When it's time to say goodbye

When you're in your twenties, you'll live forever. You're the center of the universe. You are invincible!

But for some strange reason, one day shortly after I’d started my design business, something in the obituaries caught my eye and I began to read. As a young adult in my early 20s, it occurred to me these people were now gone, and reading about them in the obits was undoubtedly the last chance I would have to ever cross that person’s path. I was “meeting” them shortly after they'd departed.

A social media friend once told me she'd asked her niece to contact me in case anything ever happened to her. And it made me think about my own relationships with friends on Twitter and other social media channels. Some are people I regard fondly, and I would want to know if something happened to them. And in turn, I would want them to know if something happened to me. Do most of us have some sort of plan in place?

Local notices include the people in our own back yards. But so many friendships can now span continents, and I didn't think there was a great way to keep track. If someone dies in Seattle at 2 AM Friday, it's still Thursday night in Hawaii and 10 PM Friday night in Sydney. Like the online celebration of birthdays or #FollowFriday, the time of death seems to vary by time zones.

Last week an acquaintance on Empire Avenue suddenly expired. We never met in real life though he lived within an hour of Seattle. It made me think there is no place to post a social media obituary. So I started to investigate and came up with a few interesting articles:

• Huffington Post: Death creates a complicated process for Facebook photos
• The Guardian: Why death is not the end of your social media life
• Wall Street Journal: Life and death online: Who controls a digital legacy?
• CNN: How to post to Facebook, Twitter after you die
• How Stuff Works: What happens to all my social networking information when I die?
• Huffington Post: Death on Facebook now common as "Dead Profiles" create vast virtual cemetery

The articles above led to the following sites that appear to deal with various aspects of letting your social media friends know when you are gone:

• _LivesON - keeps tweeting after you've passed away
• ifIdie: An application that enables you to create a video or text message that will only be published after you die.
• DeadSoci.al - allows you to create messages to be released once we have gone.

As I’ve grown older, I find I spend less time reading obituaries. Perhaps it’s because I’m seeing more and more people I recognize, particularly from my parents' generation.

The reality is, social media is part of our lives now. I don't think tweeting after death would be for me, but a notification of SOME sort seems reasonable.

It is hoped each of us will leave a legacy through our impact on others, meaningful accomplishments, and the positive thoughts that are remembered. I've asked myself, if I were to die tomorrow, am I satisfied with the life I've led so far? 

The answer would be "yes."

What would you hope your social media obituary would say about you?

Illustration © Tim Teebken

Should Every Follower Be Followed Back?

Common sense says you should follow whomever you want. But recently I read a post by a blogger who felt everyone on Twitter—especially those in "leadership" positions—should follow everyone back. 

It might sound good in theory, but here are some thoughts to ponder:

Some followers may not be worthy of a follow back

If you check before you click the "follow" button, you might find:

• Accounts that have posted no tweets. Maybe their abandoned accounts have been taken over by squatters, or they could be fake accounts created for people who buy followers
• Questionable content — X-Rated timelines; "Tweeps" (Twitter peeps) who use a lot of foul language; Businesses that tweet exclusively about their products and services; Tweeps who post spam or tweet the same message over and over
• Accounts that broadcast one-way, outgoing feeds with no interaction with anyone
• Those who use TrueTwit validation to weed out "bots." TrueTwit DMs are off-putting, so they end up weeding out people, too
• Tweeps whose timelines are primarily Foursquare notifications, or shares about what they are watching on television or YouTube
• Someone with a private account. You can't view their timelines, and it forces you to request to follow them back without being able to see what they tweet
• People who tweet in another language

Some observations about following

It takes time and energy to curate a timeline that offers value. Some people work hard to earn their follows by establishing connections, engaging and sharing interesting content. 

Recently I did an audit and found I was following more than 500 people who hadn't tweeted in up to two years, plus hundreds more who hadn't tweeted in three months or longer. Social sites like Twitter experience growth as well as attrition when discovered by new users. If they lose interest, often their accounts go dormant. 

Dormant or inactive followers may have a negative impact on your account from an analytic standpoint. Rating entities like Klout, Kred and PeerIndex are looking not only at the number of followers you have, but also how many engaged followers you have.

Why follow someone who hasn't tweeted for a long time?  

• If you know someone in real life, on the off-chance they check to see if you're still there, it's probably best to keep the connection 
• You "meet" a nice tweep, and they disappear. Real-life trumps virtual, and they might be on an extended break. If you keep the connection, it's not unusual for people to resurface 
• For personal reasons There are two people I follow who are actually DEAD. I continue to follow them out of my regard for them while they were alive.

Following everyone back can backfire. Some well-known tweeps were following a troll. Though well-regarded, they don't check out their followers. By returning a troll's follow, they implicitly gave him their stamp of approval. 

Often people passively follow someone, then feel bugged and unfollow if they aren't followed back. If you want someone to follow you, try sending them a tweet directly. It's more likely to get their attention and get them to follow you.

While some people feel good because there are accounts who will follow back every person, they're the exception rather than the rule.

What makes a good follow back?

It depends on what you seek. I like to follow people who engage, or share things of interest to me. As one of my early mentors, @raybeckerman, once told me, it's good to see a mixture of content and conversations. It points to an active participant in this global chat room we call Twitter. 

A few ways to determine a good follow back: 

• If you enjoy conversing with someone and find they're following you
• Read the bio or check out blog links/URLs
• Look at timelines to see if you like the kinds of things they share
• If you have friends in common and trust their judgement

Even if someone's timeline is completely flooded with conversations, not every person is followed because of their content. Sometimes they are followed because they are friendly, interesting, fun or nice!

There aren't any fail-safe indicators, but taking time to see if you really want to follow someone will help you build a nice community for yourself.

People who vet followers can become targets of poachers

It's useful to check out your followers, but it's also time consuming. And those who vet their followers are sometimes used by others.

How? 

People focused on building big followings can target accounts they know care about the quality of the people they follow. When a targeted account follows someone, the "poachers" will follow them, too, using tools like Tweetadder. Since poachers are often popular people, they know it's almost certain they will be followed back. Poaching makes it easy for them to add quality followers without investing much time.

Poaching is a bit like having someone look over your shoulder to copy your test answers in school, but where that would be cheating in the real world, it's not against Twitter's terms of service.

Each of us has the right to follow, not follow, UNfollow, or block people for whatever reasons are chosen. 

Do you agree? What are your thoughts about following everyone back? 

--

Thanks to Eleanor Jodway for being an early reader of this post
Illustration purchased on iStockphoto.com

Forgiveness in the New Year

WE CUT PEOPLE LOOSE from our lives for a variety of reasons. Maybe they have been dishonest, unkind, or simply obnoxious. But even after jettisoning someone, they can persist in the back of one's mind.

Instead of pledging to work out at the gym or go on a diet, for the new year, try lightening your load by exercising the power of forgiveness.

Negative feelings take energy even when you're not thinking about them. It's like a faucet leak. You know it should be dealt with somehow, but it's easier to be passive and let that drip, drip, drip reside in the background.

The process of forgiving

To start, it means taking stock of what has gone sideways and moving forward with an action, like a phone call, email, or even meeting in person. The intent is to share the problem with the desire to sweep it away and start over. It's like giving someone a second chance.

A former colleague did something unethical to me. At first I was hurt, then angry. The anger grew into a general dislike, and mostly it had dissipated until recently when she popped back on my radar. Feeling there was nothing to lose, I decided to tell her how I've been feeling. She didn't even remember the incident, which illustrates how any of us might inadvertently cause unhappiness in others. It made me wonder if I've done the same thing?

Forgiveness doesn't mean condoning negative behavior. The process of forgiving acknowledges the bad with the hope that history won't repeat itself. And just because you've forgiven someone doesn't mean they've regained your trust. In fact, they probably haven't. But it means they might be able to earn it back.

Can you forgive a virtual friend?

Are social media "friendships" important to mend? People can be dishonest by doing things to obscure your view of them (not giving real names, not using pictures of themselves) and it allows them to do things they wouldn't do normally if they were personally going to be held accountable. Giving them a pass is like forgiving the meter maid who leaves a parking ticket on your car. They're like shadows without bodies, and probably best to leave alone.

A lighter life

I like the notion of starting the year with something doable. What's the point of having goals that start and fizzle because they require major lifestyle changes? If you forgive just one person, you've already succeeded because you've stopped a leak of wasted energy and can move forward with less heaviness weighing you down on the path of your life. 

Do you have any new year resolutions? Do you feel most people should be given another chance? I'd love to have you share your thoughts.

Many thanks for reading this. 

And happy new year to you :-)

Illustration: © Urban Colors 

Turning customers into brand advocates

The customer may not always be right, but will they always be a customer?

How can a business convert a customer into a brand evangelist?

One way is to be methodical.

When I was designing projects for Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) one approach was based on the notion that employees can become emissaries who spread good buzz, as well as become extensions of the sales force.

If someone isn't fully aware of all its company does or produces, it means an opportunity to provide a recommendation could be lost. By arming employees with knowledge, it increased chances for potential customers to learn about a company through an enthusiastic, trusted source. AC devised fun and rewarding ways to familiarize employees with the capabilities of their companies.

Social media echoes a time when companies actually cared.

Recently I had two very different, but equally vexing problems. Instead of going through the normal channels, I tweeted.

Then I waited.

In both cases, within hours, something amazing happened: I was contacted to see how my problems could be resolved.

Tweeting isn't just muscle flexing. Through social media, businesses are realizing they can create more personal relationships with their customers. Being on social media provides consumers with a direct connection to a PERSON. And even if an outcome is less than perfect, being able to connect with someone instead of someTHING can lead to improved customer satisfaction. When we become "friends," friends support one another.

Great customer service is another way.

The two companies converted me from being a discouraged consumer into a brand cheerleader. How did they accomplish this? By demonstrating an interest, being quickly responsive and going the extra mile to solve my problems.

I recently helped one of my sons with his 10-year-reunion. A key person was unreachable during a critical time, meaning the much-needed guest list was unavailable. So I tweeted the ticketing company, Brown Paper Tickets, to see if they could help.

They care about each individual customer, and importantly, listened and responded quickly. They demonstrated how much they value their customers, and in the process they earned my respect and admiration.

The second, Adobe, has always seemed to take customers for granted. In graphic design, the Creative Suite is the toolkit of the trade, so whether they provide customer support or not, they know they are the only real game in town. (Microsoft support for Mac runs circles around Adobe's.)

After nearly 20 years of negative perceptions about Adobe's customer service and support, one person changed it.

Bev Gray mans their Twitter account, and took action to not just answer my question, but to go above and beyond to create a positive experience for me. It was astonishing and instantaneous.

I'd never had a question answered satisfactorily by Adobe until that moment. Their standard response has always been either apathetic, or designed to frustrate me to the point where I would simply give up. What a terrible attitude to display toward the very people who helped make them successful.

Businesses should be proactive through social listening.

When a company treats a customer dismissively, it telegraphs a sentiment, whether or not they are aware, that they don't value your patronage.

Recently I had an unfortunate experience with Delta Airlines. They canceled a flight and the domino effect had myriad negative consequences. Tweeting did nothing. Mentions on various channels of social media did nothing. Finally, a letter to the EVP/COO (sent by registered and certified mail) was the only thing to elicit a response. Though the situation was addressed and a solution was offered, it was surprising to see it required an old-school effort to effect any action.

In order to connect with customers, it's more important than ever to monitor social streams. It is easier to bypass a problem through direct contact, and the action can cultivate a positive relationship, but importantly, it can also avert negative buzz in the social media sphere.

Take the wide view

When a business quibbles over something small, it diminishes their net gain. Their triumph may yield a few dollars of profit, but there are huge negatives resulting from the ill will and dissatisfaction that lingers.

The customer may not always be right, but when a company views their customers as allies instead of adversaries, and is willing to sacrifice small financial gains in favor of building good will, they have the power to convert customers into cheerleaders. This is the kind of positive word-of-mouth money can't buy. 

——

Have you had experiences that have changed your perceptions from negative to positive? I'd love to hear about them!

Illustration © Whitney Sherman

A Call Can Save Your Life

Watch for the warning signs of a heart attack

Around 6 PM Sunday evening I started to feel a heavy, painful pressure in my chest. Having experienced something similar before, I wasn't too concerned, but as it grew stronger and more difficult to ignore, and as the pain radiated to my jaw, I started to worry.

Google is my friend. Typing in keywords "heart attack symptoms in women," I scanned the list and recognized some of the signs. I walked into the kitchen and popped an aspirin. My husband and son were there and I let them know what was happening. My husband suggested I call the consulting nurse, so I did.

The consulting nurse quickly came to the conclusion I needed to call 9-1-1. So I hung up and dialed, then waited.

Within a few minutes I could hear a distant siren that grew louder and louder until it stopped in front of our house. Moments later I found a dozen people of all colors, ages and genders  in my living room, including firemen, medics, paramedics-in-training and a doctor. It was like a party had arrived, but as a team, they sprang into action, hooking me up to monitors, taking vital signs, taking down information and keeping me informed along the way of what they were doing and why.

As a social media junkie, it occurred to me I should somehow capture the pandemonium, so I took the iPhone clutched in my hand, and gave it to one of my rescuers, asking, could he please take some shots of what was going on?

While all of this was happening, the pain had subsided, but they insisted on taking me to my hospital of choice, Virginia Mason Medical Center here in Seattle.

I'd never ridden in an ambulance before. It was like watching a movie. The I.V. tube swayed as the vehicle took corners and it seemed I felt every bump in the road. The medic asked me to describe my pain on a scale of 1-10. He then placed a small tablet of nitroglycerin beneath my tongue.

After arriving at Virginia Mason's state-of-the-art emergency department, more monitoring continued. The compassionate and competent staff filled me with the belief I was receiving the best care on earth.

Several times during the course of this odyssey, I felt as though I was putting a lot of people to an awful lot of trouble, and I felt embarrassed to have so much attention directed toward me.

Twenty-one hours later, I was waiting in my room to discuss the results of the stress test I underwent this morning. I was really lucky. I'm fine. But too often I think women, especially, don't want to put anyone out, or even admit they could be experiencing a heart attack. 

As it turned out, I hadn't. But if I had, calling 9-1-1 quickly would have been one of the most important calls of my life.

I hope this can serve as a reminder to women AND men—when they experience symptoms such as those listed below, to suck it up and get past any fear or potential embarrassment, and simply make the call. It could be the difference between living and dying.

To the dedicated emergency services workers and professionals at Medic One and Virginia Mason — my heartfelt thanks.

————————

From Virginia Mason

Heart Attack Warning Signs 

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. However, most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. 
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. 
• Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort. 
• Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

If you or someone you're with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don't wait longer than a few minutes (no more than 5) before calling for help. Call 9-1-1 or get to a hospital right away.

Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services staff can begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. If you're the one having symptoms, don't drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option.

From the American Heart Association

Heart Attack Signs in Women

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
• As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away. 

30 Favorite People on Twitter

Following up on my previous post about transparency, I'd like to share a list of 30 people who fit the bill. Beside being "authentic" and nice, their timelines include a mixture of content and conversation. I've come to know most via email, Skype, phone or in real life. They've trusted me and shared their lives, and I look forward to seeing them whenever our paths cross. I think you'll find most to be kind, funny, smart, or have a fascinating story—or all of the above.  


All have fewer than 10,000 "organically* acquired followers." And in my book, all are worth knowing.

I hope you'll check them out! They are listed in reverse alphabetical order, including their follower numbers (in parenthesis) at the time this post was written:

_________________________________
NOTE: When you follow someone new, it's good to post a friendly shout to say hello and let them know you're a new follower. It increases the chances they'll follow you back. 

_________________________________

@zaharoff (5,350)

(George Zaharoff — Chicago/New York, U.S.)

George is the kind of friend who, even though he is completely swamped, will take time to help others. He's a talented clothing designer and entrepreneur, and it's been a joy sharing hang time with him whenever he's meeting with Nordstrom in Seattle. (And he has a terrific greyhound, @piccolozaharoff!)

http://zaharoff.com

@yb2012 (8,227)
(Yannis Beltekas — Greece)

The master of Klout and all things related to "Caturday," Yannis is smart, talented and funny. But in addition, he is a gifted musician. He is a creative thinker and former advertising guy. If you get to know him, I think you'll agree—he's a very interesting person.

@Shilpiiz (3,260)

(Shilpi Bose — India)

Shilpi is an editor for a publishing company. She is one of @adamsconsulting and @howellmarketing's Twitter's Top 75 Badas$ Women (http://j.mp/lBxsvI). She's strikingly beautiful, and her beauty extends far beneath the surface. http://shilpibose.tumblr.com/

@Sarahezekiel (8,398)

(Sarah Ezekiel — U.K.)

I admire Sarah more than almost anyone else on Social Media. She's lived with ALS (MND) for 12 years, and is an advocate for ALS/MND patients. She recently started creating wonderful art using eye movements, with the idea of raising money to enable a better life for others with ALS. You can view her work here: Eyegaze art: http://www.eyegazeartists.com/
http://www.sarahezekiel.com

@Sandmaxprime (2,696)

(Lionel Faleiro — India)

Lionel is a long-time friend on Twitter, but we've ported our friendship to several channels (FB, G+, Empire Avenue and Instagram). He's a caring friend with a great sense of empathy. He's a blogger and photographer, soon to embark on studying artificial intelligence.

http://xeeme.com/sandmaxprime

@Rojoshashinka (79)

(Warren Antiola — Japan)

An honest and concerned friend to those with whom he is connected. He takes the trouble of doing one-on-one shouts—something everyone appreciates, and tweets about Japanese culture, anime and photography. http://www.j-808online.com

@Rocktique (6,387)

(Meredith Allison — New York, U.S.)

Meredith and I had been following each other for a long time, but only this year started interacting. I've discovered she is very smart and funny, but also a caring friend and a great mom. We have had some insanely hilarious exchanges. Caution: Habit forming.

@RM1L (7,960)

(Milana Ryan — Indonesia)

I'm convinced there is nothing Milana hasn't mastered. She is an artist, photographer, videographer, poet, writer and friend. She often corrals friends to collaborate to create something special to brighten someone's day. That's just the way she is. http://milzography.com

@RandiPDX (1,485)

(Randi Dennis — Portland, U.S.)

It's always great to chat with Randi. She loves technology, and since we both are based in the Pacific Northwest, we share many experiences. She's friendly, caring and kind and is a hard-core cat lover.

http://rheasmindset.wordpress.com/

@NuMusicNuLife (432)
(John Lund — California, U.S.)

Without John, there is no way to know if I would have ever discovered Shinichi Osawa, Mondo Grosso, Monday Michiru and other fantastic music. We have had great conversations about jazz and Macs. If you love jazz and if you love Apple, you will love John.

http://www.myspace.com/numusicnulife

@Nixkuroi (1,089)

(Mike Simon — Seattle, U.S.)

Mike is an amazing artist and writer, but he's also a programmer, blogger, foodie, and founder of a new social network, http://www.Connex.us. I guess I'd describe him as a Renaissance Man. And in spite of his jocularity, he is seriously a good friend. (I think he even forgave me for serving him Via one day.) http://www.mikesimon.com

@Mpartonen (707)

(Matti Partonen — Finland)

Matti is a funny, friendly lover of rock music and travel. I've seen so many of his vacation photos, I feel I've visited some of the places he's been. Over the years his moniker and avatar have changed often, but at least for now, I think he's sticking with @mpartonen.  https://plus.google.com/105661426175012693960/about

@Mochiface (1,007)

(E.L. — U.S.)

Someone recently told me they were surprised to learn Mochiface is female. She is one of the nicest, most thoughtful people you will meet, and beside that, she is HILARIOUS and fun. Take a look at her timeline and you'll see what I mean.

@LyndaslineArt (2,371)

(Lynda Bruschini — New Jersey, U.S.)

An amazingly talented illustrator, Lynda is another of Twitter's Top 75 Badas$ Women (http://j.mp/lBxsvI) She has great heart and is thoughtful and kind.

http://www.bellababyart.com

@LindaCriddle (1,691)

(Linda Criddle — Seattle, U.S.)

World-renown Internet safety expert, Linda is one of the most amazing people I've ever met. An early Microsoftie, she received more than 20 patents during her tenure there. She's one of my favorite real-life friends.

http://ilookbothways.com

@Krystynnsg (4,236)

(Christina Yow — Singapore)

Chris and I met through Twitter's Top 75 Badas$ Women (http://j.mp/lBxsvI), but this year became great friends. Her ingenuousness is epic, as is her sparkling wit and beauty. http://krystynnsg.tumblr.co

@JustinJWilliams (1,279)

(Justin Williams — California, U.S.)

There are few people who drive me more crazy than JJW. Half the time I have no idea what he's talking about. But that's what makes him so much fun. He is smart, hilarious and interesting.
http://justinjwilliams.posterous.com/

@JohnNosta (4,854)

(John J. Nosta — U.S.) 

One day John appeared out of nowhere and we instantly connected. He has become the #1 Kred-ranked influencer in health, and I think he's destined for great things. http://www.johnnosta.com

@JackandPele (1,024)

(Jack Higgins — California, U.S.)

Jack and I are real-life friends who have known each other for decades. He gave my husband one of his first jobs in advertising. His obsession with "snakewine" notwithstanding, you'll be hard-pressed to find a zanier or more caring friend.

http://www.higginsbranding.com

@Intel_Chris (1,832)

(Christopher Clark — Arizona, U.S.)

Chris is a "big picture" architect at Intel, but beside being brilliant, he is interested in getting to know people beyond the surface. That may be why we get along so well. Sometimes 140 just isn't enough. http://embedded.intel.com

@HumorCarbons (1,211)

(Mateen Hamza — Pakistan)

Mateen has a handle on humor, but he is also a very kind and thoughtful person. A fun quote: "I am not mad at tech support; I am just downloading my anger."

http://www.humorcarbons.com

@ellies58 (3,108)

(Eleanor Jodway — Canada)

Beside Reg Saddler (@zaibatsu), Ellie is the person I talk with most often. We have a weekly Gplus chat and we've both "met" each others' families virtually. She works tirelessly to make birthdays brighter for people on Twitter. She is an honest, thoughtful, true friend. http://myposterous.-sdfv.posterous.com

@DougDowen (1,593)

(Doug Dowen — Arkansas, U.S.)

Doug and I met in real life a year ago. It was the furthest I'd driven to meet someone, but totally worth it. He wrote about it here: http://commonvoice.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-220-terri-nakamura-in-real-life.html Blogging is hard work, yet he writes every day. Hats off to him!

http://commonvoice.blogspot.com

@detlef_c (7,031)

(Detlef Cordes — Germany)

Our first serious conversation was about the Elbe Philharmonic Hall in Hamburg, and two years later, it's still not finished! I've become quite fond of his wonderful dachshund, Frigga, and you can view his YouTube videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/detlef1cordes

http://bit.ly/detlefgplU.S.

@CuriositySleuth (351)

(Stacey Rozen — South Africa)

Stacey and I met in real life when she was in Seattle. She's an amazing person who works tirelessly in her quest to help young women in S. Africa. You can learn more here: http://terrinakamura.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/serendipity/

http://www.storyscarves.org

@cookitaly (7,361)

(Carmelita Caruana — Italy)

Along with our buddy, @cindyvriend, Carm and I form a triumvirate of joy and laughter. In addition to her culinary magic and mouth-watering blogs, she is an art lover, and has contributed posts to "Escape Into Life."  http://blog.cookitaly.com

@chinneolhungdim (2,056)

(Chinneo lhungdim)

There is so much more to Chinneo than you see on the surface. A former broadcast journalist, she's turned her attention to advancing her education. A kind and caring friend, she's a terrific writer, too. http://t.co/Bokb3uO 

@Braernoch (1,660)

(Wade Burch — California, U.S.)

Wade disappeared for a long time, and I was so happy to see he's back. In addition to acting, he's acquired a fantastic new skill as a developer.

http://blog.wadeburch.com

@anorombaba (3,996)

(Angela Norombaba — Philippines)

I don't know why I think Angela has a permanent twinkle in her eye—but I like being around her optimism. She is one of my all-in-good-fun, Twitter "co-conspirators." http://www.jolielaide30.multiply.com

@AlessandroRea (2,656)

(Alessandro Rea — Italy)

A supportive and kind friend I've enjoyed getting to know on several platforms. He tells me he's not that proficient in English, but he's so much fun, I often forget it's his second language. He's a great guy and fun friend to know.

http://xeeme.com/AlessandroRea/

@adamloving (5,796)

(Adam Loving — Seattle, U.S.)

Adam and I are real friends. He's smart and funny and always working on a fascinating project, whether for himself, Paul Allen or others. You might know him as inventor of Twibes and LinksyMe.

http://adamloving.com

@808armada (3,034) is now @Rojoshashinka

_________________________________ 

I've often heard it's good to talk with people with large followings, as it benefits one's Klout and Kred scores. But the friends listed above, whether on- or off-line, are well worth getting to know for the enrichment you experience through your interactions with them.

There are many others and not enough space to list everyone in this post, so down the road, maybe there will be a "30 Favorite People, Part II." 


Enjoy!

_________________________________ 

*Organically acquired—people whose followers grow naturally on the basis of their content and interactions, without assistance from programs or sites that add or aggressively follow accounts in order to expand their follower bases.