Great List of People to Follow on Twitter!

Need some guidance with your Twitter account? There’s hope! In today’s Blog, we list some of the most influential Twitter members with a huge list of potential people to follow. Twitter is a micro-blogging site that caters to over an estimated 190 million users, generating 65 million tweets a day and handling over 800,000 search queries per day. It’s right on the heels of Facebook regarding social media monopolization, and truthfully, it’s a lot easier. Here’s a great list of people to follow, enjoy!

Al Gore
@algore
Followers: 2.2 million
Vice President of the United States turned book author, movie maker, and cable channel entrepreneur, Al Gore tweets exactly what you'd expect from a man trying to save the world—lots of links about saving the world—although his feed isn't updated frequently.
Alison Agosti
@Just_Alison
Followers: 213,747
The comedy stylings of the Alison Agosti are of the NSFW one-liner variety. This relative unknown—outside of Twitter—earns her following by actually bringing the funny in a way few can in 140 characters.
Alyssa Milano
@Alyssa_Milano
Followers: 1.35 million
From child sitcom star to adult actress, sex symbol, and activist, Alyssa tweets (a lot) about her life in show business, her baseball obsession, dog rescue, becoming a mom, etc. She even tweets lots of great geekie links.
Barack Obama
@BarackObama
Followers: 6.8 million
Love him or hate him, President Obama's the first U.S. President to completely embrace the digital world,and his tweets, with a mix of info about his various addresses with occasional personal entries, give you a glimpse into the White House. He also has the honor of following more people on Twitter than anyone else at 702,000+; he truly has the ear of the people.
Beth Blecherman
@techmama
Followers: 13,199
The chief technologist of sites like Cool Mom Tech, Beth is a "power mom" who blogs about the intersection of family and the digital world. Her feed is a cornucopia of retweets from her own sites and elsewhere that no parent should miss.
Bill Gates
@billgates
Followers: 2.2 million
We all know him as the one-time richest man alive who drove Microsoft to prominence. Now he's focused on his and his wife Melinda's foundation to help people around the world. His current passion: eradicating polio.
Bill Maher
@billmaher
Followers: 2.2 million
Comedian and political commentator Bill Maher's been doing his thing on late-night TV for almost 20 years now. He brings that same no-bulls#!@ approach to Twitter, calling it like he sees it and not caring at all if you agree.
Brian Heater
@bheater
Followers: 1,800
Call it self-serving, but if there's any one member of PCMag's staff that should be followed by the entire planet Earth, it's Brian Heater. Comic dork, music snob, California hipster, guy who will be played by Michael Cera in the movie of his life... call him what you will, but know this: If you read Brian's daily observations, you will laugh.
Cali Lewis
@CaliLewis
Followers: 118,361
The host of Revision3's GeekBeat.TV, Lewis is also a tech correspondent on TV news channels and tweets about (you guessed it) the latest in computing and tech. Of course, the majority of tweets are links back to her online show, but they tend to be worth a view.
Charles Trippy
@CharlesTrippy
Followers: 112,874
Webby nominee Charles Trippy travels the world and makes videos about those trips for his YouTube channel, Internet Killed Television. This might not seem like a big deal, but with 419,000+ plus YouTube subscribers, Charles obviously knows what he's doing with a travelogue. He brings the same energy and fun to Twitter with commentary on and links to his travels.
Chris Hardwick
@Nerdist
Followers: 1.4 million
You may remember Chris Hardwick from hosting Singled Out (the show that made Jenny McCarthy and Carmen Electra famous). But the comedian has gone on to do much more, including his musical act Hard 'n Phirm (with Mike Phirman). He also hosts G4's Web Soup. He's first and foremost a nerd (thus the username) and proves it with a geek-tastic Twitter feed.
Chris Luzader
@techzader
Followers: 31,157
Self-described internet addict and "social media-crippling Twitterwhore" Chris Luzader blogs at TechWorthy, but gets his kicks by tweeting just about every worthwhile tech news link he can find. If you want the latest news in the world of online and computing, you'll get it from Techzader almost instantly.
Conan O'Brien
@ConanOBrien
Followers: 2.5 million
It doesn't really matter where Coco goes to host a TV show (he's now on TBS, not NBC, in case you've been living in a cave), because he's one of the funniest guys around. And unlike so many tweeters, he's not using Twitter to promote, just to entertain.
John Cleese
@JohnCleese
Followers: 924,106
Certainly the tallest member of Monty Python's Flying Circus, Mr. Cleese is also still alive. Although he doesn't tweet very much, when he does, they're quite funny sometimes and always very English. He's John Bloody Cleese, so you'll subscribe because of that alone!
John Green
@realjohngreen
Followers: 1.12 million
Green writes award-winning young adult novels and makes a lot of YouTube videos with his brother, EcoGeek's @HankGreen. Together they've built a following so large it has a name: Nerd Fighters. He tweets to them.
John Gruber
@gruber
Followers: 115,056
The proprietor of Daring Fireball, John Gruber blogs full time about Apple, Macs, and anything starting with a lower-case "i." His tweets aren't always Mac-centric (nor even tech-centric), covering his other passions.
John Hodgman
@hodgman
Followers: 507,141
You might know him as the PC in some old Macintosh commercials. Or as a Daily Show resident expert. Or book author. No matter what you know him as, follow John Hodgman and you'll be thoroughly entertained.
John McCain
@SenJohnMcCain
Followers: 1.7 million
War hero, former POW, Arizona senator, and presidential candidate from 2000 and 2008, John McCain uses the Twitter soapbox to reflect on world events, point to what he's working on, and let you know where he is, be it Lithuania, Egypt, Libya, or right at home on the Senate floor.
Kanye West
@kanyewest
Followers: 2.6 million
Kanye, the original crazy celeb of Twitter (crowned long before Charlie Sheen went online), joined Twitter and his feed quickly became the standard of wackiness in 140 characters. He says the kind of things only a rich musician with no filter can get away with, yet has moments of personal insight that might give you pause. Until his next awesome tweet.
Kara Swisher
@karaswisher
Followers: 725,722
Kara Swisher is part of the team at the Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital site and conference, where she, along with Walt Mossberg and others, discuss exactly that. She points out the best stories to follow from her Twitter feed.
Karl Rove
@KarlRove
Followers: 228,516
Rove is the former Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bush (some would also call him "the brains") and now a political analyst for various outlets. Not surprisingly, he tweets about the world of politics, pointing to his own commentaries and research.
Katie Couric
@katiecouric
Followers: 155,054
More than just the once perky host of Today, Katie Couric is now the anchor for the CBS Evening News and a single mom. While the majority of her Twitter feed is news related, you get occasional insights into her personal life as well.
Keith Olbermann
@KeithOlbermann
Followers: 247,311
The recently fired Olbermann, former big-headed face of MSNBC, will soon be premiering on CurrentTV. Until then, you can find the liberal commenter baiting and insulting the Republicans on Twitter, frequently prompting us to, literally, LOL.
Kelly Oxford
@kellyoxford
Followers: 98,768
We all know that the hilarious Twitter feed "S@%! My Dad Says" became a mediocre CBS sitcom for Capt. Kirk. Well, it's not alone. CBS and producer Jessica Alba are working on a pilot based on Kelly Oxford's witty blogging and tweeting, but this time, Oxford actually wrote the pilot herself, so maybe it'll still be funny when it's on the air. If not, just follow her Twitter feed for the funny.
Kevin Rose
@kevinrose
Followers: 1.2 million
Former TV geek, founder of Digg, video blogger at Diggnation, and now money man to future tech stars, Kevin Rose tweets like he talks, like the fun drinking buddy you know who also can help you with your computer.
Kevin Smith
@ThatKevinSmith
Followers: 1.75 million
Film director Kevin Smith is the very definition of NSFW. His tweets are virtually constant on days when he's not working (which seems to be most of the time), almost always profane, frequently interesting (especially to movie buffs and Smith fans), and usually funny. He's also the master of writing multiple tweets in a row on the same subject, as if 140 characters are never enough for his thoughts.
Lady Gaga
@ladygaga
Followers: 8.6 million
The undisputed heavyweight of Twitter, Lady Gaga sometimes uses the service to promote her political beliefs, have public fights with other celebs, and even fake her own digital death for charity. She's a woman who refuses to be ignored, and that's obviously working for her, even here.
Lance Armstrong
@lancearmstrong
Followers: 2.8 million
While finally retired from cycling (and doping scandals, we hope), Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong remains strong in his fight against cancer, improving the lives of cancer victims via his LiveStrong charity. Follow him to get a glimpse into the life of one very active retiree.
Larry Hryb
@majornelson
Followers: 210,919
Anyone with an Xbox 360 should know Larry Hyrb. Known by his gamertag Major Nelson, Hyrb is the director of programming for the Xbox Live network and on-screen personality in many behind-the-scenes videos found on it, as well as the Major Nelson Radio podcast. Naturally, you can expect lots of gaming talk from his tweets.
Larry King
@kingsthings
Followers: 1.8 million
Gone from our living rooms, but not from our hearts, Larry King is still live on Twitter with semi-regular posts as he takes up travel in his late-in-life retirement.
Michael Ausiello
@MichaelAusiello
Followers: 1.1 million
Formerly the master of entertainment-related scoops and spoilers at TVGuide.com and EW.com, Michael Ausiello is now the founder of the new TVLine.com site, where he continues to write about TV. His tweets point to the latest TV news, plus he continues his on-going lovefest with actress Lauren Graham of "Gilmore Girls."
Michael Ian Black
@michaelianblack
Followers: 1.6 million
Twitter doesn't come much more NSFW than Black's feed. The star of the Stella comedy group has a unique, profane, and an usually bizarre take on the every day, which he shares like a Tourette's patient with some comedy chops.
Piers Morgan
@piersmorgan
Followers: 416,724
This former newspaperman is a UK transplant, a one-time winner of The Apprentice, and the man who recently took over for Larry King on CNN. Much of the Britishness of Piers Morgan's tweets may be lost on Americans (there are posts about something he calls "cricket," which we understand to be the lovechild of golf and baseball), but he retains fans on both sides of the pond. He's definitely enjoying his new gig, and you'll see the infectious glee of it in his tweets.
Rachel Maddow
@maddow
Followers: 1.8 million
The first openly gay anchor of a prime-time news program, The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, Maddow is an outspoken and well-spoken "national security liberal," as she puts it. Naturally, her feed is a take on the day's headlines, both at MSNBC and beyond.
Rachel Sterne
@rachelsterne
Followers: 14,638
The young Chief Digital Officer for the city of New York started as the CEO of a digital media consulting biz and a citizen journalism site. Now her job is to make sure the city's digital media communication is up to snuff. Being on Twitter is a must for that, so New Yorkers who care about tech should be tuning into her feed.
Stan Lee
@TheRealStanLee
Followers: 126,660
The architect of modern mythology through comics, Stan "The Man" created Spider-Man, Ironman, Hulk, X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four, and so much more. There wouldn't be any superhero movies coming out today if not for his work 50 years ago. He continues creating and now tweets about that new work—which is no doubt hard to fit in between his cameos in Marvel movies.
Stephen Colbert
@StephenAtHome
Followers: 2.1 million
Truthiness in 140 characters or less. That sums up the tweets of Stephen Colbert, host of The Colbert Report, Comedy Central's answer to taking on all that pernicious liberal media bias.
Stephen Fry
@stephenfry
Followers: 2.3 million
Stephen Fry is a tweeter of such stature that hearts were broken when the British actor/writer/Renaissance man "left" the service temporarily to avoid a kerfuffle. He uses Twitter to great effect to promote charities and music and authors he likes, as well as his own endeavors, always with the class you'd expect from a guy who once played Jeeves the butler.
Steve Case
@stevecase
Followers: 388,682
Steve Case is the co-founder of AOL and was behind its merger with Time-Warner (even if that didn't work out in the end, he did okay). Now he runs a foundation and an investment holding firm, and he still has plenty to say and does so in 140 characters or less.
Steve Martin
@SteveMartinToGo
Followers: 718,731
From wild-and-crazy guy to respected writer, actor, and banjo player, Steve Martin never stopped being funny (we won't count the Pink Panther remake against him... everyone's got to eat). He's got the perfect humor for the Twitter-verse.
Weird Al Yankovic
@alyankovic
Followers: 1.9 million
He dropped the "weird" title form his username, but this is still the same Weird Al who's been making us laugh for over two decades. He's still making records, still touring, and now cracking us up on Twitter as well.
(List Courtesy of PC Magazine)

Quick Tips: 3 Ideas For Keeping Your Car Running Great

Life is a blur, sometimes. Work can become stressful as the day begins and ends with an aching neck and sore feet. The last thing on your mind is maintaining your car’s performance. You’re more in the realm of kicking your feet up, getting a bite to eat, and catching the last part of 2 in a Half Men. Car maintenance is very important, so how do you know if you’re overdoing it or ‘under’ doing it? In today’s blog, we discuss 3 ways to keep your vehicle running great.

First, how often are you supposed to receive maintenance? All of your answers lie in a small space known as the glove box. Every car is supplied with a maintenance schedule-in the owner’s manual or in a separate maintenance log book-that includes details that vehicle’s need to sustain long and healthy lives. Taking a few minutes to assimilate the requirements will help you avoid the following car-maintenance pitfalls.

Tire Inflation & Rotation

Tires should be checked regularly, because over time, they leak naturally. Problems can arise from under inflated tires, which suckS up more gas, as well as over inflated tires, that wear them out sooner. Plus, front and rear tires wear differently and should be rotated to even that wear. Your owner’s manual will have a recommendation for pressure and rotation.

Wiper Tales

Fall is the best time for wiper replacement. After a certain period of time your wipers will be useless, leaving you prone to accidents. Depending on location, wiper replacement may be an annual affair in the Southwest to a biannual chore in northern climates.

Tune-Ups

Tune-Ups are almost non-existent. Valves no longer need adjusting, ignition timing is computer controlled and there are no more carburetors. All you really have left is the spark plugs. These are usually good for 100,000 miles! Save 60,000 and 120,000-mile services for timing belt, and coolant.

Got your own tip you want to ad? Feel free!

But Why Mommy? How to Avoid Car Mishaps with Children

Why, a child’s favorite word in the history of mankind. Mommy, why is the sky blue? Mommy, why do I have to go? Why am I sick? Daddy, why do I have to wear a seatbelt? The questions come without remorse, and you answer them with quick precision, but the last question poses concern. Car safety is super important for adults, it’s CRUCIAL in children. In today’s blog we discuss the best safety precautions to take. Please provide your own and we’ll include them!

1.) Most accidents happen near home: Most accidents occur on residential, rural roads that are local, during a routine trip to the grocery store or day-care center. No matter what, always buckle your child into their seat, even if the drive is two minutes away. "Always buckle your child up, no matter how near or far you're going," says Marilena Amoni, associate administrator for research and program development at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). "And never forget to use your own seat belt. Kids watch everything that you do, so it's important that you set the right example."

2.) Kids are at more risk than babies and toddlers: If your child is between 4 and 8 years old, they are more likely to be hurt in an accident than their smaller counterparts. Most parents strap their infants into rear facing car seats, but only 20% of kids between 4 and 8 ride in booster seats as safety experts recommend. Some children even sit in the front seat before 13 years old. Children are the safest in the backseat, putting them far away from the impact of a frontal crash.
3.) Kids don’t need to be inside a car to be hurt by one: nearly 400 children are killed each year when they’re hit by an automobile. ALWAYS keep an eye on your little ones, no matter how many times you’ve warned them to stay out of the streets. A survey conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide found that a majority of drivers speed in school zones, and that nearly a third violate stop signs in neighborhoods where there are kids.


Do you have any tips of your own? Feel free to comment below:

The Age Old Question: Manual or Automatic

Hm…that’s what comes to mind when you’re posed with this question. Manual…you begin to ponder, imagining yourself as a speed demon. You’re Evil Knievel reincarnate as your car reaches gut-wrenching speeds, your hand fixated on your gearshift as you weave through traffic. Picturing Automatic is another animal. You can enjoy the relaxation of not shifting gears, leaving more focus to the road and your surroundings. The car ride is less work on your skills and more about maintaining a smooth ride. So, when posed with the question of Manual Vs. Auto, which is better? In today’s blog we discuss the differences and let YOU decide…

Manual

If you’re in search of power, Manual transmission is definitely the way to go. For example, an automatic equipped Dodge Neon has a reported 0-60 MPH time of approximately 10.5 seconds. The same Neon when equipped with a 5-speed manual has a reported 0-60 time of 8.1 seconds; a huge difference. The acceleration offered from a vehicle with a manual transmission is usually higher, because of the precise shifting the car encompasses.

Manual transmissions also excel at fuel economy. Most new Automatic cars have an EPA rating of only 1 or 2 MPG less than the same model car with a manual transmission. So, you’re not saving TOO much with a manual, but it is a small difference.

When it comes to maintenance, most manuals require less service than their automatic counterparts. The clutch disc in manual transmissions does need to be replaced on occasion. There are many factors that determine how long a clutch will last such as driving style, the material the clutch disc is made of, and the amount of city vs. highway driving. Clutch replacement is often a labor intensive task and can cost several hundred dollars if performed at a repair shop.

Automatic

Automatic cars are easy. There’s no clutch or shifter to control. That means city driving is a breeze and commanding steep terrain is simple. There’s no ‘rollback’ with an automatic car while its in drive, giving you more energy to controlling your car on the road. If you live in a busy city its also beneficial because of stop-and-go traffic. An automatic takes away the worry of shifting gears, leaving an open hand to perform a small task. Since automatic cars only require one shift “D”, while driving forward it has a wider appeal. So, if two people were sharing a vehicle after its purchase no learning would be required. If one person couldn’t control a manual transmission it could be easier for them to stick with an automatic.

Some cars offer a “best of both worlds” style known as manumatics. The term differs from brand to brand, but the vehicle could begin in automatic and be shifted into a manual mode that allows control through the gears like a regular manual without the hassle of a clutch.

Automatic cars also have a higher resell value. The appeal for an automatic is much larger than that of a manual. Thus, becoming an easier seller for when you trade-in your vehicle.

So, we’ve given you the facts. What will you choose??? What do you prefer? Feel free to comment below:

How Hybrid Cars Work

Gas is up. So, I understand when consumers say that we need an alternative. Electric cars are all the rage, with vehicles in high demand. The only question is, how do they work? We embrace the idea, and today we’ll provide some insight on how hybrid engines work.

Hybrids use traditional gas engines and an alternative power plant. There are two types: electric hybrids and hydrogen hybrids. Electric hybrids use an electric motor as their alternative energy source. Hydrogen hybrids extract the element from water and add the hydrogen to the fuel-air mixture of the vehicle. So how do hybrids help the environment? It’s important to know that oil is a limited resource; also carbon dioxide is produced when it’s burned. In addition, the oil that is extracted from the Earth damages the environment from drilling. Although hybrids still use gas, they achieve higher gas mileage than a regular vehicle because of the secondary power source. The average estimate is a five-mpg improvement in fuel economy.

One way the improved fuel economy numbers are achieved is through stop/start technology that is fitted to the vehicle. A stop/start system allows the engine to be shut off when it is not needed, such as when the vehicle is stopped at a red light or the vehicle is coasting. The technology allows for the engine to be restarted quickly so that the driver does not experience any hesitation.

Hybrids are great for the environment. They produce less noise pollution and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Innovation and technology will continue to change and adapt to the times making hybrids a great alternative.

Music: the Best Part of a Drive Home

Music is bliss. It’s that overwhelming feeling of reassurance when you’re feeling down. It’s that overbearing tune stuck in the back of your mind, resulting in uncontrollable whistling. Music is what keeps us sane in a world of car horns, missed appointments, and bad breakups. It’s the key to our souls. Now, imagine you’re sitting in your car at a stop light, wait, listen for it…nothing. No music to take you away from your daily troubles, sometimes it’s understandable not listening to music. You might have had a long day and want to enjoy some quiet, but most of the time our music soothes us. In our blog today, we discuss the best options for music in your car.

iPod/Mp3 Player – If you have your favorite tunes locked in on your iPod/smartphone/Mp3 Player-a-majig and your car has an Auxiliary connection, (most cars after 2006 have them) then you’re in luck. You can purchase an auxiliary cable online (eBay has them as low as 1$) plug it into the car and the other end into the headphone jack of your device. Push play on your device and viola, HD music directly from your favorite jukebox.

Satellite Radio – satellite radio is commercial and static free, music is beamed directly from satellites in space. Two big companies, XM and Sirius, have paid subscriptions with countless radio stations to choose from. Music from all genres, sports, traffic, talk shows (Howard Stern) and weather are all included. Purchasing the tuner for your car starts around $75 bucks, with a monthly subscription of around $15. One drawback is that reception can be deterred in cities with skyscrapers, but purchasing an external antenna will fix the problem.

Car Audio w/Cassette Adapter – if you own an older car, don’t panic! You can still play your mp3’s on the road. By purchasing a cassette adapter, you can play your tunes via a headphone jack. First, plug your cassette adapter into your player’s headphone jack. Then, insert the dummy tape into your car’s cassette player. With $20 dollars you can use your modern mp3 player to play your tunes, rock on!!

Top Vehicle Innovations of the Century

Flying cars have always been something we would like to see in our lifetime, but…for now, we’ll have to settle for some really cool, helpful, innovations. Cars have gone a long way since the Ford Model-T and in today’s blog we discuss some of the most influential technologies to date.
1) Fold-flat rear seats – Honda’s foldaway seats in the late 1990’s took the concept of space saving to another level. Seats that tuck out of the way are much easier to deal with than those that have to be removed.

2) Electronic Stability Systems – introduced by luxury manufacturers BMW and Mercedes-Benz in 1995, this computerized system applies the car’s brakes or cuts the throttle to keep the car going where you want it. This maintains car stability, working within the car’s limitations.

3) DVD Players – In 2002 Honda and Saturn introduced the DVD player, children in the backseat of minivans rejoiced. Innovation? Very much so. DVD players were shrunk and fitted into vehicles, providing a smooth comfortable ride, minus the bickering siblings in the background.

Do you have any innovations you would like to add to the list? There are countless other options available, add yours now!