What the real sentiments of the slaves watching this punishment might have been no one can say.

NPR: A Radical History of the Underground Railroad

Whimsical or not, the Twitter fail-whale is now an icon of an adolescence that the company is eager to move past as the service has become a powerhouse medium for not only mega-events like Election Night conversations and debates but also for corporate marketing teams eager to tap into the sentiments of crowds and gain real-time insights and opportunities.

FORBES: Java Helps Twitter Outmuscle Massive Traffic Surge

In the latest sign of bullish sentiments about Hong Kong's real estate market, Swire Pacific said on Tuesday that it was looking to spin off its property division.

FORBES: Blowing Bubbles In Hong Kong