The Panther

What is Twitter? That is the question that is running through everyone's mind when they hear about the addicting sensation. Every time there's a new social network everyone wants to join and be part of it. "Twitter is on its way to becoming the next killer app," as stated in TIME magazine. First Myspace, then Facebook, and now Twitter. So the question is where did Twitter come from? Jack Dorsey had grown interested in the simple idea of being able to know what his friends were doing. Specifically, Jack wondered if there might be an opportunity to build something compelling around this simple status concept. When he brought the idea up to his colleagues, it was decided that a prototype should be built. Twitter was funded initially by Obvious, a creative environment in San Francisco, Calif. The first prototype was built in two weeks in March 2006 and launched publicly in August of 2006. The service grew popular very quickly and it soon made sense for Twitter to move outside of Obvious. In May 2007, Twitter was f ounded. Simplicity has played an important role in Twitter's success. People are eager to connect with other people and Twitter makes that simple. Twitter asks one question, "What are you doing?" Answers must be under 140 characters in length and can be sent via mobile texting, instant message, or the Web. Twitter is now helping people with different charitable organizations such as www.malarianomore. org. Ashton Kutcher started a Twitter war with CNN. Whoever made it to one million followers first, the winner pledged to donate 10,000 mosquito bed nets to charity for World Malaria Day (April 25), and the loser donating 1,000. Kutcher won and is officially a bigger twit than CNN. Demi Moore who is a movie star by day is a lifesaving Twittering hero by night. On April 2, the "G.I. Jane" star received a frightening tweet from a woman named 'Sandieguy.' "I'm just wondering if anyone cares that I'm gonna kill myself now," she wrote to the star. Serious or not, her previous messages that hour-not directed at any one in particular-showed the Silicon Valley girl contemplating suicide and wavering on the decision. Moore immediately replied, "Hope you are joking," sharing the scenario with her nearly 400,000 followers. The brief exchange inspired several people to contact the authorities. The San Jose police were notified, and the caller indicated that she had been sending out messages on Twitter. Officers were sent to the address. There were no injuries but officers determined that the woman fit the criteria to be brought in for psychiatric evaluation, which she is currently undergoing. Who would have thought a simple application could save a life? The easy-to-use application is used for networking, status updates, saving lives, charitable causes, promotions, advice from celebrities, world news, CNN updates and more. Anyone can join in on the fun for free. Just go to www.twitter. com and become a twitterbug.

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