I Heard it First...on Twitter

Ok, this post is clearly not about San Francisco real estate, but I can't resist.

I have always been fascinated by networks and how community gets created, and always love to connect two people who will benefit from knowing each other (that gives me huge satisfaction).  I have been a member of LinkedIn for several years (it has been a great way to reconnect with colleagues from the past and colleagues and clients of my present) and have been exploring social networks like Facebook and Ravelry (a site for knitters, which still seems too complex).  I have been a member of Twitter for the past few months, and for the past few weeks, I have been following my friend G (g_fox) on Twitter.

I have received text messages every time G publishes a Twitter message, called a Tweet.  Twitter limits messages that you publish to 140 characters.  Friends (and others) can follow you and see what you are doing/publishing by signing up on Twitter.  The site allows you to link through some of the online mail sites to sort through email addresses to see who you know who is already on Twitter.  I hadn't spoken with G in ages (she moved to LA), saw her name come up and thought I'd follow.

It was nice to be following her life for the last few weeks and learning about Twitter.  I received a text when G voted, her thoughts on the outcome of the election, learned about her plans to make ratatouille for dinner, only to change her plans and make quiche.  She even went into rapid fire mode a few weeks ago--I think she was posting some of her favorite tweets--ones she wrote and others.  I must admit, I was overwhelmed and ignored her for a few days.

Yesterday, I was doing some work and getting ready to head to lunch with good friends.  I learned from Twitter about the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.  I believe that someone that g_fox was following started posting tweets about this, and she started sharing this with her followers.  I checked npr.org, cnn.com and the bbc...nothing. Lots of news from g_fox.  Amazing.

This morning while doing some prep work for Thanksgiving cooking, I flipped on CNN on the TV, located in the room adjacent to the kitchen.  When news of the end of the seige at the Taj was reported, I was relieved.  This has been a terrible tragedy.  I have never understood why terrorists believe their acts will change the world and get them what they want.  I was releived to hear that the attack was over, only to hear that familiar sound my phone makes when I get a text.  More from g_fox:Locals say gunfire still happeningat TAJ.  Ten more minutes of CNN talking about the end of the seige before they reported that it may not be over, and gunfire was just heard.

I did a search of #mumbai on Twitter, and am now following a few people who I don't know who are tweeting about what is going on in Mumbai. My thoughts and prayers are with the hostages in Mumbai, and all of those directly affected by this tragedy and their families. 

I am grateful for my community, friends and family, whose presence in the real world and on-line touch me, and enrich my life in so many ways.