I got an email invite from Amtrak (I suspect that they only sent out ten million invites). Amtrak announced a writer’s residency program called AmtrakResidency program which seems to be a free round trip AmTrak ticket with the intent to write. I think that the chances of getting a Residency approach zero – a sample winner wrote for The New Yorker – but, that is still infinitely better than the odds if I don’t apply and the applying should be an useful exercise.

But the application has a space for Twitter Handle; a mandatory – must fill in – space. I have to provide my name and address, my email address, a sample of my writing, and my Twitter Handle. I don’t have to provide a Facebook URL, or my blog address, or an Instagram Handle, but a Twitter Handle is essential. It makes me feel old. I know what Twitter is, I know how to physically do it, but I don’t know what the psychic point is.

When I run into something interesting and blog on it, I like to think I have added value. I don’t understand how Tweeting is different from hitting facebook’s like or comment for – say – an article on Fred Phelps. Any comments, instruction, thoughts, or illumination on this would be very much appreciated.