Breaking Tweets » Craig Kanalley

Obama in China: Twitter users in region address Beijing visit

Craig Kanalley — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:57:43 +0000

As part of his first tour of Asia, U.S. President Barack Obama met Tuesday with Chinese leader Hu Jintao in Beijing, participating in a summit to discuss a number of issues, per BBC.

@stevebruskCNN tweeted the following about the event, “CNN live now…President Obama and President Hu make comments after their meeting in Beijing. Unlike many such events, no questions allowed.”

Twitter users in China are paying close attention to Obama’s visit to their country.

Annie_He (Beijing) #Obama talks abt human rights, the police arrests 20 dissidents & activists. http://is.gd/4WL0F what’s happening during Obama in #China . 17 Nov 2009 from web

amojiang (Beijing) Obama is here in BJ, that’s why the traffic was so slow around Chang an jie this morning…brrr…I was late for work 17 Nov 2009 from web

pmdfoster (Beijing) Obama’s limo and motorcade parked right on front steps of Great Hall of the People. Tried to sneak a peek. Shooed away. 17 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

telinida (Shanghai) cannot believe the number of Obama-Mao images springing up here in China….hmmmm oh the symbolism! 17 Nov 2009 from web

mlh2537 (Beijing) From HU’s facial apperacnce, a successful talk with Obama? 17 Nov 2009 from TwitIQ

Others in Asia have also been keeping a close eye on his trip:

casha527 (Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan) Obama is ok…I think…what’s their problem??? 16 Nov 2009 from web

Tootal (Japan) Is Obama going to sacrifice The Dalai Lama, blatant human rights violations, and Internet censorship to pally up with China? 17 Nov 2009 from web

technicolours (Seoul, South Korea) [grumbles about Obama for what must be the millionth time] 17 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

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BBC protest scene turns chaotic

Craig Kanalley — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:07:10 +0000

An 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 anti-BNP protestors to get into work this morn 22 Oct 2009 from mobile web

minesatriple (London, U.K.) The bbc is under seige hellllllp!!! 22 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter

adamblenford (London, U.K.) It feels a bit strange to be working in a building people are trying to break into 22 Oct 2009 from Echofon

minesatriple (London, U.K.) Protesters have stormed the bbc, most eventful days work ever – tweeting live from the front line! 22 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter

tanya_n (London, U.K.) @marc_vallee I think I just spotted you on BBC News24 at the BNP/BBC protest! Looks like it’s starting to kick off there a bit. 22 Oct 2009 from web

Richard_C (London, U.K.) Wandered through anti-fascist protest outside BBC. Bit of chanting, mostly press and Socialist Worker vendors. Didn’t sign any petitions. 22 Oct 2009 from TinyTwitter

howardread (London, U.K.) Had a little look, as did most of the BBC. Lots of police, lots of protesters in head-locks. Not a lot of work being done. COME ON PEOPLE 22 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

Some posted TwitPics of the protest. This picture from @UAF had the caption, “the anti-BNP protesters have moved to outside the BBC’s audience entrance”:

@UAF also posted this TwitPic with the caption, “a sea of placards outside the BBC already”:

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Rio de Janeiro tense amid new violence

Craig Kanalley — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:16:52 +0000

At 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 abatido,4 onibus incendiados,várias mortes.Tenho 1 casamento pra ir,mas desisti. (The situation here in Rio is very serious. PM’s helicopter was shot down, 4 buses torched, several dead. I had 1 wedding to go to, but gave up.) 17 Oct 2009 from web

LatinBoyBrazil (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) up n awake.. in da tvnews:” 4 buses burnt + 1 police helicopter knock down in a hood of Rio by drug dealers. im not freaked or surprised \o/ 17 Oct 2009 from web

brunonunescosta (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Esse clima de tensão no RJ que tanto falam na tv, é bem aqui pertinho da minha casa, eu vi o helicóptero queimando ainda no ar! (This climate of tension in the RJ that is talked about so much on TV, is right here close to my house, I saw the helicopter burning still in the air!) 17 Oct 2009 from web

Raficha (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) And the war continues: a helicopter was shoting down, bus set on fire, people already dead… WELCOME TO RIO DE JANEIRO 17 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter

MissLeao (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Helicóptero da polícia é derrubado em tiroteiro. Rio de Janeiro. Quer vir? Venha por seu próprio risco. (Police helicopter is shot down in firefight. Rio de Janeiro. Want to come? Come at your own risk.) 17 Oct 2009 from web

RodrigoDantasRJ (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Imaginem a situação das famílias dos dois PM´s mortos na queda do helicóptero.Dia horroroso pra cidade,dia que não acabou pra essas famílias (Imagine the situation of the families of the two PM’s dead in the helicopter crash. Horrific day to town, this day do not end prayer for these families) 17 Oct 2009 from web

limpss (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) @RonanFilip Pois é o helicoptero caiu em sampaio…tenho uma colega q mora em frente akele campo!…o.O (For the helicopter that crashed in sampaio…I have a colleague who lives right in front of the field!…o.O) 17 Oct 2009 from web in reply to RonanFilip

thaisguimaraes (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) RT @_anacarla No exterior : um helicoptéro cai por falha técnica . Aqui no RJ : um helicoptéro cai porque os bandidos derrubam (RT @_anacarla Abroad: A helicopter drops by a technical fault. Here in Rio de Janeiro: A helicopter drops because the bandits drop it) 17 Oct 2009 from web

The violence occurred just weeks after Rio de Janeiro was awarded the 2016 Summer Olympic Games on Oct. 2, a point not missed by Rio Twitter users:

BiancaRio (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Destroem trens, queimam onibus, abatem helicoptero blindado. Pq não botaram esse tipo de imagens no video de candidatura do #Rio2016 ? (Destroy trains, burning buses, armored helicopter slaughtered. Cause they not put that kind of image in the video application #Rio2016?) 17 Oct 2009 from web

andrejotha (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Cidade Olímpica tem HELICÓPTERO caindo? (The Olympic city has HELICOPTER falling?) 17 Oct 2009 from web

carrenho Drug dealers shot down a police helicopter in Rio. Two cops dead. Why don’t we do the Olympics in Bagdah? #OlympicDisaster 17 Oct 2009 from Twitterrific

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Scientists, Mayans: Apocalypse 2012 unfounded

Craig Kanalley — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:22:26 +0000

With 2010 drawing near and a new disaster movie “2012″ just weeks away, buzz about December 2012 being the end of the world has hit a new fever pitch.

It’s a hot topic of discussion across the Internet, blogs, forums, and yes, on Twitter, bringing back memories of Y2K hysteria. But scientists are now speaking out, saying the idea of the world ending in 2012 is unfounded, lacking legitimate evidence of any kind, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Mayan elders are also going on the record, emphasizing that the fact the world will end in 2012 was never a Mayan belief, reports the Associated Press.

But that hasn’t stopped a flurry of Twitter users from commenting on the subject in the last 24 hours. They’ve had a wide range of views on the subject:

baylordia (Texarkana, Texas) My brother @hammondcraig is getting married so it is quite possible the world is going to end before 2012! Congrats! 17 Oct 2009 from Twitterrific

manuelmena (Undisclosed) The world is NOT going to end in “2012″ but the movie was directed by Roland Emmerich (”Independence Day”) so it will be entertaining. 16 Oct 2009 from Tweetie

Gregorio14 (Undisclosed) planned out his life until 2013, as long as the world doesn’t end in 2012… 16 Oct 2009 from web

teresabarnette (USA) To all those people who think the world is ending in 2012, our children are getting along so it should be coming to an end any moment now!! 16 Oct 2009 from TwitterBerry

Brearune (Rhode Island) People in the future are gunna think we were SO STUPID for thinking the world would end in 2012.. kinda like 2000. But we have a movie. 17 Oct 2009 from web

Totz_the_Plaid (Michigan) Also, the Mayans said 2012 would end the PENultimate cycle and that the world would actually last 500 years after it! #LOFNOTC 17 Oct 2009 from web

linds_ae (Omro, Wisconsin) Is so pissed that they wasted money making the most dumbest movie ever, “2012″ the world isn’t going to end in 2012!! 17 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter

gab_iii (Tucson, Arizona) *sigh* 2012 looks so depressing. if the world does end that day, I doubt it’ll be that extreme. just sayin’ kay, really. bye. 17 Oct 2009 from mobile web

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Twitter continues global expansion by adding Japanese mobile site

Craig Kanalley — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:04:45 +0000

Less than 24 hours after Twitter announced a deal with India’s largest mobile provider Bharti Airtel for SMS tweets, the social networking site continued its global growth by adding a Japanese mobile site today.

The mobile site is entirely in Japanese, the first foreign language platform launched by Twitter, and co-founder Biz Stone says Twitter plans to be multilingual within months.

Twitter users in Japan commented on the new service. A few noted problems that will need to be worked out — especially slow connection — but most reviews have been positive thus far.

gothedistance (Tokyo, Japan) @ev many japanese twitter-er tweets official mobile site has launched today for cellphone has been terribly heavy. hang in there. 15 Oct 2009 from Tween

Mr_Sands (Japan) New twitter mobile site is freaking me out somewhat all in Japanese, slow and I can only view 2 pages of tweets. 15 Oct 2009 from web

griker (Osaka, Japan) Oh my god mobile twitter has a japanese version now 15 Oct 2009 from web

socialpreneur (Odawara, Japan) Twitter Japan now has its own mobile site for Japanese users. http://bit.ly/uhd3f This is definitely going to drive more Japanese to tweet. 16 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

_rainbowcity (Kanagawa, Japan) So, twitter has a Japanese beta mobile site. Maybe that means we can update by text soon. 16 Oct 2009 from web

mil_ (Tokyo, Japan) wtf, today twitter mobile is in japanese! maybe it will finally remember my login info now 16 Oct 2009 from web

BLSJapanChapter (Japan) RT @JapanToday Twitter launches Japanese mobile site http://bit.ly/7SxRP
Twitter is Turnin’ Japanzer & I Think So… =SDMF=! 16 Oct 2009 from web

chrissteinert (Tokyo, Japan) Twitter now available for Japanese mobile phones: twtr.jp http://post.ly/8lMB 16 Oct 2009 from Twitterrific

Japanese translation / 日本語の翻訳

24時間未満でTwitterをインド最大の携帯電話会社バーティエアテルのSMSのつぶやきは、ソーシャルネットワーキングサイトとの提携を発表した今日、日本のモバイルサイトを追加し、その世界的な成長を続けた。

携帯サイトを完全に日本語では、最初の外国語のプラットフォームがTwitterを立ち上げ、共同ファウンダーのBiz StoneがTwitterの意見計画ヶ月以内に多言語があります。

日本のTwitterユーザーはこの新サービスでコメントした。いくつかの注意問題は決まっていないが必要になります-特に低速な接続-が、ほとんどのユーザーレビューされて、これまでの肯定している。

携帯公式サイト、今日の携帯電話用を開始したのEV、多くの日本語のTwitter @ gothedistance（東京、日本）、小胞体のつぶやきひどく重されている。そこにハングします。 2009年10月15日Tweenクラスから

Mr_Sands（日本）新twitterのモバイルサイトは多少のすべてに私を怖がらされ、ゆっくり日本語と私はつぶやきの2ページを表示することができます。 15ウェブ2009年10月から

griker（大阪、日本）なんてこった携帯Twitterのサイトは2009年10月15日から日本語版が

socialpreneur（小田原、日本）Twitterの日本は今、日本語版のユーザー用に独自の携帯サイトがあります。 http://bit.ly/uhd3f間違いなく、tweetに日本語を駆動する予定です。 2009年10月16日TweetDeckから

_rainbowcity（神奈川県、日本）だから、Twitterの日本語ベータ版の携帯サイトがあります。たぶん、我々のテキストですぐに更新することができます。 16ウェブ2009年10月から

mil_（東京、日本）盛り込まれ、今日のさえずり携帯電話は日本語です！おそらく最終的にウェブが2009年10月16日から自分のログイン情報を記憶する

BLSJapanChapter（日本）アングルJapanToday @トゥウィッター、日本のモバイルサイトhttp://bit.ly/7SxRP発射
TwitterのTurnin’Japanzer＆私はそう思う… …です= SDMF =！ 16ウェブ2009年10月から

chrissteinert（東京、日本）Twitterには現在日本の携帯電話がご利用いただけます：twtr.jp http://post.ly/8lMB 2009年10月16日トゥウィッタリフィックから

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Sydney men found guilty of plotting act of terrorism on Australian soil

Craig Kanalley — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:55:20 +0000

Five 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 ones that bring terror to the Australian people Are our leaders and the and the Bullsh*t they feed us. Look into the FACTS people 09 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

TheMac29 (Sydney, Australia) same here. agreed! RT @shiqies: I’m a Muslim nd i’m NOT violent.Get the thinking straight.I’m against terrorism.Thank you 4 understanding. 11 Oct 2009 from web

sdison (Sydney, Australia) Biopolitics of the war on terror, hey? I think I’d prefer a nap. 12 Oct 2009 from Echofon

Jen_Bennett (Sydney, Australia) @theburgerman I’m thinking terrorism, which is the 1st thing that comes to most minds. Aus govt has spent millions on counter terror support 12 Oct 2009 from TwitterBerry

l0tim0l (Sydney, Australia) We do not have terrorism in Australia, http://bit.ly/p1rAh ..Why do we let them take our freedom away in it’s name??? 14 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

JoinTheFarQ (Sydney, Australia) They were only re-enacting Red Faces skit! RT @abcnews: 5 Sydney men guilty of conspiring to commit terrorism act. #heyhey #plucka 16 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

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Twitter just got bigger in India: Airtel enables SMS tweets

Craig Kanalley — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:32:57 +0000

Twitter reached a landmark deal Wednesday with Bharti Airtel, India’s largest mobile provider, to enable SMS tweets through a service called TweetSMS, according to multiple media reports.

India is already one of Twitter’s largest subscriber bases with more than 5 million registered users, Times of India reports. That number will climb, experts say, now that this deal has been arranged.

Many Twitter users in India were excited about the new deal:

mojorojo (Mumbai, India) Got a little Twitter popup here that says Airtel users can new Tweet over SMS. Nicely done. 14 Oct 2009 from web

skyn3t (Mumbai, India) WTF –> Bharti Airtel subscribers can now send and receive Tweets via SMS. Read more. 14 Oct 2009 from web

Raz0r (New Delhi, India) Finally got Twitter via SMS. Yipee! 14 Oct 2009 from txt

Bhooshan (Mumbai, India) @devakishor if it is normal SMS cost, I don’t mind it at all. It would come cheaper than using GPRS I believe. 14 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to devakishor

axidently (Calcutta, India) twitter updates only on airtel… thru sms i think after 4yrs of being on airtel… FOR ONCE i feel a semblance of cool / pride abt this! 14 Oct 2009 from web

But not all were thrilled, as every tweet sent will cost, though tweets can be received for free.

danishk (Mumbai, India) Airtel to launch TweetSMS, a service to use twitter via SMS at 1Re per tweet..am i excited ? hell NO! 14 Oct 2009 from BeTwittered

manan (Mumbai, India) can someone explain what’s the Twitter-AirTel fuss about? AirTel pushed Twitter 250 SMS/month updates for free initially & 3/- to send. 14 Oct 2009 from DestroyTwitter

mitaysh (Mumbia, India) twitter on SMS 4 #airtel users now.. but it’s a VAS with super-high charges! not gonna work 4 me..! 14 Oct 2009 from web

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#NEM tweets pour in to coincide with historic National Equality March in D.C.

Craig Kanalley — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:19:41 +0000

Tens of thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender activists and straight allies marched in Washington, D.C. today in the fight for equal rights for all people, in the military and elsewhere.

The rally came one day after U.S. President Barack Obama said he will reverse the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, but activists say they won’t rest until it’s official, per USA Today.

Tweets were flowing throughout the day, documenting the National Equality March with the Twitter hashtag #NEM, which became a trending topic. Here’s a sample of personal accounts:

MarliGuzzetta Fave moment seven: dan choi at the rally on the mall. “the time for asking is over! We are telling! We are telling! We are telling!” #nem 11 Oct 2009 from Tweetie

norageddon Almost made it out unscathed at #NEM – only significant sunburn on my nose. Also heard there were something like 60,000 people there. WOW. 12 Oct 2009 from Digsby

johnnie_cakes Not gonna lie, when the Gay Men’s Chorus sang “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” today, I shed a tear #NEM 12 Oct 2009 from Twitterrific

pir_anha you know, such a march may not matter to politicians, but it definitely matters to the participants, and those of us supporting them. #NEM 12 Oct 2009 from web

zachsgotlife “Change is not only possible, it is inevitable.” #NEM @gavincreel @broadwayimpact @HAIRtribe You guys rock. 12 Oct 2009 from web

zackford Phew! That was a great day. I’m spending one more night in DC to relax… Congrats to everyone who marched today. #NEM 12 Oct 2009 from web

UUXMNR Back home in Baltimore after #NEM; STILL standing on the side of love with fellow #uu folks. Love your neighbor! #lgbt #pf #ssl 12 Oct 2009 from txt

davidsalisbury I marched next to Judy Shepard today. what an amazing woman #NEM 12 Oct 2009 from web

One user, @FlyingPeanuts, posted the following TwitPic from the rally with the caption, “National Equality March – On the way to the Capitol – 03 #NEM”:

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Kabul blast documented on Twitter

Craig Kanalley — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:26:07 +0000

Tom Shaw, a researcher in Afghanistan per his bio, provided the first tweets about a major explosion in Kabul on Thursday morning. Sky News reports that a NATO official confirmed the blast. The cause was not immediately clear.

BNO News and Middle East correspondents also posted among the initial tweets on the incident, within five minutes of Shaw’s first tweets:

tomafg Huge window-shaking blast just now in Kabul. 08 Oct 2009 from web

tomafg Big dust-smoke cloud over the Ministry of the Interior area. Everyone’s on their phones trying to find out what’s going on. 08 Oct 2009 from web

BreakingNews JUST IN — Major blast heard in Kabul, cause unknown. More soon. 08 Oct 2009 from BNO Headquarters

AtiaAbawi Blast rattles central Kabul…working on details 08 Oct 2009 from web

nickschifrin Huge blast in Kabul 08 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

tomafg All staff accounted for. Sirens but no news. 08 Oct 2009 from web

tomafg Felt much stronger than the Indian embassy bomb last year. 08 Oct 2009 from web

Shaw has been in Afghanistan since May. He previously spent time studying in Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.

@A_MANNY also posted to Twitter prior to mainstream media outlets reporting the news.

A_MANNY @CNN few seconds ago Bomb blast exploded near our office- Kabul…still checking any casualty. 08 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

A_MANNY #KABUL #AFGHANISTAN…it’s a BIG BLAST. we felt the impact here, r office building shaken, door and window glass broken.. 08 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

A_MANNY @Joesjane update: the blast between MOI and Embassy of India…busy hour blast happened #Kabul #Afghanistan. keep u posted 08 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

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Louvre McDonald’s sparks controversy in Europe

Craig Kanalley — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:15:41 +0000

Paris is well known for its spectacular lights, priceless art, fine dining, and of course, the Eiffel Tower.

That’s why Parisians and others in Europe are puzzled by the news that a McDonald’s, perhaps the greatest symbol of American consumerism, will be opening at the Louvre Museum next month.

The unusual clash between French and American cultures, unfathomable to some Europeans, was first reported by The Daily Telegraph (UK).

It has Twitter users in both France and England up in arms:

Elika (London, U.K.) Ok, maybe more important things are happening, but a McDonalds in the Louvre? Jesus. 05 Oct 2009 from txt

HonorB (Bermondsey Square, London, U.K.) Have I read the papers right? McDonalds has opened at the entrace to the Louvre??? Surely Parisians would never allow such an atrocity! 05 Oct 2009 from web

tamarandom (Paris, France) Hahahaha, woah, wait, not funny. RT @mcdpartners Sacrebleu! McDonalds to open a McCafe in the Louvre. Yes, that Louvre. http://bit.ly/i0rPk 05 Oct 2009 from Twitterrific

nmckean (London, U.K.) McDonalds to open in the Louvre? Oh dear. 05 Oct 2009 from Netvibes

adamkendallz (Paris, France) McDonalds…just what that stuffy, boring Louvre museum needs! What is the world coming to? http://bit.ly/13E1My 05 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

Alliecat_42 (Cromer, U.K.) OMG!! McDonalds is opening at The Louvre, Paris!!!What a travisty!!! 05 Oct 2009 from web

aisfornala (Primrose, Hill, U.K.) A McDonald’s at The Louvre? Yeah, why not. Let’s put a KFC in The Sistine Chapel and a Pizza Hut in The National Gallery too. Ridiculous. 05 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

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