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The Twitter Revolution
The Wall Street Journal ^ | April 20, 2009 | Evan Williams and Biz Stone

Posted on 04/20/2009 11:54:12 AM PDT by Scanian

"Twitter is the side project that took," says company co-founder Biz Stone, 35. "Now it's our chance to do something transformative."

When I arrive at Twitter's headquarters on a recent morning, Jerry Brown is waiting in the lobby -- just another day at the world's hottest high-tech company. "It's pretty bizarre," says co-founder Evan Williams, 37. "At least once per day we look at each other and say, 'What the hell?' It's like we're living out the script of the ultimate start-up company story."

But other than the familiar face of California's attorney general standing near the steel front door, you would hardly know that this little company of about 30 employees is the epicenter of the Web, used by an estimated 20 million Americans on a daily -- even minute-by-minute -- basis. Just how fast Twitter is growing is a company secret, but its traffic appears to be more than doubling every month.

The company itself seems calm and casual. The employees drift in, grab some free food and eventually make their way to their desks. It's located in an anonymous warehouse just a couple blocks from South Park, the once-frenzied environs of the dot-com companies of the first Internet boom. In his sports shirt and slacks, sipping a bottle of apple juice, Mr. Williams exhibits indifference to the trappings of success. So does Mr. Stone, who last year won an Oxford Union debate wearing a borrowed bow tie and a pair of black sneakers.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: growthcompany; stone; twitter; williams
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To: saganite

My friend does “social networking” every waking minute. FaceBook, Twitter, dating sites, the works. I took a look and was repulsed. Who the hell wants to put their personal information online for all to see? For me, it would be a form of torture.

Friend, BTW, voted for 0bama, never did a bit of research on him, now, after seeing him bow to Saudi King, is abashed that she voted for the creep because she was too busy wasting time to check him out. And she continues to do her social networking just as avidly.

Scary.


21 posted on 04/20/2009 12:35:29 PM PDT by Veto! (Opinions freely dispensed as advice)
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To: Scanian

I kind of like twitter, although I’m not completely used to it yet.


22 posted on 04/20/2009 12:36:34 PM PDT by mysterio
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To: longtermmemmory
mental exhibitionists.

hehehe.....Good term. Very accurate.

23 posted on 04/20/2009 12:39:43 PM PDT by OB1kNOb (Bitter FReeping, gun toting, bible clinging, family loving, Obama despising, Right Wing Extremist.)
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To: NativeNewYorker

I agree. It kills me that I finally joined Facebook about a month ago...I actually love it. I have 123 friends (mostly from high school) which is pretty cool. A great way to keep up. But now I hear all about this twitter. Is this the next best thing? I never joined My Space so I did not get in on that, but Facebook was something the others spoke to me about and I finally broke down and joined it. Is everyone running over to Twitter now? Sheesh how can people keep up? Let’s just keep one community website.


24 posted on 04/20/2009 12:42:58 PM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: napscoordinator
Nothing personal, but I'm so glad I don't have to keep up with 123 friends and their adventures. I'm glad I don't want to have any part of a "community website". I'm happy I don't have to chat on cell phones all day and all night. I'm glad when people can't find me when they're on the hunt to bend my ear and feel needed. The only blackberry I need is a pint of them presently in my fridge.

Hillary can keep her "village" (cover term for "community" as in "community organizer"), I'll keep my independence and freedom, thank you, from all the twitters in the world, endlessly twitting back and forth, back and forth.

Leni

25 posted on 04/20/2009 12:54:06 PM PDT by MinuteGal (FR Regional Convention 4/25 Orlando....Florida, Alabama, Georgia & Carolinas Freepers Invited!)
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To: MinuteGal

LOL! Twitter is for twits.


26 posted on 04/20/2009 12:56:18 PM PDT by swarthyguy ("We may be crazy in Pakistan, but not completely out of our minds," ISI Gen. Ahmed Shujaa Pasha)
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To: VA_Gentleman
I work for a large university IT department and many of the employees in the building(non-IT) always ask us why the IT people aren't on Twitter, MySpace, and Facebook. My answer is that we have real work to do!
27 posted on 04/20/2009 1:05:49 PM PDT by aegiscg47
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To: All
Twitter Waster Pictures, Images and Photos
28 posted on 04/20/2009 1:21:47 PM PDT by Squidpup ("Fight the Good Fight")
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To: Squidpup
twitter funny Pictures, Images and Photos
29 posted on 04/20/2009 1:24:09 PM PDT by Squidpup ("Fight the Good Fight")
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To: saganite
I was hoping to find out what Twitter was by reading this. Any idea? I admit I’m technologically behind the times and don’t have a facebook page or My Space. So obviously Twitter is a total mystery to me.

Then come over here and sit by me, 'cause I haven't a clue either...only this feeling that, once again, I am,like, so twentieth century.

30 posted on 04/20/2009 1:26:41 PM PDT by yankeedame ("Oh, I can take it but I'd much rather dish it out.")
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To: Deb
It's like we're living out the script of the ultimate start-up company story.

A story already written in history. I believe the last page reads: BUST

31 posted on 04/20/2009 1:31:18 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: Borges

Designed for the government trained neurotic, narcissists who enjoy permanent infantilism.


32 posted on 04/20/2009 1:33:20 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: 1010RD
Twitter is a powerful tool used in the proper way.

You've got to think in terms of promotion for blogs or websites or TV shows etc.

Some people use it for prattling on about there daily life.

But the conservatives are using it to organize and get a message out. Lots of Tea Parties where organized and promoted using Twitter.

33 posted on 04/20/2009 1:42:50 PM PDT by Mad Dawgg (will work for bailout bonus.... Twitter: maddawggmorgan)
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To: saganite
I was hoping to find out what Twitter was by reading this. Any idea?

It's a "micro-blog" where users post 140-character or less updates. You can choose to "follow" users based on a specific topic.

For example, you might choose to follow a professional sports team on twitter. The sports team would post updates, links, and other bits of information that might interest you.

There is lots of trash on twitter and there is some really good stuff - just depends on the source.

34 posted on 04/20/2009 1:52:24 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: Mad Dawgg

Thanks for the insight. I am only familiar with the prattling part. Seems like a bit on the self-absorbed side, but I like that it is used to coordinate our efforts at restoring liberty back into the equation.


35 posted on 04/20/2009 1:58:44 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: Scanian

Some of the comments here are ridiculous.

People once used those critisisms against blogs and message boards.

Like anything it has it’s good points and it’s bad points.

Sure, people clutter it with what they had for lunch but I’m sure I’ve read a post or two on this board from time to time filling everyone in on their diets and other information pertaining to any subject BUT activism and conservatisism. That alone doesn’t discredit it.

It’s a simple instant way to stay updated on subjects of interest to you. Can’t see what is wrong with it. It can be used to organize as occured with the Tea Party’s. It can also be used to market and advertise for free. This is why celebrity’s are using it. The GOP really should make better use of it.


36 posted on 04/20/2009 2:00:05 PM PDT by Soul Seeker
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To: ProfoundMan

I think he shut down Comments at his blog, then.


37 posted on 04/20/2009 2:00:09 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan (If Bishop D'Arcy finds out a priest is molesting kids, he will boycott the parish's Fall Supper!!!)
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To: Scanian

I don’t have a life. But I still hate Twitter.


38 posted on 04/20/2009 2:01:03 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan (If Bishop D'Arcy finds out a priest is molesting kids, he will boycott the parish's Fall Supper!!!)
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To: stainlessbanner

Thanks. Since I don’t even text I probably won’t be tweeting (yes, I looked it up on Wikipedia).


39 posted on 04/20/2009 2:01:47 PM PDT by saganite (What would Sully do?)
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To: Scanian
A Manhattan bakery twitters when warm cookies come out of the oven. "It's those small stories that really inspire us," says Mr. Stone. "Those are the things that transform people's lives."

I know warm cookies transform MY life.

40 posted on 04/20/2009 2:49:18 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault ( Obama, you're off the island!)
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