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25 Feb 2009 22:51

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About: Editorial statement from the ShortFormBlog staff: Sigh.

  • Dear economy, Why do you have to suck so much? Why do you have to ruin so many lives? Why is it that good people are losing their jobs? This is not funny anymore. It never was, but now it’s reaching a point where we can’t be irreverent about this. We’ve been trying. But you make it hard. And it’s affecting us just like everyone else.
  • Dear Newspapers,We think you’re awesome. We think that media is important to a good society. You know journalists? They keep us informed: People chasing after the story. People editing it and organizing it. People informing the society at large. Why aren’t you looking out for them? Don’t lay them off, you stupid stupids. That’s an order!
  • Dear Readers,Time to level with you: We can’t pretend that it’s good times and nothing but. And as a blog that’s made approximately $19 in advertising before expenses, we’re obviously not in it for the money. So, if we make jokes about how bad this is, it’s because sad funerals suck. Back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 8 Comments • Permalink

25 Feb 2009 22:36

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Biz: This newspaper industry quote just made us cry. :(

  • Newsrooms become like families, but companies in every industry reach a point where they face fundamental, sometimes harsh change in order to preserve their viability. We are at that point.
  • Robert Rivard • Editor of the San Antonio Express-News, in a memo to employees. The Express-News just laid off 75 people in their newsroom today. Seventy-five. Seventy-five. Seventy-five. Do I need to write it again? Seventy-five. It’s not even the only news-industry layoff today. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Feb 2009 22:24

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Biz: Hey, it’s not all bad, guys! Just look at Dollar Tree!

The top-tier dollar store has profits up 11%. Wonder why they’re doing so well. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

25 Feb 2009 22:12

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Biz: So, how much does the stock market suck right now?

  • -9.1% this month; should we form bread lines? :( source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Feb 2009 22:01

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U.S.: Octet mom Nadya Suleman may not get her kids

  • eight of her newborns are still in the hospital; she confided to Dr. Phil (yeah, that one) that she’s worried they may not let her have the kids
  • three of her six older children receive food stamps and one is autistic; Suleman doesn’t have a job, but she did have a publicist source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Feb 2009 21:52

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U.S.: Obama’s laid-back style is annoying “Old Washington”

  • Nobody messes with joe and the smiles and nancy handshake resembled a democratic pep rally not a state of the union–sophomoric and silly
  • Newt Gingrich • in a Twitter post last night during Obama’s non-State of the Union speech. Gingrich and others have complained that Obama’s a little too casual for the job, and that Michelle Obama pulls out the sleeveless dresses too often. Pssh, whatever. We’re wearing a sleeveless dress right now, and it feels great! (Don’t ask.) • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Feb 2009 21:12

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U.S.: Jindal’s volcano remark: An erupting dramabomb

  • $140 million? Necessary? Uh, yeah, dude. Last night, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal made a critical comment about an appropriation in the stimulus bill for “volcano monitoring” during his rebuttal to President Obama’s speech. But locals near major volcanoes say the money is necessary to prepare for natural disasters – something critics say Jindal should know about, given his state’s recent history with Hurricane Katrina. Plus, the money would create jobs, one expert notes. Jindal isn’t backing down, though. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink
 

25 Feb 2009 20:57

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Culture: Michael Jackson auctions off his killer super-arcade

We know what you’re thinking. “Moonwalker” isn’t included. But a 3DO (?!) is. He knows his games. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

25 Feb 2009 20:47

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Music: Pinch Me: Steven Page leaves Barenaked Ladies? Say it ain’t so!

  • These guys are my brothers. We’ve grown up together over the past twenty years. I love them and wish them all the best in the future.
  • Steven Page • In a note on the band’s Web site. Page will go solo, and the rest of the band will continue as a quartet. Page has had some personal drama lately, including an arrest and plea deal on cocaine charges – just before the band was going on tour to support a kids’ album. Oof. We admit, this is near and dear to our hearts because BNL was one of our favorite bands in high school. Sigh. Our cred’s gone. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Feb 2009 11:00

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Tech: The Internet in 1996 vs. 2008: My, how times have changed.

  • 30 minutes Amount of time people with Internet access spent online in 1996. (We were playing Quake, ourselves.)
  • 27
    hours     Amount of time the average person spends on the Internet today. (We mostly update this site.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 6 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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