Breaking Tweets » Marcus Wekenmann

Website publishes apparent text messages from 9/11

Marcus Wekenmann — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:55:04 +0000

According to CNN.com, a website says it has released thousands of intercepted text messages from the hours leading up to, during and after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon.

Wikileaks.org began releasing the messages Wednesday to mirror the times they were supposedly sent, starting at 3a.m., and ending 24 hours later.

The site says some texts originated from text pagers carried by government officials, yet some carry a personal tone.

According to the Associated Press, a Wikileaks spokesman says the texts were submitted to the site anonymously, but that the data is valid.

Tweeters around the world were both emotionally affected and suspicious of the messages:

Marianuum (Molde, Norway) Seriously? they have published all of the text messages that was sent during 9/11? Am I the only one who finds that disrespectful? 17 Nov 2009 from web

valeposh (Italy) …ok, seriously, I don’t think it’s right to release 9/11 text messages. Show some respect. People died. #911txts 25 Nov 2009 from web

SouthernCanuck (Texas) how the hell did wikileaks get a hold of 570,000 text messages from 9/11? 25 Nov 2009 from Netvibes

carfullofpandas (Calgary, AB, Canada) If anyone wants to ruin their afternoon Wikileaks is releasing pager text messages intercepted on 9/11. Really chilling/upsetting/disturbing 25 Nov 2009 from UberTwitter

yarnpr0n (Waterloo, ON Canada) Reading Wikileaks of text messages sent during 9/11 attacks. Has anyone else read these? Absolutely chilling. 25 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

dwmurphy2 (Cleveland, Ohio) I can’t believe CNN is showing those personal text messages from 9/11. 25 Nov 2009 from Twitterrific

Klondike (Washington, DC) I’m growing rapidly more uncomfortable about this whole 9/11 text messages release. They didn’t even anonymize phone numbers. 26 Nov 2009 from web

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Goalkeeper for German national team dies after being struck by train

Marcus Wekenmann — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:04:58 +0000

Robert Enke, the top contender to play goalkeeper for Germany’s 2010 World Cup team, died Tuesday after being hit by a train in what investigators believe was a suicide, according to the Associated Press.

The train crossing was near Enke’s home in Hannover, and police said first indications were of a suicide.

According to AP, Enke and his wife lost a daughter to a heart ailment in 2006, but had recently adopted.

Tweets from Hannover were wraught with shock, sorrow and support for Enke and his family:

(Tweets translated from German to English using Google Translate)

xuxubetty only a few 100 meters from our apartment is robert enke died. When the sirens went I would have never expected in the life 10 Nov 2009 from web

B_ecci I can not understand it at all, Robert Enke is dead I read it just the umpteenth time, but my mind does not want to just record. 10 Nov 2009 from studiVZ

caritas_h Our deepest sympathy to the family of #Robert #Enke and God’s support in these difficult hours. #h96 10 Nov 2009 from Tweetie

andosch I’ve only just heard about it and I’m shocked! RIP Robert Enke! We will miss you here 10 Nov 2009 from web

AnnikaATL Never forget <3 You will be missed. You were the best. We love you. 10 Nov 2009 from web

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Brazil, Paraguay blackout sends residents to Twitter

Marcus Wekenmann — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:47:01 +0000

A problem at a large dam was responsible for a massive blackout across several countries in Rio de Janeiro, San Paulo, and other large cities in several South American countries Tuesday evening.

According to Telegraph.co.uk, the Itaipu dam that straddles Brazil and Paraguay, one of the largest in the world, experienced an unspecified problem, causing blackouts in both countries.

According to the BNO News Twitter account, power to Paraguay’s capital was restored shortly thereafter, but blackouts in Brazil continued, sending residents in Rio de Janeiro to Twitter for information:

cobalto (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Lacked light throughout Brazil. Itaipu fufufu. It’s bizarre being on the internet at the moment. We are making history It! 11 Nov 2009 from web

nathaliasch (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) It seems that a problem in the Itaipu Power Plant is leaving much of the country in darkness. The information is faster than light. 11 Nov 2009 from mobile web

Letysilva (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) ITAIPU …. Where is the light?? QUE CALOR …!!!! 11 Nov 2009 from web

dodsdmr (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) the apagao reaches up to Paraguay, Itaipu tá stopped … not see the light back so soon, help! 11 Nov 2009 from web

Evelynsouza (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Man runs out of light ehm to bad! the minutes seem like eternity! Itaipu please help us!! 11 Nov 2009 from web

jorgeodaviriato (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) This is too serious.
Can you imagine the USA suffered nuclear arsenal and missiles fired crash? Itaipu is our nuclear arsenal. Think about 11 Nov 2009 from web

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Finland makes broadband a legal right

Marcus Wekenmann — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:06:45 +0000

According 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 http://bit.ly/3kzaj8 – Feeling proud to be finnish 14 Oct 2009 from web

saaraj (Helsinki, Finland) Greetings from Finland.. where everyone is entitled to have broadband access, it´s our legal right! 14 Oct 2009 from web

dandyleon (Helsinki, Finland) what? finland! do we all get free internets or what? 14 Oct 2009 from web

roknees (Helsinki, Finland) Wooo, Finland is a trending topic! =) 14 Oct 2009 from web

Meanwhile, Tweeters worldwide are lauding the Finnish government as innovative:

Kiki113 (Chicago, Ill.) #Finland free broadband to all = win. Doing that in the US would make cable/internet providers burst a capillary or two… 14 Oct 2009 from Brizzly

daresoftware (United Kingdom) #Finland makes broadband access a legal right – the sooner the UK govt does this the better. Not bloody likely this side of Doomsday. 14 Oct 2009 from web

toshmeister (Cumbernauld, U.K.) Not surprised in the slightest that Finland have passed this law as Scandinavia is light years ahead of us in their liberal thinking 14 Oct 2009 from web

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Canadian researchers claim breakthrough in breast cancer

Marcus Wekenmann — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:50:11 +0000

Scientists in Canada have successfully decoded the 3-billion-letter sequence “of a metastatic lobular breast cancer tumour,” one that accounts for about one-tenth of all breast cancers, for the first time in history, according to a press release.

The scientists from BC Cancer Agency in British Columbia have uncovered all of the mutations that cause this type of tumor to spread.

The study has the potential to help scientists understand how breast cancer begins and spreads, as well as develop cutting-edge treatments.

Early tweets are flooded with optimism:

goodlifeccs (Undisclosed) Happy about the news on the breast cancer research! Go Canada! At least we can see where the money is going. Proud.. 07 Oct 2009 from web

jodyms (The Woodlands, Texas) Will the Canadian research breakthrough be a “tipping point” for breast and other cancer research? Can we dare hope? 07 Oct 2009 from web

GROCERYBAG (Chicago, Ill.)Let’s all hope this Canadian breast cancer cure is legit. 07 Oct 2009 from web

JJDaco (Undisclosed) Yay Canadian scientists and their breast cancer breakthrough. 07 Oct 2009 from API

One particular Twitterer has even more reason for optimism:

susanreynolds (Virginia) @musecrossing WOOHOO! THAT specific type of breast cancer that has just had its DNA decoded is MINE! http://news.bnonews.com/n3it 07 Oct 2009 from Seesmic in reply to musecrossing

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Scientists, archaeologists make new discoveries about Saturn, Stonehenge

Marcus Wekenmann — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:00:30 +0000

Scientists have discovered an enormous new ring around the planet Saturn, and archaeologists have unearthed a stone circle near Stonehenge that suggests the site was used for funeral purposes, according to CNN.com.

The ring around Saturn, which could fit one billion Earths inside, was previously invisible to scientists because the dust and ice particles that compose the ring are so far apart.

The Stonehenge discovery may help lay to rest quite a bit of controversy surrounding the structure. Theories about the gigantic monument have ranged from astronomical observatory, to ancient time piece. However, the latest stone circle, dubbed “Bluestonehenge,” suggests Stonehenge was part of a greater funeral complex.

Twitterers are responding to the discoveries with both intrigue and sarcasm:

IanSohn (Chicago, IL) Top 2 headlines on CNN.com: “New massive ring discovered around Saturn ” & “New stone circle found near Stonehenge ” – cue the scary music 07 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

Spacewanderer (Los Angeles, CA) Astronomers discover new rings around Saturn; Archaeologists discover a stone circle near Stonehenge; and I discover blue orbs on my face. 07 Oct 2009 from web

GlenGrant (Riga, Latvia) Scientists wrong about new Stonehenge find. Its simply “my dad can build a bigger stone circle than your dad!” 07 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

Koshmarik (Washington, D.C.) A newly discovered, massive ring around Saturn and a new Stonehenge complex identified..today’s theme is the circle. 07 Oct 2009 from web

acroplex (Orlando, FL) New ring found around Saturn – new stone circle found around Stonehenge – what’s next: new onion ring flavor by Burger King? 07 Oct 2009 from web

CurlyHairReezy (Undisclosed) Scientists found a ring around Saturn. And archaeologists found another stone circle close to Stonehenge. DOPE! 07 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter

beneverson (Tehran, Iran) Stonehenge is just an elaborate prank by the mole people. Wake up America! 07 Oct 2009 from Tweetie

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Bank of America, JP Morgan to scale back overdraw fees

Marcus Wekenmann — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:50:21 +0000

Two major US banks, JP Morgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America Corp., have decided to cut back on fees that have been criticized recently as harmful to customers.

After increasing overdraft charges, Bank of America Corp. announced this week that it will place a cap on the amount it can charge customers for overdrawing their accounts. In addition, the bank will not charge customers that overdraw by only $10 in one day.

JP Morgan Chase & Co. announced similar measures, including an opt-in for overdraft protection, which links a checking account with additional funds in a customer’s savings. The bank will not charge a fee on accounts overdrawn by $5 or less.

In a time where the banking industry is clouded with uncertainty, some Twitterers say the banks have saved themselves a few customers.

CierraObioha (Columbia, MO) Bank of America changes overdraft fees… (singing) Hellll yeeeeaaaa! 23 Sep 2009 from mobile web

simpllygorjess (New York City, NY) overdraft fees are changing for bank of america , so i am DEFF changing banks now. LOL 23 Sep 2009 from web

riethja (Washington D.C.) I’d like Regions Bank to know exactly why I’m switching of BofA http://is.gd/3BDF7 “BofA Amends Checking Overdraft Fees” 23 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck

RinnyRiot (Los Angeles, CA) I’ve battled it out with Chase a couple of times on those fees and a lot of them were based on the mistakes of the bank. 23 Sep 2009 from web

Still, others balk at the amount of money banks still make on fees alone.

animalmind (Tehran, Iran) Re: Debit overdraft fees: Bank of America, you’re still “Bank of Assholes.” Major banks made 35b last yr on debit overdraft charges. Shame.23 Sep 2009 from web

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