Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
The Cities Blog
Curtis Gilbert

Chart uses mayor’s tweets to track her awakenings

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

When Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges began sharing 140 characters of inspiration every morning, she probably didn't realize how much she was revealing.

The mayor starts each day by tweeting a brief quotation from the likes of Carl Sagan, Colin Powell and Nora Ephron to her 8,462 followers on Twitter.

Local statistician Tom Q. Johnson saw the quotes as a data set. He used the timestamp on Hodges' tweets to determine approximately when she got out of bed each day. The average? 6:31 a.m.

Hodges apparently found the chart flattering.

"*Now* I am The Mayor," she quipped on Facebook. "I don't experience it as creepy - I think it's pretty hilariously awesome."

Johnson specializes in off-beat analyses of Minnesota topics, including one tracking the price of marijuana in various cities around the state.