A lot of people are using Twitter as a broadcasting tool to get the word out about events in their local cities. Unfortunately, many of these tweets get lost in the general Twitterstream.

Happn.in is one solution to this problem. This site allows you to follow your local Twitter feed, see what the current trends are, and even advertise to the local Tweetstream.

Using the hashtag #hi_, the site allows you to find your location on a Google map (the sites currently covers Western Europe and the US), and click on the pin. A small window appears with a list of the current words that are trending, a “town crier” -someone from the area who has tweeted the most about the local events that week, the latest posts with the hashtag and a way to advertise to that particular area.

If you click on “More  [city] Detail” it leads you to a page where you can not only see what is happening, but Happn.in even lets you rate the tweets.

This information is already very valuable to marketers, and retailers. Happn.in has hit upon a formula that will lead to a lot of great data.

Most of us still approach dating the old-fashioned way. We go to bars, Internet cafes, or events looking for the right partner, talk to people online, or just hang out at parties.

Now, there is a new way to find a date via Twitter! Radaroo lets you send a tweet stating all your needs and interests in 140 characters and will (apparently) hook you up with like-minded individuals. The challenge is to fit a dating profile into 140 characters. The site is still in Beta, so it may not have all the bugs worked out yet.

People on Twitter (“Tweeple”) are dealing with a massive phishing scam this weekend. Someone (or something) is sending out direct messages (DMs) telling people to click on a link for a funny blog. If you do click on this, the link leads to a fake website that then steals your Twitter password and name. Don’t Click On It!!!

If you were taken in by this link, be sure to change your password right away.

Many of the newer Twitter applications out there do not say what they are or even have an About page. Beware of these. If you cannot figure out what the application is for on their front page, RUN AWAY! This should also be a heads up to the developers. If you want people to use your application, tell us what it is and why it is useful on the first page!

Every time I think we have the final list of Twitter applications and services, more show up. My assistant is having a ball going through all of them and finding new ones.

Some, of course, are duplicates of each other, while others are down for maintenance (they claim). It all points to a fun 2009 for this blog. Happy New Year!

Lee Lefever has created an excellent video – Twitter in Plain English:

Twitter in Plain English

This blog is for all of those out there who keep hearing about all these wonderful Twitter tools and applications, but do not have the time to: 1) try them all out; or 2) are having problems understanding the technical descriptions of them.

I will be posting reviews from myself as a cybrarian and teacher of social media, AND from one of our team, who knows how to use the Internet and Facebook, but, up until this morning, refused to touch Twitter. The reviews will be written in straightforward, non-technical language.

Please feel free to comment on these reviews, suggest new tools, and new categories.