By Mike Saucier
@MikeTheSauce
Fiscal cliffs. Guns. Political grandstanding. Fact-challenged political Facebook posts by well-meaning friends. The holidays. It’s all been too much. A new year awaits. Thanks for reading this odd invention of mine, TwitterZona, if you’ve been reading. It’s a work in progress and I hope to keep tweaking it to make it better in 2013. And thank you to the Rose Law Group (@roselawgroup) for allowing the chance to do so.
The New Year always brings the need for a wider view on things so since this column is about Twitter, here are some facts about it for some perspective (via mediabistro.com):
- On a busy day, Twitter sees about 175 million tweets.
- There have been approximately 163 billion tweets sent since the dawn of Twitter.
- The average Twitter user has 27 followers.
- Every second 750 tweets are shared on Twitter.
- 55% of all users on Twitter are female.
- 62% of Twitter users are in the age group 18-34.
Along those lines is this from Washington Post reporter J. Freedom du Lac (@jfdulac) tweeted: “Kanye West + Kim Kardashian = more Twitter followers than the CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NYT, WSJ, WaPo, AP & HuffPo flagship accounts combined.”
With a deal reached on the fiscal cliff, can we now retire that phrase forever?
David P. @dcpetersen23of Scottsdale tweeted: “Going over the fiscal cliff sounds more fun than going over niagara in a barrel. Can we vote out the entire congress next year?”
Recovering reporter and political hack Robbie Sherwood (@RobbieSherwood): “For a bunch of tough talkers with gun fetishes, the House and Senate GOP are surprisingly thin skinned. #obamaremarks #FiscalCliff”
According to her Twitter bio, Jersey-born Jewish Republican Amy Lidster (@lidsamy) tweeted: “We are going over the fiscal cliff one way or the other. If taxes are raised on anyone, over we go. If spending isn’t cut, nice knowing you.”
12 News reporter Brahm Resnik (@brahmresnik) tweeted about Ben Quayle’s memorable last day on the job:
“@benquayle won’t forget last day at work. He’s honchoing ‘live fiscal cliff action’ from speaker’s seat. #DareToDream”
President of Arizonans for Government Efficiency Shawnna Bolick of Phoenix (@slmbolick) tweeted: “This #FiscalCliff deal is awful. The ratio of tax hikes to spending cuts is 40 to 1. If the House folds they all need 2B thrown out. #tcot”
Dan Nowicki (@dannowicki) of the Republic tweeted the votes: “AZ House delegation on #FiscalCliff vote: Barber, Grijalva, Pastor YES; Flake, Franks, Gosar, Quayle, Schweikert NO”
Arizona Senate Democratic Leader David Schapira (@dschapira) of Tempe: “I can’t say I’m totally disappointed I won’t be sworn in to Congress next week. What a mess! Good luck, @kyrstensinema. #YoureGoingToNeedIt!”
Sen. John McCain @SenJohnMcCain tweet-quipped: “Al Jazeera buys Current TV – do we now have a pro-American network?”
Rep. Amanda Reeve (@Amanda_Reeve) of Phoenix tweeted a cool graphic touting Arizona’s business friendliness: “AZ is in top 10 for businesses!!! “@WSJGraphics: Businesses are looking to leave costly, restrictive California”
The country’s gun debate spilled into 2013 and will be a constant theme throughout the year.
Gary A. Nelson (@MesaCityHall) of Mesa tweeted: “Saw TV ad last night for new movie called ‘Bullet to the Head.’ Really? Now? Sick. Sick.”
Chad Campbell (@repcampbell): “Paul Babeu called me a ‘dingbat’ today for opposing his plan to arm teachers & volunteers on schools. I’m honored.”
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) tweeted: “Met with @GabbyGiffords and her husband Mark Kelly at City Hall today.”
Giffords is also visiting Connecticut to meet with families of the victims of the deadly Newtown elementary school shooting Friday afternoon.
TWEETING THE NEW YEAR
Twitter was a source of entertainment as the New Year rolled in, a perfect window on the atomized celebrations and ruminations of Arizonans.
Arizona Daily Star columnist Greg Hansen (@ghansen711) ended 2012 right. He tweeted: “Sun peaks thru. Rain stops. 44 degrees at No 1 tee at Dell Urich. Perfection! #whatawaytoend2012”
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton (@MayorStanton) tweeted somewhat ominously: “Please have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve without random gunfire by respecting Shannon’s Law. Spread the word!”
Along the same lines, NewsTalk 92.3 talk show host Bruce St. James (@BruceStJames) tweeted: “Redneck neighbor just shot a gun off. SMH. Probably the same idiot with the goat. #NYE2013 #NotFarmLand”
Fountain Hills journalist Ryan Winslett (@RyanWinslett): “No beer. No huge party. I’m going to spend New Year’s Eve wrapped in a blanket with video games and a stack of comics. #SadButAlsoAwesome”
Tempe comedian Frank Caliendo (@FrankCaliendo) tweeted about the futility of trying to stay off Twitter: “New Years resolution: To stop spending so much time on twitter.
#NotGoingWell”
State Senator Frank Antenori (@FrankAntenori): “As of today it’s illegal to manufacture or import incandescent lightbulbs >75watts. Get’em while you can. When stores run out they’re gone.”
This tweet will irritate just about everybody who failed in their exercise goals (or didn’t have any) in 2012:
Sassi Media founder Cynthia Sassi (@cynthiasassi) of Scottsdale: “This year flew by, just like me! A total of 828 miles of running tracked by #nikeplus this year. #running #iworkout”
JUST RANDOM
In writing this column every week, I try not to feature tweets by the same people in consecutive weeks but Johnjay Van Es (@JohnjayVanEs) of the Johnjay & Rich show makes that near impossible with his constant stream of colorful tweets, such as this:
“Omg! The alarm went off when I walked outta CVS! All I had was a LARGE container of Metamucil! I mean really! I’m guilty, I want easy poops!”
Cyrus Igono (@cyrusigono): “Tweeting and driving.”
Cyrus, please stop that. We want you around for a long time. Your tweets are great. But they at least can wait until you’re at a red light.
SHOUTOUTS AND SHAMELESS PLUGS
For those on the road, front porch dweller and happy human native to Phoenix Kerry Melcher (@melchak) recommended Vintages Grille in Rimrock, which is in the heart of the Verde Valley, just a few minutes off Interstate 17 exit 293, on the way to Montezuma Well National Monument: “BEST BEST stop en route home! (@VintagesGrille) 4sq.com/Wjq980”
THE TWEETWEEK IN SPORTS
A big week as the Cards (along with several other NFL teams) fired their coach, Ken Whisenhunt.
Republic sportswriter Bob McManaman (@azbobbymac) tweeted a quote from the Cardinals quarterback: “Kevin Kolb on Cards firings: ‘Whether you love each other or hate each other, you still work (together) every day and … its’ a shock.’”
AZ Central’s Kent Somers (@kentsomers), who covers the team, tweeted: “My opinion: Whisenhunt will draw interest from other teams. And quickly. Respected around the league.”
Speculation as to who Whisenhunt’s replacement would be started early, maybe too early.
Tim Ring (@timring3TV) of 3TV tweeted: “I am reporting the Cardinals are very close to a deal with Andy Reid to become the team’s next head coach. #AZCardinals #Eagles #NFL”
But the VP for Media Relations of the Cardinals, Mark Dalton (@CardsMarkD), tweeted this: “I’m 99% sure that reports of a deal being 95% done are 100% incorrect #azcards”
D-Backs outfielder Justin Upton (@JUS10UP10) continues to be the source of trade rumors, and tweeted:
“Appreciate the support. This is the view from my hotel room. Going to enjoy it and not worry about this trade nonsense.”
Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett (@ddockett) tweeted: “I got a taste for fried lobster tails, and fried okra from church’s chicken and a peach soda. Help!”
Hoardes of college football fans from Oregon and Kansas were spotted around town this week ahead of the Fiesta Bowl. Mayor Stanton (@MayorStanton) pre-empted reporters’ inquiries about how he got his Fiesta Bowl tickets with this tweet: “Trevor is up way past his bedtime (but having a great time) at #fiesta bowl. #yesipaidformytickets”
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Newly-minted Sen. Jeff Flake (@FlakeforSenate) tweeted: “I swear, I’ve never had a day like this…”
With this photo:
(TwitterZona is a column about Arizona tweets from movers and shakers in government, the sports world, newsrooms, public relations, the commentariat, business and enterprise, entertainment, the restaurant and nightlife scene, and arenas in between. Tweet selection is based on whether it is funny, clever, timely, insightful, provocative, sweet, moving, uplifting, or if it was an apt way of commenting on the issue of the moment. It was conceived by and written by Phoenix resident Mike Saucier, @MikeTheSauce, a former newspaper reporter and editor in Massachusetts and New York City and a former spokesman for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and the New York City Department of Correction. Email: msaucier@gmail.com)
