Anyone who uses Twitter has run up against a vexing fact: it won’t let you send messages of more than 140 characters. How quickly that number gets eaten up – unless you’re ready to prune from the start. So goes the double-edged nature of Twitter: It’s a time saver; it’s a time sink.

If you just joined Twitter, you need to know the top techies worth following. We thought we'd help by providing a list of technology thought leaders who post useful information, including links, news, tips, inside information and perspectives on current events.

Traditionally, the holiday season is the most active networking time of year with lots of social gatherings, printed greetings and gift exchanges. The explosion of social media has dramatically impacted how we network year-round. Take the opportunity now to expand your connections using the variety of social networking platforms that enable you to keep up with your existing contacts and establish new relationships on a continuous basis.

Don Christiansen peruses some of the popular "A-Lists" in search of renowned engineers and innovators. While some are represented, you might be surprised at some of the notable omissions.

Whatever the reason, you’ve decided to start your own company and be an entrepreneur. How do you get started, and what does it take to be successful?

The overall favorable plan experience is the primary reason New York Life cited for being able to reduce rates for the currently marketed IEEE-Sponsored Group Term Life Insurance Plan.

The PE examination consists of 80 independent multiple choice questions and each has to be written by a registered professional engineer. If you are a registered professional engineer, find out how you can write a question for future exams.

A new series of e-books, Doing Innovation: Creating Economic Value, offers advice on how to be an innovative thinker, how to inspire innovation within an organization, understanding the process of innovation, and more.

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education reform will be a priority in Washington next year. Both Congress and the White House plan to focus on ways to improve the way that these vital subjects are taught in the nation’s elementary and secondary schools.

An exciting "new age" in fusion energy research and development is now beckoning, including important advances expected to be achieved at the ITER international experimental reactor in France, fusion experts have testified before a congressional panel.

A valuable, but little known, resource tracing the development of electronics for defense, space and other applications is located near the Thurgood Marshall Baltimore-Washington International Airport and the BWI Rail station.

A roundup of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology reported by research universities and government agencies.