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07 Feb 2009 09:17

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Biz, U.S.: Bernard Madoff didn’t just screw over the super-wealthy

  • We don’t have any cash reserves now. And we still owe money on our houses.
  • Ian Thiermann • A 90-year-old California man who lost his $750,000 life savings in Madoff’s scheme and now works in a grocery store to make ends meet. Yeah, that’s right, he’s 90 and works in a grocery store. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Feb 2009 09:08

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World: Red Cross to Sri Lanka rebels: Get us out of the crossfire

  • What happened? Sri Lanka is in the midst of a lengthy (30-year-plus), dangerous and bloody civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels in northern Sri Lanka. The Tigers are fighting to create their own sovereign nation, but appear to be close to defeated in this latest offensive. On Friday, Sri Lanka claimed that they killed 14 rebels, including two leaders. source
  • What happened? Sri Lanka is in the midst of a lengthy (30-year-plus), dangerous and bloody civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels in northern Sri Lanka. The Tigers are fighting to create their own sovereign nation, but appear to be close to defeated in this latest offensive. On Friday, Sri Lanka claimed that they killed 14 rebels, including two leaders.
  • In the middle In the midst of this conflict are a number of civilians, many of whom are hospitalized. 250,000 total people are trapped inside the rebel territory. After rebels started firing shells at a hospital in Puthukkudiyiruppu, the war zone’s last hospital, patients were moved to a makeshift medical facility in Puttumatalan village. source
  • What happened? Sri Lanka is in the midst of a lengthy (30-year-plus), dangerous and bloody civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels in northern Sri Lanka. The Tigers are fighting to create their own sovereign nation, but appear to be close to defeated in this latest offensive. On Friday, Sri Lanka claimed that they killed 14 rebels, including two leaders.
  • In the middle In the midst of this conflict are a number of civilians, many of whom are hospitalized. 250,000 total people are trapped inside the rebel territory. After rebels started firing shells at a hospital in Puthukkudiyiruppu, the war zone’s last hospital, patients were moved to a makeshift medical facility in Puttumatalan village.
  • A plea for help The Red Cross says there are nearly 400 people at this medical facility, many lying on the floor because it’s so overcrowded or forced to receive medical attention at unequipped schools or community centers. The international organization wants the rebels to allow them to move these patients without worry of getting in the crossfire. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Feb 2009 20:25

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U.S.: OK, the Senate may finally get behind Obama’s economic plan

  • $805 billion, the size of the current stimulus package source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Feb 2009 20:17

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U.S.: Well, isn’t that a dramatic quote about jobs and the economy

  • Last month the economy lost 598,000 jobs. That is the equivalent of losing every job in the state of Maine.
  • Robert Gibbs • White House press secretary, on the economic crisis. This quote may have been a not-so-subtle ploy by Gibbs to get Maine’s two Republican senators on board for the economic stimulus plan. If nothing else, it’s striking, dude. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Feb 2009 20:10

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U.S.: Jesus. That company knew it was shipping tainted peanut butter.

  • *Forehead slap* According to the FDA, the Georgia peanut plant at the center of the goober salmonella outbreak knew as far back as 2007 that the peanuts it was shipping tested positive for the bacteria. Even so, it kept shipping them until a second test confirmed the first test’s suspicions, and even after THAT, allowed the tainted product to get sold. source
  • *Forehead slap* According to the FDA, the Georgia peanut plant at the center of the goober salmonella outbreak knew as far back as 2007 that the peanuts it was shipping tested positive for the bacteria. Even so, it kept shipping them until a second test confirmed the first test’s suspicions, and even after THAT, allowed the tainted product to get sold.
  • And yeah. People got sick. Peanut Corp. of America made a lot of people sick due to its actions. On top of the 575 illnesses in 43 states, eight people have died from eating tainted peanut butter. On top of that dramarama, over 1,550 products were recalled. Oh, and they caused a national scare that made me afraid of eating my favorite food. *grumble* source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Feb 2009 17:44

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Music: Check out this guy’s music: Rifle Recoil

  • A master of the delay pedals. Jeff Kessel, a.k.a. Rifle Recoil, has a pretty intriguing approach to his music – he largely builds his tunes on delay pedals into a big, bold sound. Some would call it a wall of sound. The Arlington, Va.-based tunesmith pulls a lot out of his limited array of parts. Worth checking out are his immaculate one-man cover of the Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell classic “All I Need” and the funky Prince-like original “Bad Girl.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Feb 2009 16:56

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U.S.: “Furlough Friday” in California: It’s like vacation, only it sucks

  • 238,000 workers were forced to take the day two Fridays a month by Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger; it’s planned to last at least 17 months source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink
 

06 Feb 2009 16:12

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Sports: Michael Phelps: USA Swimming was right to punish me

  • I have nothing to say, but if that’s they want to do, that’s their choice. It’s something that USA Swimming came up with. It’s fair. Obviously, for a mistake you should get punished.
  • Michael Phelps • On the three-month suspension from competition that USA Swimming gave him last night. Phelps has had a bit of a PR nightmare on his hands after he was caught smoking a bong in a photo. Hopefully he doesn’t lose any more sponsors. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Feb 2009 16:04

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Culture: Jessica Simpson had a bit of a breakdown last night

  • Worst part? It was on stage. Simpson has had a lot on her plate lately, what with some jerks in the media giving her guff about apparent weight gain. (Her ex-husband, Nick Lachey, has her back.) Anyway, at a show in Grand Rapids, Mich., where Simpson was opening for Rascal Flatts, she was having trouble keeping her composure, forgot lyrics and was a big freaking mess. What was to blame? Possibly boyfriend Tony Romo’s lack of appearance at the show. He missed his flight. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Feb 2009 15:16

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U.S.: Meet the mom with a buttload of kids, including a fresh octet

Nadya Suleman claims her tough childhood convinced her to have 14 freakin’ kids. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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