Twitter - Really Nothing New

In today's New York Times, Ben Schott makes the case that Twitter's 140-character limit is really no different than limits imposed by other communications technologies from SMS text messaging to 19th Century-era telegrams.

On that note, Schott includes selections from the “The Anglo-American Telegraphic Code”, a book published in 1891 of shorthand ways to express complex thoughts in just a few characters (and thus cheaply). The code ranges from the seemingly useful (to journalists at least) 'Orangeman' for "what is the opinion on the street?", to the fortune cookie-sounding 'Acuate' for "you will accomplish but little", to the downright odd 'Hub' for "can you recommend a competent housekeeper?"

Check out the Times piece then try to work a few into your daily Twittering/Texting, just be ready to give explanations to your puzzled readers.