Hey Diddle Diddle Let Me Ask You a Riddle

The Riddler ...item 1c.. Booker T & The MG's - Green Onions (1962) Full Album -- "Behave Yourself" ...item 2.. 'Diamond Dee' who butt heads with lawyers - She sent a message talking about 'jackass lawyers on my ass.' (29 June 2013) ... (Photo credit: marsmet472)

          Do you like riddles or do they tend to annoy you?    I've been playing my little "guess the song" game for several months now.   Prior to a Battle of the Bands post I will often drop clues into my posts about what song I'll be using.   Most readers ignore my game and don't even bother mentioning it.

           In the comments of my most recent clue post my dear blogger friend Stephen T.McCarthy put it this way:

Oh, I have no idea what song you will be using. I've given up trying to guess on that stuffs.

You usually use such obscure songs that I've never even heard of them to begin with. Aside from that, I think you seed your 'Clues Posts' with all kinds of blind alleys and disinfo (i.e., clues meant to make the reader think it's a certain song that it isn't), so guessing what song you will be using is a near impossibility. No one has ever once guessed correctly, so what's the point in trying?

I rarely attempt to figure out what it will be anymore and I just simply wait to see.

          Mr. McCarthy may be expressing the same sentiments that most other readers have felt about my guessing game.  Though actually a few readers in previous Battle clue posts have guessed my songs ahead of time so apparently the guessing is not a "near impossibility".  Most of the songs I've used so far have in fact been fairly well known and by artists who if were not well-known, were artists with a certain historical significance in the history of modern music.  

        Even if a song or an artist is obscure, does this cause you the reader to have no interest and not wish to ever have an interest?  Often I'll see a comment to the effect of "I don't like this style of music" or "I could only listen for a few seconds until I couldn't stand it".  I guess I can empathize with that sentiment in the sense that if someone pitted song versions in the rap genre I might be tempted not to listen to those.  I thought I was putting up some pretty good songs since it's music that I like, but that's a whole different topic that I do plan on addressing in some future post--and not just from the standpoint of music, but all art including books and movies.

Back to the Riddle Topic

       So even knowing that the clues and guessing games are not overly popular features I will continue inserting these into blog posts now and then.  It might be worth noting that the Battle of the Bands posts are not my most popular either--I just like doing them because they're fun and interesting to me.  Part of my reasoning behind the concept of guessing games is that it is a sort of marketing strategy that might encourage readers to want to come back to the Battle of the Bands post to see if they guessed correctly or just to find out what the song is.   I'm still in the testing stage I guess.        

       Riddles, guessing games, and the like are marketing ploys that are often used to get a customer base curious and interested in something that is coming--a new product, movie, television show, etc.   They do require thought.  If answers were easy then an audience might soon lose interest.  That's what I've been experimenting with--marketing, as I so often do.   There is a riddle of sorts even in that sentence, but I won't go there.

        Instead, I'm sticking with the Battle of the Bands post which will appear tomorrow (Saturday March 15th).  I'm going to present a clue in riddle form.  This will be very obvious, but maybe only obvious after you've seen my next Battle of the Bands song pick.  Here is the riddle:

The song was not written by a queen

And the song is not about a king.

It could have been sung by Summer despite its winter theme

Since the setting seems like disco before disco was the thing.

        Part of this clue is very obvious if you think about it.  I'll admit that the song is relatively obscure but you'll find a lot of modern music connections regarding the song related to my contest of the two versions I will present.

            Do you think events like guessing games and riddles are fun?    What obscurities do you like to talk about on your blog?   Can you guess the riddle or any part of it?
   

Twitter Thoughts #atozchallenge #AZchat

Twitter (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

        If you have not yet signed up for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, today is a great day to do it.  I'll tell you why at the end of this post.  First though, if you're not already on it, click this A to Z sign-up list link and add your blog to the ever-growing roster of participants. You'll be glad you did and sad if you didn't.  We'll wait while you do it, but don't forget to come back to this post.   

 And Now A Word About Twitter

         Twitter is a strange place.  Have you been there yet?  It's the cacophony of silent speech.  A lingual assault on the eyes and brain.  Twitter is all at once funny, wise, stupid, enigmatic, shallow, callow, repetitious, and marketing-focused.   With millions on Twitter it's millions of intents from millions of different minds.  It is the crazy monster of social media.

          I'm still trying to figure out what to do with Twitter.   I experiment with it.  I play and have fun with it.  Sometimes I make discoveries on the Twitter feed, but mostly it's just a passing parade of quips, links, and peculiar observations.   It's like trying to hold conversation on a busy street with everyone who passes by you.  You might catch a thought that goes by but then it's gone.  Of course it's kind of frozen in time where you can go back to see what was said, but with so much happening it's difficult to revisit those moments that are lost in the endless thread of tweets.

         Sure, I guess you can mark certain tweets as favorites.  It's kind of like assembling a scrapbook when you're drunk.  You have a collection of stuff that you saved, but when you look back you might not remember why you saved it.  A mind under the influence of Twitter can be a befuddled mess.

        From what I'm saying, you might be thinking I dislike Twitter.  I do like Twitter.  Don't get me wrong.  Like I indicated earlier I'm still trying to figure Twitter out, understand it's effectiveness, and learn ways in which I can make it work better for me.

         Like having a goodly number of blog followers, a lot of Twitter followers might be a goal for some of us.  I feel like I have a pretty respectable number of followers.  Most of them probably see my tweets as much as I see theirs--not very much.  Who has time to sit and watch that passing progression of Twitter feed?   And read every tweet and follow every link?   It's a madhouse of  mostly non-communication disguised as a form of communication.

         It can be kind of fun in the same sense as talking to oneself is sometimes fun.  I've told myself some very funny jokes that I never tell anyone else because I usually can't remember jokes very well.   Likewise I think I've tweeted some rather clever stuff that I don't know if anyone sees or not.   When I get on a roll I feel very creative    I'll crank out the one liners and wonder if anyone is laughing.

          But when I see something I've tweeted get retweeted or favorited then I know at least someone in that vast population of twitterers has noticed me.   I feel validated and smile.   For a millisecond I'm a star--a passing thought in someone's mind until the next thought that enters the space that mine once occupied.

          Yes, Twitter can be a strange chaos.

Twitter Coherency

          Don't be discouraged about Twitter!   There is a place where you can find fun, friends, and community.  It's the A to Z Chats or in Twitspeak #AZchat.  For those of you already on Twitter, you can enter the hashtag #AZchat in the search box and see what's been happening already in the #AZchat community.

          A chat helps create a focus to your Twitter communication.  You might find it a bit dizzying if you're not used to it, but if you jump in the midst of the chat you're sure to pick up some useful information.  Don't be afraid to ask questions.  The #AZchat is a great way to find out whatever you've been wondering about the #atozchallenge and maybe make a few new friends while you're at it.   You can discover other bloggers in the  A to Z to follow on Twitter while adding new followers to your own Twitter account.   No downside there!

         If you're looking for a stream of tweets with a common topic then #AZchat is a great place to visit.  Just remember when joining in the conversation to use the identifying hashtags #AZchat and #atozchallenge. Currently #atozchallenge chats are now every Thursday at 1 EST and 8 EST. Follow #AZchat to join the fun!

Not on Twitter yet? Give it a try. Visit Twitter and open your own account. Once you have your account it's something that doesn't take up much of your time at all. If nothing else you can start by retweeting anything you see about the A to Z Challenge. And don't forget to tweet the links to your own blog posts.

These days Twitter is almost a must for every author or anyone with a marketing interest--in other words everybody. After you've become adept at the Twitter game please fill me in on what you've learned. There's always something new under the sun when you're tweeting.

And Don't Forget These Resources

The Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog is your go to site for help tips, interesting news, and other relevant information about the A to Z community. The site just passed 2000 followers. If you aren't following yet, please go to the site and click on the Join This Site button at the top right of the sidebar to show your support for A to Z.

         Your A to Z Team of Co-hosts and their teams of helpers have been hard at work promoting the Challenge and making sure everything goes smoothly now and through April.   Show them support by following their blogs and stopping long enough to say "hello".   You'll also find A to Z information on many of these blogs over the months leading up to April.    You'll find the A to Z Team links a short ways down the right-hand sidebar of the A to Z Blog.   Co-host helpers are listed on a page at the A to Z Blog.

          REMEMBER to join us Thursday on Twitter at 1 PM EST and 8 PM EST (or Daylight Time where applicable).    Use hashtag #AZchat and #atozchallenge.  

          Are you on Twitter yet?   How do you use it?   Have you found Twitter to be useful for your needs?    Have you ever joined in a Twitter chat?

Related articles

• If you like #blogging , join the #AtoZchallenge and #AZchat !
• Want to Grow your #Blog via the #AtoZChallenge ?
• Calling all #atozchallenge participants to #SocialMedia !
• Do You leverage #Socialmedia for #blogging? 20 #atozchallenge Tips

WormFest!

Wormfest 2014

           Today I'm joining author, blogger, and A to Z Challenge Co-host Stephen Tremp for Wormfest 2014.   This year the theme is to name one thing where science advances mankind, and one where technology with unforeseen consequences will go too far and set mankind back.  For the rest of the Wormfest entries be sure to visit Stephen Tremp's Blog.  For my entry keep reading:

The Good Stuff

         The frigid icy realms of the Earth's polar regions are far less than a mystery than they once were.  Scientists from all nations have essentially cooperated to make new discoveries.   Modern technology has made exploration in harsh climates more bearable.  As researchers discover possibly vast sources of valuable resources such as metals and oil, technological advances may make accessing these commodities more practical in the future.   The location at the Earth's poles might provide unique opportunities for space exploration.  Many mysteries in the polar regions undoubtedly have yet to be discovered, but the possibilities they hold for our future are intriguing.

The Icy Bad Facts

         No country has yet been able to claim the polar regions and maintain that claim in the eyes of the international community.   As more discoveries of riches in these realms are made there will undoubtedly be some nation wanting to reap the benefits and possibly lay claim to the areas despite existing international treaties.   The poles have strategic importance to military forces as well.   If large bases and missile defense systems were established there, the nation who had those would be in a threatening position to the rest of the world.

          Maybe one day we'll see forces battling for domination of the poles with the victors sending in settlers to establish cities.  Eventually these regions could declare independence to become powerful nations in themselves.  Santa Claus would be removed from power in the North.   We might see a king, queen, president, or some governing power reigning in the lands of ice and snow.

A Side Note

          Not only is my post today a part of Wormfest 2014, but it also includes clues for the next Battle of the Bands which will be this coming Saturday March 15th.   In case you've never visited one of my Battle of the Bands posts you can get an idea what it's about by checking out my most recent Battle of the Bands post.  In short the Battle pits two versions of the same song for readers to vote for their favorite.   Somewhere above I have not only provided clues about what the song is, but I have almost named it.  Can you make the connection?  Be sure to join me on Saturday to find out what the song choice is.


New Book Release!

          Wormfest host Stephen Tremp is celebrating the forthcoming release of the next book in his Chase Manhattan adventure series.  Escalation is the third and final book in this series.  I've read the first two and gave them five star ratings.  It's an exciting adventure series with a fascinating concept.  Find out more at Stephen's Blog.

       Together, Breakthrough, Opening, and Escalation follow the lives of the unlikely participants from innocence to a coming of age through sacrifice, betrayal, passion, lust, unconditional love, and hope. Escalation will appeal to fans of modern-day science fiction, action, and horror.

       This series will appeal to those who know there is far more beyond our four dimensional continuum than our five senses can perceive. Escalation is an epic clash where science and the supernatural take center stage for mankind’s destiny. The setting is global and the adrenaline-charged action is non-stop.

        Be sure to check out Stephen's special offer on the first two books.  I highly recommend reading those before you delve into what is certain to be an exciting conclusion in the final installment.

        Do you foresee a power struggle at the Earth's poles?   Have you read any of the books in Stephen Treimp's series?    If you have visited any of my Battle of the Bands posts, what do you think of the event?   Did you figure out which somewhat obscure song by a very famous songwriter I've chosen?

Related articles

• Third Time's a Charm, Mini-Alex, Gratitude, Wormfest, Movie Trivia Answers, and Ninja News
• Writing Reviews That Match a Book's Star Rating
• Your Robot Home Is (Nearly) Ready
• Newly described glue-spraying worm from Vietnam [Life Lines]