I have used Twitter at three different times over the last two years. I definitely was and am a fair weather fan, occasionally updating in test-driven mode during my first two ventures. With update/status services like Twitter, I really enjoy the journey of testing and hammering the application more than actually using it.

During the Democratic primaries I used the service a bit more, but found access to the application was very slow or down during key moments of the campaign. It was very frustrating.

With some of its core functionality off-line for days, weeks, and months it is no longer the same application that many had become so addicted to. IM and Track, two key features in my opinion, have been off-line for weeks. The @Replies tab is currently disabled, and pagination for archives is off for most users. Slow access and failed server connections are experienced daily. Update: @Replies tab is back on line.

I have dipped into and out of Pownce, Plurk, and Friendfeed twice. I am using Friendfeed more these days, but not sipping the kool-aid just yet.

So if it is not Twitter, or not Friendfeed, or not Jaiku, or not Pownce, or not Plurk, or not Kwippy, or not Twoorl, where is a test-driven techie to go to feed on fountains of information and have some fun?

I am here, waiting patiently for that next new shiny application to come along so I can bash on it until it hollers, “I give up”. I shouldn’t have to wait too long.

Update: July 2, 2008
See, did not have to wait long at all. Identi.ca, a micro-blogging service you can use to write short notices about yourself, where you are, and what you’re doing, launched today. Now, what did I do with my hammer?

Update 2: July 3, 2008
The Identi.ca web site launched yesterday with a limited feature set, but still experienced intermittent slow access and server connection failures. Hammering away, and keeping an eye out.

Update 3: July 5, 2008
I like that the Identi.ca service is based on the Free/Open source software tool Laconica. The response time for ID-ing and fixing anomalies the last couple of days has been very impressive. It is a community on the move and growing daily. More web servers were added - very fast web access now. Congrats and Kudos @evan.

Update 4: July 7, 2008
The Identi.ca community is growing pretty quickly. So far anomalies have been addressed with lightning speed, and new features are being added almost daily. See the FAQ for more information and “Where is Feature X?” Open source, OpenID, SMS, IM, Federated servers. I am getting excited!

Update 5: July 8, 2008
Additional new features are coming online at Identi.ca. I am excited about the open community that is developing, and I am finding plenty of techie users and open source/free software evangelists to share information with. Suits me to an I.T. There is a list of bugs and features. “New ideas or complaints are very welcome.” Developers, help if you wish, and/or get the Laconica source code and install on your own server. Got ideas or need help? Send a status to @evan.

Update 6: July 9, 2008
The list of servers using the Open Source µ-blogging tool Laconica is steadily growing.

Update 7: July 11, 2008
New features and feature updates continue to come online rapidly. A Version 0 API was just added. Approximately 14k users and growing.

Identi-fresh, clean, crisp, elegant zen. I am developing a soft spot for Identi.ca.

I would like to see the twitter and identi.ca services both succeed. One size does not fit all and these two may result in slightly different shades of community. A little something for everyone, and a win/win for the growing number of users.

Thank you for your patience.

SwitchABit, a Betaworks standalone company will merge with Twittergram, a service created by Dave Winer.

Congrats, Dave. Best wishes for success!

Thank you for your patience.

Or, “but what do all those links mean?”

Version 2.5.1 of WordPress is now available. It includes a number of bug fixes, performance enhancements, and one very important security fix. We recommend everyone update.

This release includes:
* Performance improvements for the Dashboard, Write Post, and Edit Comments pages.
* Better performance for those who have many categories
* Media Uploader fixes
* An upgrade to TinyMCE 3.0.7
* Widget Administration fixes
* Various usability improvements
* Layout fixes for IE

Q. Is there any way to get twitter @replies from people I don’t follow?

* Yes. Track your username on your phone or IM by sending: TRACK username. All updates containing your user name will come to your device when Twitter notifications are ON.

@ replies Default Setting is:

* Default: @ replies to the people I’m following
Thus:
I receive @replies from people I follow under the condition that I also follow the person they are replying to.

Via - How to change your Twitter @reply settings.

Via - Twitter.com

Due to some cache changes we made Friday, you may not be seeing all updates in your timeline (don’t worry, they’re still there!). Thank you for your patience while we fix this issue.

Fortunately I am not following many on my recently re-opened account. I added those I follow back into my rss reader. When the fix is in I will return to using the with_friends feed.

Via GetSatisfaction.com

goldtoe, Official Rep, replied 1 day ago
Hey everybody -

This is a result of some of the caching changes we made during last night’s (Friday) maintenance window. While those changes have made the service more stable over all, there have been some unintended effects.

We’re aware of the problem and are working through it. It may take a bit to resolve but we are on it.

If you are using the V2.0 branch, the latest version is V2.0.11. Worpdress states, “we have committed to maintaining our 2.0 branch with security and critical fixes until 2010. (Yes that’s 5 years after it was originally released in 2005.)”

“There is a wave of attacks going around targeting old WordPress blogs, particularly those on the 2.1 or 2.2 branch. They’re exploiting problems that have been fixed for a year or more.”

No time like the present, so go ahead update!