Kenney Myers

Author | Actor | Producer | Kickboxer | Entrepreneur

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Twitter Tips & Vernacular for Us Fortysomethings

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hashtag2For those of us fortysomethings out there, we may just really be starting to leverage Twitter and one of the things that I know I have struggled with is the proper use of some of the abbreviations and Twitter slang. In order to provide myself with a quick reminder and to hopefully help others out, I prepared a quick list. If you know of anything that I missed that could help more people (including me), please add them via the comment section below.

Important Twitter slang/vernacular:

@reply (it’s like hitting an email reply button) – Here you substitute the reply with another username on twitter so @KenneyMyers for example if you wanted to reply to me. This is a simple way of responding to another twitter user in a way that will get back to them almost as if you are having a regular conversation.

ab/abt (about) – This is shorthand for about. Given we have only 140 characters to get our point across it can be really handy to use common abbreviations. There will be several throughout this twitter vocabulary list.

b/c (because) – I think some of the twitter abbreviations have been around forever. I remember using b/c for because a long, long time ago and it means the same when used in a tweet.

b4 (before) – Sometimes letter an number combinations are used to abbreviate like this one which means before (b4).

BFN (bye for now) – This is a way of ending a twitter conversation or just letting people know you have other things to do. It literally mean bye for now.

BR (best regards) – This is just a way to send someone your best regards. You might for instance tweet @KenneyMyers BR & good luck with your speaking gig in Dallas.

chk (check) – This is another abbreviation that has been around for a long time and literally means check.

clk (click) – If you want the other twitter user to click on a link you might use this abbreviation.

direct message (DM) – This is a direct message in twitter that is sent privately to the person you direct the message to. Use this feature if you want only one other twitter user to see a tweet.

EM/eml/EMA (email) – There are a lot of abbreviations for email including my favorite (because it is the shortest) EM.

F2F (face to face) – If you want to meet someone in person you would use F2F or if you are just describing a meeting that you already had in a tweet.

fab (fabulous) – This is a great way to say you really like something while just using 3 letters.

FAV (favorite) – This is referring to the fav action in twitter where you want people to fav your tweet and/or to let them know you did for them or someone else.

follower – This describes the people that are following your tweets on the network (they are your followers).

FF (follow friday or #followfriday) – FF is used when you want others to follow or favorite something else in your tweet.

Hash Tag (hashtag – #) – This almost deserves an entirely separate article but it in essence makes something more searchable and draws attention to that word (see more on hashtags below). So if you preface any word with a hashtag (#) it draws attention to it in the world of twitter.

IC (I see) – This is just letting someone know that you understand what thye are tweeting about.

IDK (I don’t know) – If you don’t know this abbreviation, you might want to give up now!

kk (kewl kewl – cool cool) – It’s just telling someone that you get what they are saying and/or you like it.  BTW, I’ve dropped this a couple of times when talking/chatting with my teen kids and they are quick to tell me that nobody does that.  Really?  I beg to differ! kk?

MRT (modified retweet) – This is literally a modified retweet identifier.

NTS (note to self) – This is used when you are just wanting to use twitter to remind yourself of something on your home page (where you see your own tweets).

OH (overheard) – This is an efficient way to say that you overheard something (usually juicy).

PRT (please retweet) – Use this when you would like your followers to retweet this one.

RT (retweet) – This is when you retweet someone’s message. The functionality is built into the twitter client or you can just type RT @KenneyMyers cool post!

selfie (taking a picture of yourself) – Thanks to the iPhone’s ability to have a forward facing camera it is easier than ever to take a picture of yourself (a selfie).

TFTF (thanks for the follow) – This is just a quick way to thank another twitter user for following you.

TMB (tweet me back) – If you want another user to message you back through twitter then you can just tell them to TMB.

Tweet (a message on twitter) – This is literally a message on twitter and how people let their followers know something (they tweet it out).

twis (dis) – This is the way of saying you got dissed or dissing someone else on Twitter.

U (you) – This is just a quicker way of referring to someone else on Twitter.

wtv (whatever) – This means whatever in one context or another and allows for a much more efficient message.

yoyo (you are on your own) – Use this when you want to tell someone you disagree and/or that they are on their own for any reason.

Important Inforamation on Hashtags:

So I have seen these abused so many times it is crazy. I think one good source of hashtags is hashtags.org, that site will help you understand a bunch about the do’s and dont’s of using hashtags on Twitter. Basically, a hashtag in front of any word makes that word searchable inside of Twitter. Because people sometimes abuse hashtags to associate a tweet with a trending topic (even though it is really unrelated), Twitter came up with the following rules:

Here’s Twitter‘s official statement on hashtag abuse.

“The following behaviors and others like them could cause your account to be filtered from search, or even suspended:

  1. Adding one or more topic/hashtag to an unrelated tweet in an attempt to gain attention in search.
  2. Repeatedly tweeting the same topic/hashtag without adding value to the conversation in an attempt to get the topic trending/trending higher.
  3. Tweeting about each trending topic in turn in order to drive traffic to your profile, especially when mixed with advertising.
  4. Listing the trending topics in combination with a request to be followed.
  5. Tweeting about a trending topic and posting a misleading link to something unrelated.”

In other words, don’t just put a hashtag in front of any word because you think it makes you kk (kewl kewl). It doesn’t work that way. If you use hashtags improperly you could find yourself suspended from Twitter in a heartbeat.

So hopefully you have learned one or two things from this article about how to properly use Twitter.  If not, I can at least confirm that it has been helpful for this fortysomething to simply research these and refresh my diminishing memory.  Happy twittering (okay, that’s not one of our vocabulary words, but that’s okay)!

10 Kens With Famously Funny Tweets on Twitter

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kennyhamiltonIn the Twitterverse, it’s all about how many followers you have. Some of the most successful people on Twitter use humor as a way to keep their followers engaged. However, before you start thinking you’re going to become the next famous Twitter comedian, you should know that it’s not as easy as it sounds. With only 140 characters or less to work with, you need to keep your tweets short and succinct, while leaving enough room for the punch-line. These 10 Kens have mastered the art, so make sure to check them out for your daily does of Twitter comedy gold.

  • Kenny Hamilton – Justin Bieber’s former bodyguard and now road manager, Kenny Hamilton, had this to say recently on Twitter; “Last time KobeBryant took 8 months off he was in the womb!” Obviously, Kenny’s talents stretch beyond being the hired muscle for young Bieber, as when he’s not posting funny tweets, he’s the right-hand man to the world’s most famous pop star.
  • Ken Jennings – If it’s not good enough that he’s the recipient of the longest winning streak on Jeopardy and is a successful writer, Ken Jennings, it seems, has a sense of humor too. He often posts gems like this for his adoring followers: “Look you can spell yeah as “ya” in texts & emails if you want. Just like I can forever imagine you talking in Swedish Chef voice if I want.”
  • Ken Rogerson – Comedian Ken Rogerson is a keen observer of life, and often shares the funnier side of the news on his Twitter account. When a 73-year-old woman was caught selling marijuana, Ken couldn’t resist having a dig with this gem: “73 yr old woman busted for selling pot. Mommy says smoking is bad for your health Grandma. Why are you laughing?”
  • Ken Freedman – DJ Ken Freedman is a professional cynic, which is clearly evident from this tweet: “Keep your friends close, and keep your enemies locked inside the walk-in freezer.”
  • Ken Baker – Who better to ask for a critique of dairy treats than Ken Baker, fashion writer for ENews? Baker often shares his views on fame, fashion and weight loss via his Twitter account. However, he took time out to enjoy the finer things in life, with this profound observation; “This whipped cream would be a lot edgier if it were called “whooped” cream.”
  • Ken Anderson – You can always trust a pro-wrestler to court controversy. Ken Anderson is constantly on hand to provoke a reaction, but the wink at the end is to let you know that he’s really not such a heel. Or is he? “It’s so freakin cold in the Midwest right now that I just saw a gaggle of liberals walking with their hands in their OWN pockets! 😉 ba dump.” No actual liberals were body-slammed in the writing of this tweet.
  • Ken Davis – Comedian Ken Davis has some valuable advice for his followers. “I learned a life changing lesson today. Do not keep your earplugs in the same pocket as your vitamins.” If that left a bad taste in your mouth, don’t worry, Ken’s act is strictly tongue in cheek.
  • Ken Garr – They make you laugh and brighten up your day, but comedians are also on hand to provide product and service reviews in 140 characters or less. Ken Garr shares his appraisal of Frontier Airlines with his Twitter followers: “I think they call it frontier airlines because they used these planes to settle the frontier.”
  • Ken McGraw – If you ever find that you can’t quite articulate what you’re feeling, take a page out of Ken McGraw’s book. He certainly has a way with words, as is evident in this hilarious self-evaluation; “If my self-esteem had a sound…It would be the last slurp of a strawberry milkshake on a Saturday night.”
  • deKenstruction – He does voice overs, is self-effacing and is an all-round funny guy. So don’t take this tweet from deKenstruction too seriously. “The amount of time it takes you to turn off the garbage disposal once it’s obvious that you’re grinding a fork is all the IQ test I need.”

27 Blogs with Tips for Getting the Most Out of Running

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runningBecause all you really need is a good pair of running shoes and a road, running is the preferred cardio choice for many. Not only does it strengthen your heart, but it also torches calories, aids in weight loss and, according to webMD.com, a regular running routine can help fight heart disease. Running also releases endorphins, which can help combat depression. Many people swear by running as a stress reliever, and use the time spent pounding the pavement to work out problems and think things through. The benefits you get from running are impressive, and these 27 blog posts will help you get started on a running regimen or improve what you are already doing.

Tips for Beginners

It’s important to know how to run properly when you are first getting started.  Take it slow and don’t push yourself too much at the beginning.  The last thing you want to do is get injured or be so sore that you quit running.  If you are currently not exercising at all, you may want to start by walking and work your way up to a run.  These and other tips are shared on these nine blog entries.


Tips to Improve

Most runners are continually looking for ways that they can improve as a runner, whether it’s increasing speed or distance, running a first race or improving your form.  These nine blog articles are full of tips for improving your running.


Tips about What to Eat

Figuring out what to eat before, during and after a run is very dependent on how your body responds to different foods.  There used to be a big push that encouraged runners to carb load the night before a big run so that they would have the fuel to make it through the entire run, but more recently there have been some changes to that recommendation. In reality, you need to be eating in a healthy way all of the time, and there is no need to drastically change what you eat the night before a big run. For more fueling information, read the next nine posts.

Things to Remember About Nanny Background Checks

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rememberIf you’re in the market for a nanny, then you’ve probably already had friends, colleagues, or nanny agencies tell you about the importance of a background check. After all, that’s what professionals do, and that’s the logical next step if you’re going to act as an employer and hire someone to render high-quality childcare services. But what exactly does a nanny background check cover? What do you have to do to get one? And what do they really provide? Whether you’re new to childcare in general or are just now branching into things like background checks, here are some things you need to remember:

They’re Wide-Ranging
Background checks cover many areas, including:

  • Employment verification.
  • Certificate and license verification.
  • Credit history (though not a specific credit score).
  • Criminal records (local, state, and federal).
  • Driving records.
  • Drug use.
  • Checks of child abuse and sex offender registries.

Consumer reporting agencies — the outfits that gather the data in background checks — query a variety of sources to find relevant information, like the Interstate Identification Index System and the FBI Identification Record. They may also use manual court record checking methods if databases are not adequate or available. A thorough background check ensures that you’re getting as much information as possible about your nanny, and it’s the best way to know you’re covering your bases.

They Aren’t Perfect
Nanny background checks aren’t perfect, though. For instance, less serious driving incidents may only appear on record for a limited number of years. The incident might not be a dealbreaker either way, but if you’re hiring someone who will very likely need to drive your child around town, it could be good to know about it. In the instance of an old offense though, if the nanny didn’t want to disclose it, you may not learn about it.

Background checks also (obviously) only show things that the person in question was caught doing. Don’t be fooled into thinking that “background check” means “exhaustive list of every bad thing someone has ever said, done, or thought.” Consumer reporting agencies aren’t psychics, and state and federal databases are only as good as the people who maintain them. A background check is a tool that can tell you some of what a person has done, but not everything.

You Must Have the Nanny’s Permission
This is crucial, too. Legal background checks for employment must be done with the express consent of the person being investigated. Period. If an agency or investigator tells you they can just start digging on someone, think again. The Fair Credit Reporting Act governs the way personal data is harvested and used in the employment application and verification process, and to safeguard against abuses, the person being examined has to know about it.

The best way to do this is to provide the nanny with a simple consent form. You can get these forms from the agency that will conduct your background screening. Once you’ve narrowed the candidate pool down to a few top choices — or if you’re working through applicants one at a time, or maybe just found someone you like — get in touch with each potential nanny and inform that you’ll be conducting a background check. Tell them politely but plainly that this is a required part of the application process, and that failure to consent to the check will result in withdrawal of their application from consideration. After you’ve received permission to conduct the background check, you can work with your particular investigatory agency on next steps. They can tell you what information you’ll be getting and how quickly you’ll be getting it.

They’re Only One Part of the Hiring Process
If you remember nothing else, remember this: a background check is just one part of the process of interviewing and hiring a nanny. It’s an extremely valuable tool, but it’s just one tool. It is not a shield against future damages or incidents, nor is it a guarantee that someone whose check comes back clean will be a perfect employee. Similarly, it’s not a guarantee that someone with a spotty background check is a risky hire, either. A background check is a powerful thing, but it has to be used in conjunction with everything else at your disposal. For instance:

  • Take your time interviewing nannies. Get to know them. Talk about their goals, their personal mission statement, their childcare experience, and where they see themselves in five or ten years.
  • Let the nanny applicant spend time with your child. Watch how they interact with and discipline your child, and talk with your child afterward about how they felt dealing with the nanny.
  • Check every reference in the nanny’s resume. Verify every place of employment they list on the resume. A consumer reporting agency will cover a lot of this in the background check, but there’s no harm in being extra careful.
  • Don’t rush. Even if hiring childcare is a pressing matter, don’t run the risk of moving too hastily and hiring someone who just doesn’t fit. Don’t let a clean background check sway you on someone you don’t feel like hiring.

How as Project Managers We Can Avoid Becoming a Scapegoat like Kevin McHale

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scapegoatSo my social media feeds were blowing up yesterday over Kevin McHale getting fired by the Houston Rockets and my immediate thought was “scapegoat.”  It got me thinking about how that might be applied to business and specifically project teams at work.  Imagine if you will that you are the manager (coach) and you have assembled an amazing team with tons of talent, but they just can’t seem to pull together to produce winning projects or maybe to really even get anything done.  If you are that manager here are some suggestion to avoid getting replaced like Kevin McHale:

  1. Find the source of the problem and conflict.  It sounds like a super simple idea (and it is) but for some reason people like to avoid conflict and that includes talking about the issues they have with teammates.  You can either do this individually or with the whole team but eventually you need the whole team to air it out.  For instance, I have led projects where there were problems based on the perception of how hard someone else on the team was working.  That caused the rest of the team to not be as motivated.  In reality there were things being completed that weren’t clear enough and the “solution” was just communicating more effectively in daily scrum sessions (it was an agile project).
  2. Find out if you have a bunch of ball hogs on your team.  In some cases, just like in basketball there are ball hogs on your project team.  People that want to hog all the good tasks and/or take all of the glory.  If you have a ball hog you may have to intentionally sit them out on some tasks to give the other team members a chance to shine.  If the situation doesn’t correct itself you may even have to permanently bench them.
  3. Make sure you have a strategy that plays to the strengths of each team member.  There are times when people get confused by the roles they are supposed to be playing on the team (a developer acting like the business owner or a back-end developer acting like a designer).  A good manager (coach) needs to clear that up and make sure that the best person for each task is the one executing the task.  Maybe you have a shooting guard doing a majority of the ball handling instead of the point guard for instance.  That’s not maximizing the individual value of that team member.
  4. You are going to be held accountable for the wins and losses of your team so accept and embrace that responsibility.  In the end you have to find a solution that works.  Continuing to do the same thing and expecting a different outcome will likely lead to everything unraveling for you and the team.  Make changes and do everything you can to position your team for success.  Don’t make your demise be the lack of trying different solutions to making it work.
  5. Don’t bank on past wins to be enough for you get a pass on present failures.  Kevin McHale just LAST YEAR led the Houston Rockets to the western conference finals.  That’s solid!  However, in reality it didn’t save him from being fired after a terrible start to the season.  So what happened?  Daryl Morey accepted his responsibility as a leader to execute on #4 above and try a different solution.

What happened to Kevin McHale is actually pretty common in the business world as well.  Having amazing team members alone isn’t enough to make your business or your project successful.  You have to constantly be working to get the most out of them.  While it’s true that the players/team still has to perform there is no escaping that the project manager is the one likely to hear “You’re FIRED!”  Just ask The Donald…

15 Famous Singer/Songwriters Named Ken

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babyfaceThese 15 musicians were pretty easy for me to come up with since I listen to arguably too much music.  Some people though don’t know for instance that Babyface’s given name is Kenneth.  Several of the singers on this list won’t come as a surprise to most of you but you never know…

  1. Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds – A singer and performer in his own right, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds was also the creative mastermind behind a staggering number of hits through the 1990s and early 2000s. Known primarily for his work in R&B, Edmonds was also a ten-time Grammy winner and a hit producer.
  2. Kenny Rogers – Knowing when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em ensured that Kenny Rogers found a place among country music royalty’s most venerable. With more than 120 hit singles spanning several genres, this Houston native is definitely one of pop culture’s most recognizable and beloved icons.
  3. Ken Block – Vocalist and co-songwriter for the hit rock band Sister Hazel, based out of Gainesville, Florida, Ken Block has seen moderate success with his band over the years. His distinctive voice and the efforts of the rest of Sister Hazel have allowed the group to continue touring and releasing albums for the better part of two decades.
  4. Kenny Wayne Shepherd – A blues musician from Shreveport, Louisiana, Kenny Wayne Shepherd is a songwriter, singer and prodigiously talented guitarist. Working with some of the greatest names in the blues genre, Shepherd has enjoyed unprecedented success within blues circles for an artist so young.
  5. Kenny Chesney – Finding a country music fan that isn’t familiar with Kenny Chesney would be a difficult feat, indeed. Soaring to a hugely popular level with his country-boy-meets-Jimmy-Buffett beach bum hit singles, Chesney routinely sells out arenas and releases chart-topping albums.
  6. Kenneth Nixon – The lead singer and co-writer for underground favorites Framing Hanley, Kenneth Nixon’s indie style makes him a heartthrob frontman with serious musical chops.
  7. Ken Ring – A pioneer in the genre of Swedish rap, Ken Ring was born in Kenya, raised in Sweden and is an astoundingly prolific artist. Scads of albums, singles and independent mixtapes are accredited to this Swedish star.
  8. Kenneth Cope – Composing and performing religious music for members of the Latter Day Saints church, Kenneth Cope is a popular musician in LDS and Spiritual music circles.
  9. Kenneth “K.K.” Downing – The guitarist and back-up singer for the iconic heavy metal outfit Judas Priest, K.K. Downing also had a hand in writing many of the bands chart-topping, seminal-to-the-genre hits.
  10. Kenneth McKellar – A popular Scottish tenor trained at the Royal College of Music, Kenneth McKellar began his career as an opera singer. Eventually, he followed his interest in traditional Scottish songs and enjoyed reasonable popularity in the United Kingdom until his death in 2010.
  11. William “Big Kenny” Alphin – One half of the rambunctious country duo Big & Rich, Big Kenny Alphin is a singer and songwriter behind hits like “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy,” and “Holy Water.” He’s also a figurehead of the Muzik Mafia movement, which aims to gain exposure for talented and unsigned Nashville musicians of any genre.
  12. Kenny Lattimore – The popular R&B singer behind hits like “For You” and “Never Too Busy,” Kenny Lattimore was also a member of the group Maniquin. He’s married to songstress Chante Moore; the two have one son together.
  13. Kenny Loggins – Originally one half of Loggins and Messina, Kenny Loggins may be more easily recognizable as the voice behind “Footloose” from the movie of the same name, and hit tracks from the Top Gun soundtrack “Danger Zone” and “Playing With the Boys.”
  14. Kenny Thomas – A soul singer from Islington, London, Kenny Thomas was nominated for two BRIT Awards, released two chart-topping albums and enjoyed a stint on ITV’s Hit Me Baby One More Time singing contest.
  15. Kenny Washington – A New Orleans native, Kenny Washington is an accomplished vocalist. Though he began his career as a gospel singer, he eventually found his niche as a jazz and blues vocalist.