If reading or writing online snippets of under 140 characters is your thing, you will love the inanane chitter chatter micro-blogging diary-gone-mad phenomenon of Twittering.

Twitter, our savior

Like we couldn't live without another Web 2.0-ism! Thank you Twitter for bridging the gap between manic text messaging on cell phones, (an unbearable and inordinately complex and wasteful pastime), and blogging.

But I jest, of course. Twitter is a new online communication paradigm suitable for instant messaging on phones and PC's and any other device you hold dear. Embrace!

Nowadays, to chuckle at your sister's private smitten kitten ramblings about boys, all mixed in with I hate my nosey brother comments, and every step of her trip for coffee, just find her Twitter name and track the conversation.

Hi all my best friends I saw an hour ago, I am going to the toilet now and then I am off to Starbucks. Aren't you pleased I am sharing that with you in real-time? What else do you need to know? Twitter / Jaiku me, ciao. XOXOX.

Anyone else at Starbucks? Jinx.

If that boy with the earring and weeping blue mole is still serving mocha at Starbucks, who wants me to say hi to him? Be quick, I just opened the door.

Oooh, it is cold in here. I asked them to turn down the a/c. They said, no. What should I reply? Quick.

I borrowed a coat. Mocha tastes like mocha. Is that how it is supposed to taste. Help.

Likewise, there is no need to even wait till tomorrow for words from your favorite blogger. Twitter and micro-blogging enable us to access and read blow-by-blow accounts of the life of any blogging Twit (Or not, in this case of Leo laporte jumping ship to Jaiku! ) It is sooooo cool - also not!

Chris Bailey is equally unimpressed, or is it bamboozled by the whole idea, likening Twitter to stalking! (Unfortunately it is almost impossible to get arrested for stalking, so I doubt Twittering will ever be outlawed.)

The good in twitter

I am cynical and ignorant. However, if internet gurus like Paul Boag or the guys behind MyBlogLog are behind Twitter, there must be a reason they talk it up?

In Mr Boag's case, I heard he doesn't really understand why it is so popular in his world.

My theory is, he met the founder of twitter who probably sounded credible enough to convince him that there must be something unique (and currently intangible) in this micro blogging idea.

One day, oh Web 2.0 warrior, Twitter 11.7 will be of use to the mainstream. One day it will save your life, so why not give it a go.

The satire in twitter

After doing a 180, and looking past Twitter's non-ruby related growing pains, I think the good may well outweigh the bad and bewildering aspects. For instance, how cool that you can pretend to be someone else, like this Condoleeza Rice imposter twittering as if (s)he were at the White House. Thanks to Open for that touch of twitter satire.

Or you can relive historical moments like the Hindenburg disaster!

Sign me up for that sort of creative misuse of a new technology. Rather like back in the 60's, using a trendy typewriter for a doorstop, so wrong, but if needs must...

In conconclusion

Micro-blogging is currently a fairly elitist tech pastime, but one day, it will evolve into the consciousness of every grandmother and aging uncle on earth, somehow, some day. Meanwhile check out another Twitter clone mentioned here, plus Jaiku and Tumblr.

Live a bit - under the microscope.