The website Twitter—part social-networking, part microblogging—has more than a million users worldwide, including several hundred here in River City. Via the Web or cellphone, Twittizens post “tweets”: gusts of content that might be crabby (“Sweet—standing on the street holding another parking ticket”), cutting (“Woman who gave it to me looked like a *female* Bea Arthur”), confessional (“Still haven’t switched over my IL plates—lived in Soulard since ’92”) or even consequential (“City council’s talking new road rules on weekends—check it out at www ...”). Tweets are brief—140 characters max—but as they accumulate, they give you a sense of the person behind the posts, both publicly and privately. Here are five we’re following.
Who: Web developer Bill Israel
Style: Understated wit
Signature Tweet: “There is nothing OK about playing ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ and following it with Jimmy Buffet. Nothing. 10:44 PM Dec 10th, 2008”
Revealing Tweet: “Spending the night with red wine and ‘My Cousin Vinny’. 9:48 PM Nov 14th, 2008”
Who: The Wedge, new South City music venue
Style: Excited, entrepreneurial
Signature Tweet: “I’m pissed ... the bands booked for tonight didn’t show up. what the hell? 8:20 PM Dec 6th, 2008”
Revealing Tweet: “The Wedge is sad that Bettie Page is gone.. : ( 11:39 AM Dec 12th, 2008”
Who: Social media specialist Kathleen Manning
URL: twitter.com/redbirdsbroad
Style: Sassy, snarky
Signature Tweet: “At Carol House, because I apparently like oversized and ugly things. 11:10 AM Dec 27th, 2008”
Revealing Tweet: “Just spent over 3,000 on furniture, feeling a little stroky. Now back to bed to get better. 12:41 PM Dec 27th, 2008”
Who: Best-selling horror novelist Laurell K. Hamilton
Style: Candid, grateful
Signature Tweet: “Sex scene kicking my butt. Anita with a new guy, always difficult. Words on paper to represent everything sex can be. Tough to do. 10:04 AM Nov 19th, 2008”
Revealing Tweet: “Visited my Priestess tonight. Sometimes talking to clergy of choice helps clarify everything life throws at you. 11:35 PM Dec 1st, 2008”
Who: Freelance writer Sarah Truckey
URL: twitter.com/truckey
Style: Gal-about-townish
Signature Tweet: “Just had a beer bought 4 me by fast eddie himself. Hot damm. 12:06 AM Dec. 4th, 2008”
Revealing Tweet: “Truckey fam asleep by the fire. Divorced and all. 8:15 PM Dec 24th, 2008”
Want even more local tweets? Search for “St. Louis” at search.twitter.com. And yes, SLM tweets, too. Follow our every move (and get occasional breaking news) at twitter.com/stlmag.
