PumpsAndGloss: Keeps It Popping

It's a joy to see people using social networking and having a good time doing it. PumpsAndGloss does a great job of keeping the "social" part in the equation. Despite being a busy mom, wife and beauty blogger, she maintains meaningful connections and engages followers on a daily basis. It's no wonder she's a favorite on Twitter's "follow Fridays". Many of us have to work at building a rapport that allows us to promote our interests while remaining human. But for PumpsAndGloss, it appears to come naturally. Her blog is a very entertaining mix of beauty tips and personal experience. Like all engaging bloggers she isn't afraid to put herself out there, use herself as a guinea pig and then take pictures of it all. But don't be surprised to find her throwing current events, faith and sex into the mix as well. Drop her a tweet and you'll see what we mean.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PumpsAndGloss

Blog: http://pumpsandgloss.com/

Classic Hip Hop on Twitter: Rebirth of Click?

Speaking of music...
It's no longer a mystery what your favorite old school/classic/golden age hip-hop idol is up to. There's a very good chance he or she is on the Twitters. Normally studying music celebrities on Twitter isn't usually very helpful for regular folks who don't have "real world" fame. But something very interesting is happening right now in the way these rap pioneers use social media to connect with fans and each other. What we're finding out is that most of them are still on the scene in one way or another, and many of them are still making good music. Find out for yourselves. Below is a list of the classic hip-hop stars (and we did stretch this a bit to include some interesting folks) who have been active recently on Twitter. After thorough investigation, we're pretty sure the following tweeps are the real deal (we left off the ones we weren't sure about):

@DJFlash4eva
@djdnice
@JJFAD
@EricBandRakim
@TheFatBoys
@PrinceMarkieDee
@KurtisBlow1
@notdoinathing
@PlugWonDeLaSoul
@MCHammer
@mclyte
@UncleRUSH
@koolherc
@OfficialCampLo
@lordjamar
@DresBlacksheep
@Red_and_Meth
@llcooljames
@MrEdLover
@DaRealGregNice
@KurtisBlow1
@kidcapri101
@common
@snoopdogg
@RAEKWONICEWATER
@B_Real420
@djjazzyjeff215
@QTIPtheAbstract
@DJJAZZYJOYCE
@djquik
@BusaBusss
@justinwarfield
@RealTalibKweli
@DoodlebugFtDOR
@camplo
@delasoulsdugout
@ladybugmek
@wiseintelligent
@noreaga
@jarobione
@delasoul
@beastieboys
@TheRealKoolGRap
@GhostfaceKillah
@AliShaheed
@9thWonderMusic
@OfficialNaS
@mrxtothaz
@jeruthedamaja
@KRS_1
@MCSerch
@AndreBenjamin
@SpecialEdMusic
@KoolDJRedAlert
@spindeezy
@FABNEWYORK
@heavyd
@djscratch
@finallevel
@warrengeezy
@mastaace
@bcwild
@mrwhiteyford

Could be him:
@S_C_

Anyone we accidentally left off? Let us know in comments and we'll kick them up on the list.

Ultramagnetic: FuseBoxRadio

Her syndicated FuseBox Radio Broadcast was founded back in 1998 while she was an undergrad at Rutgers University. Her show is a mix of new and classic hip hop, along with soul music from around the globe. But before you assume that FuseBoxRadio is only about the music, check her Twitter stream, blog and podcast for a barrage of political topics and social commentary. Who was all over the Swine Flu outbreak, the ongoing Somali pirate developments and AFRICOM? It was FuseBoxRadio.

This is a great example of expanding your reach by using social media for reasons other than direct self-promotion. Thousands of shows that started out on AM/FM radio are being broadcast on the internet right now. But not many are able to branch out beyond their original audience. FuseBoxRadio manages to stand out by using social media properly and by being multifaceted at a time when it's so much easier to dumb it down. Catch her transmissions wherever you can.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/fuseboxradio

Podcast: http://fuseboxradio.podomatic.com/

Blog: http://www.BlackRadioIsBack.com

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/fuseboxradio

Mission Control: BernardHarris

"Being smart for a lot of kids is a cultural issue right now. We say, if you're a geek that's great, cause guess what? The owner of Microsoft was a geek and look where he is. I was a geek and look where I am."
-Dr. Bernard A. Harris

Maybe you've heard of today's Twitter superstar. If you have, then you already know Dr. Bernard Harris is a physician and former NASA astronaut. Maybe you recall that he became the first African-American to perform a spacewalk back in 1995. But his current, down-to-earth pursuits using social media are the ones that have landing this rocket-man on Black Twitterati today.

Dr. Harris' non-profit organization, The Harris Foundation, invests in educational initiatives for disadvantaged children and runs the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp, a free program designed to help middle school students build strong skills in science and mathematics. At the same time, Dr. Harris uses social media to reach out to students and educators, with regular entries on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. This Spring, he's traveling the country and blogging on his Dream Tour to motivate students to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BernardHarris
Blog: http://bernardharris.typepad.com/dr_bernard_a_harris_jr/
Web Sites: http://www.dykbh.com/
http://www.theharrisfoundation.org/index.htm
Facebook: http://facebook.dj/bernardharris
School Named In His Honor: Dr. Bernard A. Harris Middle High School


Dr. Harris in Microsoft's "I'm a PC" commericial

Oprah Comes To Twitterville: There Goes the Neighborhood?

First take a look at the picture on the left. Do you know what that is? It's a screenshot Oprah Winfrey's Twitter page. As you can see, the queen of daytime talk has tens of thousands of followers without uttering one tweet. But tomorrow, Oprah plans to dole out her first ever twit on her television show with Ashton Kutcher by her side- at which time all hell will break loose. Well, it will, won't it? Haven't all of the Twitter hiccups in the last week burned the Fail Whale into our weary retinas? What will happen when all those soccer moms, retirees, and other demographics hop online to discover the deliciousness that is Twitter? Can a system that is already creaking and groaning possibly take the strain? Just maybe it can bend a little more without breaking. It'll have to. Ready or not, here comes the most powerful woman in television.

Read more here and here.

ErinScandalous: Mixing Makeup and Media

ErinScandalous is a great example of a Twitterer who is combining social media and new media. She's a multi-blog blogger with a focus on beauty, haircare, and skincare for black women. In addition to having popular blogs full of trends and product reviews, she also has an active Youtube channel and a Facebook fan page. Mind you, she's keeping all of this together (and updated!) while she works toward a B.S. in Accounting.

Juicy tidbit: Apparently, Erin is stirring up controversy already this week with a video about the kinds of "Men We Attract As Women with Natural Hair." Whether we agree with her sentiments or not- good for her! When it comes to making the most of social media, we've found nothing as potent as controversy.


Twitter: http://twitter.com/erinscandalous
Blog: http://www.scandalousbeautyonline.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scandalous-Beauty/57842857156
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/scandalousbeauty

Social Samurai: BlackTokyo

Always on the lookout for something new and fresh, we are back from a trip to the world of BlackTokyo. Here is a twitterer who is quickly drumming up an international following by giving the latest tidbits on black life and culture in the de-facto capital of Japan. He also gives an inside view of Japanese culture and politics, along with controversial topics (definitely check out the post "Girl, I'm Proud of You" for an eye-opening look at the challenges faced by black women in Japan) and dispatches on the internet. Trust us when we say this is a blogger who has intimate knowledge of his subject matter. As a Marine Corp veteran, he has been traveling between the U.S. and Japan for the last two decades.


Blog: http://www.blacktokyo.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/blacktokyo

Fail Whale Martini

The Fail Whale drink, named for the illustration that pops up on your computer screen when Twitter is over-taxed, first appeared at the Shorty Awards in New York. Everyone says this is going to be the cocktail of the season, but it's almost impossible to find a proper recipe. It turns out there are two or three recipes. Thanks to some industrious Twitter buddies (and little help from @mixologist ) we've been able to piece them together. Choose your own adventure, Twitterati.

The Fail Whale Martini

1 part Absolute
1 part Cointreau
1 part Blue Curacao
Lime Slice
Pour over ice and mix in a shaker. Serve in martini glasses.


The Fail Whale Martini II (a variation on the Blue Whale

1 part Vodka or Gin (depending on who you ask)
1 part Blue Curacao
1 part Orange Juice
1 part Pineapple Juice
1 part Sweet and Sour Mix
Pour ingredients over ice and mix in a shaker. Strain into tall glasses.
Garnish with a plastic blue whale and a cherry. Serve.


The Fail Whale Drink, according to FailWhaleDrink.com is:

1 Glass of Heineken
.5 shot of Blue Curacao
.5 shoto of Vodka
1 Sardine (if available)
Drop the shot of Vodka and Blue Curacao into the pint glass heineken, garnish with a Sardine.


There's also the Fail Whale Iced Tea:

0.5 oz Blue Curacao
0.5 oz Gin
0.5 oz Rum
0.5 oz Triple sec
0.5 oz OVAL Vodka
Directions:
Pour all the ingredients over ice. Shake and garnish with a lemon squeeze.

If you decide to try any of these out, please come back and give us a review! Also check out www.whatisfailwhale.info, which is the entire collection of fail whale sightings on the internet. Thanks to the original fail whale creator @yiyinglu for letting us dip our toes in her stream over at Flickr.

Would You PAY to Tweet?

This is the question that's being knocked around quite a bit these days. That's because last week the Wall Street Journal reported that Twitter has plans to sell "premium" features. There are no real details, except that those special options (which could be anything from analytics to a higher quality of service) would reportedly be sold mostly to businesses.

For the record, Twitter founders say there are no fees planned for individuals using the regular service. But, the question lingers: Would you be willing to pay to gain high-powered information about Twitter users and traffic? If so, how much would something like that be worth to you per month?

Eight Million Stories: Around Harlem

Lately I've been having a jones for New York, and Harlem in particular. It may be a while before work permits that kind of travel, but I'm happy to have found a Twitterer who simultaneously satisfies my curiosity about the area and gives me hints on what to do when I get there. AroundHarlem runs a blog that gives daily updates about the people, places and events preserving Harlem's place as a center of cultural activity. As an insider, she gives a wonderful "ground-level" view of Harlem through words and candid pictures you won't find anywhere else on the Web. It can't be easy to pull it all off, but AroundHarlem is one of those online editors lucky enough to have a team of energetic freelancers on her side. By taking us beyond the usual landmarks, AroundHarlem does all of us a great service.

Blog: http://blog-aroundharlem.com/
Web Site: http://www.aroundharlem.com/
Ning: http://www.around-nyc.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aroundharlem
Myspace http://www.myspace.com/aroundharlem

Mister Bachelor: Luvologist

Who says there are no juicy conversations going on over the internet? Trust us, the digital format has not hampered the human need to share the most intimate details of one's life with strangers. Quite the opposite. The Luvologist has made a name for himself by giving tell-it-like-it-is relationship advice to the love-lorn online. His readers keep the machine going with a constant stream of issues.
So, what's up with men and strip clubs? Does the thing that goes around REALLY come back around? Leave or stay? No doubt some of the Twitterati have already stumbled across the Luvologist discussing issues like these because, well, he's everywhere: Facebook? Check. Myspace? Yep. BlogTalkRadio? There, too.
The Luvologist excels in what social media types call "engagement". He communicates with readers and listeners, often on a one-to-one basis, and draws a healthy dose of comments. In fact, some of his commenters need their own podcasts. Truly. He also has a Question of the Day on Twitter so if you ever want to become part of the ongoing conversation, jump into his stream. We're just sorry we missed his "Bathroom Pic Day" series. We know it was a hoot.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/luvologist

Blog: http://luvologist.com/

Luvologist Lounge: http://luvologist.ning.com/

Podcast: http://luvologist.ning.com

The Golden Rule: Should You Give to Receive?

What's the best way to go about increasing your influence on social medium platforms such as Twitter? It's a question that draws a range of answers from the so-called experts. But among the most controversial of strategies is the one that tells you to increase your following by following lots of other people, including ones you might not have much in common with. In fact, this week we read a VERY interesting article making the rounds on this very subject, called The Twitter Law Of Reciprocity . So we pose the question to you: Does it make sense to follow lots of people with the expectation of getting many followers in return? Should you follow those who follow you (or use apps that do this for you) willy-nilly? In the end, what's the benefit?

Ty-ing it All Together: Tywebbin

We wouldn't be a bit surprised if you've already heard of Tywebbin. She's active in several social media platforms and has spent nearly a decade building her brand. On the business end she does Web design, graphic design and online marketing through her company Tywebbin Creations. But she also has a lot to offer through her Twitter stream. She delivers common sense tips about social media (you MUST have a bio and link for your Twitter account), as well as more complex marketing issues for anyone interested in growing an online presence.

Much of Tywebbin's experience comes from specializing in small businesses and writers. In fact, we love that she introduced us to the concept of "Blog Tours" for emerging authors. What a great idea! She's also an author in her own right so don't be shocked to find out that she's cooking up something even bigger for the near future.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tywebbin
Web Site: http://www.tywebbin.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/tywebbin

Soulbounce: Keeps it Hopping

This is not going to be the usual introduction to a member of the Twitterati. I'm going to let you know exactly why today's twitterer is important through personal experience. I hate feeling like I'm missing out on things, especially when it comes to music. But you know how it is. We get busy with work, and the family and before we know it we're driving around with a bunch of cassette mixtapes from what we hope was the golden age of hip-hop. Well, a couple of weeks ago the BlackTwitterati (they, who are in secret) assigned me to check out Soulbounce and I can say that in that time I've gotten caught up on a huge chunk of today's music scene. Through Soulbounce's blog and Twitter stream I have been introduced to so many stateside and international artists I might never have heard of before.
Being a visual person, I was happy to see all the fab layout, pictures, video clips, and graphic designs. I was also inspired enough by the artist profiles to furiously scribble a few notes and actually add some current tunes to my iPod. Buh-bye dusty cassettes. If you want to hear about what's hot now, or what's coming up, or what an artist from the past is doing now, I highly recommend Soulbounce. Pretty soon you'll be able to chastize other folks for not knowing as much as they should about Esperanza Spaulding, Black Milk or Iyadede - not that you should. But thanks to Soulbounce for getting this old lady current again!

Blog: Soulbounce.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/soulbounce

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SoulBounce