You heard me right. Julia Gillard is following me on Twitter. Yes, the Prime Minister of Australia is interested in finding out that I watched Footloose and ate ice-cream last Friday night. Seems her staffers went on a follow frenzy during last week’s leadership crisis – I’m not sure why they thought the social media vote was going to help her against Kevin Rudd. He’s an expert at that kind of PR – and testament to that is his Twitter account has 1,076,646 followers and Julia’s (the actual PM of Australia) has 191,032 followers.
Anyway, turns out Julia didn’t need to follow the little people on Twitter to retain her leadership of the country – the caucas voted her back in with a resounding 71 votes against 31 votes for Kevin Rudd. For the record, I think this was the right outcome. I kind of just want to take KRudd aside and say “That’ll do Kevin. That’ll do”. Now I’d like to see the Labor Party get back to the business of actually running our country, instead of squabbling like little children. Oh hang on, that’s right, they’re politicians, squabbling is their default setting.
I’m enjoying lurking around on Twitter, pretending the celebrities I follow are my friends and hiding out from all my actual Facebook friends.
Aside from Julia and KRudd, here’s my top five favourite people/organisations to follow on Twitter. Let me know your favourites! I’m always on the lookout for ways to waste more time on the Internet.
1. The Dark Lord (@Lord_Voldemort7)
Lord Voldemort has more than 2 million followers on Twitter, and he follows no one. Follow him for Harry Potter-related humor, snarky takes on popular culture and just general funniness.
Here’s a few recent gems that made me giggle:
For Lent this year I think some people should just give up.
—
The Dark Lord (@Lord_Voldemort7) February 22, 2012#Thingsthatpissmeoffinthemorning: everything. Why should morning be different from any other time of day?
—
The Dark Lord (@Lord_Voldemort7) February 11, 2012Love is gross. Happy Valentine's day.
—
The Dark Lord (@Lord_Voldemort7) February 14, 2012RIP Demi Moore is trending. This is ridiculous, she is still alive. She has almost as many horcruxes as Madonna.
—
The Dark Lord (@Lord_Voldemort7) January 28, 20122. Jason Segal (@jasonsegal)
Jason Segal uses his Twitter powers for good. When fan Chelsea Gill posted a video of herself on YouTube asking Jason Segal out for a drink he tweeted to his followers that her video was his “favourite thing, maybe ever”. And then he took her out for a drink. Plus, he’s as funny as Marshall Eriksen:
When did Vampires get so good at Karate?
—
Jason Segel (@jasonsegel) January 27, 2012I wish I had taken pie home from my parents house yesterday. I thought it would be smarter not to, but it wasn't smart at all. I want pie.
—
Jason Segel (@jasonsegel) November 26, 2011You know it's a good birthday when you fall asleep in a bed covered in BBQ sauce.
—
Jason Segel (@jasonsegel) January 19, 20123. James Lafferty (@ThisIsLafferty)
James Lafferty displays a lot more personality on Twitter than his character Nathan Scott does on One Tree Hill. And I love Nathan Scott (and One Tree Hill). Which means I am seriously in celebrity-crush mode with James Lafferty. He also sometimes randomly responds to those annoying fan requests for attentions and retweets (It’s my birthday, can I get a retweet? seems to be the most popular request of celebrities on Twitter) that I would totally ignore.
Most likely because I'm a terrible human being. RT @lucyburrowss: @ThisIsLafferty why don't you tweet people?
—
James Lafferty (@ThisIsLafferty) February 07, 2012Time for a little introspection. Take a deep breath. Clear your mind. Answer quickly and without thinking.
Which Ninja Turtle are you?
—
James Lafferty (@ThisIsLafferty) February 04, 2012You know your childhood is over when you look forward to a good Listerine mouth rinse.
—
James Lafferty (@ThisIsLafferty) December 19, 20114. Book Riot (@BookRiot)
Ok enough celebrity stalking for a minute. Book Riot’s twitter feed is an extension of their website, which features reviews, news and irreverent features such as ‘why vampires are the new Prince Charming‘ and ‘which books creeped you out as a kid‘. It’s kind of like Hello Giggles, but just about books.
"Irregardless" is in the dictionary, but that doesn't mean you should say it. You can't always trust the dictionary: ow.ly/9i80H
—
Book Riot (@BookRiot) February 26, 2012Which author's face would you lick if given the chance? Come confess with The Well-Readheads: ow.ly/9f5fR
—
Book Riot (@BookRiot) February 24, 20125. Shit Girls Say (@shitgirlssay)
I literally became obsessed with the first and second Shit Girls Say videos…not so much the third video. Inspired by Shit My Dad Says, their parody account has started many (funny and unfunny) spinoffs, such as Shit Vegans Say and Shit Single Girls Say. Sometimes I forget I’m following Shit Girls Say and then something like this will pop up on my feed and make me laugh out loud:
I can't believe I ate all that.
—
Shit Girls Say (@shitgirlssay) June 09, 2011What time are you getting there?
—
Shit Girls Say (@shitgirlssay) June 01, 2011I can't stop yawning.
—
Shit Girls Say (@shitgirlssay) April 08, 2011Could you do me a huge favor?
—
Shit Girls Say (@shitgirlssay) April 08, 2011I believe I’ve said all of these at one time or another.
So now that Julia’s following me on Twitter do you think I can directly get the message to her that as a nation we all want her to stop wearing white jackets?
WOW! Thats so cool!
Well, I know Julia Gillard herself didn’t click follow, but I’m still claiming it as something a little bit cool!