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:

1. 
   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
2. 
   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
3. 
   Letysilva (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) ITAIPU …. Where is the light?? QUE CALOR …!!!! 11 Nov 2009 from web
4. 
   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
5. 
   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
6. 
   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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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:

1. 
   juliejohnsson (Chicago, Illinois) Real life or Twilight Zone episode? Brazilian man crashes his own funeral. http://tr.im/Ea9J 04 Nov 2009 from web
2. 
   vheringer (Vancouver, British Columbia) OMG!!!! I guess it only happens in my home country! Brazilian Ademir Jorge Goncalves Shows Up At Own Funeral — Alive! http://ow.ly/zizd 04 Nov 2009 from HootSuite
3. 
   AimlesslyAims (Connecticut) I would pee my pants! Seriously. http://bit.ly/mRmOw Huffpost – Brazilian Ademir Jorge Goncalves Shows Up At Own Funeral — Alive 04 Nov 2009 from web
4. 
   ahulse (Washington D.C.) Wow! lol RT @bbcworld: A Brazilian man surprises his family by turning up at his own funeral, reports say. http://bit.ly/22sywu 04 Nov 2009 from Seesmic
5. 
   amyj_lew (Chicago, Illinois) RT @bbcworld: A Brazilian man surprises his family by turning up at his own funeral, reports say. http://bit.ly/22sywu WHAT? can u imagine?? 04 Nov 2009 from web

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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:

1. 
   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
2. 
   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
3. 
   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
4. 
   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
5. 
   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
6. 
   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
7. 
   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
8. 
   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:

1. 
   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
2. 
   andrejotha (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Cidade Olímpica tem HELICÓPTERO caindo? (The Olympic city has HELICOPTER falling?) 17 Oct 2009 from web
3. 
   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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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 reportedly arrived at one murder scene before police.

Tweeters seem to be amused and also shocked at this egregious miscarriage of justice.

1. 
   keithpenn (Canyon, TX) Fugitive TV host surrenders, -CNN: http://bit.ly/aJcDn (maybe Wallace Souza isn’t one of the usual suspects’ Keyser Söze after all) 09 Oct 2009 from web
2. 
   ColinStamp (Reading, England) Banana News:Wallace Souza, Brazilian TV pundit & politician, whose legislative immunity expired, arrested for murder and drug trafficking. 09 Oct 2009 from TwitterBerry
3. 
   Talisiavianez (São Paulo, Brazil)  And Where’s Wally (Wallace Souza) has finished. Onde pô-lo, agora? Porra…NEM FORMADO o diacho do vereador mais votado, é! =P (Where to put it now? Damn … OR SHAPED the deuce Alderman most votes, it is! = P) 10 Oct 2009 from web
4. 
   bring_theaction (Kassel, Germany) shame on you, Wallace Souza!! …in the end justice prevails… 10 Oct 2009 from web
5. 
   startstoprepeat (Liverpool, England) I’ve read enough comics to know that Wallace Souza is, in all likelihood, a supervillain in the making. 10 Oct 2009 from Digsby
6. 
   ljanevidalrp (Manaus, Brazil) Wallace e Rafael Souza dividem cela. Família que rouba unida permanece unida! (Wallace and Rafael Souza divided cell. Family that steals together stays together! ) 10 Oct 2009 from web
7. 
   kiliankoe (Southern Germany) Wallace Souza – Wow, what a story! 10 Oct 2009 from web

As a congressman, Souza had been protected by Parliamentary immunity despite the serious charges of murder, and drug trafficking laid against him on July 30. After a state legislative committee ousted him from his post last week, new warrants were issued for his arrest and Souza, now behind bars, has continued to plead his innocence.

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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 commented on the passing of their “voice,” including Colombia native Shakira:

1. 
   shakira (Bahamas) Mercedes Sosa nos mostró que la canción puede ser una enseñanza – http://bit.ly/BJ9Rr – ShakiraHQ (Mercedes Sosa showed us that the song can be a teaching) 04 Oct 2009 from web
2. 
   fercool4 (Asunción, Paraguay) mercedes sosa idolaaaaa….te extrañaremos!!!! (mercedes sosa idolaaaaa …. miss you!!)04 Oct 2009 from web
3. 
   mikeila__ (Argentina) Mercedes Sosa R.I.P Argentina love u! peace and support for her family 04 Oct 2009 from web
4. 
   teozambarda (Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil) Grande perda na música latina. Vai com Deus Mercedes Sosa (Great loss in Latin music. Go with God Mercedes Sosa) 04 Oct 2009 from web
5. 
   oobsessed (Uruguay) Sé que Mercedes Sosa no fue de mi país, pero.. ella comenzó cantando aquí en Uruguay. Q.E.P.D! (Mercedes Sosa know that was not my country, but .. She first sang here in Uruguay. Q.E.P.D!)04 Oct 2009 from web
6. 
   Unregaloparami (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Mercedes Sosa: La Cantora de todos: “Yo creo que no hace falta hablar de ella porque ella es la mejor cantante .. http://bit.ly/qMZeu (Mercedes Sosa: The Singer of all: “I think there’s no need to talk about her because she is the best singer ..)04 Oct 2009 from twitterfeed
7. 
   pedrinhocandido (São José dos Campos, Brazil) Nossa representante da América Latina nos deixou. Adeus, Mercedes Sosa http://bit.ly/18YUP0 (Our representative in Latin America has left us. Goodbye, Mercedes Sosa)04 Oct 2009 from web
8. 
   valu5 (Argentina) MERCEDES SOSA,q en paz dscanses,se fue una grand d la música, smpre viviras en nstros corazons alegrandons c ts preciosas mlodias yunica voz (MERCEDES SOSA, q dscanses alone, it was a grand d music, will live in smpre c ts nstros corazons alegrandons precious mlodias yunica vo) 04 Oct 2009 from web

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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 for the 2016 #olympics #livestation”

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A truly “emotional bid,” Twitterers in Brazil are celebrating their win, as “Janeiro” shot to the top of the trending topics list.

1. 
   Claudio_Chalom (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) I’m currently in Sao Paulo but everyone is celebrating the Rio’s election for the Olympics 2016 02 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   lookbackatit (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) #olympics screw working. I’m leaving the office to go join the party! RIO! 02 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   pacony (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Huge hurrah from the streets of Rio – they wr chosen 4 the Olympics 2016 – ths city will party 2nite, samba songs R alrdy in the works! 02 Oct 2009 from Seesmic
4. 
   rodrigotrevisan (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Congratulations Rio! Congratulations, Brazil!!! Now it´s out turn! It´s the first time in South America! AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 02 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
5. 
   carlosburle (Brazil) Its True: 2016 Olimpic Games will be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Yes, we can! A great victory for the world games at all! 02 Oct 2009 from web

The United States Olympic Committee posted this message on its Twitter account:

1. 
   USOlympic Congratulations Rio and South America for the opportunity to host the 2016 Olympic & Paralympic Games. Kudos as well to Madrid & Tokyo. 02 Oct 2009 from web

Universal Sports Alan Abrahamson reported from Copenhagen the total votes per each round.

1. 
   alanabrahamson Final-round vote numbers: Rio 66, Madrid 32 02 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   alanabrahamson Second-round vote numbers: Rio 46, Madrid 29, Tokyo 20 02 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   alanabrahamson First-round vote numbers: First round Madrid 28, Rio 26, Tokyo 22, Chicago 18 02 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

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Madrid and Rio de Janeiro are the candidate cities left in the running to host the 2016 Olympics. The votes have been cast and IOC President Rogge announced that they did indeed vote a winning bid city. The winner will be announced after a short break in Copenhagen.

Rio de Janeiro Twitter users quickly reacted to the news of the first eliminations:

1. 
   beatriz_t (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) lost United States of America, well done, you are no better than anyone >> Olympics 02 Oct 2009 from web
2. 
   Brasil_Indigena (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Its gotta go to Rio!! Barcelona already repped Spain.Sth America has never hosted Olympics 02 Oct 2009 from HootSuite
3. 
   fokaRJ (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Chicago won’t get it! GO RIO! #Olympics 02 Oct 2009 from web
4. 
   malumoreira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) WTH, Chicago droped ooooout of the #Olympics race! eu nem tava torcendo, mas…#RIO2016 02 Oct 2009 from web
5. 
   liznegrao (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Sorry US,but Olympics must be in Rio… 02 Oct 2009 from web

Here was the reaction from Madrid.

1. 
   smacgyver (Madrid, Spain) Don’t mean to be mean, but Chicago is OUT. @bellamack 02 Oct 2009 from web
2. 
   Over_bit (La Alameda de Osuna, Spain) Increible… Hay opciones a ser ciudad olimpica… Yo que pensaba que iba a estar entre Chicago y Rio y mira… (Incredible … There are options to be Olympic city … I thought it would be between Chicago and Rio and see …) 02 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   jennydelc (Madrid, Spain) Tokyo and Chicago out of Olympic race! Go Madrid! Chicago y Tokio eliminadas! Vamos Madrid! (Tokyo and Chicago out of Olympic race! Go Madrid! Chicago and Tokyo eliminated! Let’s go Madrid!) 02 Oct 2009 from web
4. 
   fesja (Madrid, Spain) RT @juanluispolo: RT @digitalmeteo: Chicago ventoso, Rio caluroso y Tokio lluvioso sacan a #Madrid2016 florido y hermoso. Great (RT @ juanluispolo: RT @ digitalmeteo: Chicago windy, rainy Tokyo hot and Rio bring to # Madrid2016 flowery and beautiful. Great;)) 02 Oct 2009 from Tweetie
5. 
   marcoodasso (Madrid, Spain) chicago fuera, tokio fuera… la verdad es que a madrid le queda el adversario más duro #madrid2016 (outside chicago, Tokyo was … the truth is that madrid is left with the toughest opponent # Madrid2016) 02 Oct 2009 from web

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Researchers have reported their findings to National Geographic of a bizarre new fish species found off Brazil’s Bahia coast.

TAMAR project researchers, who normally study sea turtles for conservation efforts, were astonished to find the strange-looking 6-foot fish, dead and floating near the surface (screenshot from video on left). National Geographic said the group described the fish as having no scales and a gelatinous body with small teeth. TAMAR researchers believe that the high amount of body fat on the fish makes it inedible.

Twitterers felt a mixture of excitement and caution on the new discovery:

1. 
   almadiannaMDC (Texas) RT @OrganicLife: Bizarre New Fish Discovered http://bit.ly/O51oI // i love weird stuff like this, it’s so creepy looking. 21 Sep 2009 from Seesmic
2. 
   molzami (Athens, Georgia) RT @Earth_NewsNatGeo : Bizarre New Fish Discovered http://bit.ly/1tQVCx — COOL! 21 Sep 2009 from web
3. 
   mattklinman (Undisclosed) RT @brbuchwal Bizarre new fish discovered http://ow.ly/qnwr Worried this is the beginning of an alien movie… 22 Sep 2009 from web
4. 
   IamAlonaLee (North Carolina) RT @AnimalPlanet: NEW SPECIES ALERT! – http://ow.ly/qtGb ‘bizarre fish’ – woo hoo!// wierd .. and wow.. 22 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck
5. 
   JoyRecruitRite (Johannesburg, South Africa) Rt @AnimalPlanet NEW SPECIES ALERT! – http://ow.ly/qtGb ‘bizarre fish’ – woo hoo! <– I would drop dead if I saw that swimming towards me! 22 Sep 2009 from web
6. 
   PSHPlatypus (Las Vegas, Nevada) http://bit.ly/1TfdWf – Bizarre New Fish Discovered; Tastes Like Chicken 22 Sep 2009 from bit.ly
7. 
   devographic (Pretoria, South Africa) NEW SPECIES ALERT! – http://ow.ly/qtGb ‘bizarre fish’ – woo hoo! 22 Sep 2009 from TwInbox]

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The campaign began in Colombia and it has gone global, reports the Christian Science Monitor, adding that Chavez has dismissed the opposition movement as “stupid.”

Twitter participants are using the hashtag #nomaschavez. This is not the first Twitter campaign against the Chavez administration. #freemediave and #medioslibres were used in July and August after the government shut down numerous opposition airwaves.

Here are some of the thousands of tweets from this latest movement, which has been running strong for more than 24 hours:

1. 
   juanjoseojeda (Bogota, Colombia) @ElUniversal Hola! Te invito a ver las imágenes de #nomaschavez en Bogotá. www.prensadesolidaridad.blogspot.com http://myloc.me/xwU1 (Hello! I invite you to view images of #nomaschavez in Bogota.) 05 Sep 2009 from UberTwitter in reply to ElUniversal
2. 
   MauroVS (Brasilia, Brazil) Ahmadinejad y Chávez quieren apoyar a ‘naciones revolucionarias’.http://twurl.nl/ceicgd #NoMasChavez (Ahmadinejad and Chavez want to support ‘revolutionary nations’.) 05 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   equisyinfo (Mexico City, Mexico) Video y fotos de la manifestación #nomaschavez en Cuidad de México http://bit.ly/2a22hB (Videos and photos of the manifestation #nomaschavez in Mexico City) 05 Sep 2009 from web
4. 
   dennistobar (Santiago, Chile) Verdad que hoy es el día NO MAS Chávez | Si quiere seguir el evento, el hashtag es #nomaschavez (wow, ¡qué original!) (Truth is now on NO MORE Chavez If you want to watch the event, the hashtag is #nomaschavez (wow how original!)) 04 Sep 2009 from Gwibber
5. 
   josebayona (New York, N.Y.) #nomaschavez está reventando Twitter. Más de 100 tweets por minuto y aún las marchas en distintas partes del mundo no han iniciado todavía… (#nomaschavez is bursting Twitter. More than 100 tweets per minutes and some marches in different parts of the world have not started…)04 Sep 2009 from web
6. 
   alfredobergna (Manhattan, N.Y.) RT @cuaslote RT @tomkat_cr : http://twitpic.com/gfu2t – El mundo dice: ¿por que no te callas? #nomaschavez #nomorechavez (The world says: Why do you not shut up? #nomaschavez) 04 Sep 2009 from Power Twitter
7. 
   nando08 (London, U.K.) Buenas tardes recuerden unirse a la marcha #nomaschavez en solidaridad con Venezuela (Good afternoon remember join the march #nomaschavez in solidarity with Venezuela) 04 Sep 2009 from TwitZap
8. 
   GigiGraciette (Los Angeles, Calif.) Venezuela is such a beautiful country w/amazing people great food & breathtaking landscapes. Hate to see what govt has done #nomaschavez 04 Sep 2009 from Power Twitter
9. 
   Barbulina (Madrid, Spain) yo soy una! RT @LindaCyber: Se nota que hay bastantes Venezolanos exiliados por culpa de Chavez; un éxito las concentraciones #nomaschavez (I am one! RT @LindaCyber: We note that there are many exiled Venezuelans because of Chavez, a successful merger #nomaschavez) 04 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck
10. 
    marcialrivero (Caracas, Venezuela) RT @somosradio: Estamos en alerta permanente ante la amenaza de cierre de más emisoras, ¡no nos callarán! #freemediave #nomaschavez (We are on constant alert of the closure of more stations, we do not keep silent! #freemediave #nomaschavez) 05 Sep 2009 from UberTwitter
11. 
    luisleon (Caracas, Venezuela) Hablando de Venezuela con el taxista, por supuesto concordamos en #nomaschavez (Speaking of Venezuela with my taxi driver, of course we agree on #nomaschavez) 05 Sep 2009 from Gravity

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