What is the Point of Twitter?

Good question. For years, I wondered the exact same thing myself. I mean, what is the point of constantly telling people where you are, what you're doing, and basically sharing every aspect of your life? Right? Riiiggghhhhttt? Right.

I first joined Twitter in 2009 for the sole purpose of following athletes' tweets (the ever-so-clever name given to Twitter posts). It was right around the time when Charlie Villanueva infamously tweeted in the locker room during halftime of an NBA game. I thought it was hilarious (it still is, albeit quite ridiculous), so I followed Charlie in hopes that he would tweet again.

Eventually, I lost interest and my Twitter account sat idly for awhile. Until earlier this year, when I had my 'eureka' Twitter moment, if you will. Do I think Twitter is the greatest thing ever? No. But it's pretty useful for a variety of things. For example:

(1) One-Stop News Source

One thing I have found extremely useful on Twitter is 'following' various news sources, as well as other topics of interest, including CNN, ESPN, Amoeba Music, Adam Schefter (great for all things NFL!), SF Weekly, Pitchfork Music, and various bands I enjoy, to name a few. As things unfold in the NFL, in the US or the world, or in relation to one of my favorite bands, I can get up-to-the-minute info via my Twitter feed. Instead of individually visiting multiple websites, boom, I get all of this info at once!

Even better, because Twitter only displays news / tweets from people I choose to 'follow', my news feed is personalized to include only content that I am interested in. Nothing more, nothing less.

(2) Effective Way to Reach the Masses

Depending on your motives, this may be more or less important. For example, many companies nowadays (especially public relations firms, advertising agencies, technology companies, and other businesses I would describe as 'hip') are using Twitter as a means for recruiting, advertising, and/or a way to get their name/product some awareness in general.

The same can be said for individuals. Many people use Twitter as a way to create awareness for themselves, whether it be amongst a certain group of people or to a specific company or organization.

Additionally, Twitter can be used in this way for actual networking with people. Where else can you interact with hundreds or thousands of 'strangers' and create actual networks or relationships? When done in the correct way, Twitter can allow you to do this. It also allows you to find people with similar interests who may turn you onto new interests that you may not have heard about before.

(3) Entertainment

There are a plethora of entertaining Twitter pages, which provide everything from humorous blogs, witty one-liners, random quotes from a guy's grumpy old dad, or just people with random pictures / thoughts that don't seem to make any sense whatsoever.

Some of my personal favorites include:

@azizansari

@kellyoxford

@shitmydadsays

@UMO

I'm sure there are many other great ones as well.

(4) Links to Other Social Media Outlets

Twitter is great in that it allows you to link it to your Facebook, your Linkedin (if you so choose), any blogs you may have, Instagram, Foursquare, and many other social media sites. With this linkage, it allows you to update / manage many social mediums at once, without having to log onto different sites to get the same message out.

In this respect, Twitter is essentially a Facebook message on steroids, only way better.

(5) Amplification Potential

With millions and millions of people on Twitter, your messages, thoughts, links, etc. have the potential to be amplified much more rapidly than on other social media sites (i.e. Facebook). All it takes is for one person to 'retweet' your tweet (essentially the same as 'liking' something you posted), and all of their followers will be able to see it. If one of them 'retweets', and one of their followers does the same, and so on, your message/thought/funny video/etc. can all of a sudden be seen by millions.

This is an extremely powerful (and dangerous) tool, depending on the message you're trying to share.

(6) What Do I Want Out of Twitter?

Most of what I get out of Twitter has already been listed above. I can get personalized, real-time news from any major news source I choose, as well as some not-so-major news sources. I can learn about tour dates and new album info from some of my favorite bands. I can have a good laugh at one of Aziz Ansari's "Watch the Throne" comics, or one of Kelly Oxford's witty thoughts.

Ultimately, however, I'd like to really make a difference in the world. I'm not exactly sure if that is going to come through work, or through the relationships I make with others, or in some other completely unexpected way. What I do know is that social media and social networking have only just begun to scratch the surface, so I'm going to jump on now in hopes of building relationships and creating social networks that I can draw upon in the future if/when needed.

I know the above paragraph seems pretty vague, but just think of Twitter like this: At the end of the day, you can basically use it in one of so many different ways (or a combination of ways). It's an example where you get out of something what you put into it. If you choose to follow a handful of athletes and celebrities only to periodically check in on what they're doing, then you're probably only ever going to think that Twitter is used for that purpose.

I'd urge anyone to just give it a try for a few weeks. Follow some people, throw out some tweets, and if it's not for you, fine. But really give it a shot, and I think you'll find the whole experience a lot more worthwhile than you thought.

By the way, you can follow me at @SLaReau7.

Outside Lands 2011

The schedule for the Outside Land's Music Festival was officially released today.  It's pretty cool because it has a feature where you can 'build your own schedule', as well as listen to a couple tracks from each of the bands (to help decide who to put on your schedule).

After briefly surveying the schedule and making some gut-feeling decisions, here's my initial customized schedule (stages are in parentheses):

Friday, August 12th 


12:00 - 12:40 --> Release the Sunbird (Sutro)
1:10 - 1:55 --> The Joy Formidable  (Sutro)

 Whirring by thejoyformidable

2:25 - 3:10 --> Phantogram (Sutro)
3:40 - 4:30 --> Foster the People (Sutro)



4:35 - 5:45 --> MGMT (Lands End)
6:15 - 6:55 --> The Limousines (Panhandle Solar)
7:00 - 7:50 --> Big Audio Dynamite (Twin Peaks)*
7:50 - 8:35 --> Best Coast (Panhandle Solar)
8:40 - 9:50 --> The Shins (Twin Peaks)



10:30 - ??? --> Arctic Monkeys @ The Independent (Outside Lands Night Show)**

*I was thinking this also may be a decent time for dinner.  I'm not all that familiar with Big Audio Dynamite, and I'll need to eat sometime, right?


** One of many 'night shows' in San Francisco during this week.  We'll have to hurry from Golden Gate Park over to The Independent to catch the Arctic Monkeys in a more intimate setting.  


Saturday, August 13th


This is the one day where there aren't a huge amount of acts I'm dying to see.  As a result, the morning / early afternoon is pretty wide open and is easily subject to change.


12:35 - 1:15 --> Macklemore & Ryan Lewis  (Lands End)
1:25 - 2:15 --> The Stone Foxes (Sutro)
2:10 - 2:55 --> The Vaccines (Twin Peaks)
2:55 - 3:35 --> Sonny & The Sunsets (Panhandle Solar)
3:40 - 4:30 --> STRFKR (Twin Peaks)
4:45 - 5:45 --> Arctic Monkeys (Lands End)



6:15 - 7:25 --> The Black Keys (Lands End)

 The Black Keys - Have Love Will Travel by donknox

7:50 - 8:35 --> Paper Diamond (Panhandle Solar)
8:40 - 9:50 --> Girl Talk (Twin Peaks)



(Gets going around 2:00)

Sunday, August 14th


12:00 - 12:45 --> Diego's Umbrella (Twin Peaks)
12:45 - 1:25 --> Lord Huron (Panhandle Solar)
1:15 - 2:00 --> tUnE-YarDs (Sutro)

 Tune-Yards - Bizness by snipelondon

2:20 - 3:00 --> Grouplove (Panhandle Solar)

 Grouplove - Colours by xemper

3:05 - 3:55 --> !!! (Twin Peaks)
3:55 - 4:35 --> Ty Segall (Panhandle Solar)

 Ty Segall - Girlfriend by bruisecruisefestival

4:40 - 5:30 --> Major Lazer (Twin Peaks)
5:20 - 6:20 --> Little Dragon (Sutro)*
6:15 - 7:25 --> The Decemberists (Lands End)**
6:50 - 8:00 --> Beirut (Sutro)



8:40 - 9:50 --> Arcade Fire (Lands End)



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well that's it so far.  Looking forward to the festival, especially since I'll be attending with a group of friends, which should make for a pretty good time!

If anyone has any suggestions on artists not listed above, feel free to let me know, as I want to make sure to see as many great acts as I can!

Solving the Debt Problem

Let me preface this blog post by saying that I am by no means a political expert.  Nor do I fully understand (at least from an inside-Washington standpoint) exactly what goes into passing bills, agreeing on provisions, etc.  Additionally, I am by no means trying to start any kind of us-vs.-them political arguments. 

With that said, the arguments going on regarding the debt ceiling are a joke to me.  Not in the sense that this isn't an important issue that should be tackled by our representatives in Congress, but in the sense that it's just really stupid to see both sides (Republicans and Democrats) stand so rigidly against the other like this is some big game of 'chicken'.  It seems too often as though our leaders are more concerned with getting re-elected or getting the incumbent out of office that they don't stop to really think about what our country (and its people) truly want/need.

It's the same old story with the same old talking points.  "Republicans should end the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals in America," say the Democrats.  "Oh, but Democrats just wanted to spend, spend, spend," retort the Republicans.  One thing is clear.  Congress can solve this problem is by doing one of three things: (1) decrease costs (spending), (2) increase revenues, or (3) a combination of both.  Either way, our net revenues need to be greater than our net expenses/costs, or we go further into debt.

We could spend all day debating the merits of ending tax cuts, or increasing the capital gains tax so that wealthy hedge fund managers don't pay a lower tax rate than their secretary, or why it is better to have a big government (more regulation) vs. a smaller government (less regulation).  Or, we could look at ways we can work together to solve this issue.  TOGETHER.

Enter Representative Jared Polis (D-Colorado). 

Mr. Polis has proposed four immediate ways to help solve the debt ceiling issue with raising taxes OR cutting spending.

In summary, he believes the following four steps can be taken right now to help increase revenues without raising taxes on American citizens:

(1) Legalize marijuana - already legal in 16 states, taxes on medical marijuana bring in millions of dollars annually.  A 2005 study by a Harvard University professor estimates this number could reach $2.4 billion if pot were made legal nationwide.

(2) Legalize online poker - I wrote about the merits of this in a blog post a couple months back, but Mr. Polis agrees that by changing federal laws relating to online gambling (i.e. legalizing it, making sure it is regulated to protect individuals but also give them the freedom to play, etc.) can bring in a lot more money, as much as $42 billion annually, according to one estimate not cited in the article.

(3) Stricter immigration laws - require the more than 10 million illegal immigrants living in the US to obtain legal status and pay back taxes and fees.  Such measures could raise as much as $5.4 billion in revenues.  Alternatively, immigration reform (including bills considered by the Senate in 2007) could bring in $12 billion by 2012 and $48 billion by 2017.

(4) One-year tax amnesty program - allow tax evaders one year to 'get right' without facing penalties.  This would encourage (at least some) current tax evaders to try and pay taxes owed that they may not otherwise pay.  According to the article, one study by Arthur Laffer (economic advisor to Ronald Reagan) found that one year of amnesty could bring in $800 billion to $1 trillion (yup, TRILLION) in revenues over the course of a decade.

Granted, while the above are based on estimates or studies and are not 100% guaranteed facts, they definitely shed some light on the fact that even though our government cannot agree on how to ultimately solve the debt issue, there are a number of things that could be done in the meantime to generated much-needed revenues that would appease the majority of Democrats and Republicans.

We can argue the morality of legalizing marijuana and online poker, as well as the pros and cons of tax amnesty and immigration reform.  We may not all agree, and that's fine.  But at least we'll be debating something that matters in a productive manner, instead of simply sticking to our guns and trying to not cave in and let the other guy look good. 

Clear Some Space Out So We Can Space Out

I went and saw Portugal. The Man for a third time a couple weeks ago at the Rickshaw Stop here in San Francisco.  Sweet venue, great band, no complaints.

Aside from a couple DJs, the openers were a band called White Arrows, a group of long-haired twenty-somethings donned in Hawaiian shirts.  Currently, they only have one EP out, which is appropriately titled 'White Arrows - EP'.  However, I have a feeling we'll be hearing more from them in the months to come.



Additionally, today marked the unveiling of the lineup for San Francisco's Treasure Island Music Festival.  Overall, the lineup looks pretty promising.  One inclusion I'm excited for is Shabazz Palaces, an electro-hip-hop group from Seattle.

 Shabazz Palaces - Swerve... by subpop

And another one:



The group's full-length debut, "Black Up" is available now, and the beats are ridiculous.

Brian Wilson is Priceless

No, seriously...

She Shoots, She Scores?

Maybe it's the soccer fan in me, or maybe I had nothing better to do on a Sunday morning, but I have to admit that watching the United States women's soccer team beat Brazil in the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup got me pretty jacked up.  I literally yelled when Abby Wambach headed in the tying goal in the 122nd minute to force the match to penalty kicks (see: Short-Handed U.S. Stuns Brazil, wins in PKs).

Abby Wambach heads in the tying goal in the 122nd minute

I'll also admit that women's sports do not generally excite me.  It's not because they are inferior (at least not in all cases) to men's sports.  It's primarily because I am a male and can relate more closely to male sports than I can to female sports.  I know what it's like to throw a touchdown pass, get sacked by a defender, or get hit in the leg with a fastball. However, I'm a bit inexperienced when it comes to hitting a fast-pitch softball or spiking a volleyball down some girl's throat.

But on Sunday, sitting on my couch, I was pumped.  My heart was beating like I was watching the biggest sporting event of the year.  It brought be back to 1999 when the U.S. women defeated China 5-4 on penalty kicks to win the World Cup (see: Brandi Chastain hits decisive PK and takes her shirt off in celebration). 

In fact, it even brought me back to just last year when I was watching the U.S. men trying to advance in their own World Cup.  The U.S. women's match was able to equal the level of interest, excitement, and nerves as the men's matches a year ago, at least for me personally.

It seems as though the rest of the country is getting energized and excited by this match as well.  LeBron James recently tweeted the following via his Twitter account:

"USA!! #HopeSolo. Congrats ladies!"

Whether you're a soccer fan or not (but especially if you are), the U.S. women have a chance to do something the U.S. men have been unable to do: win the biggest championship their sport has to offer.  Doing so not only helps create excitement for the sport of soccer within the United States, it also gives it some legitimacy.  Let's embrace the fact the Team USA might actually be the best in the world at something other than basketball.

Perpetually Winning

I've learned today that my good friend, former roommate, and co-49er season ticket holder, Josh Burstein, has just been selected as Charlie Sheen's summer social media intern.  It was announced via Charlie Sheen's twitter yesterday. 

As strange and far-fetched as the idea of this announcement may have ever seemed (see: Charlie Sheen gets 74,000 applicants for 'Tiger Blood Intern' role), the fact that Josh not only applied, but won, is not surprising in the least bit.

I first met Josh in the Fall of 2008 on the 3rd Floor (Ross House) of Cole Hall at the University of Wisconsin (Go Badgers!).  Our first conversation basically consisted of Josh telling me about a summer internship at ESPN in New York and borrowing my Memento DVD, which he would return a few months later (literally the next time we would converse).   There was also some talk of Keira Knightly, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the fact that Josh was half Asian / half Jewish.

We eventually became friends, and shared residences for the next few years.  Josh has always been sort of the life of the party.  He has the inherent ability to attract people, including insatiable girls who eat our leftover Ian's pizza and loudly proclaim their race from the bedroom in the middle of the night.  Josh is also a bona fide self-starter.  I've honestly lost track of all the internships he's had, and he has recently started a non-profit for what I believe is an extremely legitimate cause.

He's created video (yes, video) power hours, hosted multiple "Mustachio Bashios", and even has a cameo appearance in cinematic legend that is The Last Kiss.  Of the many other unforgettable moments over the past few years, I will never - for the rest of my life - forget the time Josh acted upon the priceless opportunity to ghost ride his car into a tree.

Suffice to say that at any given time Josh is capable of doing something crazy, ridiculous, awesome, or potentially stupid.  He's also one of the most successful people I know.  Thus, he's obviously perfect for this internship.

Here's the winning final round video application:



Winning, indeed.  Congrats, bud!