Twitter IPO Shout-Outs, From Obama to Royal Baby

Twitter filed to raise $1 billion for its upcoming public offering on Thursday, revealing in its regulatory S-1 filing many previously unknown details about the company. The document reveals Twitter's strengths and weaknesses as a company, shedding light on how users and executives regard the microblogging network.

A quick skim at the S-1 turns up an amusing trend, however: shout-outs for and name-dropping of a hodgepodge of celebrities, brands and other users. Of course, they all have a purpose: serving as miniature case studies meant to demonstrate the value of how Twitter can be used. But it's an eclectic, random list nonetheless.

See also: Why Twitter Isn't Turning a Profit

We took a deeper dive into the S-1 to make one master list of all the shout-outs. The results below are both entertaining and illuminating.

Barack Obama: He "used our platform to first declare victory publicly in the 2012 U.S. presidential election, with a Tweet that was viewed approximately 25 million times on our platform and widely distributed offline in print and broadcast media," the S-1 says.

This happened because of you. Thank you.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 7, 2012

Mario Batali and Gavin Rossdale: Because one time the celebrity chef and the rocker discussed cooking on Twitter. The company shows this interaction as an example of its "conversational" nature.

Jack Dorsey: Of course the Twitter co-founder gets some love, with a special nod to his 24-character first post in the history of the platform.

just setting up my twttr

— Jack Dorsey (@jack) March 21, 2006

Osama bin Laden: Because "a local resident in Abbottabad, Pakistan unknowingly reported the raid" on the Al-Qaeda leader's hideout via Twitter "hours before traditional media and news outlets began to report on the event."

Dawn Zimmer, Mike Bloomberg and the American Red Cross: The respective mayors of Hoboken, N.J., and New York City are cited along with the Red Cross as examples of how "Twitter provided a powerful tool for crucial emergency response" during Hurricane Sandy.

J?nis Kr?ms: Not familiar with Mr. Kr?ms? He's a Latvian entrepreneur who tweeted photos of US Airways Flight 1549 from aboard a ferry boat after the plane landed on the Hudson River in 2009. Twitter touts this as an example of how its combination of "tools, technology and format enables our users to quickly create and distribute content globally in real time with 140 keystrokes or the flash of a photo, and the click of a button."

Phoenix Mars Lander: NASA's Mars explorer posted Twitter updates — on, for example, the discovery of Martian ice — for space and science nerds worldwide. Twitter holds this up as an example of the value Twitter provides for users to digitally explore the world (and universe) around them.

The British Monarchy: When the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton gave birth to her and Prince William's baby boy in July, the British Monarchy announced the news — where else? — on Twitter.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) July 22, 2013

Nobukazu Kuriki: The Japanese climber live-tweeted his ascent of Mt. Everest last year, and is cited as a similar example of how Twitter can connect users to information and experiences far from home.

Oreo: Oreo's famous Super Bowl blackout post from earlier this year gets a special shout-out. Oreo's social team was "quick to tweet about the situation to engage users during the live event," the S-1 says.

Power out? No problem. pic.twitter.com/dnQ7pOgC

— Oreo Cookie (@Oreo) February 4, 2013

Kevin Durant: During the NBA lockout in 2011, the superstar Durant used Twitter to find and join a local flag football game with a group of college kids. It was a great story, and Twitter says it shows how users are enabled to "participate in conversations with other people from around the world, in ways that would not otherwise be possible."

Wheat Thins: Twitter uses the cracker brand to promote its promoted tweets product as well as show an example of how companies can use its Vine app to engage consumers.

Bonobos: The online menswear company used Twitter to run an exclusive 24-hour sale for people on the social network. Twitter says this "advertising campaign netted a number of first-time purchasers."

Image: Mary Turner/Getty Images