You've heard about Twitter by now and may still be wondering "what's the point?" But tonight will be an interesting time to use the service, both locally and nationally.

True, it takes a while to get your head around how this technology improves communication beyond email and blog posts. But, like most of the best things on the web, it's about the community.

The News Tribune's main Twitter account has 135 followers and our new sports account has about 30. That seems like a pretty small number compared to the 100,000-plus households we deliver a newspaper every day, but Twitter is less about publishing and more about connecting.

And it's perfect for mobile.

Followers use "hash marks" - namely a @ or # plus the Twitter account name - to reply to specific Twitterers they follow. This allows direct contact between two people and is the core of what makes Twitter different.

I found more than 230 people signed up for Twitter who list Tacoma, WA as their location. Still, not a lot of people. But look at all the technology development happening around Twitter.

So we’re now using Twitter to send alerts with local high school football game updates to your mobile device. Just sign up for the Twitter service and follow us at twitter.com/tntsports. Or, if you're at a computer tonight, follow along online at the same URL.

And then there's that campaign thing going on. It will be entertaining - or maddening - to watch the global Twitterstream during the presidential debate tonight. Follow along here: http://election.twitter.com/