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01 Jan 2009 15:59

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World: Israel hits its target on New Year’s Day

  • We are trying to hit everybody who is a leader of the organization, and today we hit one of their leaders.
  • Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon • on a bombing which killed a top Hamas figurehead (along with members of his family) on Thursday • source
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01 Jan 2009 14:05

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Music: What was the top album of 2008?

  • By the numbers … … Metacritic says African duo Amadou & Mariam’s Welcome to Mali is the top-rated album of the year. They scored a worldwide popular-consciousness coup in 2006 after recording that year’s World Cup song, “Celebrate the Day.”
  • The critics, though … … have definitely taken a liking to Fleet Foxes’ self-titled debut, with that album topping a number of year-end lists. TV on The Radio, Portishead and Bon Iver are right behind, though. Our favorite? Deerhunter’s Microcastle. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

01 Jan 2009 13:49

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Offbeat: Resolutions bad for your health?

  • One organization thinks so. Mind, a mental health charity, says that trying to focus on self-improvement just makes you stressed and depressed. They recommend staying positive instead. Funny, so do we! source
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01 Jan 2009 13:41

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World: It’s Cuba’s 50th communist birthday

Fidel Castro shown arriving in Washington, D.C. in 1959. (Library of Congress) source
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01 Jan 2009 13:40

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World: Political prisoners in Cuba

  • 15,000 political prisoners in 1964
  • 219 political prisoners on the island today source
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01 Jan 2009 13:35

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World: In Castro’s own words

  • Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me.
  • Fidel Castro • In the closing lines of a 1953 speech • source
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01 Jan 2009 13:18

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World: Where Cuba stands, 50 years later

  • Fidel’s still alive Fidel Castro, at the age of 82, has remained out of the public eye for nearly two and a half years due to health issues (which remain a state secret). His brother Raul holds power.
  • His influence remains While he’s not out in public, he still publishes the occasional essay, suggesting that even if he’s not in charge, he may as well be. His brother has implemented few reforms since he took power.
  • Some good, some badCastro brought reforms such as universal health care to his island (something the U.S. lacks, by the way), but it came at the cost of freedoms – including laborers’ right to strike and the freedom to dissent. source
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01 Jan 2009 12:06

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About: Let me explain what I’m doing

  • Hi, I’m Ernie Smith. I’m a 27-year-old journalist. I was recently laid off. So were a lot of my friends. It’s because the news industry is in decline. But news isn’t. So, maybe it’s time to figure out another road. Here’s one path.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 24 Comments • Permalink

01 Jan 2009 12:05

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About: what is this crazy thing?

  • Too much information In this age of RSS feeds, to-the-millisecond news and information overload, it’s hard to make sense of what’s really important in the world.
  • That’s where we come inShortFormBlog, created as an evolution of newspaper design concepts, is an attempt to clear the clutter of information. We simplify and emphasize, to help you make sense of it.
  • Size mattersIt’s about scale. It’s about emphasis. It’s about getting to the heart of the idea. We feel we can say more with a few short words than a bunch of long ones.
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01 Jan 2009 12:04

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About: on the state of journalism in 2008

  • I have never seen so many senior newspaper executives so depressed and frightened for their future.
  • Drew Davis • American Press Institute President and Executive Director • source
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