According to AP, over the steep objections of many Republicans in Congress, Democratic supporters attached the hate crimes measure to the defense bill in order to assure its passage after years of trying.

Obama hailed the measure as a step toward change to “help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray,” reports CNN.

The response from the Twitterverse has been overwhelmingly positive – some are calling the bill historic while others are simply applauding Obama:

1. 
   crescentcomp (Auckland, New Zealand) more than ecstatic that President Obama signed the Hate Crimes Bill today… the US is finally moving forward 28 Oct 2009 from web
2. 
   kyrstensinema (Phoenix, AZ) Absolutely amazing speech by President Obama at reception for Hate Crimes bill. 28 Oct 2009 from Tweetie
3. 
   mindschmootz (Undisclosed) “No one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hand of someone they love,” President Barack Obama / Amen. 28 Oct 2009 from web
4. 
   tehchickgamer (Undisclosed) Obama signed legesature that protects LGBT people from hate crimes!!! Yes! I’m so incredibly HAPPY! 29 Oct 2009 from Echofon
5. 
   daylinleach (Wayne, PA) President Obama signs hate-crimes bill. A great day for America. 29 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
6. 
   loveislove2 (New York) Pres. Obama signs the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Provention Act. 1st time any federal equality measure protecting LGBT rights is law. 29 Oct 2009 from web
7. 
   brittyb23_ (Undisclosed) BOOYEAH. Obama made it official.. HATE CRIMES AGAINST ANY SEXUAL ORIENTATION – BANNED. I absolutely LOVE our president.. 29 Oct 2009 from mobile web
8. 
   dontucallmelady (Undisclosed) A significant and historic step in our journey was achieved today when Obama signed the hate crimes act. 29 Oct 2009 from Twitterrific
9. 
   AndrewLease (New York) By the way, kudos to President Obama on signing into law the long overdue hate crimes legislation regarding sexual orientation 29 Oct 2009 from web

— this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

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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 taken seriously. Many of them were heard chanting, “Let the people vote!”.

People from the event took to their Twitter:

1. 
   ACCESSlineIOWA (Iowa) Anti-equality NOM to hold DC Rally, Sunday Oct 25 3-5pm, Freedom Plaza (14th & Pennsylvania NW). Any counter-rally planned? 21 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   Martian_Gabee (Undisclosed) Come out tomorrow to freedom plaza , 2-5 pm to help us stand up against same sex marriage in DC , watch God move ! 25 Oct 2009 from web
3. 
   Martian_Gabee (Undisclosed) On my way to the people’s rally at freedom plaza to stand against same sex marriage , Comd out and support with us , it’s from 2-5 !! 25 Oct 2009 from txt
4. 
   dmcrawford (Washington, D.C.) At the anti-gay rally in Freedom Plaza. So far, not too many people. #DC4M 25 Oct 2009 from TwitterBerry
5. 
   bfftaylor (Undisclosed) At a protest against gay marriage. I dont like this protest. Everyone has the right to do what they want 25 Oct 2009 from txt

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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.

1. 
   wanttobeawriter (location undisclosed) is shocked to hear that a Saudi Journalist is getting 60 lashes. 24 Oct 2009 from web
2. 
   instockmarkets (India) RT @Ade1965 Saudi female TV journalist gets 60 lashes http://bit.ly/3ZwRnK ; I must say we still live in a medival world with modern gadgets 24 Oct 2009 from web
3. 
   rfarahmand (London, England) Female Saudi journalist sentenced to 60 lashes for TV show on Saudi taboos, including extramarital sex 24 Oct 2009 from web
4. 
   RobBreakenridge (Canada) RT @TarekFatah wonders if Canadian feminists will speak out for the female Saudi journalist sentenced to 60 lashes. http://bit.ly/1K4s4 24 Oct 2009 from web
5. 
   flavius52 (location undisclosed) “Saudi female journalist lashes for show” When will we stop buying oil from these scumbags? 24 Oct 2009 from BigTweet
6. 
   rodneystack (location undisclosed) Saudi female TV journalist gets 60 lashes(where is the respect for human rights. What a people. http://bit.ly/2pjykZ 24 Oct 2009 from Snaptu

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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 apprehended.

Although the FBI hopes to eventually increase the use of facial recognition software nationwide, many people are concerned that their constitutional rights are being violated. The AP reports that privacy advocates are protesting that the technology allows authorities to track people who have done nothing wrong, putting them up in a “virtual line up.”

This seems to be a popular sentiment from Twitter users around the United States who worry about the ever-broadening reach of big brother.

1. 
   jaybeasley (undisclosed) Fbi is going to start using dmv photos to track ppl down…here go more errors in the criminal justice field… http://myloc.me/11jYt 13 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter
2. 
   BlueCamel (North Carolina) Big brother not bothering to be non-obvious: FBI Bringing Biometric Photo Scanning To North Carolina, Via DMV http://tinyurl.com/yf8xm7j 13 Oct 2009 from API
3. 
   ocbarista (Orange County, CA)  FBI Bringing Biometric Photo Scanning To North Carolina, Via DMV: http://bit.ly/6jKLG 13 Oct 2009 from WP to Twitter
4. 
   ArtVuilleumier (USA) RT @libertyideals: FBI delves into DMV photos in search for fugitives #libertarian http://bit.ly/10QNAM – WE SHOULD BE FRIGHTENED OF THIS! 14 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
5. 
   veritasmartyr (Pittsburgh, PA) FBI violating the Constitution by searching DMV database for fugitives http://bit.ly/11g3Yc 14 Oct 2009 from Tweetie
6. 
   ninanintius (Oregon, USA) I was ok with it until it was noted that a federal statute would prevent the FBI from browsing DMV photo’s… http://bit.ly/3nmwNd 15 Oct 2009 from Facebook

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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.

1. 
   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
2. 
   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
3. 
   sdison (Sydney, Australia) Biopolitics of the war on terror, hey? I think I’d prefer a nap. 12 Oct 2009 from Echofon
4. 
   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
5. 
   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
6. 
   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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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:

1. 
   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
2. 
   saaraj (Helsinki, Finland) Greetings from Finland.. where everyone is entitled to have broadband access, it´s our legal right! 14 Oct 2009 from web
3. 
   dandyleon (Helsinki, Finland) what? finland! do we all get free internets or what? 14 Oct 2009 from web
4. 
   roknees (Helsinki, Finland) Wooo, Finland is a trending topic! =) 14 Oct 2009 from web

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

1. 
   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
2. 
   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
3. 
   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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I love a good rally.

Hundreds even thousands of people marching as one for a singular purpose gives me goosebumps a little bit.

I’m young, opinionated and often very vocal so although I couldn’t actually attended the National Equality March —a march meant to lobby for full LGBT rights in America—I was excited to see what was being said on the ground.

One of my close friends, Jai, who was covering the event for the Washington Blade, tweeted that around 250,000 people had turned out—although she also stated she was wary of that number.

A quarter of a million is an impressive number and many in twitterland were absolutely ecstatic with the march’s success.

“I am soaking up the million images and memories from the National Equality March. This is the beginning folks, not the end,” stated nemtx. “No more assimilation! We want liberation!” added themelking.

Many more reiterated march organizer Cleve Jones’s powerful words, “There’s no such thing as a fraction of equality.”

And I have to admit I got wrapped up in their statements.

Yes PatriciaCausey! “We R closer today than we were yesterday!” And yes Happentolikeny! Many will talk about this day for “the rest of our lives.”

However, I then read a tweet that put everything in perspective, “Between Harwood’s offensive comments and the vandalism of the HRC building, I end the #NEM weekend rolling my eyes.”

The tweet’s author, josephio, had obviously left disheartened, perhaps even drained because one day of powerful demonstration hadn’t changed the world in a single instant.

And so that’s what I’m afraid may be lost in the march’s glorious moment of hope and togetherness, marching is ultimately meaningless until the spirit of the demonstration is applied to the creation of legislation and the voting of elected officials.

I think StonewallDems tweeted it nicely when they wrote, “Great enthusiasm at the #NEM. Now let’s continue the spirit and hold Congress accountable for #LGBT equality!”

Equality was never won in one day, and I think gay and straight allies alike shouldn’t forget this fact.

Tweets Referenced in Column

1. 
   jaischock RT @GAYTWOGETHER First unofficial numbers upwards of 250,000 #NEM – National Equality March. Don’t know if I believe that… 11 Oct 2009 from web
2. 
   StonewallDems Great enthusiasm at the #NEM. Now let’s continue the spirit and hold Congress accountable for #LGBT equality! #samesexsunday 12 Oct 2009 from web
3. 
   PatriciaCausey YES!!! @survivorqueen amen!! RT @broadwaygirlnyc Dreaming dreams of Equality! We R closer today than we were yesterday, y’all. #nem 12 Oct 2009 from web
4. 
   nemtx RT @bear54: I am soaking up the million images and memories from the National Equality March. This is the beginning folks, not the end. #NEM 12 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter
5. 
   josephio Between Harwood’s offensive comments and the vandalism of the HRC building, I end the #NEM weekend rolling my eyes. 12 Oct 2009 from web
6. 
   themelking “No more assimilation! We want liberation!” Back from #nem and so drained. 12 Oct 2009 from web
7. 
   Happentolikeny Yesterday @matthewjames88 said, “we’ll be talking about this day for weeks” I said, “For the rest of our lives. And at your wedding.” #nem 12 Oct 2009 from Echofon
8. 
   cuffington RT @jessetyler “There’s no such thing as a fraction of equality.” – Cleve Jones #nem 12 Oct 2009 from web

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The friend who was chatting with Meleanie at the time of her murder is not being named, and apparently did not actually see her being shot, but heard a scream, shots ring out and Meleanie’s husband shooting at the area where she had been sitting, per Associated Press.

The web video was not recorded and that leaves police with little with which to make sense of this crime. What they do know is that the Hain’s three children were home at the time and the Hain’s were going through a separation.

Hain made headlines last year after packing a loaded, holstered hand gun to her 5-year-old daughters soccer game, and she soon became affectionately known as the “gun toting soccer mom” and an outspoken gun-rights advocate.

Tweeters around the country are in disbelief over the ironic murder of the Pennsylvania gun lover.

1. 
   MrStevenYoung (York, PA) “Soccer Mom” Melanie Hain shot and killed by her husband !!! I’m so sad!!! 08 Oct 2009 from web
2. 
   bydanielvictor (Harrisburg, PA) Unbelievable story: Melanie Hain, the famous “gun-toting soccer mom” from Lebanon Pa., shot dead in her home. http://bit.ly/Okgap 08 Oct 2009 from bit.ly
3. 
   JenniferRStorm (Harrisburg, PA) Sad twist of fate for this gun-toting soccer mom in PA http://bit.ly/2jLmxt 08 Oct 2009 from web
4. 
   MercuryX (Pottstown, PA)Husband allegedly shot gun-toting soccer mom. He worked in Reading as a correctional officer. http://shar.es/1enha 08 Oct 2009 from ShareThis.com
5. 
   k5project (Undisclosed) Pistol-Packing’ Soccer Mom Shot Dead, this is in my town http://www.ldnews.com/ci_13506791 via @addthis 08 Oct 2009 from web
6. 
   HeferDust (Harrisburg, PA) RT @PatriotNews: Gun-toting soccer mom’s death reignites national debate on gun rights .. http://bit.ly/3LFFSM 09 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

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BBC News reports, Suu Kyi was found guilty in August for violating terms of her house arrest, and sentenced to 18 more months of house arrest, after a US man swam to her lakeside home.

Suu Kyi has already spent 14 of the last 20 years in some sort of detention, reports Reuters.

Many Twitterers all over the world were not surprised by the court’s decision:

1. 
   Sexagenarian (Undisclosed) @newsworldtoday Suu Kyi: sad, however, not unexpected with elections pending 02 Oct 2009 from web in reply to newsworldtoday
2. 
   RSR108 (Totnes, England) RT @chrismets: There’s a surprise Ugh. @GuardianUSA Burmese court rejects appeal against Aung San Suu Kyi house arrest http://bit.ly/TUrGM 02 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   PritishNandy (Mumbai/Goa, India) @yearning4d_sky But wasnt this pretty much expected? The incumbent rulers of Burma dont want Suu Kyi to be part of the political process. 02 Oct 2009 from web in reply to yearning4d_sky
4. 
   moekristin (Oslo, Norway) Suu Kyi-anke avvist i Burma – ja, det var jo en overraskelse… (Suu Kyi-appeal rejected in Burma – yes, that was a surprise …)
   http://tiny.cc/fs34s 02 Oct 2009 from web

Some were even disappointed with the verdict:

1. 
   melamoogrrrl (Brisbane, Australia) Pathetic RT: @BreakingNews A Myanmar official says Aung San Suu Kyi’s appeal against conviction was rejected. 02 Oct 2009 from web
2. 
   nnlwin (Australia) Disappointing result, but we are united to support pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. 02 Oct 2009 from web
3. 
   angelserendib (Santiago de Compostela, Spain) RT @AungMoeWin: WTF!!! Myanmar court rejects Suu Kyi’s appeal | AP http://bit.ly/HQKPn #Burma #Myanmar #AungSanSuuKyi 02 Oct 2009 from web

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The Associated Press reported that he was scheduled to receive an honorary award at the Zurich Film Festival, but was arrested and now faces extradition to the United States.

The reactions on Twitter are mixed as the victim of the assault has also asked that the case be thrown out.

Here are some comments from those who have no sympathy for Polanski:

1. 
   KatieFauquier (New Orleans, La.) Stage 5 creeper Roman Polanski finally gets what’s been coming for 31 years…. 27 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   TPCarney (Washington, D.C.) I’m kind of sickened that some people feel bad for Roman Polanski or “stand in solidarity” with him. 27 Sep 2009 from web
3. 
   JackiYo (Ontario, Canada) RT @strombo Finally… Roman Polanski arrested. http://tiny.cc/mckek 27 Sep 2009 from web
4. 
   marishna (Undisclosed) Wow, just because it’s been 30 yrs since Roman Polanski fled his sentence doesn’t mean ppl should just LET IT GO now that he’s arrested. 27 Sep 2009 from Seesmic

Other Twitterers are bothered by how much work went into arresting Polanski, as well as some who are supporting the Director and hoping for his release:

1. 
   Factzilla (Undisclosed) this whole Roman Polanski thing is out of hand. Even the girl has asked for all charges to be dismissed…seems a bit overboard. 27 Sep 2009 from web
2. 
   baawfatml (Manhattan, N.Y.) They can’t get Osama bin Laden but they can get Roman Polanski #TWIT 27 Sep 2009 from web
3. 
   Swoopy (Roswell, Ga.) So glad the Los Angeles district court spends it’s time on important things like arresting Roman Polanski (eye roll) http://bit.ly/t4XGD 27 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   mbdfilms (Los Angeles, Calif.) how much $ did our gov’t spend getting dangerous criminal Roman #Polanski? shouldn’t that $ go to catch Bin Laden?? talk about bizarro world 27 Sep 2009 from HootSuite
5. 
   AliasCane (Gijón, Asturias, Spain) FREE ROMAN POLANSKI 27 Sep 2009 from web

And still others are making jokes about the arrest that has Polanski and his lawyers “stunned” according to a story in the Los Angeles Times :

1. 
   filthysize (San Francisco, Calif.) RT @HellOnFriscoBay: Everyone has a strong opinion on Roman Polanski but me. I’m neutral like Switzerl… scratch that. 27 Sep 2009 from Nambu
2. 
   JonDHolmes (Chicago, Ill.) Now that Roman Polanski has been arrested, we will finally see that guy get what’s coming to him. An Oscar. 27 Sep 2009 from web

Speculation is rampant on why his arrest is occuring now, after 32 years.

Polanski’s most famous works include film classics “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Baby.”

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