AP-WISCONSIN
A Wisconsin resident, and breathing-if-semi-socially-conscious mother of two, found herself swept-up in an already fading national phenomenon last month.
While the 2008 change in administration served as a rallying cry for many Americans, in a recent and stunning display of anti-motivation Ms. Rants both joined Twitter and canceled her newspaper subscription. Citing her desire to reduce waste, and her intention to keep up with the news on-line, Ms. Rants peppered her first world-news-free day microblogging, and attempting witty hashtags “because I can hardly get through a whole entire blog post anymores anyways”
Other signs of her recent return to a Tabula Rasa include:her recent viewing of QVC’s Evening of Hello Kitty Diamonique which found her rapt in QVC hostess banter, her misuse of the word unilateral three times in one short conversation necessitating correction by her older sister, and her lack of conviction when explaining to a group of young children “that the planets revolve around the sun and that’s why it’s called a solar system. Yes…that…is…why. Yup”
Ms. Rants is already re-thinking her recently-articulated-only-to-herself goals of “becoming more involved in her children’s classroom and community” as she sees the very real threat these not-yet-even-commitments pose to her increasingly busy screen schedule.
Substantial doubt exists over her procurement of the required continuing education credits to secure her social work license, as well as over her contributing any valuable social capital to future society whatsoever. Ms. Rants could not be reached for further comment, and has limited all future communication with family and friends to 140 characters or less.
Couldn’t be reached cos the phone line was busy. She was online…..
“Recent return to a Tabula Rasa…” I love that line! It may be my motto by tonight (First day of preplanning with the teachers, Open House from 4 to 6 pm, then a School Board Meeting at 6:30 pm – I’m going to be a blithering idiot).
On a different note, I just cancelled out paper. The a-holes keep writing the meanest things about educators. Apparently, they don’t need my business.
I have several relatives on whom I would like to impose a 140 character limit for all conversations.
I really can’t relate to this. I’m very plugged into world events. Which reminds me that I really need to pick up the current issue of US Weekly. Don’t want to fall behind…
If those so called twitter friends would only understand when you “disappear” several days a week to do “real stuff” – like read People Mag and the Twilight series. You are funny and wise, Ann. Glad comments don’t get cut off at 140 characters.
“anymores anyways”
God I love yous.
thank God for people like you. I too have rethought my as yet unfulfilled commitment to my kid’s school life and am grateful to see I’m not the only one who see how much more important it is to Twitter
What’s this Twitter you speak of?
(I’m a genius)
Twitter’s far more socially relevant than classroom volunteer work. Leave that to the uninitiated. And really, who wants to hang out with them, anyway? Oopsie, I think I went over the 140-character limit… See you in Tweetville!
I’m afraid of twitter………..
I’ve lost a friend to the addiction of “Facebook” and “Farmtown”…….
There are no 12 step programs out there to cover the “Virtually” challenged…. go figure……
but the 140 character limit for friends and family???? Make mine 75, and I’m there…..
Twitter.
Slowly I’m caving in.
I even had a dream about Twitter last night. Only it was a restaurant not an online thing. Twitter the restaurant gave away a free bottle of wine with each adult meal. Last night this ‘Twitter Restaurant’ I dreamed up never gave me my damn bottle of wine. I was pissed.
I woke up thinking, I’ll join you Twitter when you give me the goods.
I’ll join you drunk on your sweet, sweet wine!
I really need to get on the Twitter wagon.
Oh, man, I can so see this happening:
…her lack of conviction when explaining to a group of young children “that the planets revolve around the sun and that’s why it’s called a solar system. Yes…that…is…why. Yup”
I can’t stop laughing! Those poor kids.
“What’s wrong with that lady?” they ask. blaaaaahahaha
CNN IS on Twitter so technically Ms. Rants can still keep up with the world within 140 characters. Anything above the 140 count is not important anyways.
All youse guys in WI are pretty funny to begin with, but the Tabla Rasa Return was sublime.
I’ll stop by. We’ll watch Bridezillas together.
:-O
Pearl
i’ve convinced myself that i look very busy and official while reading the very important documents being emailed to my blackberry at an alarmingly fast rate of speed (that’s my cover for my mobile twitter usage). as long as no one sees the screen and puts two and two together (like the fact that i have no job), my secret obsession with twitterberry keeps me calm, and appropriately out of touch with current events, in even the most real of IRL situations.
I’m waiting until this fading national phenomenon is dead before I jump on that band wagon, because then my voice will be heard even – though people will no longer be listening.
Twitter? I just can’t do it yet….. Keep us posted on how it goes.
xo
I’m sorry. No time to read your post b/c I’m too busy being clever on twitter. Don’t know why people say it is socially un-redeeming…. I get tons of social redemnification from it! 😉
“anymores anyways” is awesome. Good on you for helping to create more literature that anyone can read. Can’t you call that contributing to literacy or something?
Hey, I just joined Twitter recently myself. Maybe I’m a dinosaur. I do know how to download crosswords online. Do I get points?
Hey twitter friend welcome 🙂 I am a tweeter and a face booker and my space too..anything to do with keeping in touch with everybody is what I do.
I love it.
I’m still a little guiltly that I spend more time reading blogs than great literature or the newspaper.
Best last line I’ve read in, pretty much ever. I’m forwarding that by email to my entire family. I think it will improve our relationships immensely. Awesome.
If it aint on Twitter it aint real noos. I love me some Hello Kitty diamonique jewels!
I want to live in an 140 characters or less world. Me likey Twitter:)
“Return To Tabula Rasa” a Lifetime Original Movie
starring Kate Capshaw and Nancy McKeon..only on Lifetime.
Peace – Rene
Sounds like a plan. I would write more but my limit is almo—
Oh wait..this isn’t Twitter is it?
Anyhooo….you have a talent for the humorous, my dear (it’s late. Leave me alone).
Working for a small town newspaper, I must say I’m sorry to hear (read) that you’ve canceled your subscription. We shall miss you in newspaper land. Careful…don’t disturb those carcasses over there. Those are all the papers that have already died.