Tweak Release Me, Let Me Go

The title of this blog, Tweak This, derives from my observation that in countless daily instances dozens, thousands, perhaps more people choose to tweak something.  In a world where so many people use words in so many different ways it is kind of refreshing to find one word that has almost universal appeal, utilization and acceptance. According to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary tweak is (1) to pinch and pull with a sudden jerk and twist (2) to pinch (a person or a body part) lightly or playfully.  Whether with a recipe, an economic stimulus program, a strategic business plan, a planned military troop drawdown or a pulled hamstring muscle merely saying a change has occurred seems insufficient. The common denominator – a tweak.  

A tweak can be a good thing or a bad thing.  Going into spring training this season Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels had tweaked his elbow.  That was not good.  Then “to offset the effect of a subpar curve ball, Hamels worked to add a cut fastball or slider…the team believed this tweak would to restore Hamels to top pitcher status.”  That was good.

In some cases tweaks appear to be as essential to a finished product or program as initial, conceptual inspirations.  Following a judicial set back, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer reportedly said “she would consider changes to tweak the law to respond to parts faulted.”  Whether she will employ a sudden jerk and twist or act lightly and playfully has yet to be determined.

Consider the following randomly selected examples culled from the media over the past year:

            “Avril, in Bala Cynwyd, PA has tweaked its operation, expanding from a conventional BYOB dinner house into a more casual café, still with a Euro focus.”

            “Irked by mainstream media they find phony and superficial, some people are tweaking the message to make their own statement.”

            “Google tweaks its China Strategy in attempt to keep its site up.”

            “Democrats tweak bank bill to preclude bailouts.”

            “Time Inc. exec seeks Auton-omy, tweaks Bewkes.”

            “Philadelphia School Reform Commission tweaks charter-school policy.”

            “Campbell plans soup product and packaging tweaks.”

            “NFL tweaks instant-replay rules.”

“Oyster House, the classic Philly fish house…feels sufficiently true to tradition and with more consistency and a few tweaks, the next level is within reach.”

“Tweaking the big money art world on its own turf.”

“Cosmetic Makers are using pheromones to tweak the rules of attraction.”

“Kellogg tests shorter, fatter cereal box representing the package-foods company’s biggest box tweak since the 1950s.”

“Genetically modified salmon may be the first lab-tweaked animal on American dinner plates. “

And finally, “Gunmakers tweaking products, approaches to attract women shooters.”

I guess I have a hard time abiding all the tweaking that goes on. Wasn’t it the Beatles who sang, Let It Be, Let It Be, Let It Be, Let It Be.  I just yearn for the tweak-end.