Breaking Tweets » Lindsey Drakert

Hurricane Ida causes deadly mudslides, floods in El Salvador

Lindsey Drakert — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:16:59 +0000

CNN reports that heavy rains from Hurricane Ida on Sunday caused floods and mudslides in El Salvador that left at least 130 people dead and about 60 people still missing by Monday afternoon. El Salvador’s government Web site said there were 108 landslides, 209 destroyed buildings and another 1,835 damaged ones.

Even though there weren’t many Twitter users to be found on the scene, the Twitter scene had an international reaction:

kishanmunroe (Bahamas) Condolences to all those who lost loved ones as a result of the flood disasters in El Salvador. 09 Nov 2009 from web

cheverexYO (Buffalo, NY) Just found out about the flood situation in El Salvador… nowhere near my familys place thankGod but my prayers are with everyone out there 09 Nov 2009 from web

LeilariTirado (Atlanta, GA) LA just declared a state of emergency & Atlanta is under a flood watch. 91 dead in El Salvador. Hurricane Ida is no joke!! 09 Nov 2009 from Tweetie

omarilu (Savannah, GA) So sad Thoughts are with the people RT @guanabee: Blog Post:Mudslide Buries The Entire Town Of Verapaz In El Salvador http://bit.ly/V6Vvz 09 Nov 2009 from web

andrealathrop (Undisclosed) Pray for El Salvador-91 dead, 7K homes destroyed, 60+ missing in flooding & mudslide disaster. 09 Nov 2009 from Echofon

TheNiteRain (Atlanta, GA) Please pray for those affected by Hurricane Ida. El Salvador was hit very badly. along with other central American countries 09 Nov 2009 from web

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Twitter users react to recent increase in shootings

Lindsey Drakert — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:29:18 +0000

After the shooting at Ford Hood, Texas Thursday that killed 13 people and the shooting in Orlando, Florida that killed at least one and injured several others Friday, Twitter users are taking notice of the increase in gun violence.

Twitterers, especially those in Florida, posted about how gun violence keeps getting closer to their homes:

alexthewheel (Winter Park, FL) @philososaurus def dude today there was a shooting in downtown orlando -_- s’getting too close to home now. it was work related too. 06 Nov 2009 from mobile web

SummerLynn (Orlando, FL) Shooting in Orlando. Such an awful thing happened here today. I am 10 miles from it and safe. My heart goes out to the victims here today. 06 Nov 2009 from web

NewBodyCoach (Orlando, FL) Not even the vacation capital is immune from mass shootings. Prayers go to all the victoms of downtown Orlando shooting. 06 Nov 2009 from Echofon

yaya27 (Orlando, FL) Omg wats up with all this shooting!! What’s wrong with America?? I think da world is ending!! 06 Nov 2009 from Twitterrific

Some Twitterers reflected on what this gun violence means:

Joecool169 (Undisclosed) Anybody else think men are predisposed to gun violence after this weeks killings? 07 Nov 2009 from txt

jeremeets (Central New York) 2nd round of gun violence in as many days…sad…current gun legislation does not work…maybe we should focus on that 06 Nov 2009 from web

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1,000 days till London 2012 Olympics

Lindsey Drakert — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:11:57 +0000

CNN 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 days till 2012 London Olympics 31 Oct 2009 from web

Niffy1218 (Undisclosed) Halloween is fun and all but more importantly the 2012 Summer Olympics in London start in exactly 1000 days. See you there! #in1000days 31 Oct 2009 from web

helga_hansen (UK) 1,000 days to go until the start of the 2012 Olympics in London!! So much to do, and only 1,000 days left to do it in!! 31 Oct 2009 from Brizzly

Jeremy_Nicholas (London, UK) Hooray, it’s the Olympics in London in a thousand days time. #In1000days It will be the best games ever. 31 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

robpieke (London, UK) 1,000 days until the London Olympics = 1,000 days of the city being a construction site 31 Oct 2009 from Echofon

mattchrabot (Undisclosed) T minus 1000 days to the start of the 2012 Olympics in London 31 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter

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Olympic torch starts for Vancouver 2010 day before chairman dies

Lindsey Drakert — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:28:17 +0000

CNN reported that the torch for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics was lit in Olympia, Greece on Thursday. It will travel across the world for almost four months to the site of the Games. The Olympic fire was created by the traditional way of igniting a fire by focusing sunlight on a mirror.

“The Olympic torch and flame are the symbols of the values and ideals which lie at the heart of the Olympic Games,” said International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge.

Many Twitterers were touched by this event:

Mariabakas11 (Vancouver, Canada) emotional today to see the Olympic torch lit in Greece on it’s journey to Vancouver. Proud to be Greek and Canadian. 23 Oct 2009 from web

eleftheriag (Serres, Greece) Watching the passing of the Olympic torch ceremony for the 2010 Olympics. Everytime I watch the ceremony I get goosebumps. 22 Oct 2009 from TwitterBerry

ufos_are_real (Niagara Falls, Canada) the olympic torch was lit in Greece .. making its way to Vancouver. can not wait. 23 Oct 2009 from web

One Twitter user @okietorchbearer posted excitement about the event along with this TwitPic. The caption of the TwitPic was, “The Olympic torch was lit in Athens yesterday. Let the Relay Begin!!!”

Others were excited by the international relay of the torch, which will include the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history across 27,900 miles of Canada for 106 days:

kmadolf (Undisclosed) The Olympic Torch is on its way. 12,000 people will carry. The countdown begins. 23 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

TCSBears (Port Hope, Ontario) Olympic Torch arrives to chapel this a.m. – faculty Jen Powles & 20 TCS students to run torch relay mid-December! More details to come… 23 Oct 2009 from web

Sea__Breeze (British Columbia, Canada) Olympic torch comes through Sidney next Friday #yyj 23 Oct 2009 from TwitterBerry

OhBelleville (Belleville, Ontario) Do we know yet, who will be carrying the Olympic torch through Belleville on December 15th? 23 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

This official countdown to the Vancouver Games took place just one day before chairman of the Vancouver Olympic Committee Jack Poole died, according to The Vancouver Sun. Poole passed away early Friday, leaving his legacy of the Vancouver Games behind.

Many Twitterers, including the Canadian Olympic Team expressed their sadness:

CDNOlympicTeam Canadian Olympic Team mourns the passing of friend and leader, Jack Poole. … http://bit.ly/sVlD9 23 Oct 2009 from Facebook

robmackaydunn (Vancouver, Canada) Very sad to hear about the passing of Jack Poole. We’ve lost a great Canadian today. 23 Oct 2009 from TwitterBerry

PR_Victoria (British Columbia, Canada) So sad Jack Poole didn’t get to see the 2010 Olympics opening ceremonies. Sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues. 23 Oct 2009 from HootSuite

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Orionid Meteor Shower about to peak

Lindsey Drakert — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:39:44 +0000

National Geographic reports that the Orionids Meteor Shower began Friday and viewing will be at its peak Wednesday night. Remnants from the 1986 Halley’s comet will be more visible because it is a new moon, making a darker sky.

“At this time of year, Orion rises at about 11 p.m. local time worldwide, so the best time to view the Orionids will be after midnight,” the article reports.

Onlookers can see the meteors without binoculars and Twitterers worldwide are on the lookout.

KansasStargazer (Kansas) Wed, early morning: Peak of the Orionid Meteor Shower. Start watching tonight. Meteors will appear to come from the constellation Orion. 19 Oct 2009 from web

Ginger_Kunita (Japan) Going to the beach in front of my house to see the orionid meteor shower. 19 Oct 2009 from Echofon

signalhill (Undisclosed) orionid meteor showers, just after midnight, next five days. look for the constellation orion and make a wish 19 Oct 2009 from Twitterrific

Cool_DJ_ICE (Sharon, Pennsylvania) Heads UP Literally! Strong Meteor Shower Peaks this Wed! The Orionid meteor shower, 1 of the biggest & brightest of year! http://redir.ec/44 17 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter

Boscastle_Dee (Boscastle, Cornwall, U.K.) Looking Fwd 2 seeing some of the Orionid Meteor Shower 17th-25th Oct. Peak: overnight 20/21st radiating from constellation of Hunter Orion. 16 Oct 2009 from web

This meteor shower comes after a meteor exploded over the Netherlands and Germany on Oct. 13. Amateur photographer Robert Mikaelyan was in the right place at the right time to capture several images of the meteor. This photo was taken in the Groningen, a northern Netherlands city.

Fireball Meteor Over Groningen @Tonieth

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Baby lives after getting hit by train in Australia

Lindsey Drakert — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:35:47 +0000

A video spread quickly today showing a 6-month-old baby in a stroller rolling off a platform onto train tracks seconds before getting hit by a train entering the station in Melbourne, Australia.

CNN reports how the baby miraculously survived being dragged 33 yards and escaping with only a cut on the forehead.

Twitterers were shocked at the news:

Episkey__ (Undisclosed) a woman mand her baby fall onto the train tracks as the train arrived. almost killed the kid. luckily, it survived. it was terrifying to see 16 Oct 2009 from web

sophiaw (Michigan, U.S.) My heart stopped when I saw the video of the baby in a carriage falling into a train in Melbourne, Australia. Truly a survival MIRACLE! 16 Oct 2009 from web

mIKEEDUTRA (Undisclosed) WTF ???? A baby gets ran over by a train and lives !!! cRAZY !! 16 Oct 2009 from Twittelator

Gingavado (London, England) did any 1 c on the news the baby’s pram that fell on the train track but was o.k O.M.F.G! 16 Oct 2009 from web

sarahstyle (Melbourne, Australia) The footage of that baby pram falling in front of the train is horrific. A miracle if ever I saw one, so very very lucky. 16 Oct 2009 from Echofon

Other Twitterers commented on how this event comes only a day after the world watched a Colorado family search for their 6-year-old son when they thought he accidentally flew off in a giant mylar balloon. Turns out he was safe at home hiding in the attic.

twharrell (New York, NY) Forget balloon boy. Check out train boy. Stroller with baby boy rolled into an oncoming train and survived. http://bit.ly/1PHHZA 16 Oct 2009 from web

edduzzell (Undisclosed) Wow – balloon boy yesterday, train baby today, what will tomorrow bring? 16 Oct 2009 from web

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Another earthquake hits Samoa

Lindsey Drakert — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:26:57 +0000

AP 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 to the last:

callie57 (Plymouth, MA) Samoa hit by yet another earthquake this afternoon! My gosh those poor people. Let’s keep them in our thoughts and prayers… 14 Oct 2009 from web

marfnz (Florida) magitude 6.0 earthquake hits off SAMOA again!!!! 14 Oct 2009 from web

uribez (Undisclosed) Earthquake in Samoa………..Again? Lord have mercy 14 Oct 2009 from Snaptu

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

Other Twitterers talked about the situation:

A_hunkin89 (Undisclosed) At LAX gett’n ready 2k head out samoa, just heard a 6.9 earthquake hit samoa, lord guide us as we make out way out there! 14 Oct 2009 from Sidekick

Fanua (Undisclosed) Been watchful about today’s 6.0 magnitude earthquake in Samoa Islands region about 2hrs ago, 6.0+ quakes have been happening there for weeks 14 Oct 2009 from Power Twitter

myrugbystats (New Zealand) Another earthquake in Samoa! I think the world is very angry at the moment, so many natural disasters! http://bit.ly/2RdzwY 14 Oct 2009 from bit.ly

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

And others joked about the reoccuring natural disasters in the Pacific:

jeffmorg (Boerne, Texas) Another mag 6.0 earthquake near Samoa? Stay tuned for the volcano. 14 Oct 2009 from Seesmic

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

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H1N1 vaccine being widely distributed

Lindsey Drakert — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:48:06 +0000

The 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 TweetDeck

SuburbanChicken (Undisclosed) #swinefluvaccine Who here has gotten the H1N1 vaccine already? Is it even available in your area? I can’t get it yet where I live. 13 Oct 2009 from web

bcahrens (San Jose, CA) just talked to the pediatrician about H1N1 vaccine and the flu shot. They have neither at this point. 13 Oct 2009 from TwitterGadget

Others are more concerned about the newly created vaccine, worried that it may not have been properly tested in such a short time.

whatsupLuis (Los Angeles, CA) @Lilayy u got h1n1 vaccine? tell me how that goes. people told me it could be dangerous cause it wasmt tested in a lab. 13 Oct 2009 from web in reply to Lilayy

shontahiggins (Dunlap, TN) is really worried ab this swine flu bc of the babies. Got my 1st ever flu shot yesterday. Wondering what to do ab the h1n1 vaccine? 13 Oct 2009 from web

There are even others who are critical of the critics.

islandidea (Disclosed) Two words for everyone who refuses to get the H1N1 vaccine: Natural Selection 13 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

Hadramie (Petaling Jaya, Malaysia) First we worry about H1N1. Now we worry about its vaccine side effects. What next? 09 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

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Chicago Marathon attracts another year of international runners

Lindsey Drakert — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:37:01 +0000

Even 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 weekend’s marathon in Des Moines @imtdsmmarathon 12 Oct 2009 from TwitterBerry

n9zkp (Chicago, IL) Hobbling like an old(er) man after finishing the Chicago Marathon. It was great to see all the neighborhoods and people. 12 Oct 2009 from web

AnnieTowanda (West Palm Beach, Fl.) 5:30am. Knee blown out. Can’t sleep. But I finished the Chicago Marathon! Don’t know how I did the last 4, but I did….☺ 12 Oct 2009 from Twittelator

paulludwig (Chicago, IL) My whole body is aching after the running the Chicago Marathon yesterday. But it was an incredible experience! 12 Oct 2009 from web

meg_connolly (Chicago, IL) went to hell and back today–26.2 miles–Chicago Marathon 2009. woot woot!! 12 Oct 2009 from web

Twitterers who did not compete commented how they felt about the race:

MSUSteve280 (Novi, Michigan) Saw some of the Chicago marathon yesterday. Very inspiring. Hmm, odd to be inspired by something where the original runner died at the end. 12 Oct 2009 from TwitterGadget

FChristine (New York City, NY) Congrats to you that ran the Chicago marathon. 12 Oct 2009 from Echofon

zcarr (Undisclosed) Congrats to everyone who ran the Chicago marathon yesterday, very inspirational, nice work! 12 Oct 2009 from web

News Sun reports that Samuel Wanjiru, 22, from Kenya came in first and broke the Chicago Marathon record by one second with a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes and 41 seconds. As his reward, Wanjiru took home an extra $100,000 on top of the $75,000 for first place.

Twitterers in Kenya reacted to this good news:

kairitu (Nairobi, Kenya) #mapenzifm Samuel Wanjiru won the Chicago Marathon today ….. Niice! 11 Oct 2009 from Snaptu

DStvKenya (Nairobi, Kenya) Wanjiru sets a new course record of 2:05:41 in Chicago but misses out on the world record. Too windy for the talented Kenyan… 11 Oct 2009 from web

robertalai (Nairobi, Kenya) Hey Samuel Wanjiru has won Chicago Marathon. Congrats Wanjiru #fb 11 Oct 2009 from mobile web

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TwitPics: NASA’s moon damage

Lindsey Drakert — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:30:40 +0000

NASA succesfully launched the LCROSS spacecraft crashing into the moon’s lunar south pole Friday morning according to AP news. They were searching to determine if there is water on the moon.

Unexpectedly, there weren’t any pictures immediately available because of darkness and dust clouds, disappointing the public and NASA officials. Twitterers responded:

jake_hooten (Atlanta, GA) What a waste of my morning!! @nasa LCROSS moon bomb was a dud!!!! If we don’t see pictures, did it actually happen? 09 Oct 2009 from web

rangerj (UK) Watched NASA LCROSS probe slam into the moon – great science but dull to watch as no live pictures of plume from the trailing sensors 09 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

The photos were clarified and released later during the day.

@brownpau (Washington, DC)

“Centaur impact flash on moon as seen by @LCROSS_NASA – omg so many light gray pixels”

Image of the Centaur separation as viewed from the infrared camera. @NASAEven Closer Lunar View: A closer view of the moon as the LCROSS spacecraft approaches impact.

@sheila_aero (Undisclosed)

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