Melody's Twitter Postcard Project

Internet, you might not realize this but Bethlehem, PA is a...

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:51:49 -0400

Internet, you might not realize this but Bethlehem, PA is a magical place. Not only does it contain America’s first municipal pumped water system (as seen above), but holds the household of @hillarykwiatek, a self-described “writer, cook, runner, mom, anglophile, aesthete, folklorist, political wonk, nerd and geek.” She writes:

Greetings from the land of Peeps and Moravians!

@hillarykwiatek

Yes, my friends, the humble Peep originates in the very same town as America’s first municipal pumped water system and Moravian College. No wonder Money Magazine listed Bethlehem as the 88th best place to live in 2006. It is a land of milk and honey, the birthplace of JTT and the current hometown of Hillary Kwiatek. Thanks Hillary!

I first read about Tanja Hollander when conceiving the idea for...

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:42:00 -0400

I first read about Tanja Hollander when conceiving the idea for this project. Tanja is undertaking a similar project and in the process of traveling around the world to photograph all 626 of her Facebook friends. She writes:

Hi Mel-

I love this project of yours especially because you’re making your friends do all the work. I wish I would have thought that part of mine out a little better. Oh well, what’s that saying live and learn? I think I may take you up on your offer to come to Philly - I’ve got the weekend of the 18th of May free or we’ll have to wait until September. I try not to leave Maine in the summer because well, I suffer through the winters to have something to look forward to. (As you can see from the front.) You are of course welcome here anytime as well. <3 xo T.

Thanks Tanja! Your picture of Maine is absolutely gorgeous and my poor iDevice photo-ing skills do not do it justice. I would love to show you around Philadelphia and help out with your project. I love that we’re both taking the Internet and making it more personal through these random connections we forge online — and then in real life. <3 xo M.

O Canada! The first international postcard, via @norahringma,...

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:26:51 -0400

O Canada! The first international postcard, via @norahringma, who lives in our great neighbor to the North. She writes:

Greetings from Canada!

After 28 years of going out to work, I now work from home. As great as that sounds, it has its drawbacks, the largest being isolation. Instead of office mates, I now have a Twitter feed. Over time, I have developed favourites. At the head of the pack are you, @nprfreshair and its Tumblr. Thanks so much for keeping me company.

Good luck with your postcard project!

@NorahRingma

Thanks Norah! I’m glad I can keep you company during the workday. I now picture everyone in Canada driving around in patriotic camper vehicles on their way to a great kayaking adventure. If you’re ever in Philadelphia — with kayak or not — please feel free to say hi! In person, where we can talk more than 140 characters at a time.

Jake (@jakepneufeld) lives in Brooklyn, which is 2,339 miles...

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:16:02 -0400

Jake (@jakepneufeld) lives in Brooklyn, which is 2,339 miles away from Arizona. It would take more time to drive from Brooklyn to Arizona than to send a postcard from Brooklyn to Philadelphia, which is exactly what Jake did. He writes:

Melody,

Enjoy this lovely Arizona postcard, sent directly from the heart of Brooklyn. Honored to be part of your project.

Cheers,

@JakePNeufeld

Thanks Jake! If I am ever in Arizona, I will send you a postcard from Philadelphia!

Shannon (@shannonmace) lives in Philadelphia but she got engaged...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:50:00 -0400

Shannon (@shannonmace) lives in Philadelphia but she got engaged after going to a steakhouse in New York on West 36th Street named Keens. Keens has been the “home of the legendary mutton chop since 1885.) She writes:

Keens is where l ate the night my then-boyfriend proposed (while driving on the NJ Turnpike.) He had the mutton, I had the lobster. Both were amazing! So was the day/night…

@shannonmace

I have never consumed mutton and only recently tasted lobster for the first time. But if I’m ever going to propose to someone on the NJ Turnpike, now I know where to go for a meal beforehand. Thanks Shannon!

Esther Hsiao (@hiddenjade) sends greetings from Southern...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:42:00 -0400

Esther Hsiao (@hiddenjade) sends greetings from Southern California.

Hello Melody,

I’m a social media novice and learner. That’s why I follow interesting people like you.

Esther Hsiao

@hiddenjade

Thanks Esther! I think it’s important to dive into social media with both feet (or one flipper, if you’re a mermaid.)

Kelsey (@khlivingston) lives in Washington DC. She also has a...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:32:00 -0400

Kelsey (@khlivingston) lives in Washington DC. She also has a way with construction paper, tape, and cardboard. She sent in a homemade postcard featuring the subway lines of the District. (I am a former Green Liner.) The postcard naturally says:

GREETINGS FROM THE DISTRICT

I do not know how long it took to make this postcard, but I imagine it may have taken longer than climbing the stairs at the Woodley Park station. Thanks for sending this in, Kelsey! If you’re ever in Philadelphia, let me know and we can explore SEPTA together.

Today I went to the PO Box and received Postcard #1 from...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:46:00 -0400

Today I went to the PO Box and received Postcard #1 from @julesdwit. On the front is a dashing picture of Gertrude Stein.

On the back, it says

“Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense.” — Gertrude Stein

Google “Gertrude Stein quotes” — she has some great ones. I’m glad we’re internet friends, you are very nice! - @julesdwit

Thank you so much Julie! I’m glad we’re internet friends too. I took you up on your suggestion to google ‘Gertrude Stein quotes.’ I’m partial to this one:

“You look ridiculous if you dance
You look ridiculous if you don’t dance
So you might as well
dance.” — Gertrude Stein

This is my childhood bedroom. So I have decorated with postcards...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:52:38 -0400

This is my childhood bedroom. So I have decorated with postcards before….

Twitter Postcard Project Information

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:44:57 -0400

Please send your postcards (with your Twitter handle included) to:

Melody Joy Kramer

900 Market Street

PO BOX 1724

Philadelphia PA 19105

I will scan and document the postcards as they come in. There’s no theme, there’s no directions, write whatever you’d like. Thank you for participating!

-Mel

How much is a postcard stamp in Continental USA? Is there a theme you'd like? a Hashtag, or sorts? something you'd like tor read on the card? If you are looking for a sponsor to pay for the PO Box, you might hit up Moo Cards, I think they make post cards, as well as Bus. cards. I'll shop for cards this weekend, I cannot send just one!

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:39:31 -0400

A postcard stamp, according to the USPS, is 32 cents.

No theme — I’m curious to see how people interpret this. Please include your Twitter handle and a short message (which can be anything you find interesting.)

The address is:

Melody Joy Kramer

900 Market Street

PO BOX 1724

Philadelphia PA 19105

Thanks for sending one!

I have 1,564 followers on Twitter. I wanted to do a massive...

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:18:00 -0400

I have 1,564 followers on Twitter. I wanted to do a massive project to learn more about everyone. (Some are people I’m very good friends with, some are people I work with, and some are people I’ve never met before in my life.)

My first idea was to take a portrait of each follower. But then Sebastian suggested asking each of my Twitter followers for a postcard instead. This is a much easier project, given continental drift and my small public radio salary.

I will document the postcards on this blog and in my new apartment, where they will be strung around the walls. I bought a PO Box this afternoon and plan to go to the post office after work today, to show the necessary forms of ID and get this party started.

I’m very excited to see how we can use an ephemeral medium to create something that extends well beyond the Internet.

Stay tuned.