Twitter is a micro-blogging service that’s been around for several years now, wherein you ‘tweet’ status updates, thoughts, complaints, etc. I’ve been using it mostly to chat with friends, get advice from other users, and keep up with news on various products and projects I’m interested in.  Lately, however, I’ve found a wonderful new use for it:  Customer Service.  After having issues with both UPS shipping and Comcast cable and voicing a few idle complaints, their Customer Service staff, @ThomasAtUPS and @ComcastBill, respectively reached out to help.  Within a few minutes both had supplied me with email addresses to their CSR team and I was able to get my issues resolved within hours, without having to listen to hold music or navigate phone trees.  Many claim Twitter is ‘useless, and only good for the vapid and the vain’ but I’ve found it’s a great way to get information and help.  Hopefully more companies will follow in UPS and Comcast’s footsteps and start helping their customers out, 140 characters at a time.

In truth lately I haven’t really spent much time developing anything to write about, which is something I intend to rectify soonish.  In case you’re curious, here’s what I’ve been up to:

• Signed up for French classes at the local college.
• Signed up for a Web Site Development class, mostly to boost my GPA.
• Celebrated seven very happy and healthy months of a relationship with Heather, who every day surprises me.
• Attended my sister’s wedding, and got back in touch with an old family friend.
• Purchased two suits (for above wedding.)
• Bought a new computer! (I suppose I could write a review about that, yes?)
• Completed reading a book and started another one.
• Designing a website for my boss’ site business.

So yes, I’ve been busy with that, as well as returning to SE++.  It’s good to talk with a lot of the folks I’d missed speaking with.  Plus it helps the workday go a hell of a lot faster.  Been using Twitter a ton, so follow me if you’re interested in what I’m doing at an inane level of detail.