Twitter is a micro-blogging site. It lets you post messages of no more than 140 characters. They show up on your page, which is on the Twitter site. You can follow other users. Their updates also appear on your home page. You can also send direct messages to specific people.
So, that's what it is. But what is the point? That depends on what you want to get out of it.
Some people use Twitter to keep up with close friends and family. You can choose to only follow people you actually know. The only updates you'll see are from them. You'll know if your friend is down the street at the bar. You'll know if your sister is home sick.
Yes, a phone call or text message could do the same thing. But Twitter lets you reach everyone simultaneously. It only takes one tweet to update everyone. For example: "Hey, anyone up for poker?" or "Got a flat tire. Anyone have a jack I could borrow?"
Even seemingly silly tweets can have meaning among friends. Take your example: "I'm e-mailing Kim Komando right now." You're right; a stranger probably doesn't care. But maybe you didn't know friends also listen to the show. They send you a message. And you instantly have something to talk about.
By default, Twitter accounts are open to the public. Anyone can view your updates. But you can restrict access. You can decide exactly who sees your tweets. So, Twitter can be a very personal tool.
Celebrities, big and small, have descended on Twitter. It can be interesting to follow your favorites. Some use it to promote themselves. Others use it to connect—even have conversations—with their fans. You can follow people like Oprah, William Shatner, Al Gore and a lot more.
Professional athletes are on Twitter. Shaquille O'Neal plays basketball for the Suns here in Phoenix. He actually meets with his followers around town. And he sometimes gives out free tickets to games.
You could also follow me. You can check out what I'm working on for the show. I like sharing some of the cool things I find online. You can even get a look at what I do in my free time.
You can follow your favorite news publications. This includes Fox News, CNN, ESPN and the BBC. You can find local TV and radio stations. Chances are your favorite blogs and magazines are on Twitter, too.
You'll get a constantly updated list of headlines. They'll be accompanied by links to the stories.
Various online stores use Twitter. You can find special deals and coupon codes from Amazon.com. There are even products like Pepsi on Twitter. Of course, this is all marketing. But you can find some deals.
On the surface, Twitter seems like a tool for egomaniacs. These people think the world really cares about their every thought. And you can find plenty of them on the site. But they're easily ignored.
So, Twitter is a social-networking site/blog/news source/marketing tool/deal finder. And new uses are being thought up all the time. You can use it for one application, or any combination of them. In the end, it's up to you.