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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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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ABC News reports that France is continuing a search for the black box, which may provide answers on the cause of the crash. If it is not found soon, the box’s battery will likely run out.

Twitterers in Brazil expressed disappointment about the developments.

1. 
   leopinheiro (Londrina, Brazil) “Buscas por vítimas do voo 447 da Air France são encerradas” – apenas 51 corpos encontrados (”Searches for the victims of Air France flight 447 are closed” – only 51 bodies found) 26 Jun 2009 from Tweetie
2. 
   SILVIOCFONSECA (Ubatuba, Brazil) O que teria acontecido na queda do Avião da Air France no Atlântico,ainda não acharam a caixa preta e sem ela nada será esclarecido… (What happened in the fall of the Air France airplane in the Atlantic, they have not found the black box and without it nothing is clear …) 27 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   cembranel (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Coitadas das famílias do Airbus da Air France foram encerradas as buscas ! (Poor families of the Air France Airbus ended the search!) 27 Jun 2009 from TwitterFox
4. 
   DeniseChiara (Sao Paolo, Brazil) Brazil ends search for Air France crash victims. http://bit.ly/qREvh So sad. 27 Jun 2009 from web

Many Brazilian Twitterers also criticized media coverage, upset that Michael Jackson’s death has overshadowed the latest on the Air France tragedy.

1. 
   luizdias (Araraquara, Brazil) World is much more shocked about the death of MJ than the 228 that died on the Air France Airbus crash. Tsc, tsc. Human Beings. #MJ 27 Jun 2009 from twhirl
2. 
   biabalestra (Brazil) é incrível a repercussão que a morte dele tá tendo no mundo…esqueceram até do air france 447 (it is incredible the impact of his death in the world … not taking up the neglected air france 447) 27 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   liquidmaki (Saol Paolo, Brazil) Tá, 1 cara morreu. E as centenas do Air France? Hein? Sua imprensa do caralho. (Ta, 1 man died. And the hundreds of Air France? Huh? Your the [expletive] press.) 27 Jun 2009 from Tweetie
4. 
   jamircalili (Brazil) As buscas ao Air France se encerram… mas MJ ofuscou qq outra coisa e nem sequer nos demos conta… (The search for Air France is finished … MJ obscured this news and it’s not even taken into account …) 27 Jun 2009 from web

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As per Global Voices Online, the bill passed through Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies last month and was approved in the Senate last night. The next and final step is the presidential signature.

Twitter users in Brazil have mixed feelings about the bill:

1. 
   flexaribeiro (Pará, Brazil) MP 458 é o primeiro passo para regularizar terras e ajudar a desenvolver a Amazônia, recuperando áreas já alteradas. (Bill 458 is the first step to regularize land and help develop the Amazon Forest, recovering areas that have already been changed.)  03 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   stanleyrossine (Piauí, Brazil) Sou adepto ao jargão da velha ditadura: “integrar para não entregar” http://migre.me/1O9H #amazonia #terras (I am a fan of the jargon of the old dictatorship days, “to integrate in order not to give away”) 04 Jun 2009 from TwitterFox
3. 
   Ronoel (Brazil) Agora sim, por uma lei brasileira, a amazônia não é mais nossa! http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/brasil/ult96u576355.shtml (Now, as per a Brazilian law, the Amazon is no longer ours!) 04 Jun 2009 from web
4. 
   axncavalheiro (Brazil) hoje, começo a pensar que os estado-unidenses estão corretos: não somos capazes de cuidar da amazônia = x( (Today I start to believe that the States were right, we are not able to look after the Amazon.) 04 Jun 2009 from web
5. 
   valter_pereira (Distrito Federal/Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil) Milhares de pessoas saem das precárias condições de ocupantes de terras e passam a condição de futuros produtores rurais (Thousands of people will come out of the precarious condition of land squatters to become future farmers) 04 Jun 2009 from web
6. 
   valter_pereira (Distrito Federal/Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil) A origem de muitos conflitos agrários era a falta de regularização fundiária. Muitas vezes, a disputa pela posse era resolvida à bala. (The reason behind many conflicts has been the lack of agricultural land regularization. The dispute for land is often resolved by bullet.) 04 Jun 2009 from web
7. 
   joaopedrosenado (Distrito Federal, Brazil) Eu e outros parlamentares faremos um apelo ao presidente Lula para que sejam vetados artigos da MP 458, sobre a regularização fundiária. (I and other members of parliamente will call to President Lula to vetoed articles in the Bill 458, on land regularization) 04 Jun 2009 from web
8. 
   bscala (São Paulo, Brazil) O Programa “Terra Legal” do Governo Lula, deveria se chamar “Terra Ilegal”. Terras podem ser vendidas em apenas 3 anos. Imagine só… (Lula’s program “Legal Land” should be called “Illegal Land”. The donated land can be sold in just 3 years, can you believe it?) 04 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck
9. 
   jayson_eng (New Mexico, US) O desflorestamento da Amazônia é uma tragédia, mais no futuro, seja necessário pra cultivar o alimento pra todo mundo. (The Amazon deforestation is a tragedy which will be greater in the future, but necessary to grow the food for everyone) 04 Jun 2009 from web
10. 
    dalmarcondes (São Paulo, Brazil) Um dia vamos perceber que o Brasil só é importante porque tem a Amazônia. Sem ela somos um país irrelevante como muitos outros. (One day we will realise that Brazil is only an important country because of the Amazon. Without it, we would be as irrelevant as many other coutries.  04 Jun 2009 from web

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Among the debris were white metallic objects, an airplane seat, an orange buoy and jet fuel stains , per The Guardian. The article further reports that no bodies have yet been found.

Many Twitter users in Brazil and elsewhere expressed sadness but also relief that the news of the debris would lead to closure for the passengers’ relatives and friends:

1. 
   gisella1818 (Brazil) Nunca vi tanta falata de esperança…no tocante ao encontros dos destroços do Air France!!! (Never seen such fall of hope … in regard to meetings of the wreckage of Air France!) 02 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   Cowiemanna (Sao Paolo, Brazil) Não perca a oportunidade de orar abençoando os familiares e amigos das vítimas do vôo 447 da Air France (Do not miss the opportunity to pray blessing the family and friends of the victims of the Air France flight 447) 02 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   cariocadabahia (Brazil) O tempo está frio e triste como a situação em que vivemos pela tragedia com o voo da air France…força aos familiares! (The weather is cold and sad as the situation in which we live with the tragedy of Air France flight to the family … strength!) 02 Jun 2009 from web
4. 
   SOULNUTS (Norfolk, Va.) Figured officals would find debris at some point, now there can be somekind of closure for the families. Sad and unusal air disaster. R.I.P. 02 Jun 2009 from web
5. 
   myfwendy (Undisclosed) Heart just sank. My deepest sypathy to fams. RT @andersoncooper: Ships head for area where airplane debris spotted http://tinyurl.com/ryystm 02 Jun 2009 from web
6. 
   road_fun (Dallas, Texas) From BBC, plane seats & other debris sighted off Brazil. http://bit.ly/BSIdd Sure hope so so families can get closure. http://ff.im/3uYr5 02 Jun 2009 from web
7. 
   funnylilworld (Atlanta, Ga.) Having accepted that the AF jet crashed in the Atlantic, it’s a miracle they found debris. Hopefully that’ll give the families some closure 02 Jun 2009 from web

Other Twitterers worldwide, however, still hoped for a chance that there are survivors:

1. 
   25nicky (Sao Paolo, Brazil) Am I the only one still waiting for good news about Air France crash? I know this is kinda impossible but… People in some island maybe =/ 02 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   lararipe (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Chances for survivors from the Air France crash are slim, but they exist.
   If that pilot could land at the hudson river… 02 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   LaToyaChenelle (San Antonio, Texas) They spotted debris that they think is Air France 447… but you can always hold out hope…. 02 Jun 2009 from web
4. 
   Evangeline_ci (Taipei, Taiwan) the debris was found…no miracles…but still hope? 02 Jun 2009 from web
5. 
   LindseyNaj (Michigan) They found seat cushions and debris… I always hope for the best… a.k.a LOST scenario… – http://bit.ly/kc8H1 02 Jun 2009 from web

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According to a recent Reuters update, an Air France spokesman said that the plane crashed but no news of the passengers are yet available.

Twitter users tweeted messages of concern about family and friends:

1. 
   mehoneycutt (Tuscaloosa, AL)Please pray for the people aboard the missing Air France flight. Two of my mother and father’s friends were on the plane. 01 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   luluzinha82 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) É sempre horrível a notícia de desastres aéreos. Temos clientes da Agência entre as vítimas do vôo da Air France. =( (It is always terrible news of the air disaster. We have clients of the Agency among the victims of the Air France flight. = ( ) 01 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   Reinaluna so worried whether my friend who works as a flight attendant in Air France, in this route Rio de janeiro – Paris was there. Can’t find her! 01 Jun 2009 from web
4. 
   marynantaylor (Texas)@cnnbrk How long before we hear who was on board? I have a friend who flies with Air France and can’t reach his relatives in Paris. 01 Jun 2009 from web in reply to cnnbrk

Brazilian Twitterers supplied an outpouring of grief and prayers for those on board, as well as for the families of the passengers:

1. 
   Lurech (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)Acidente Air France – Que deus possa acalmar o coração de todas essas pessoas que estão sofrendo nesse momento! (Air France accident – that God can calm the hearts of all those people who are suffering at this moment!) 01 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   paulocoelho (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Pls join me in a silent prayer for the 228 lives lost this morning in Air France flight Rio de Janeiro/Paris. May God guide these souls 01 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   carlosrabreu (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Consternado com o vôo da Air France que desapareceu no Oceano Atlântico. São 228 pais, filhos, maridos, esposas de alguém! Triste. ( Dismayed with the Air France flight that disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean. Are 228 fathers, sons, husbands, wives of someone! Sad.) 01 Jun 2009 from web

Meanwhile, Twitter users in France and England questioned how the plane could be lost:

1. 
   SallyHBewsey (Kent, England) Tragic about the french plane!!!! all those people! where the hell has it gone??? 01 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   KingFame (Paris, France) we can lose all type of things; keys, money, clothes etc. How do you “lose” a plane???? http://bit.ly/10fybZ 01 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   celinehlbk (Paris, France) this is so weird, how can a plane completely disappear for so long? usually they woudlve known by now… 01 Jun 2009 from web in reply to ThiagoAcquaviva
4. 
   sammathews (LONDON, UK) French plane has vanished over the Atlantic.. very scary stuff, over 220 people on board http://bit.ly/oP6Ym 01 Jun 2009 from web
5. 
   tomlozethwaite (London, UK) I like how the dramatic ‘Plane drops off radar’ has become the even more dramatic ‘French plane lost in ocean storm’. Typical… 01 Jun 2009 from web
6. 
   codebarlab (Paris, France) We are very sorry and sad for the passengers’ families of the plane Air France coming from Rio to Paris.How a plane can disappear like that? 01 Jun 2009 from web
7. 
   iamstockmonkey (Stone, Staffordshire) This missing French plane business really is a bit too similar to Lost for comfort 01 Jun 2009 from web

John Niederkorn contributed to this report.

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Earlier this month, a row between Chief Justice Gilmar Mendes and Joaquim Barbosa, both magistrates of Brazil’s Supreme Court, was broadcast live on television has been denounced as ’shameful’ by the press and bloggers, as reported by Global Voices Online.

Some reactions:

1. 
   myris (Brasil) Impeachment ao Ministro Gilmar Mendes? http://bit.ly/eaIL6 #SaiaGilmar (Impeachment against Judge Gilmar Mendes?) 06 May 2009 from web
2. 
   Escalafobetico (Indaial) Daqui a pouco o Gilmar Mendes dá um jeito de foder com a liberdade na internet,aham, #SaiaGilmar (It will not take long for Gilmar Mendes to f••k with freedom on the Internet, aham) 06 May 2009 from twhirl
3. 
   joaoporto (Brasília) Protesto contra Gilmar Mendes em três capitais (demonstrations against Gilmar Mendes in three capital cities) http://tinyurl.com/clmwhn 06 May 2009 from twitterfeed
4. 
   crestani (Brasil) Estou na contramão. Não sou a favor do “fora gilmar” simplesmente porque não se pode expelir fezes sem a participação de órgão apropriado… (I’m against the tides. I don’t support the “go away gilmar” simplely because it is not possible to get rid of excrement without the help of relevant organs…) 06 May 2009 from web
5. 
   BrunnaSouza (Goiânia) Campanha: “Ministro Gilmar Mendes saia às ruas e não volte ao STF”. http://bit.ly/rFZ1u (Campaign: “Judge Gilmar Mendes go away and do not come back to STF”). 06 May 2009 from web
6. 
   duduziuz (São Paulo) Sucesso para o povo que vai hoje à luta pelo impeachment de Gilmar Mendes! Por um Brasil mais justo #saiagilmar (Wishing success to the people going to the streets to fight for Gilmar Mendes’ impeachment! Por um Brasil mais justo #saiagilmar) 06 May 2009 from Mobile Tweete
7. 
   magal (Macaé) Ministro Gilmar Mendes, disse nesta quarta que considera normal manifestações pedindo a sua saída da presidência, pois é saia à rua ministro (judge Gilmar Mendes said this wednesday that he thinks it is normal to have demonstrations calling him to leave the presidency, yeah go to the streets, Mr Judge) 06 May 2009 from web

— this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

Barbosa had accused Mendes of “destroying the credibility of the judicial system” and challenged Mendes to talk to the man on the street, to measure his low level of popularity. Today’s protest was “to demand that Mendes do so – and never came back”

The main tag of the day is #foragilmar, but there were also #saiagilmar and #foragilmarday. There is an reactions aggregator and the “Go Away Gilmar” campaign has its own blog in Portuguese.

Some photos by twitpic user proveisso fromthe protest in Brasilia, in front of the Supreme Court buildings:

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Posted by @rafamonteiro

Posted by @caroleller

Posted by @robertocamarajr

Posted by @lawira

TwitPics compiled by Paula Goes.

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But many Twitterers in Rio are saying that the IOC was tricked into thinking the city is better than it really is.

1. 
   marques_samyn (Rio de Janeiro) O Rio nao tem mais favelas! Ao menos no vídeo exibido para o COI… http://tinyurl.com/cty87e RT @JucaKfouri (Rio has no slums! At least in the video shown to the IOC … http://tinyurl.com/cty87e RT @JucaKfouri) 30 Apr 2009 from web
2. 
   belzinhaaaaa (Rio de Janeiro) @adrianovinagre mas hoje o COI vai ver o lixo debaixo do tapete. o caminho de ônibus até o Engenhão é tão biiiiiito… (@adrianovinagre but now the IOC will see the garbage under the rug. the path of the bus to Engenhão is so biiiiiito …) 01 May 2009 from web in reply to adrianovinagre
3. 
   PamelaKopp (Rio de Janeiro) Comitê Olímpico Internacional – COI – conhece a cidade dos sonhos de todo carioca. #2016 #fail http://migre.me/PSA (International Olympic Committee – IOC – know the city of dreams throughout Rio. #2016 #fail http://migre.me/PSA) 02 May 2009 from web
4. 
   matheustiburcio (Rio de Janeiro) @JucaKfouri Nós, cariocas, não vamos disfarçar a realidade do RJ. Por acaso o COI viu o velódromo do Pan abandonado? Uma lástima … (@JucaKfouri We, the people, we will not disguise the reality of RJ. Did the IOC saw the Pan Velódromo the left? A shame …) 03 May 2009 from web in reply to JucaKfouri
5. 
   mrmarona (Rio de Janeiro) O COI devia verificar tudo o que o Rio prometeu e deixou de fazer na cidade para o PAN. Cada promessa não cumprida, um ponto perdido. (The IOC should verify all that the Rio has promised to do in the city for the NAP. Each promises not fulfilled, a point lost.) 03 May 2009 from web

Not all were negative. Some did tweet support for the bid.

1. 
   ricardosolo (Rio de Janeiro) http://twurl.nl/0zduyn Com certeza uma ótima impressão para o comitê do COI. (http://twurl.nl/0zduyn Definitely a good impression to the committee of the IOC.) 01 May 2009 from twhirl
2. 
   VictorPencak (Rio de Janeiro) Os integrantes do COI estão visitando as instalações esportivas do Rio.Vamos torcer pela nossa cidade! http://migre.me/PsO #Rio2016 #euquero (The members of the IOC are visiting the sports facilities of Rio.Let’s go cheering for our city! http://migre.me/PsO #Rio2016 #euquero) 01 May 2009 from TwitterFox
3. 
   mpbella (Rio de Janeiro) He visto a los del COI convencidos… Río va a llegar a Copenhague en primera línea (I have seen the conviction of IOC … Rio will come to Copenhagen in the front line) 02 May 2009 from web

Rio 2016’s official Twitter account, @vivasuapaixao, which translates to “Live your passion” in English, posted updates during the visit.

1. 
   vivasuapaixao (Rio de Janeiro) A presidente da Comissão de Avalição do COI ficou impressionada com a quantidade de pessoas que praticam exercícios na orla de Copacabana. (The chairman of the Commission of the IOC evaluation was impressed with the amount of people who practice exercises on the edge of Copacabana.) 29 Apr 2009 from web
2. 
   vivasuapaixao (Rio de Janeiro) 4 dos 8 membros da Comiissão do COI sentiram a emoção de atirar no stand de Deodoro (4 of 8 members of the IOC COMMISSION felt the thrill of shooting the stand of Deodoro) 01 May 2009 from web
3. 
   vivasuapaixao (Rio de Janeiro) Presidente da Comissão de Avaliação do COI bate bola com Pelé na visita ao Maracanã (President of the IOC Evaluation Commission for hits ball with Pele on visit to Maracanã) 01 May 2009 from web

Rio is hoping to host South America’s first ever Games, and is competing with Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo. The winner will be announced in October.

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