1. As you probably know, Oprah Winfrey picked Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom for her book club.

I guess this is a big deal if you’re Franzen or Oprah or a follower of Oprah. Personally, I like The Onion’s take.

And, yes, Jennifer Weiner has noted this on her Twitter page.

“Obvs it would be great if Oprah introduced a great debut lady writer who’s gotten no press. But if that won’t happen...”

Then, in response to another comment, she added, “Oprah hasn’t picked a female author for her book club since Toni Morrison in 2002. Why? No clue.”

Weiner has since proposed her own book club that she will run through Twitter.

Whether I agree with Weiner’s opinions or not, I think an author-run book club is a cool idea. This way, she can help raise the profiles of deserving authors instead of debating media outlets that are unlikely to change.

2. Kanye West asks, “What if Mark Twain had a Twitter? His quotes trump Warhol’s.”

This from the same mind that brought us, “You basically can say anything to someone on an email or text as long as you put LOL at the end” and “Man... whatever happened to my antique fish tank?”

But Kanye’s right. Twain’s quotes were Twitter-ready decades before mini-blogging.

Want proof? Here's a feed filled with Twain, and it's awesome. (Somebody needs to start an Oscar Wilde feed.)

3. Speaking of Twitter, Alison Hallett assesses the value of art criticism in a single tweet. (Hallett, by the way, is the Portland Mercury Arts Editor.)

4. And now for something that has nothing to do with Twitter...

Nitsuh Abebe explains why you don’t want to date a writer.

(Example #8: Writers are really passionate. About writing. Not necessarily about you. Are you writing?)

-Jason Lea, JLea@News-Herald.com