board, and just checking fishing reports. Also, I drool quit a bit at catchmagazine.net

Really, I spend time most time on email, work research, and porn – just kidding, it’s really just fly-fishing videos on YouTube – I’m a loser

What attracts you to social media over traditional media?

Everything! Social says it all. Building relationships, real-time interactions, and especially sharing information about news or causes you support.

What is your favorite Laffy Taffy Joke (One-liner joke)?

“What’s a red-neck’s last words?  —-  Hold my beer and watch this!”

What is a question to which you would answer: “D. All of the above”? And, what are A, B, & C?

What do you love so much about Denver:

A: The People,

B: The Climate,

C: It’s an all season playground!

D: All of the above

What would you do if you had a time machine?

Warn people of catastrophic events so they can prepare or avoid.

What song lyric sums up your life thus far?

“And when you feel your life ain’t worth living
you’ve got to stand up and take a look around
look way up into the sky
And when your deepest thoughts are broken,
keep on dreaming boy, cause when you stop dreamin’ it’s time to die.”
- I’ll never stop dreaming…

What is the one thing that gets you out of bed every morning?

My dog Mia, panting away at the end of the bed. Her 100lbs moves the entire matress set and starts to get annoying quickly.

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Get some coffee. Period.

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve had to learn so far in your life?

How to have patience.

What’s an idea you have that, if implemented, could change the world?

A ray-gun that you could shoot from outerspace towards the earth that would make everyone CHILL THE HELL OUT!

What drives you nuts?

Bad drivers.

What actor or actress would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

I gotta say Johnny Depp – not because I have a man-crush on him, but… Okay, I have a man crush on him.

What super power would you like to have?

One name – Aquaman

Who should I write about in future weeks, and why?

@mistymontano – why? Because she’s changing how we interact with journalism!

When I look at the list of people who have been suggested to me for Twitter User Of The Week, I look for those people who are either leaders on Twitter or who have proven to be rising stars.  @BuzzEdition is someone who knows how to use Twitter and who I see as a definite leader.  Susan uses Twitter to share her knowledge and expertise of Social Media without losing touch of who she is or her friends.  It is hard to find quality people on Twitter who provide quality information and great personality.

As you can see, Susan also has a loyal Twitter following:

Twitter User Of The Week Questions:

@fjfonseca recommended you to be Twitter User Of The Week, what do you think of him?

Fernando is an absolute sweetheart! One of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet. And funny too! Ask him about his blooper real he did once, it made me laugh out loud.  http://www.bitrebels.com/social/its-about-you-you-and-you/

How do you use Twitter/What do you use Twitter for?

I use Twitter for fun and for business, but what I enjoy the most about Twitter is the people I meet daily. From laughing over stupid jokes to sharing amazing articles to just finding out new things about my friends, for me it’s all fun.

If you had the opportunity, what would you do improve Twitter?

Get rid of the new RT system first and foremost. I sincerely hate it, and the lack of editing and adding in the personalities of the people who choose to RT is something I truly detest. Second I would love to have access to the suspend button and help Twitter out with ridding our world of these spammers.

What do you like to do when you are not connected to the internet?

That’s kind of a silly question because I am literally always connected to the internet. I do enjoy movies, music and spending time with my family.

What is your favorite website to visit other than Twitter, and why?

I sincerely enjoy StumbleUpon. I could spend hours surfing the web and checking out some of the best content the internet has to offer. Of course technically that’s visiting more than one website, however the Stumble users pick the best content from all websites which saves me lots of time and energy.

What is your favorite Laffy Taffy Joke (One-liner joke)?

A man walks into a bar. Ouch.

What is a question to which you would answer: “D. All of the above”? And, what are A, B, & C?

What is the purpose of Social Media?
A. To interact, engage and share information with people you know.
B. To interact, engage and share with people outside your circle.
C. To build relationships between businesses and people.
D. All of the above

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Coffee…then Twitter…

What would you do if you had a time machine?

Sell it to those guys over at “Lost” because they need it more than I do. In reference to my life though, I would not change a thing. The bad and good memories and experiences have made me who I am, and I like me.

What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know?

That I do not open up and trust easily, so when I cross that line and become friends with someone, I cherish them.

What song lyric sums up your life thus far?

From Alanis Morissette and the song “Ironic”:
A traffic jam when you’re already late
A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
It’s like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It’s meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn’t it ironic…dontcha think
A little too ironic…and yeah I really do think…
It’s like rain on your wedding day
It’s a free ride when you’ve already paid
It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take
Who would’ve thought…it figures
Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out

What is the one thing that gets you out of bed every morning?

The desire to learn and interact. The joy of another hug from my child or grandchildren. My friends.

If you weren’t doing what you are doing for a profession, what would you be doing?

I actually love what I am doing now. Of course I have lots of “professions”, but my favorite responsibilities include anything that involves interacting with people.

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve had to learn so far in your life?

That people are not always what they appear to be, but they do show you who they are eventually. It’s your job to pay attention when they do.

What’s an idea you have that, if implemented, could change the world?

I would not tackle any idea to change the entire world, my goal is to encourage and engage my little part of it, and hopefully change a few lives along the way.

What drives you nuts?

People who ask me if I ever sleep, when it’s obvious that I do. People that are mean to others.

What actor or actress would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

Sandra Bullock or Julia Roberts, both have strong personalities, are family oriented and love to have fun.

What super power would you like to have?

To be invisible. Much easier to find out interesting secrets that way!

What question would you add to this list and what is your answer to it?

What attracts you to social media over traditional media?
The people.

Who should I write about in future weeks, and why?

I think Ben Parr (@BenParr), Ray Beckerman (@RayBeckerman) and Muhammad Saleem (@Msaleem) are very interesting people that others would enjoy.

Thanks to @fjfonseca, @buzzedition, @awakeningaimee, @itstartswithus, @luckylobos, @popcornreel, and @suuperG for your help with this week’s article!

Normally at the beginning of these articles I write an article about my subject.  This time however, I received an email from a friend of this weeks Twitter User Of The Week and could not even touch what he wrote:

The 1st thing that comes to mind about Fernando is his drive.  He seems to have endless, relentless passion for his activities in the musical & technological world, whether it’s promoting PublicSpaces’ latest release, or blogging about something that’s pissed him off, namely people being treated unfairly.

That gives you a sense of what he’s really like – his thoughtfulness and consideration of others always seems to be of paramount importance to him.  He dedicates a hell of a lot of time to support people around him, almost regardless of what he’s getting out of the bargain.

I’m happy to have met him on twitter, am very proud to be associated with him via Public Spaces Lab, and am always motivated by him – I’d say he’s a natural leader, with a conscience & he really cares about giving time to other people.

All the best

Paul.
/dustmotes

Along with Paul above, a few other people wanted to tell me about Fernando:

@ShellyKramer recommended you to be Twitter User Of The Week, what do you think of her?

I think Shelly Kramer is nuts and the fact that she recommended me to be the “Twitter User of The Week” only confirms it. Apart from being nuts Shelly is probably one of the most brilliant minds I’ve met in a long time: her energy is contagious, she is always spot on with her ideas, she as an open heart to help others whenever they need and to me she is a fantastic friend. She is also nuts. Really nuts!

How do you use Twitter/What do you use Twitter for?

I use twitter to network, to manage a part of my business, to connect, to explore, to discover and to share knowledge with others. How do I use it? I’m sure in a very bad way but I’m learning.

If you had the opportunity, what would you do improve Twitter?

I would start by extending the character limit to 280 and see what that would bring. I would also change that fail whale to something else since the poor whales are already on the verge of extinction and they don’t need to be blamed for Twitter’s tech team mishaps. (I’m thinking a cartoon that mixes Ev, Biz and Jack’s face and body features hanging by a rope that is lifted by crows as the new fail screen). A “Delete all DMs” button, a way to add users to any list directly from the web timeline and the end to the new RT system.

What do you like to do when you are not connected to the internet?

I was raised in a farm and I love the country side. That is where I go to when I need to recharge my batteries. I also love to read, watch some TV series, discuss politics. I’m also involved in some activism projects.

What is your favorite website to visit other than Twitter, and why?

There are a few for me to able to pick just one: Bit Rebels is a must for me, not only because I write there but because I like the approach that the whole team takes in covering actual events. The site from Thomas Raukamp noumenon :: and :: phenomenon (http://www.noumenonphenomenon.com/) is a must visit every day because of the excellent musical suggestions it always features.

What is your favorite Laffy Taffy Joke (One-liner joke)?

Sometimes I have this moments on Twitter where I start writing my #RandomThoughts. They are usually connected to something that is happening in my life (be it online of offline). My favorite of all time:

#RandomThoughts Let me know if I say something that offends you. I may want to offend you again later.

What is a question to which you would answer: “D. All of the above”? And, what are A, B, & C?

Do you every sleep?
A.    Yes
B.     No
C.     Maybe
D.    All of the above

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Assuming that I sleep, I open my eyes, grab my E71 and check my mails and Twitter mentions and DMs.

What would you do if you had a time machine?

I would destroy it.

What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know?

That I have a tattoo on my left shoulder that was done in Tibet. This and more you can find at my Formspring.me page (http://formspring.me/fjfonseca) where you can also ask me anything you want.

What question would you add to this list?

Do you really expect people to call music to all of that noise you make?

What song lyric sums up your life thus far?

“The Best is yet to come” by Frank Sinatra

What is the one thing that gets you out of bed every morning?

Life

If you weren’t doing what you are doing for a profession, what would you be doing?

I would be sending out CVs so I could get to do what I’m doing.

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve had to learn so far in your life?

That those you love are not going to stick around forever and you should grab every chance you have in your life to tell them how much you love them.

What’s an idea you have that, if implemented, could change the world?

The end of Microsoft.

What drives you nuts?

People that think that 4:06pm is exactly the same as 4:00pm, Auto-DMs, people that are afraid to express what they think because of what others might think/say, people that assume they know you because they know what you do (I could go on forever)

What actor or actress would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

I think that Sean Connery would do just fine.

What super power would you like to have?

I’m not allowed to discuss my super powers, sorry Matt.

Who should I write about in future weeks, and why?

@adamsconsulting, @thomasraukamp, @harrisonpainter, @ctk1, @booksbelow, @kieronjames, @ambienteer, @buzzedition and @jafurtado. They are all amazing people, dedicated, hard working and that bring to my twitter timeline content that inspires me on a daily basis. My life, without them there, would not be the same and would be much more poor.

For more information about Fernando you can visit him at The Home of Zargon or at PubSpaces

Thank you to @fjfonseca, @dustmotes, @kieronjames, @catmagellan, and @shellykramer

Anytime @ShellyKramer suggests someone to me, I listen (trust me, you should too!).  @OhDoctah was someone I noticed she was chatting with about 6 months ago so I immediately followed him. I wouldn’t be writing this article if I didn’t think you should too. (Do it).

Owen JJ Stone, or @OhDoctah is a very caring, hilarious, and sweet man (just ask his followers!).  He is constantly meeting people and learning from them, as well as teaching the rest of us as he goes.

If you would like more information or to see what Owen is working on today, check out any of these sites:

• @Ohdoctah = Pleasure | @IQMZ = Business
• FB Page 4 Play Ohdoctah | FB Page 4 Work IQMZ
• AskOhdoctah.com: “You can’t afford therapy? We can’t afford degrees!”
• Stayaliveforfive.com: “I’ve chosen 5 people as markers on my journey to becoming more healthy. Megan Fox could save my life!”
• BeerDiplomacyTV.com: “Solving America’s problems one drink at a time!” @BeerDiplomacy
• BBLiveShow.com: “The Best Worst Show on the Internet!” #bbliveshow

A great insight into Owen’s character is his answer to a question I often ask in my discovery phase while learning about my article subject:

… I dislike talking about myself. So let’s just say. I love my family. I love my friends. I love to travel. I love what I do for a living. And even tho it sucks sometimes.. I love my life.

Every week I ask the Twitter User Of The Week some questions that have been put together by myself and previous users of the week.

Twitter User Of The Week Questions

@ShellyKramer recommended you to be Twitter User Of The Week, what do you think of her?

I love Shelly she is my number one “online wife” At least that’s what my twitter list says. She’s very upfront about her thoughts… I love her for that most of all.

What is your favorite Laffy Taffy Joke (One-liner joke)?

I’m natuarally funny I don’t really “do” jokes! =o)

What is a question to which you would answer: “D. All of the above”? And, what are A, B, & C?

How would you describe yourself?
A Cute
B Smart
C Real
D All of the above

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Check my phone for missed calls and skim thru my email on my eye phone before I get out of bed.

What would you do if you had a time machine?

I would go back to 10-17-1979 and have a talk with my father. I would spend the day telling him what to do with his life. Helping him would help me.

What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know?

That I can see the future.

What question would you add to this list?

What super power would you like to have?

What song lyric sums up your life thus far?

“I’m a CEO which means that I profit off of me!” ~ Rick Ross

What is the one thing that gets you out of bed every morning?

@Leiyah and the Sun

If you weren’t doing what you are doing for a profession, what would you be doing?

I’d be a Professional Dad!

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve had to learn so far in your life?

Life is short.. don’t waste time complaining and live it…

What’s an idea you have that, if implemented, could change the world?

No lethal weapons on the planet.

What drives you nuts?

Repeating myself.. people don’t listen anymore.. I can not stand repeating myself.

What actor or actress would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

Denzel Washington

Who should I write about in future weeks, and why?

@3Lunches Carol Quinn –Why shes smart and has a new project that is fun and interesting that helps people get coached on different topics.

Thank you @OhDoctah, @ShellyKramer, @Tekee, @RussBroomell for all of your help this week!

You will not find a more caring, more understanding or more awesome person who really gets the “social” part of Social Media, than you will with @ShellyKramer.  She not only understands how things work, she lives it.

I have had the pleasure of hanging out with Shelly on more than one occasion IRL (in real life).  She will be the first to give you a hug and ask you how you are doing, as well as the first to ask “so, how’s that project going?”.  I am not sure how she manages to keep everyone on twitter and IRL straight in her head, but she does it with style.

If you are not following Shelly, you should because you are totally missing out on a great person.  You will find her Twitter feed to be a wealth of information, witty comments, and links to an amazing assortment of things. While she focuses primarily on Social Media, her feed is not overwhelmingly on that topic.

Ask just about anyone who talks to her regularly, and you will get responses like these:

Twitter User Of The Week Q&A

What is your favorite Laffy Taffy Joke (One-liner joke)?

I don’t have one – only because I can never remember them. Lame, I know. But true.

What is a question to which you would answer: “D. All of the above”? And, what are A, B, & C?

What is your favorite thing to do? A. Eat B. Drink C. Laugh D. All of the above

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Hug my kids, make a latte

What would you do if you had a time machine?

Go back in time and stop certain things from happening – The Holocaust, Pearl Harbor, Invasion of Normandy, 9/11, war in Iraq and others. But then, that’s a tall order.  So many lives lost – would be nice to be able to change that.

What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know?

I’m really a big softie. On second thought, keep that one on the DL, willya

What question would you add to this list?

What actor or actress would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

What song lyric sums up your life thus far?

“Life’s been good to me so far”

What is the one thing that gets you out of bed every morning?

My 4 year old Twinlet Twinkies, whether I’m ready or not.

If you weren’t doing what you are doing for a profession, what would you be doing?

Can’t imagine doing anything else … but, if not this, for sure a totally famous rock star. Now, if only I could sing.

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve had to learn so far in your life?

That nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

What’s an idea you have that, if implemented, could change the world?

Pretty simple, actually – treat others as you would like to be treated.

What drives you nuts?

Mean, uncaring people. And bad grammar.

Who should I write about in future weeks, and why?

@amyoscar – she is doing very cool things with and about angels.

@michellelamar – she’s the original White Trash Mom and is hysterically funny

@fjfonseca – because he always inspires me with the amazing things he’s doing

@adamsconsulting – because she inspires me, too

@susanpowers – because she’s a chef turned food blogger who will knock your socks off with her knowledge and talent

@kittster1 – because she’s the funniest person I know and her answers would be sure to entertain

@purplehayz – because I like him a lot and think him interesting

@cynnergies – she’s an expat living in London, full of life and a beautiful smile, and is as smart as can be

@mochamomma – if you ever pay attention to her Twitter stream, she’s hysterical. And most beloved.

@karlkovacs – because he’s a techie guy (like you) and loves a good conversation

@ohdoctah – because you need some Black Man in the mix and he’s All That

@_stevewoods and @matthewrayscott – FABULOUS, funny, smart. Great guys

If you can’t tell that Shelly is one of the best people on this planet by the great praise that all her friends have given her, or by the great answers to her questions, then just follow her feed for a day. She will not only welcome any conversation you start with her, you will probably learn something and she will thank you for chatting her up.  You really don’t find much better than Shelly Kramer online or in real life.

Thank you to all of the people who helped me out with this article, you will see their comments or names linked above.

One thing I love about Twitter is that people can be whoever they want to be.  This is a statement that has been said and re-said about internet technologies, sites, and ideas since the concept of an avatar or user profile as existed.  What is really interesting about Twitter is that people have a tendency to be exactly who they are in real life, instead of someone who they are not.

I think this is what draws me to this week’s Twitter User of The Week, @robyfitzhenry.

I do a somewhat short and informal interview of the people who I write about on this site, it basically involves:

• one or two tweets asking for information
• some minor email correspondence, including the questions below
• me twitter-stalking the person for a week

That is really it.  I try to get a feel for the person through the voice they project on Twitter and through their questions and try to write an article showcasing the best of what I have found out.

Roby surprised me, not only because he is funny and witty through Twitter, but also because he is an Ender’s Game fan.  That is huge points in the game of awesomeness, at least from my point of view.  He uses Twitter to “share [his] thoughts and network”, which he does quite well.  But, Roby makes it clear through his conversation with me and his actions on Twitter that his philosophy is:

“Twitter shouldn’t be about your number of followers. It should be about how many real relationships you develop.”

Chat Roby up about design, fashion (t-shirts and shoes), politics, or music you will find that he is worth spending the time to get to know.  He is extremely creative and talented in his work, you can see what he is working on or interested in through either Roby’s personal site,  Desired Hearts, or Always Creative.

Twitter User Of The Week Q&A:

@ChrisPitre suggested you, what do you think about him?

Chris is one of the most talented guys I know. He is so creative and really made me realize how much I love copywriting. It really has been a pleasure collaborating with him these last couple of years. He’s also arguably a “Divo” or male diva for those unfamiliar with the term. I mean that in the nicest way possible Chris.

What is your favorite Laffy Taffy Joke (One-liner joke)?

Q: When is the best time to buy a bird? A: When it’s going CHEEEP.

What is a question to which you would answer: “D. All of the above”? And, what are A, B, & C?

Who kicks the most ass?

A. Chuck Norris (Obviously)
B. Andrew Wiggins (Ender from Ender’s Game, etc.)
C. Dallas Cowboys (circa 1993)

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Shower because I’m a zombie all day if I don’t. I also like to get out of bed and turn my alarms off without even realizing it’s happening. Damn you insomnia!

What would you do if you had a time machine?

In chronological order: Punch Christopher Columbus, help save the Native Americans and then punch Hitler. After all this punching and fighting for social justice, I’d need to kick back and have a beer with Pablo Picasso, Martin Luther King Jr. and Paul Rand. Not all at once of course. But that would be cool too. Note: Columbus wasn’t the nice guy that we all think. He also doesn’t deserve a holiday.

What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know?

My high school calculus teacher changed my life in one small story. She basically said that at the end of your life, you don’t have tangible, physical objects. All you really have is your name and your integrity and you should fight your entire life to protect both. That single moment in time forever changed my outlook on life. To hell with money. I want a life full of family, friends and personal triumph via self discipline. If the money comes too, that’s great but I just want to be a good person.

What question would you add to this list?

“What drives you nuts?”

What song lyric sums up your life thus far?

“I’ll go against a tank with a shank for my dreams … ” or “Sleep is the cousin of death.”

What is the one thing that gets you out of bed every morning?

My business partner calling me to say, “Get out of bed dumbass.” As stated above, the hardest part of my day is going to sleep and waking up.

If you weren’t doing what you are doing for a profession, what would you be doing?

I’d either be a writer or an educator. Not saying I can do either but I have HUGE respect for both. The written word is such a powerful thing and educators shape the future.

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve had to learn so far in your life?

If you want something you have to work for it. And there is always a chance that you’ll never get it. But at least you tried.

What’s an idea you have that, if implemented, could change the world?

Conversation is a powerful thing. I would prefer to have a beer with my enemies, get to know their situation and talk about how to get to common ground. I also believe education is the solution to a lot of the world’s problems. This is especially true for low income areas that are often high in crime.

Who should I write about next week, and why?

I’d say Eric Downs of Downs Design. He’s one of my best friends and it’s pretty weird how much we have in common. He’s also really really talented. (@downsdesign)

For more information about Roby, visit his links above where you will find tons of great stuff that interests him.

Special Thanks to both @ChrisPitre and @RobyFitzhenry for this week’s Twitter User Of The Week Article!

Last week, @JenKaneCo gave a great reason why I should write about @ChrisPitre:

My favorite Texan, Mr. @chrispitre. He is a Twitter monster and has just the right bit of sass to balance out his rampant positivity (i.e. check out his Twitter word cloud from the past year…it is full of words like “love” and “happy,” and yet I don’t feel compelled to smack him in any way.) Between his command of all things social media and his knowledge of the rich oeuvre that is the Beyonce Knowles song catalogue, I’m pretty sure he has the goods to take over the world

After asking and looking around, I found out a little more about Chris.  He is the Social Marketing Strategist at IDEA.  You can also find out more about Chris at his website, Texas MadMan, where he posts about the things going on in his life.

Some friends of Chris had this to say:

@JenKaneCo suggested you, what do you think about her?

Jen Kane is the Beyonce of the Twin Cities. When she moves and shakes, you better stop, take notes, and imitate. Aside from her ability to pick up any pop culture reference, she is an awesome planner and thinker. She pays attention to the minutia that no one thinks about until its absent, which is why her events are so successful and worthwhile. Basically, she’s a movement by herself.

What is your favorite Laffy Taffy Joke (One-liner joke)?

You ain’t right. You know I’m trying to keep my diet…that I’ve been ignoring for 3 months! Can’t recall a particular joke that stands out in my mind.

What is a question to which you would answer: “D. All of the above”? And, what are A, B, & C?

What pisses you off?
A. Mediocrity (and people who create it)
B. Settling (and being around people who are willing to)
C. Dumb questions (yes, there is a such thing as a dumb question)
D. All of the above

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Um, wake up. Nah, just kidding. I check my email on my iPhone, which is typically the first edition of HARO and the daily digest of Ad Age. Every now and again I have an email in my work inbox. If there are too many messages, I open up my MacBook and continue my reading. I sleep next to both iPhone and MacBook (peace of mind).

What would you do if you had a time machine?

I’d destroy it. Wait, I spoke too soon! I’d sell it. I don’t want to undo anything, as it’s all lead me somewhere. Instead, I’d use the cash to buy a house in West University (high profile neighborhood in Houston’s Inner Loop), budget to cycle through a new BMW every 2 years, tithe and donate, and get some new duds (from Banana Republic to Thomas Pink).

What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know?

I am a (heavy) jokester. Please don’t take everything I say/Tweet seriously, including my Twitter bio. Thankfully, my coworkers have not filed a complaint to HR.

What question would you add to this list?

What’s an idea you have that, if implemented, could change the world? (Mine: cable a la carte…no more paying for channels you don’t watch! Money saved! Looser household budgets! More spending. Better economy)

What song lyric sums up your life thus far?

[I] can be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare.
Either way, [you] won’t want to wake up.
- Beyonce, “Sweet Dreams”

What is the one thing that gets you out of bed every morning?

Prayer time. I pray before I start my day. (Hey, that rhymed!)

If you weren’t doing what you are doing for a profession, what would you be doing?

I would likely be working at a boring job with a high salary. My taste tends to exceed my income, so if I didn’t do what I love, I’d do what paid me the most. (We can be perfectly honest, right?)

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve had to learn so far in your life?

Fear is not an option. Just because you’re facing something scary, that doesn’t mean you cower to it or become afraid of it. Conquer it.

Who should I write about next week, and why?

@robyfitzhenry – If there was one thing I wish I had (other than pipes like Luther Vandross and rhythm like Beyonce), it’s the ability to execute strong design. That’s what Roby can do. I’ve been a huge fan of his design aesthetic since 2008, and we’ve developed a deep friendship through Twitter and IM. We met at a BarCamp for the first time. He’s the one person who I can bounce an idea off of and get the truth in return. If it’s awesome, he’ll throw his support, resources, and skills to help me accomplish whatever I want to do. He rocks! I guess you could say he’s a male (very, very masculine) version of Beyonce when it comes to design.

Special Thanks to @JenKaneCo, @CathrynMarie, @stagepresence1 for your help this week!

There are people in this world who when you meet them, whether in person or on Twitter, you know that you will remember them and come back for more again and again. Jen is one of these people.  I started following Jen when I was writing about @Nylons, because she wrote some of the kindest most heartfelt comments that I have encountered while writing the Twitter User Of The Week articles.

I am partial to people who are straight shooters, no BS, who bring a personal touch to the things they do, and who don’t feel the need to toot their own horn or push themselves on you. So immediately I was interested in Jen and the things she is doing on Twitter.  I found that she is not only a very sincere person, but fun and exciting to follow as well.

By proving their Social Media Contract, Kane Consulting has taken drastic measures to prove to people they interact with that they are genuine people who “uphold a specific standard of decorum, ethics and quality of work in everything [they] do”.  This sentence is Jen, what she does and who she is.

When I wrote Jen to say that this weeks article was going to be about her, her first response was to suggest 6 other people who she felt would be great Twitter User Of The Week subjects. #10 on her Social Media Contract is: “We will never fall in love with our own hype”.  The contract is not something that Jen takes lightly and it is definitely something she lives by.

I am a big fan of learning about people through what they tweet and what people are willing to say about them:

Twitter User of The Week Q & A

@WD45 suggested you, what do you think about him?

As I mentioned to him recently, I think Clinton is deliciously nerdy. He’s also smarter than me, nicer than me and dresses better than I do. I’m pretty sure he’s the Laura Ingalls Wilder to my Nellie Olson.

What is your favorite Laffy Taffy Joke (One-liner joke)?

I don’t ever tell jokes, just long and meandering stories that hopefully have a funny conclusion. I’m afraid I was a terrible drag to hang out with as a child.

What is a question to which you would answer: “D. All of the above”? And, what are A, B, & C?

Which of the following are true statements about Jen?

A.     She has lots of metal and dead people parts in her body.
B.     She dislikes clowns, board games and lazy people.
C.     She’s a 2nd degree black belt and often feels the urge to kick people in the face.
D.    All of the above

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Pee. Don’t you?

What would you do if you had a time machine?

Not sure. One must be very careful when messing with the time/space continuum. I’m a planner, so I’d have to work out one heck of a strategy before I’d hop in that sucker and start jumping around in time. (And yes, I watch a lot of sci-fi.)

What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know?

One reason I like social media is that I tend to be pretty transparent by nature (in fact, a little too transparent to live easily in the Midwest, I’ve discovered). If you want to know something about me, just ask, and I’ll tell you the truth – even if the reality is that a lot of people don’t in fact want to know the truth, (see “First thing in the morning” question above). Also, if there were a fan page for myself, I wouldn’t join it.

What question would you add to this list?

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve had to learn so far in your life?

What song lyric sums up your life thus far?

It’s a mantra that I don’t always buy, but try to follow:

Try not to get worried, try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you, oh.
Don’t you know
Everything’s alright, yes, everything’s fine.

(From Jesus Christ Superstar. Yep, I was a theatre major—cue JAZZ HANDS!)

What is the one thing that gets you out of bed every morning?

My family (cause they’re usually like, “Um…what’s the issue here? Get up already) and a sincere desire to affect change in the world.

If you weren’t doing what you are doing for a profession, what would you be doing?

I am pretty much the poster girl for following your passion. I am an all around communicator, organizer and change agent and those tend to be skills that people can use no matter what the project or industry or trend. So I work with people and companies I love. If I stop loving them, I go do something else. And I try to knock people’s socks off with whatever I’m doing. That’s about the extent of the big picture plan.

Who should I write about next week, and why?

My favorite Texan, Mr. @chrispitre. He is a Twitter monster and has just the right bit of sass to balance out his rampant positivity (i.e. check out his Twitter word cloud from the past year…it is full of words like “love” and “happy,” and yet I don’t feel compelled to smack him in any way.) Between his command of all things social media and his knowledge of the rich oeuvre that is the Beyonce Knowles song catalogue, I’m pretty sure he has the goods to take over the world

Special thanks to @wd45, @JenKaneCo, @Nylons, @KaryD, @Ech03, @mplsmaven, @REMedina, & @WendyRae for all of your help with this week’s article!