My first real technology decision came in the 1990s when I had to decide who would be my home Internet provider. The choices were CompuServe, Prodigy, and some upstart named America Online. I picked the latter. (Had I only been wise enough to buy its stock at that time, too!) Since then, I’ve tried to stay abreast of the technology that continues to redefine communication. So, it’s no surprise, in this age of social media, that I have Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts. (And based on this issue’s feature story, “By Design,” perhaps I should get involved with Pinterest as well.)

I must admit, I particularly enjoy Twitter. By following an array of users who tweet about news, business, sports, and entertainment, I get up-to-the minute updates on what’s happening in the world on both my computer and smartphone—everything from who won Olympic gold before it’s televised to what Bill Gates reveals is on his summertime reading list to a thunderstorm that is about to strike in my neighborhood.

 Naturally, by following nearly 50 Carnegie Mellon related accounts, I come across plenty of university news, too, which has led to my own CMU tweets: Here is a sampling of what you’ll find from my account, @RobertMendelson, since the previous issue of Carnegie Mellon Today went to press:

July 25:    Top five cities to retire (per Kiplinger): #5: Pittsburgh, in part because CMU “provides intellectual energy.”

July 24:  Gourmet marshmallows?! Who knew?! MitchMallows, just a great idea from Mitchell Greenberg (A’75). www.mitchmallows.com

July 19:  “The New, New Ivies,” according to Her Campus. CMU is #3!

July 17:  Joseph Belechak (E’81) to be CEO and managing director of JEA: seventh-largest community-owned electric utility in U.S.!

July 12:  Shout/bark out to Professor Charlee Brodsky (and her dog, Max), named Center for the Arts’ Artist of the Year! www.pittsburgharts.org/2012-artist-year

July 11:  Moving.com ranks Pittsburgh among 10 best cities for 18 to 29 year olds, mentioning CMU.

July 10:  “What’s Wrong With the Federal Reserve?” Tepper Professor Allan Meltzer’s op-ed in today’s Wall Street Journal.

July 9:  Frank Ritter (DC’89, ’92) created iPhone app CaffeineZone2. Displays user’s caffeine level. www.caffeinezone.net

July 1:  Best Places to nap at CMU. Sleep pod at Hunt Library sounds best to me. www.quora.com/Carnegie-Mellon-University

June 17:  Carnegie Mellon fall class of 2012 had a record number of applicants: 17,293 hopefuls for about 1,400 spots.

June 11:  Double play for Christian Borle (A’95) & Judith Light (A’70)! Each won coveted Tonys last night!

Some of these news bits may morph into Carnegie Mellon Today stories, but I think most of them work best as part of an eclectic combination of news (within Twitter’s requirement of 140 characters or less!).

If you find my tweets interesting, feel free to follow me. For those who choose to do so, look for some newsworthy tweets dated September 22, which—as the issue’s cover stories “Power Brokers” and “Energetic Foundation” depict—will be a uniquely energized day on campus.
Robert Mendelson
    Executive Editor
    Follow on Twitter @RobertMendelson