DC Comics will be launching a new comic book series called The 99, the Islamic superheroes created by a Kuwaiti psychologist. Gulf News reports, the creation of the Islamic superheroes is mainly intended to curb stereotypes associated with people of the Islamic faith. The characters fight evil and personify the 99 attributes of Allah. Twitter users are fascinated by the first Islamic superheroes, but some feel it’s not a good idea. leilangod (Toronto, Canada) loves that “DC Comics will launch a new comic book series depicting Islamic superheroes” http://bit.ly/hHziO. My…
Breaking Tweets
-
Breaking Tweets
-
DC Comics to launch first Islamic superheroes comic book
6 Nov 2009 | 10:35 am -
TwitPics: Twitter users ‘Remember, remember the 5th of November’
6 Nov 2009 | 10:34 amTwitter users in the United Kingdom and in former British colonies took part in annual festivities on Thursday, November 5 to commemorate Guy Fawkes Night. Usual festivities include fireworks, bonfires, and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes. Calling for religious toleration, Guy Fawkes and other conspirators on the evening of November 5, 1605 tried to carry out a plot, known as the Gunpowder Plot, to blow up the British Parliament building and kill King James I. Ultimately, the plot was unsuccessful. Fawkes was captured, tried and executed. Reuters and The New Zealand Herald on Thursday… -
Fort Hood shootings: Seven dead at army post outside Killeen, Texas
5 Nov 2009 | 1:28 pmAt least seven people were killed and several others injured in a shooting at the Fort Hood military base outside Killeen, Texas on Thursday afternoon. Local television station KXXV reported, “We’ve learned an incident has taken place at the sports dome, now known as the soldier readiness area. Temple ISD Schools Have Been locked down as part of this incident. The district’s spokeswoman tells News Channel 25 the district is on soft lockdown.” People in and around Fort Hood were worried and shared their concerns on Twitter. RicoRossi (Fort Hood, Texas) if your… -
Israel claims to have stopped Iranian arms ship
5 Nov 2009 | 9:51 amPer BBC, the Israeli Navy has seized a ship reportedly headed by Iran carrying weapons disguised as civilian cargo, yet Iran has denied the allegations. The Israeli Navy has reported that the arms ship was on its way to Hezbollah, where fights between Israeli and Iranian forces has been active. Several hundred tonnes of weapons were seized making it the largest involving Iran since 2002 when the Israeli military found 100 tonnes of arms. People in the Middle East reacted to the news through Twitter. petitedov Smthg nice to wake up to: Israel seizes Iranian ship bound for Hezbollah loaded with… -
Brazilian man surprises family, shows up at own funeral
4 Nov 2009 | 9:23 pmBBC News reports that Ademir Jorge Gonclaves,a 59-year-old bricklayer from Brazil surprised his family by showing up to his own funeral alive Monday morning. Gonclaves had been identified by his family as the victim in a car accident the previous day in Brazil’s southern state of Parana. However, it was later revealed that Gonclaves had spent the previous night drinking ‘pinga’ with friends. Police even reported that the family had trouble identifying the body due to its disfigurement. Twitterers were amazed and confused with Gonclaves’ surprising appearance:…
-
Breaking Tweets: North America
-
Fort Hood shootings: Seven dead at army post outside Killeen, Texas
5 Nov 2009 | 1:28 pmAt least seven people were killed and several others injured in a shooting at the Fort Hood military base outside Killeen, Texas on Thursday afternoon. Local television station KXXV reported, “We’ve learned an incident has taken place at the sports dome, now known as the soldier readiness area. Temple ISD Schools Have Been locked down as part of this incident. The district’s spokeswoman tells News Channel 25 the district is on soft lockdown.” People in and around Fort Hood were worried and shared their concerns on Twitter. RicoRossi (Fort Hood, Texas) if your… -
TwitPics: Users share photos as USS New York arrives in its namesake
2 Nov 2009 | 1:45 pmThe USS New York, commissioned as a memorial to the September 11 terrorist attacks, arrived in New York harbor Monday morning. Spectators watched from the banks of the Hudson as victims of the attacks were once again remembered. The vessel’s bow was constructed using over seven tons of steel taken from the fallen World Trade Center towers, as reported by CNN. Some Twitter users shared TwitPics of the USS New York in the harbor: (from @betsyreynolds) (from @alecjr) "USS New York LPD 21 steams into NYC " (from @BrendaAmarG) "The USS New York just passed by work. It was… -
TwitPics: 2009 New York City Marathon
2 Nov 2009 | 8:41 amOver 40,000 people took part in the 2009 New York City Marathon, running through Manhattan, Queens and Central Park on Sunday. While this years race turned out to be an historic one, with Meb Keflezighi becoming the first American to win the marathon since 1982, one man’s story can’t tell the whole story. While some celebrities and many professional athletes take part in the marathon each year, the vast majority of participants are average people competing just for fun. According to the Huffington Post, over two million spectators line the course while approximately 315 million… -
TweetChat with CNN’s Don Lemon
26 Oct 2009 | 10:00 pm(@Donlemoncnn) Recently I got a chance to discuss new media with Don Lemon from CNN via live TweetChat. Don Lemon anchors CNN Newsroom during weekend prime-time and serves as a correspondent across CNN programming. He joined CNN after serving as a co-anchor for the 5 p.m. newscast for NBC5 News in Chicago. Lemon earned a degree in broadcast journalism from Brooklyn College. He has also attended Louisiana State University. Here are the tweets from our TweetChat. Share More » Tweet This Post -
Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza to rally against gay marriage
26 Oct 2009 | 12:48 amProtesters joined together at Freedom Place in Washington D.C. on Sunday to voice their opposition to gay marriage. 150 people were present to demonstrate their opinions on whether or not Washington D.C. should. legalize gay marriage. Many of the people were bused in earlier from various churches from the area. The mayor and council men’s office is across the street from Freedom Plaza and these protesters hoped that they could be heard, especially in light of the issue being addressed by the committee Monday. The Washington Post reports that the protesters wanted their voices to be…
-
Breaking Tweets: Europe
-
TwitPics: Twitter users ‘Remember, remember the 5th of November’
6 Nov 2009 | 10:34 amTwitter users in the United Kingdom and in former British colonies took part in annual festivities on Thursday, November 5 to commemorate Guy Fawkes Night. Usual festivities include fireworks, bonfires, and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes. Calling for religious toleration, Guy Fawkes and other conspirators on the evening of November 5, 1605 tried to carry out a plot, known as the Gunpowder Plot, to blow up the British Parliament building and kill King James I. Ultimately, the plot was unsuccessful. Fawkes was captured, tried and executed. Reuters and The New Zealand Herald on Thursday… -
Czech leader reluctantly signs off on EU Treaty
4 Nov 2009 | 8:44 amPer BBC, President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic has signed the EU’s Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday, which was the last step in having the the agreement ratified. Klaus was the EU’s final hold-out on the treaty and even though he agreed to sign, he claimed the Czech Republic would, “cease to be a sovereign state” once the treaty was ratified. The treaty was constructed to consolidate decision-making within the EU, and it proposes to create a European Council president and change the way member states vote. Proponents of the treaty say it will give the EU the ability… -
Crucifixes banned in Italian schools
3 Nov 2009 | 4:26 pmThe European Court of Human Rights has banned crucifixes in Italian schools citing that they run counter to a child’s right to freedom of religion, reports the BBC. The ruling overturns a law dating back to the 1920s where it was a requirement to hang crucifixes in all classrooms. Mixed reaction from all over the world popped up on Twitter: anxioustomato (Glassgow, United Kingdom) Hurrah! Now if only the UK followed in Italy’s footsteps: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8340411.stm #religion #crucifix #ban 03 Nov 2009 from web TheGodless (Undisclosed) No more bronze age… -
Editorial: Scientology debate underway in France
2 Nov 2009 | 3:09 am“A Little Bird Told Me” is a weekly op-ed column that will appear every Monday on Breaking Tweets. It is part of an effort to add more opinions to BT, with the addition of an international roundtable discussion also in the plans. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, a French court ruled that certain practices by the Church of Scientology were classified as fraud under French law, imposing a number of heavy fines and threatening jail time to a few church members. The ruling did not restrict the practice of Scientology within France, but warned church officials that they should be aware of and… -
1,000 days till London 2012 Olympics
31 Oct 2009 | 6:11 pmCNN reported how Oct. 31 marks 1,000 days until the London 2012 Olympic Games, a little less than three years. “I don’t think any of us thinks that 1,000 days is anything other than the blink of an eyelid,” London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe said. “That will go very quickly. There is nothing that we should have done that we haven’t done. We are absolutely where we want to be, but we also recognize that actually the last three years of this project are tough years of delivery.” Many Twitterers were excited about the countdown: xpriyankaa (London, UK) 1000…
-
Breaking Tweets: Africa
-
Ethiopia home to potential ocean
3 Nov 2009 | 9:09 pmA giant 35-mile long crack on Africa’s surface opened in 2005 across the desert of Ethiopia. A recent study of this rift show that these volcanic boundaries are nearly identical to what occurs at the bottom of oceans, according to Geophysical Research Letters. Fear did not seem evident in Twitterers around the globe: judiemiller (Oregon) Wow! Is Moses doing his magic again? RT @current_green: Giant crack in Africa will create a new ocean: http://su.pr/7jAe1k 03 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck BadZen (Unknown) Giant Crack in Africa Will Become New Ocean. Keep it away from Bobby and Whitney. -
Somali pirates demand $7 million ransom for British couple
1 Nov 2009 | 12:15 pmRadio Netherlands reports, Somali pirates are demanding seven million U.S. dollars in ransom for a British couple kidnapped over a week ago as they were crossing the Indian Ocean in a yacht. The couple was sailing from the Seychelles to Tanzania and the UK Foreign Office says the British government is not accepting the Somali pirates’ offer, per Radio Netherlands. Twitter users are very upset: jmsbond007 (Undisclosed) Why can’t someone just BLOW up those Somali PIRATES and teach em a lesson ? 31 Oct 2009 from Tweetie kill_ross (London) wow with the somali pirates again. -
“Ardi” disproves missing link theory
1 Oct 2009 | 2:11 pmScience have released their report on the discovery of a fossil that can clear up some evolution questions. Ardipithecus ramidus (”Ardi”) is a 4.4 million year old skeleton found in Aramis, Ethiopia in 1994. The multinational team has studied her for 15 years to thoroughly analyze her implications. Older than the famous 1974 discovery of “Lucy,” Ardi’s existence takes reasoning away from the idea that humans evolved from chimps. Twitterers quickly responded to the report that they might have a new ancestor: luluinnyc (Brooklyn, New York) Whoa – fossil from… -
Investigation finds gorilla poaching to be major issue in Congo
15 Sep 2009 | 10:29 pmBBC News is reporting that an undercover investigation conducted by Endangered Species International (ESI) has revealed the full extent of gorilla poaching in Kouilou, an area in the Republic of Congo. BBC says in Kouilou undercover investigators found that up to two endangered gorillas were being killed by poachers each week and sold in bigger city markets for their meat and hands. ESI Investigators told the BBC they believe there are only 200 gorillas left in the region. ESI also fears that hundreds of gorillas are being poached outside of the region and while there are laws in place to… -
Swine flu confirmed in Ghana
7 Aug 2009 | 9:50 amPer AfricaNews: Health services in Ghana have switched on their surveillance systems as the West African country records its first H1N1 (swine flu) case since its outbreak. The Ghana Health Service confirmed two cases on Thursday. One is in the capital Accra and the other in the Western region bordering Ivory Coast. Twitterers in the country are expressing their shock and doubts about the health authorities’ ability to handle the cases: konkrumah (Accra, Ghana): wondering how Ghana’s authorities can really battle swine flu….its finally here and we dont know how many people…
-
Breaking Tweets: Asia
-
12 die in Karachi train collision
4 Nov 2009 | 2:39 amCNN reports, a cargo train collided with a passenger train in Pakistan’s commercial capital of Karachi on Tuesday, killing 12 people and wounding 19 others, police said. The crash was caused by a technical error and the death toll will most likely rise as emergency workers continue to help those on board. Twitter users are upset over this tragic event: Mirza9 (Kerachi) damn, train collision in karachi… 03 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck HawkesBay (undisclosed) #karachi train wreck? i guess it’s symbolic of the state of the country? what the f next? 03 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck… -
Baby born on flight named after Air Asia
29 Oct 2009 | 11:55 amThestar.com reports the baby boy, who created national headlines when he was born on an AirAsia plane, has been named Asia Liew Ya Hang. His mother Liew Siaw Hsia said the Chinese name ‘Ya Hang’ means ‘AirAsia’ in Mandarin. The airline has presented Liew and the baby free flight tickets for life to celebrate the birth. Twitter users buzz about how they wish to have free flights if they have their babies born on a plane: SocialiteJacque (undisclosed) Baby boy born on plane gets to fly free for life and his moms …I’m jealous of them both lol. AirAsia flight ak 6506 27 Oct… -
Youth Pledge Day begins in Indonesia
27 Oct 2009 | 7:43 pmIndonesian Vice President Boediono is leading ceremonies for the country’s Youth Pledge Day Wednesday morning. This day commemorates a pledge made on Oct. 28, 1928 when Indonesia was still a Dutch colony, The Jakarta Post reported. The pledge stated that the young people of the country could build a new and independent nation, which was eventually acheived in 1945. Youth Pledge Day is highly celebrated as it acted as a “turning point” for Indonesia in gaining their independence. Twitterers have been sending out good wishes early Wednesday morning before the ceremony which is… -
New logo for ANZ bank criticized on Twitter
26 Oct 2009 | 1:46 amANZ, one of the leading banks serving Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the South Pacific, has released its new company logo, but early reviews from Twitter users are not so positive. InsideRetailing.com reported on the company’s logo change as being part of its rebranding campaign to show unity across the 32 countries that the bank serves. The logo has the old ANZ letters in place, but in more modern font. The bank added a petal shaped figure next to it which is meant to signify the people and countries where ANZ has a presence, making it look like a person as a whole. But Twitterers… -
Rescue operations begin after 22 die in India train accident
22 Oct 2009 | 4:47 amDailyindia.com reports, resue operation begins after at least 22 people died in Muthra after a New Delhi-bound Goa Express rammed into the rear part of a stationary train, Mewar Express at 5.00 a.m (local time) near Mathura on Wednesday, officials said. blog.taragana.com states, senior railway officials and platoons of Indian army went to oversee the rescue operations while those injured were sent to nearby hospitals. Many Twitterers were saddened by the collision: Joy_Dutta (Chennai, India) Depressed after seeing the images of train crash in Mathura, 21 Oct 2009 from web Ssparshita…
-
Breaking Tweets: Middle East
-
DC Comics to launch first Islamic superheroes comic book
6 Nov 2009 | 10:35 amDC Comics will be launching a new comic book series called The 99, the Islamic superheroes created by a Kuwaiti psychologist. Gulf News reports, the creation of the Islamic superheroes is mainly intended to curb stereotypes associated with people of the Islamic faith. The characters fight evil and personify the 99 attributes of Allah. Twitter users are fascinated by the first Islamic superheroes, but some feel it’s not a good idea. leilangod (Toronto, Canada) loves that “DC Comics will launch a new comic book series depicting Islamic superheroes” http://bit.ly/hHziO. My… -
Israel claims to have stopped Iranian arms ship
5 Nov 2009 | 9:51 amPer BBC, the Israeli Navy has seized a ship reportedly headed by Iran carrying weapons disguised as civilian cargo, yet Iran has denied the allegations. The Israeli Navy has reported that the arms ship was on its way to Hezbollah, where fights between Israeli and Iranian forces has been active. Several hundred tonnes of weapons were seized making it the largest involving Iran since 2002 when the Israeli military found 100 tonnes of arms. People in the Middle East reacted to the news through Twitter. petitedov Smthg nice to wake up to: Israel seizes Iranian ship bound for Hezbollah loaded with… -
TwitPics: 13 Aban, November 4 Iran protests
4 Nov 2009 | 10:19 amSupporters of the Iranian government and the opposition have both taken to the streets in Tehran today. Supporters are rallying to commemorate 13 Aban, which corresponds to November 4, the 30th anniversary of the U.S. embassy takeover by Iranian students. The opposition, on the other hand, is protesting the politics of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. According to Global Post, opposition leaders in Tehran, including Mir Hossein Mousavi himself, have called for peaceful protests on 13 Aban . “The 13th of Aban is a… rendezvous,” Mousavi told the Khaleej Times, “so we… -
Karzai declared president of Afghanistan
2 Nov 2009 | 1:56 pmPresident Hamid Karzai has been declared president of Afghanistan after election runoff was cancelled by officials, according to the BBC. Karzai’s only opponent, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, dropped out of the race on Sunday out of concerns that the votes would not be fair or free. The United States and its allies congratulated President Hamid Karzai on winning a second term Monday, Fox News reports. Many Twitter users were not as quick to dole out their congrats: chadlavi (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Karzai didn’t win so much as his only opponent dropped out of the race. I… -
Death toll high after multiple blasts in Baghdad
25 Oct 2009 | 3:59 pmAt least 132 people have been killed and 520 injured after two car bombs went off in Iraq’s capital Baghdad on Sunday, reports BBC News and CNN. BBC News reports that it is the worst attack in Iraq since 2007. CNN adds that the bombs detonated in quick succession near government buildings at 10:30 am. BBC News reports that Iraqi authorities said the attackers were suicide bombers. After visiting the site of the bombings, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki blamed al-Qaeda and supporters of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Many Twitterers from around the world expressed their…
-
Breaking Tweets: South America
-
Brazilian man surprises family, shows up at own funeral
4 Nov 2009 | 9:23 pmBBC News reports that Ademir Jorge Gonclaves,a 59-year-old bricklayer from Brazil surprised his family by showing up to his own funeral alive Monday morning. Gonclaves had been identified by his family as the victim in a car accident the previous day in Brazil’s southern state of Parana. However, it was later revealed that Gonclaves had spent the previous night drinking ‘pinga’ with friends. Police even reported that the family had trouble identifying the body due to its disfigurement. Twitterers were amazed and confused with Gonclaves’ surprising appearance:… -
Rio de Janeiro tense amid new violence
17 Oct 2009 | 12:16 pmAt least five people were killed and eight injured in Rio de Janeiro today in intense clashes between drug traffickers and police, Globo (Portuguese) reports. A police helicopter was shot down and five buses were destroyed, with most of the violence taking place in the neighborhoods of Vila Isabel and Sampaio. Other shootings have also been reported in the last 24 hours. Local Twitterers provided additional context about the violence and the personal impact it has had on Rio citizens: VaniaLacerda (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) A situação aqui no Rio é gravíssima.Helicóptero da PM foi… -
Brazilian crime show host reportedly ordered murders to boost ratings
11 Oct 2009 | 6:34 pmPopular Brazilian crime show host and former lawmaker, Wallace Souza, has been arrested after a four-day manhunt in the largely lawless jungle state of Amazonas, according to the Associated Press. Souza, a reported gang leader and popular state Deputy, was arrested on suspicion that he commissioned the assassination of at least five drug-trafficking rivals, and used the resulting murder cases to boost ratings for his show “Canal Livre” in which he condemns crime and corruption. The BBC confirms that the media personality came under suspicion after Souza’s camera crew… -
Influential Argentine singer Mercedes Sosa dead at 74
4 Oct 2009 | 6:47 pmArgentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa, known as “the voice of Latin America,” has died Sunday at age 74 due to kidney problems. BBC News reports Sosa was known for supporting the poor and fighting for political change. The Associated Press adds that she recorded more than 70 albums, including three that won Latin Grammy Awards for the Best Folk album in 2000, 2003 and 2006. After news of Sosa’s death was released, the city of Buenos Aires suspended all artistic activities on Sunday, according to the Associated Press. Twitterers in Argentina and all over South America… -
TwitPics: Rio celebrates its Olympic win
2 Oct 2009 | 12:28 pmRio de Janeiro celebrates the good news that they beat out Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid to become the host for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Many Twitterers contributed their twitpics to help spread the word to the world: @elmagoapa “2016 : ce sera Rio !” @marcelsantilli “and this is how Brazilians celebrate in Rio de Janeiro #rio #rio2016 #olympics #brazil” @jordimiquel @santiagoradio “People celebrating in Rio de Janeiros beach” @irishpolyglot “Rio’s celebrations on Copacabana beach” @livestation “Live celebrations from Rio the host city…
-
Breaking Tweets: Topic - Conflict
-
Israel claims to have stopped Iranian arms ship
5 Nov 2009 | 9:51 amPer BBC, the Israeli Navy has seized a ship reportedly headed by Iran carrying weapons disguised as civilian cargo, yet Iran has denied the allegations. The Israeli Navy has reported that the arms ship was on its way to Hezbollah, where fights between Israeli and Iranian forces has been active. Several hundred tonnes of weapons were seized making it the largest involving Iran since 2002 when the Israeli military found 100 tonnes of arms. People in the Middle East reacted to the news through Twitter. petitedov Smthg nice to wake up to: Israel seizes Iranian ship bound for Hezbollah loaded with… -
TwitPics: 13 Aban, November 4 Iran protests
4 Nov 2009 | 10:19 amSupporters of the Iranian government and the opposition have both taken to the streets in Tehran today. Supporters are rallying to commemorate 13 Aban, which corresponds to November 4, the 30th anniversary of the U.S. embassy takeover by Iranian students. The opposition, on the other hand, is protesting the politics of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. According to Global Post, opposition leaders in Tehran, including Mir Hossein Mousavi himself, have called for peaceful protests on 13 Aban . “The 13th of Aban is a… rendezvous,” Mousavi told the Khaleej Times, “so we… -
Czech leader reluctantly signs off on EU Treaty
4 Nov 2009 | 8:44 amPer BBC, President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic has signed the EU’s Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday, which was the last step in having the the agreement ratified. Klaus was the EU’s final hold-out on the treaty and even though he agreed to sign, he claimed the Czech Republic would, “cease to be a sovereign state” once the treaty was ratified. The treaty was constructed to consolidate decision-making within the EU, and it proposes to create a European Council president and change the way member states vote. Proponents of the treaty say it will give the EU the ability… -
BBC protest scene turns chaotic
22 Oct 2009 | 9:07 amAn estimated 500 protestors took part in a rally outside the BBC Television Centre in London this evening, protesting an appearance by British National Party leader Nick Griffin on the television debate show “Question Time.” About 30 people managed to breach security and enter the building, at least temporarily, but their efforts were quickly quelled by police, according to Sky News. Employees of BBC and others near the scene tweeted about the chaos. minxlj (Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.) - @paul_a_smith – Friend of mine works at #BBC in London; says she battled through loads of… -
UK postal strike set for Thursday, Friday met with mixed responses
21 Oct 2009 | 12:46 pmRoyal Mail’s postal strike is now set for Thursday and Friday after failed attempts by the British government to discourage the strikes. The Wall Street Journal reported today that there will be more than 40,000 workers striking Thursday, and nearly 80,000 set to strike Friday. The workers are seeking better pay, conditions, and a better way of dealing with modernization, namely e-mail. News of the strike taking place has some Twitterers are reacting with jokes, suggesting that this will have little effect on their lives in the next two days. Kapuskasing (Cambridge, England) shame about…
-
Breaking Tweets: Topic - Crime
-
Fort Hood shootings: Seven dead at army post outside Killeen, Texas
5 Nov 2009 | 1:28 pmAt least seven people were killed and several others injured in a shooting at the Fort Hood military base outside Killeen, Texas on Thursday afternoon. Local television station KXXV reported, “We’ve learned an incident has taken place at the sports dome, now known as the soldier readiness area. Temple ISD Schools Have Been locked down as part of this incident. The district’s spokeswoman tells News Channel 25 the district is on soft lockdown.” People in and around Fort Hood were worried and shared their concerns on Twitter. RicoRossi (Fort Hood, Texas) if your… -
FBI eyes DMV photos in search for fugitives
20 Oct 2009 | 12:34 pmThe FBI has unleashed its newest crime fighting tool which could leave fugitives with fewer places to hide. Starting in North Carolina, the FBI will begin using facial recognition software on millions of motorists to compare license photos with pictures of wanted convicts, reports the Associated Press. While the technology is not entirely fool proof, one fugitive was caught earlier this year after police compared his photo to over 30 million stored in the motor vehicle agency in North Carolina, according to the AP. Within seconds, a match came up and the double murder suspect was… -
UConn mourns loss of star athlete, fatally stabbed after homecoming win
19 Oct 2009 | 10:21 pmThe University of Connecticut community is mourning the loss of star cornerback Jasper Howard. The 20-year-old expectant father and UConn Junior was stabbed to death on campus Sunday, hours after winning the homecoming game, according to the Associated Press. Howard was fatally stabbed outside of a campus ‘Welcome Back’ party, after a fight broke out between two groups including students and non-students. Two of Howard’s teammates witnessed the attack, and another is reported by the Hartford Courant to have also been stabbed. A suspect by the name of Johnny Hood, 21, is… -
Maria Shriver breaks Schwarzenegger’s law
13 Oct 2009 | 10:50 pmMaria Shriver, wife of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, seems to have thought should was above the law. Shriver was caught by paparazzi at the wheel while talking on her cell phone. Governor Schwarzenegger signed a law in 2008 that stated all drivers in California must use a hands free device when talking on cell phones and driving. The Governor promised “swift action” when questioned; hopefully Shriver has learned her lesson and will not commit any more cell phone conundrums. Here is what Twitters had to say: glamma_ink LMAO! RT @lindawoods: The real crime might be that… -
Brazilian crime show host reportedly ordered murders to boost ratings
11 Oct 2009 | 6:34 pmPopular Brazilian crime show host and former lawmaker, Wallace Souza, has been arrested after a four-day manhunt in the largely lawless jungle state of Amazonas, according to the Associated Press. Souza, a reported gang leader and popular state Deputy, was arrested on suspicion that he commissioned the assassination of at least five drug-trafficking rivals, and used the resulting murder cases to boost ratings for his show “Canal Livre” in which he condemns crime and corruption. The BBC confirms that the media personality came under suspicion after Souza’s camera crew…
-
Breaking Tweets: Topic - Economy
-
Microsoft cuts 800 worldwide jobs
4 Nov 2009 | 5:28 pmThe Wall Street Journal reported today that Microsoft has laid off 800 people in midst of their cost-reduction program announced in January of 2009. Without revealing too much detail, a spokesman confirmed cutting 800 jobs today that will “affect staff internationally and in a range of business units.” Among one of the most unsuspected to have lost their job with MS is Don Dodge (@dondodge) – Microsoft’s Director of Business Development for the Emerging Business Team – according to a TechCrunch article. Despite being laid off, Dodge is rather optimistic in his blog. -
New logo for ANZ bank criticized on Twitter
26 Oct 2009 | 1:46 amANZ, one of the leading banks serving Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the South Pacific, has released its new company logo, but early reviews from Twitter users are not so positive. InsideRetailing.com reported on the company’s logo change as being part of its rebranding campaign to show unity across the 32 countries that the bank serves. The logo has the old ANZ letters in place, but in more modern font. The bank added a petal shaped figure next to it which is meant to signify the people and countries where ANZ has a presence, making it look like a person as a whole. But Twitterers… -
New York Times to eliminate 100 newsroom positions
19 Oct 2009 | 3:23 pmThe New York Times will cut 100 jobs through the end of this year, eliminating about 8 percent of the current staff. The planned cuts will affect the newsroom staff, with employees being offered buy-outs of their current contracts. The move comes as the newspaper industry continues to suffer from falling advertising revenue and sales, which have ailed even big papers like the New York Times. While the positions eliminated will depend on those who agree to a contract buy-out, the possibility exists that a portion of staff reporters will be part of the cuts. Some Twitter users tweeted… -
Dow Jones average hits 10,000 for first time since 2008
14 Oct 2009 | 10:53 amFollowing unexpected quarterly profits from Intel and JPMorgan Chase, the Dow Jones industrial average reached 10,000 points today. While it dropped later in the day,when the U.S. markets closed, the Dow Jones was able to rebound and closed above 10,000. It had been more ethan a year since the industrial average exceeded the 10,000 mark – the last time being Oct. 7, 2008. “Better than expected is a win,” said Peter Schwartz, cofounder of Global Business Network, according to CBS News. “People’s expectations have been calibrated to buffer some of the bad… -
Ford tacks on 4.5 million more vehicles in ongoing recalls
13 Oct 2009 | 5:41 amThe Ford Company sent out a recall for approximately 4.5 million vehicles Monday, according to a CNN.com report. The recall covers vehicles with malfunctioning cruise control switches posing a potential fire danger. Ford previously recalled over 11 million vehicles affected by the same problem. To date, this marks the single largest recall from a major auto manufacturer. Some Twitter users reacted to the news in light of the company’s recent struggles: mtaati (Undisclosed) Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo #ford. I started believing in you guys. May be this is not the end.
-
Breaking Tweets: Topic - Elections
-
Karzai declared president of Afghanistan
2 Nov 2009 | 1:56 pmPresident Hamid Karzai has been declared president of Afghanistan after election runoff was cancelled by officials, according to the BBC. Karzai’s only opponent, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, dropped out of the race on Sunday out of concerns that the votes would not be fair or free. The United States and its allies congratulated President Hamid Karzai on winning a second term Monday, Fox News reports. Many Twitter users were not as quick to dole out their congrats: chadlavi (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Karzai didn’t win so much as his only opponent dropped out of the race. I… -
Socialist party’s George Papandreou wins Greek election
4 Oct 2009 | 3:27 pmGeorge Papandreou of the Socialist PASOK party has won the Greek elections. Reuters reports that the socialists’ victory in Sunday’s Greek election is good news as the change brings in a strong government, which is needed to get the country out of an economic crisis. Twitter users in Greece and around Europe are happy to hear about the change. iamyianna (Athens, Greece) The Greek elections turned out just the way it should be. Congratulations to Papandreou!! Hope u bring some kind of change. GREECE NEEDS IT! 04 Oct 2009 from web anthonypainter (London, UK) PASOK’s victory… -
Angela Merkel elected as German Chancellor for second term
27 Sep 2009 | 5:47 pmAngela Merkel was re-elected for another four years as Chancellor of Germany on Sunday. With this win also came the announcement of forming a new coalition with her own Christian Democratic Party and the Free Democratic Party. She said her former coalition with the Social Democratic Party would not lead her to the goal of repairing Germany’s troubled economy as reported by The Chosun Ilbo. This center-right coalition has reform as its number one priority as the Free Democratic Party is known for proposing “lower taxes and less regulation.” The Twitterverse seemed mostly… -
Terrorism threats force Germany to raise alert level
19 Sep 2009 | 12:04 amNew threats from terrorist organization al-Qaeda have prompted Germany to raise its terror alert level, just prior to its federal elections on Sept. 27, CNN reports. The group specifically said it will attack if German troops are not withdrawn from Afghanistan and change in power doesn’t occur. Security will be heightened for Election Day and the following two weeks, which an al-Qaeda video specifically cited as the time frame for a possible attack, adds Spiegel Online. Many Germans on Twitter are trying to make sense of the news and its implications. dominik_schwarz (Köln, Germany)… -
Afghanistan votes despite wave of attacks, 26 deaths on Election Day
20 Aug 2009 | 8:22 amReports are streaming out of Afghanistan today that many voters were not intimidated in the face of constant threats Thursday, casting their ballots in the Afghan Presidential Election. Voter turnout is expected to be down from the last election, as several polling stations were closed down due to threats and attacks, Bloomberg reports. Afghan officials say that dozens of attacks took place on Election Day and killed 26 people, yet the election was still carried out. Voice of America correspondent Steven Herman is in Kabul and has provided a series of updates on the latest numbers and…
-
Breaking Tweets: Topic - Health
-
Medical marijuana policy a hot topic on Twitter
19 Oct 2009 | 5:53 pmPer The Christian Science Monitor, the Obama administration has created a new policy wherein federal officers will no longer prosecute medical marijuana users and sellers in states that have legalized the drug. A reversal of the Bush administration policy, the Justice Department stressed that federal prosecution will only be enforced to those who abuse the amount and usage of medical marijuana in states where it is legal. Medical marijuana advocates tweeted their feelings. Bear082370 (Undisclosed) Medical marijuana approved under federal law as long as patients follow state laws. HUGE WIN… -
Large anti-abortion rally held in Madrid
17 Oct 2009 | 7:05 pmAn estimated one million people took part in an anti-abortion protest in Madrid on Saturday, backed by Roman Catholic Bishops, BBC News reports. According to RIA Novosti, protesters were demonstrating against Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s plan to relax the country’s existing abortion laws. BBC News adds that the current law only allows abortion in cases of rape, fetal abnormality, and when the women’s physical or psychological health is at risk. Twitterers in Spain and around the world are commenting on the rally and the issue of abortion: jstorres2075… -
H1N1 vaccine being widely distributed
13 Oct 2009 | 2:48 pmThe H1N1 (also known as Swine Flu) vaccine is swiftly being introduced to the American public to heed the potential of a flu outbreak this winter says Chicago’s Channel 7 News. It is advised that health care workers and healthy children recieve the vaccine. Many Twitter users are wondering where they can get the vaccine: manimal (Undisclosed) @incanus77 where did you find h1n1 vaccine? I’ve been asking around. 13 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to incanus77 thienkim (Washington, D.C.) trying to find some info about dosage of H1N1 vaccine. where to look? 13 Oct 2009 from… -
Senate OK’s health reform bill, Obama wants more progress
13 Oct 2009 | 2:42 amPer CNN, The United States Senate Finance Committee passed a health care reform bill on Tuesday, but President Barack Obama said more must be done to get it right. “It’s time to dig in and work even harder to get this done,” said Obama of the progress of the health care reform bill. The Senate passed the health care legislation 14-9. As it was reported earlier in the day, Maine Republican Senator Olympia Snowe voted to support the health reform bill and President Obama thanked her and the rest of the committee for “plowing forward” on an “extraordinary… -
Chicago Marathon attracts another year of international runners
12 Oct 2009 | 7:37 amEven after losing the Olympic bid, Chicago proves it can still put on a successful international sporting event. The 32nd Chicago Marathon took place Sunday, Oct. 12. Thirty-three thousand, four hundred eleven people finished running the 26.2 miles out of the 34,792 people who started at 7:30 a.m. Runners from 114 countries competed. Runners tweeted about their experiences: gfbrich (Carol Stream, IL) Forgive me for not standing today, I ran the Chicago Marathon yesterday. 12 Oct 2009 from web Mark26pt2 (Chicago, IL) Feeling good 24 hours after chicago marathon. Need my R&R before this…
-
Breaking Tweets: Topic - Legal
-
Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza to rally against gay marriage
26 Oct 2009 | 12:48 amProtesters joined together at Freedom Place in Washington D.C. on Sunday to voice their opposition to gay marriage. 150 people were present to demonstrate their opinions on whether or not Washington D.C. should. legalize gay marriage. Many of the people were bused in earlier from various churches from the area. The mayor and council men’s office is across the street from Freedom Plaza and these protesters hoped that they could be heard, especially in light of the issue being addressed by the committee Monday. The Washington Post reports that the protesters wanted their voices to be… -
Saudi female journalist sentenced to beating
24 Oct 2009 | 3:32 pmRozanna Al Yami, a Saudi female journalist has been sentenced to 60 lashes by a Saudi court for her involvement in a TV show, in which a Saudi man openly talked about sex. Gulf News reports, Al Yami is believed to be the first Saudi journalist to be given such a punishment. The charges against her included involvement in the preparation of the program and advertising the segment on the internet. Twitter users are in shock after hearing this news, some are even talking about human rights in Saudi Arabia. wanttobeawriter(location undisclosed) is shocked to hear that a Saudi Journalist is… -
FBI eyes DMV photos in search for fugitives
20 Oct 2009 | 12:34 pmThe FBI has unleashed its newest crime fighting tool which could leave fugitives with fewer places to hide. Starting in North Carolina, the FBI will begin using facial recognition software on millions of motorists to compare license photos with pictures of wanted convicts, reports the Associated Press. While the technology is not entirely fool proof, one fugitive was caught earlier this year after police compared his photo to over 30 million stored in the motor vehicle agency in North Carolina, according to the AP. Within seconds, a match came up and the double murder suspect was… -
Sydney men found guilty of plotting act of terrorism on Australian soil
15 Oct 2009 | 5:55 pmFive Sydney men have been charged with plotting to commit an act of terror on Australian soil on Friday, reports ABC News Australia. The intended target was never disclosed by the prosecution. The 10-month trial which led to the guilty decision is the longest in the country’s history and it comes at a time the war on terror has been discussed increasingly in Australia. Sydney Twitter users have been following the case and related developments in recent days. Many claim that the issue of terrorism has been greatly exaggerated by government officials. l0tim0l (Sydney, Australia) The only… -
Finland makes broadband a legal right
14 Oct 2009 | 11:06 amAccording to a TechCrunch, Finland has become the first country to institute laws that make broadband Internet a legal right. In July of 2010, the Finnish government will guarantee one-megabit broadband access for the country’s five-million-plus population. The goal is to provide 100Mb coverage by 2015. Tweeters from Helsinki, the capital of Finland, tweet in celebration not only of the new legislation, but also that their country is a Trending Topic: LauriPietro (Helsinki, Finland) RT @TechCrunch Applause for Finland: first country to make broadband access a legal right…
-
Breaking Tweets: Topic - Natural Disasters
-
Another earthquake hits Samoa
14 Oct 2009 | 11:26 pmAP reports that another earthquake has shaken the Pacific Samoa Islands Wednesday, Oct. 14. With a magnitude of 6.0, this earthquake will not cause a tsunami like the 8.3 magnitude earthquake on Sept. 29. The tsunami caused more than 180 deaths. Twitter helped spread the news: inglesantonio (Philippines) Samoa earthquake is less than two weeks after the Pacific islands were hit by a series of tsunamis sparked by a powerful 8.0 earthquake. 15 Oct 2009 from web – this quote was brought to you by quoteurl Many Twitterers were caught by surprised at this second natural disaster so close… -
TwitPics: Typhoon Melor hits Japan
8 Oct 2009 | 8:03 amThe Associated Press reports that typhoon Melor struck Japan’s main island of Honshu Thursday, damaging buildings, disrupting businesses, and delaying flights and train service. BBC News adds that one person is reported dead and more than 20 are reported injured. Twitterers in Japan have been posting TwitPics of the typhoon and its aftermath. Some even mentioned and showed how much conditions improved afterwards: “The typhoon is approaching to Aquapolis of Kobe Now.” per @yfvelocity: “The typhoon today.” per @e2gma: “Tokyo train torpor thanks to… -
TwitPics: Sheep fire in Wrightwood, California
5 Oct 2009 | 9:22 pmAccording to the Examiner, 4,000 to 6,000 residents were evacuated from areas in Wrightwood, California due to a 7,500-acre Sheep fire. The fire destroyed three homes in remote areas. Firefighters were able to contain 20 percent of the fire after the winds slowed down late Sunday. Calmer winds are expected in the upcoming days which will help firefighters keep the fire from reaching Wrightwood. Twitter users tweeted these pictures of the fire (click to enlarge): Share More » Tweet This Post -
TwitPics: Earthquake aftermath in Padang, Indonesia
30 Sep 2009 | 3:07 pmThe Associated Press reports that an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 has hit western Indonesia in the city of Padang, less than 24 hours after an earthquake devastated the American Samoa. According to the Guardian, at least 75 people have been confirmed dead and thousands more are trapped under rubble from collapsed buildings. Jamil hospital and many hotels in Padang have been destroyed. Twitter user @Marcellodecaran has been sending pictures of the aftermath via Twitter. The earthquake aftermath. fire's everywhere Gempa di padang (earthquake in padang) Rubuh akibat gempa di padang… -
TwitPics: Earthquake hits American Samoa
29 Sep 2009 | 10:33 pmAccording to CNN, 17 people have been killed and hundreds left injured in Samoa following a magnitude 8.0 earthquake. Reuters is reporting the earthquakes have may have killed as many as 100 people. American Samoa Gov. Togiola Tulafono told CNN international “two or three villages have been damaged badly.” Vindell Hsu, a geophysicist with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, told CNN the earthquake generated three separate tsunami waves, the largest being 5.1 feet high Twitterers in the effected Samoan villages (Pago Pago and Leone) have started to post pictures of the damage: Pago…
-
Breaking Tweets: Topic - Politics
-
Israel claims to have stopped Iranian arms ship
5 Nov 2009 | 9:51 amPer BBC, the Israeli Navy has seized a ship reportedly headed by Iran carrying weapons disguised as civilian cargo, yet Iran has denied the allegations. The Israeli Navy has reported that the arms ship was on its way to Hezbollah, where fights between Israeli and Iranian forces has been active. Several hundred tonnes of weapons were seized making it the largest involving Iran since 2002 when the Israeli military found 100 tonnes of arms. People in the Middle East reacted to the news through Twitter. petitedov Smthg nice to wake up to: Israel seizes Iranian ship bound for Hezbollah loaded with… -
Microsoft cuts 800 worldwide jobs
4 Nov 2009 | 5:28 pmThe Wall Street Journal reported today that Microsoft has laid off 800 people in midst of their cost-reduction program announced in January of 2009. Without revealing too much detail, a spokesman confirmed cutting 800 jobs today that will “affect staff internationally and in a range of business units.” Among one of the most unsuspected to have lost their job with MS is Don Dodge (@dondodge) – Microsoft’s Director of Business Development for the Emerging Business Team – according to a TechCrunch article. Despite being laid off, Dodge is rather optimistic in his blog. -
New Zealand mayor: Pay underclass not to breed
4 Nov 2009 | 4:04 pmA New Zealand mayor is under attack after proposing a solution to the country’s child abuse problem by paying the “appalling underclass” not to breed, according to new.com.au. Michael Laws wrote on the Web site of a New Zealand radio station where he hosts a talk show, “That it would be far better for this appalling underclass to be offered financial inducements not to have children.” Twitter users did not share the same sentiment: mcquillanator (Wellington, New Zealand) “What’s every parent’s nightmare?” “Having a child that turns… -
TwitPics: 13 Aban, November 4 Iran protests
4 Nov 2009 | 10:19 amSupporters of the Iranian government and the opposition have both taken to the streets in Tehran today. Supporters are rallying to commemorate 13 Aban, which corresponds to November 4, the 30th anniversary of the U.S. embassy takeover by Iranian students. The opposition, on the other hand, is protesting the politics of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. According to Global Post, opposition leaders in Tehran, including Mir Hossein Mousavi himself, have called for peaceful protests on 13 Aban . “The 13th of Aban is a… rendezvous,” Mousavi told the Khaleej Times, “so we… -
Czech leader reluctantly signs off on EU Treaty
4 Nov 2009 | 8:44 amPer BBC, President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic has signed the EU’s Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday, which was the last step in having the the agreement ratified. Klaus was the EU’s final hold-out on the treaty and even though he agreed to sign, he claimed the Czech Republic would, “cease to be a sovereign state” once the treaty was ratified. The treaty was constructed to consolidate decision-making within the EU, and it proposes to create a European Council president and change the way member states vote. Proponents of the treaty say it will give the EU the ability…
-
Breaking Tweets: Topic - Religion
-
DC Comics to launch first Islamic superheroes comic book
6 Nov 2009 | 10:35 amDC Comics will be launching a new comic book series called The 99, the Islamic superheroes created by a Kuwaiti psychologist. Gulf News reports, the creation of the Islamic superheroes is mainly intended to curb stereotypes associated with people of the Islamic faith. The characters fight evil and personify the 99 attributes of Allah. Twitter users are fascinated by the first Islamic superheroes, but some feel it’s not a good idea. leilangod (Toronto, Canada) loves that “DC Comics will launch a new comic book series depicting Islamic superheroes” http://bit.ly/hHziO. My… -
Crucifixes banned in Italian schools
3 Nov 2009 | 4:26 pmThe European Court of Human Rights has banned crucifixes in Italian schools citing that they run counter to a child’s right to freedom of religion, reports the BBC. The ruling overturns a law dating back to the 1920s where it was a requirement to hang crucifixes in all classrooms. Mixed reaction from all over the world popped up on Twitter: anxioustomato (Glassgow, United Kingdom) Hurrah! Now if only the UK followed in Italy’s footsteps: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8340411.stm #religion #crucifix #ban 03 Nov 2009 from web TheGodless (Undisclosed) No more bronze age… -
Editorial: Scientology debate underway in France
2 Nov 2009 | 3:09 am“A Little Bird Told Me” is a weekly op-ed column that will appear every Monday on Breaking Tweets. It is part of an effort to add more opinions to BT, with the addition of an international roundtable discussion also in the plans. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, a French court ruled that certain practices by the Church of Scientology were classified as fraud under French law, imposing a number of heavy fines and threatening jail time to a few church members. The ruling did not restrict the practice of Scientology within France, but warned church officials that they should be aware of and… -
Thousands of Muslims flock to see ‘Miracle Baby’
26 Oct 2009 | 8:52 pmThousands of Muslims have been traveling to a town in southern Russia hoping to see verses from Islam’s holy book appear on the skin of a baby. The Palestine Telegraph reports that sayings from the Koran are said to appear on nine-month-old Ali Yakubov’s back, arms, legs and stomach before apparently fading away and being replaced with new sayings. Doctors deny that the marks are from someone writing on the child’s skin. Twitter users are fascinated by the miracle baby, but some think it could be a hoax. Open_Sourcing (London, UK) Interesting, but is it real??? -
Twitter accused of censorship after “No God” disappears from trending topics
20 Oct 2009 | 8:25 pmA number of Twitter users are accusing Twitter of censoring content on the site after the trending topics “No God” and “Know God” combined into the single trending topic, “Know God.” This happened even though the phrase “No God” had been tweeted far more times than the phrase “Know God,” and was even the top trending topic at one point. Earlier today Rev Run Simmons, member of former hip hop group Run-D.M.C. and star of MTV’s Run’s House, posted this tweet causing a trending topic war between the phrases “Know…
-
Breaking Tweets: Topic - Science
-
Ethiopia home to potential ocean
3 Nov 2009 | 9:09 pmA giant 35-mile long crack on Africa’s surface opened in 2005 across the desert of Ethiopia. A recent study of this rift show that these volcanic boundaries are nearly identical to what occurs at the bottom of oceans, according to Geophysical Research Letters. Fear did not seem evident in Twitterers around the globe: judiemiller (Oregon) Wow! Is Moses doing his magic again? RT @current_green: Giant crack in Africa will create a new ocean: http://su.pr/7jAe1k 03 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck BadZen (Unknown) Giant Crack in Africa Will Become New Ocean. Keep it away from Bobby and Whitney. -
NASA successfully launches Ares I-X
28 Oct 2009 | 6:28 pmThe Ares I-X has just launched, 11:30 a.m. ET October 28, for a test flight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This is NASA’s second attempt to launch the rocket after being delayed yesterday due to weather conditions. Ares I-X is “NASA’s first flight test for the agency’s next-generation spacecraft and launch vehicle system” According to the Ares I-X mission website, this test launch will demonstrate and collect key data on: Roll and overall vehicle control Staging/separation Vehicle integration, assembly, and launch operations Aerodynamic… -
TwitPics: World participates in International Day of Climate Action
24 Oct 2009 | 2:16 pmSaturday was the International Day of Climate Action coordinated by 350.org. The mission of 350 “is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis—to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet.” The focus is on the number 350 because it is ”the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere.” Thousands around the world participated in the Day of Action by incorporating the number 350 in a photo somewhere in their community and sending photos to the 350.org website. Many Twitter users… -
Greenscape Capitol Group to enter Canadian stock exchange
20 Oct 2009 | 9:00 amGreenscape Capitol Group, a Canadian funding and management firm for eco-friendly companies, made a big announcement via its Twitter account, @GreenscapeCap: GreenscapeCap (Vancouver, British Columbia) Greenscape starts publicly trading October 23rd! (TSX.V: GRN) Get the facts: http://bit.ly/Guf13 #IPO #green #environment 20 Oct 2009 from CoTweet The company’s symbol will be GRN on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Greenscape Director Edward Wright describes the company’s mission in this an interview here. In preparation for its emergence into the public market, Greenscape got the… -
Medical marijuana policy a hot topic on Twitter
19 Oct 2009 | 5:53 pmPer The Christian Science Monitor, the Obama administration has created a new policy wherein federal officers will no longer prosecute medical marijuana users and sellers in states that have legalized the drug. A reversal of the Bush administration policy, the Justice Department stressed that federal prosecution will only be enforced to those who abuse the amount and usage of medical marijuana in states where it is legal. Medical marijuana advocates tweeted their feelings. Bear082370 (Undisclosed) Medical marijuana approved under federal law as long as patients follow state laws. HUGE WIN…
-
Breaking Tweets: Topic - Terrorism
-
Israel claims to have stopped Iranian arms ship
5 Nov 2009 | 9:51 amPer BBC, the Israeli Navy has seized a ship reportedly headed by Iran carrying weapons disguised as civilian cargo, yet Iran has denied the allegations. The Israeli Navy has reported that the arms ship was on its way to Hezbollah, where fights between Israeli and Iranian forces has been active. Several hundred tonnes of weapons were seized making it the largest involving Iran since 2002 when the Israeli military found 100 tonnes of arms. People in the Middle East reacted to the news through Twitter. petitedov Smthg nice to wake up to: Israel seizes Iranian ship bound for Hezbollah loaded with… -
Death toll high after multiple blasts in Baghdad
25 Oct 2009 | 3:59 pmAt least 132 people have been killed and 520 injured after two car bombs went off in Iraq’s capital Baghdad on Sunday, reports BBC News and CNN. BBC News reports that it is the worst attack in Iraq since 2007. CNN adds that the bombs detonated in quick succession near government buildings at 10:30 am. BBC News reports that Iraqi authorities said the attackers were suicide bombers. After visiting the site of the bombings, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki blamed al-Qaeda and supporters of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Many Twitterers from around the world expressed their… -
Rio de Janeiro tense amid new violence
17 Oct 2009 | 12:16 pmAt least five people were killed and eight injured in Rio de Janeiro today in intense clashes between drug traffickers and police, Globo (Portuguese) reports. A police helicopter was shot down and five buses were destroyed, with most of the violence taking place in the neighborhoods of Vila Isabel and Sampaio. Other shootings have also been reported in the last 24 hours. Local Twitterers provided additional context about the violence and the personal impact it has had on Rio citizens: VaniaLacerda (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) A situação aqui no Rio é gravíssima.Helicóptero da PM foi… -
Sydney men found guilty of plotting act of terrorism on Australian soil
15 Oct 2009 | 5:55 pmFive Sydney men have been charged with plotting to commit an act of terror on Australian soil on Friday, reports ABC News Australia. The intended target was never disclosed by the prosecution. The 10-month trial which led to the guilty decision is the longest in the country’s history and it comes at a time the war on terror has been discussed increasingly in Australia. Sydney Twitter users have been following the case and related developments in recent days. Many claim that the issue of terrorism has been greatly exaggerated by government officials. l0tim0l (Sydney, Australia) The only… -
Simultaneous attacks in Pakistan leave 39 dead
15 Oct 2009 | 10:26 amMilitants launched simultaneous attacks on three law enforcement facilities in Lahore, Pakistan on Thursday, as car bombs hit two other cities, including the assault of a Peshawar school, reports Fox News. At least 39 police officers and civilians are dead. This is just the latest in a string of bloody attacks that have bombarded Pakistan. On Monday, at a security forces checkpoint in northwest Pakistan, 41 were killed and 45 were wounded in an explosion, according to CNN. Twitter users from Lahore, Pakistan reacted to Thursday’s attacks: abkhalid (Lahore, Pakistan) Lahore under…
-
Breaking Tweets: Topic - Transportation
-
12 die in Karachi train collision
4 Nov 2009 | 2:39 amCNN reports, a cargo train collided with a passenger train in Pakistan’s commercial capital of Karachi on Tuesday, killing 12 people and wounding 19 others, police said. The crash was caused by a technical error and the death toll will most likely rise as emergency workers continue to help those on board. Twitter users are upset over this tragic event: Mirza9 (Kerachi) damn, train collision in karachi… 03 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck HawkesBay (undisclosed) #karachi train wreck? i guess it’s symbolic of the state of the country? what the f next? 03 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck… -
Somali pirates demand $7 million ransom for British couple
1 Nov 2009 | 12:15 pmRadio Netherlands reports, Somali pirates are demanding seven million U.S. dollars in ransom for a British couple kidnapped over a week ago as they were crossing the Indian Ocean in a yacht. The couple was sailing from the Seychelles to Tanzania and the UK Foreign Office says the British government is not accepting the Somali pirates’ offer, per Radio Netherlands. Twitter users are very upset: jmsbond007 (Undisclosed) Why can’t someone just BLOW up those Somali PIRATES and teach em a lesson ? 31 Oct 2009 from Tweetie kill_ross (London) wow with the somali pirates again. -
Baby born on flight named after Air Asia
29 Oct 2009 | 11:55 amThestar.com reports the baby boy, who created national headlines when he was born on an AirAsia plane, has been named Asia Liew Ya Hang. His mother Liew Siaw Hsia said the Chinese name ‘Ya Hang’ means ‘AirAsia’ in Mandarin. The airline has presented Liew and the baby free flight tickets for life to celebrate the birth. Twitter users buzz about how they wish to have free flights if they have their babies born on a plane: SocialiteJacque (undisclosed) Baby boy born on plane gets to fly free for life and his moms …I’m jealous of them both lol. AirAsia flight ak 6506 27 Oct… -
Rescue operations begin after 22 die in India train accident
22 Oct 2009 | 4:47 amDailyindia.com reports, resue operation begins after at least 22 people died in Muthra after a New Delhi-bound Goa Express rammed into the rear part of a stationary train, Mewar Express at 5.00 a.m (local time) near Mathura on Wednesday, officials said. blog.taragana.com states, senior railway officials and platoons of Indian army went to oversee the rescue operations while those injured were sent to nearby hospitals. Many Twitterers were saddened by the collision: Joy_Dutta (Chennai, India) Depressed after seeing the images of train crash in Mathura, 21 Oct 2009 from web Ssparshita… -
Four dead after plane crash in Manila
17 Oct 2009 | 2:05 pmPer BBC News and the Associated Press, a propeller-driven plane crashed Saturday into an abandoned warehouse killing four people in the Philippine capitol of Manila. AP reports that the plane, a DC-3, departed Manila airport for Puerto Princesa city in Palawan province southwest of Manila. However, the pilot almost immediately after takeoff asked permission to make an emergency landing. Twitter users from the Philippines expressed their concern; one even recalls possibly seeing the plane prior to crashing: naga_jolokai (Manila, Philippines) thankful i’m home safe, a plane just recently…
-
Breaking Tweets: Featured Twit Pics
-
TwitPics: Twitter users ‘Remember, remember the 5th of November’
6 Nov 2009 | 10:34 amTwitter users in the United Kingdom and in former British colonies took part in annual festivities on Thursday, November 5 to commemorate Guy Fawkes Night. Usual festivities include fireworks, bonfires, and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes. Calling for religious toleration, Guy Fawkes and other conspirators on the evening of November 5, 1605 tried to carry out a plot, known as the Gunpowder Plot, to blow up the British Parliament building and kill King James I. Ultimately, the plot was unsuccessful. Fawkes was captured, tried and executed. Reuters and The New Zealand Herald on Thursday… -
TwitPics: 13 Aban, November 4 Iran protests
4 Nov 2009 | 10:19 amSupporters of the Iranian government and the opposition have both taken to the streets in Tehran today. Supporters are rallying to commemorate 13 Aban, which corresponds to November 4, the 30th anniversary of the U.S. embassy takeover by Iranian students. The opposition, on the other hand, is protesting the politics of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. According to Global Post, opposition leaders in Tehran, including Mir Hossein Mousavi himself, have called for peaceful protests on 13 Aban . “The 13th of Aban is a… rendezvous,” Mousavi told the Khaleej Times, “so we… -
TwitPics: Users share photos as USS New York arrives in its namesake
2 Nov 2009 | 1:45 pmThe USS New York, commissioned as a memorial to the September 11 terrorist attacks, arrived in New York harbor Monday morning. Spectators watched from the banks of the Hudson as victims of the attacks were once again remembered. The vessel’s bow was constructed using over seven tons of steel taken from the fallen World Trade Center towers, as reported by CNN. Some Twitter users shared TwitPics of the USS New York in the harbor: (from @betsyreynolds) (from @alecjr) "USS New York LPD 21 steams into NYC " (from @BrendaAmarG) "The USS New York just passed by work. It was… -
TwitPics: 2009 New York City Marathon
2 Nov 2009 | 8:41 amOver 40,000 people took part in the 2009 New York City Marathon, running through Manhattan, Queens and Central Park on Sunday. While this years race turned out to be an historic one, with Meb Keflezighi becoming the first American to win the marathon since 1982, one man’s story can’t tell the whole story. While some celebrities and many professional athletes take part in the marathon each year, the vast majority of participants are average people competing just for fun. According to the Huffington Post, over two million spectators line the course while approximately 315 million… -
TwitPics: World participates in International Day of Climate Action
24 Oct 2009 | 2:16 pmSaturday was the International Day of Climate Action coordinated by 350.org. The mission of 350 “is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis—to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet.” The focus is on the number 350 because it is ”the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere.” Thousands around the world participated in the Day of Action by incorporating the number 350 in a photo somewhere in their community and sending photos to the 350.org website. Many Twitter users…
-
Breaking Tweets: Technology
-
Facebook awarded $711 million in spam lawsuit
4 Nov 2009 | 7:28 pmFacebook recently won another battle against spam, this time, dethroning the self-proclaimed king of spammers. Found guilty of violating a federal anti-spam law by a California judge, Sanford Wallace has been ordered to pay Facebook $711 million in a civil damages. Facebook originally sought $7 billion in damages. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Facebook claimed Wallace violated the federal anti-spam law, known as CAN-SPAM, roughly 14 million times. Wallace allegedly sent numerous Facebook members a link to a website which tricked them into revealing their login information. -
Microsoft cuts 800 worldwide jobs
4 Nov 2009 | 5:28 pmThe Wall Street Journal reported today that Microsoft has laid off 800 people in midst of their cost-reduction program announced in January of 2009. Without revealing too much detail, a spokesman confirmed cutting 800 jobs today that will “affect staff internationally and in a range of business units.” Among one of the most unsuspected to have lost their job with MS is Don Dodge (@dondodge) – Microsoft’s Director of Business Development for the Emerging Business Team – according to a TechCrunch article. Despite being laid off, Dodge is rather optimistic in his blog. -
T-Mobile becomes trending topic again as service goes down
3 Nov 2009 | 9:02 pmT-Mobile is once again having problems with their service and Twitter users aren’t going to let them forget about it. About a month ago, there were severe problems with data retrieval and their popular phone, the Sidekick. The hashtag #TMobileFail became a Twitter trending topic during the week of these problems. People were outraged with the lack of information the company was giving back to their customers. Once again, T-Mobile users are having difficulties with their service. PCMag.com reports on the issue, saying that T-Mobile has confirmed service outages all over the country. They… -
Google Wave opens up to a larger – but still limited – audience
2 Nov 2009 | 8:47 pmGoogle has finally opened its door a little wider to allow Gmail users to request an invitation to the revolutionary new e-mail system. Previously, the system was being tested out by a hand-picked group of experts and original g-mail users. The Wave is a blend of traditional e-mail, instant messaging, file sharing and more, according to CNET technology news. Users can request an invite here or get more information about the new e-mail system on Google’s Wave site. Twitter users are excited to be a part of the ‘wave,’ but are still in the early stages of figuring out how best… -
RIP GeoCities: Yahoo shuts down web-hosting site
26 Oct 2009 | 9:21 pmYahoo’s once popular website host GeoCities will officially shut-down today, as reported in the Los Angeles Times. The site, which originated in 1994, allowed users to create personal pages for free. The move comes over ten years after Yahoo purchased the site from its developers. The closing of the site will eliminate millions of personal pages from the Web, unless transferred elsewhere. Twitter users reacted to the news of the site’s closing, some sharing personal stories of their first GeoCities experiences and websites: IwaDiva (Undisclosed) Almost forgot – RIP Geocities.
-
Breaking Tweets Entertainment
-
Chris Brown, Rihanna Interviews Air on Same Night to Mixed Reactions
6 Nov 2009 | 9:52 pmMusicians and exes Chris Brown and Rihanna each appeared in their own television interviews Friday night, where they discussed their tumultuous relationship–including Brown’s assault on the singer in February. Rihanna’s interview with “Good Morning America” anchor Diane Sawyer aired in part on “GMA” during the week before airing in full on 20/20 Friday night. In the interview, which was announced before Brown’s, Rihanna recounted the night of the Grammys when Brown physically assaulted her. According to reports from EW.com, Rihanna said in… -
Kathy Griffin Set to Host ABC’s Newest Dance Show
5 Nov 2009 | 6:31 pmComedienne Kathy Griffin will host ABC’s latest dance show, “Let’s Dance,” EW.com reports. Scheduled to air after the “Dancing With the Stars” performance finale on Nov. 23, “Let’s Dance,” will feature celebrities performing famous dance routines. Both viewers and judges will determine who dances in the final performance and the public will ultimately pick the winner. Tweeps have mixed feelings about the addition of another dance show to ABC’s lineup: realitychat RT @tvmadman The amazing Kathy Griffin is hosting ABC’s new… -
TNT Plans to Air the Canceled “Southland”
5 Nov 2009 | 10:19 amTNT announced its plans to air “Southland,” a police drama NBC canceled to make room for “The Jay Leno Show,” EW.com reports. TNT will begin airing the drama on Tuesdays at 10pm in January. In addition to showing the original seven episodes, TNT will also air an additional six hours of the show that NBC never aired but had ordered. Tweeps have continuously used Twitter to show their support for “Southland” and are glad the show will remain on the air: alegnarb @tntweknowdrama Thanks TNT, now I know that someday I will see as continuous #SouthLand… -
Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” Documentary in Theaters Through Thanksgiving Weekend
4 Nov 2009 | 10:24 pmSony Pictures has announced that it will extend the run of the Michael Jackson documentary “This Is It” through Thanksgiving Weekend, Entertainment Weekly reports. The movie, which opened Oct. 28, was originally slated for a two-week run at the theaters. In its opening weekend, “This Is It” grossed $21.3 million domestically and $101 million worldwide. Most tweeps greeted the news positively, while a few wondered if the original two-week limit had been a marketing ploy: Neilfan12 MJ’s movie “This is It” stays in theaters through Thanksgiving:… -
Oscars to be Hosted by Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin
4 Nov 2009 | 3:12 pmThe 82nd Academy Awards will be hosted by actors Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, reports PEOPLE. Baldwin will be a first-time Oscars host while Martin will be hosting for the third time. He previously hosted the 73rd and 75th shows. Mixed reactions came from the Twitterverse: Raqui86 Seriously. Emmys get Ricky Gervais and best Oscars can do it Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin? rae25rae Alec Baldwin (YESSSS!) and Steve Martin (Ok. Sure. Whatever.) to HOST THE OSCARS. ALEC EFFING BALDWIN. My day just got 10x better! #oscars leoh1llary Oscars to be the smuggest and least funny ever. Hosts to be…
