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02 Feb 2009 08:17

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Biz, U.S.: Bits and bytes are nice, but buy a newspaper today.

It’s National Buy a Newspaper Day. In an era of corporate-mandated furloughs, heavy layoffs, cruddy financials and scary quotes from heads of industry groups, newspapers need your help. So do them a favor and plop a couple quarters into a box today. You might help save a job or two. And if you feel like it, do it tomorrow, too. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Feb 2009 08:08

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U.S.: Oh no! Obama broke a promise!

It’s his first one PolitiFact, which, as you might remember, has been keeping track of Obama’s numerous campaign promises, noted that late last week, Obama broke his first promise. He’s currently 6 kept, 1 broken and 1 compromise (and about 500+ to go). source

It’s his first one PolitiFact, which, as you might remember, has been keeping track of Obama’s numerous campaign promises, noted that late last week, Obama broke his first promise. He’s currently 6 kept, 1 broken and 1 compromise (and about 500+ to go).
What did he break? Obama made a campaign promise that he would allow for public vetting of any bill he was about to sign into law over a five-day period, but the the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (which curtailed pay discrimination) was passed after only two days with no comment. Shame. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Feb 2009 07:50

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U.S.: Despite tough economic times, welfare numbers are down

18 states cut their welfare numbers in 2008; welfare was cut back in the ’90s in favor of encouraging work source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Feb 2009 01:23

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Biz, U.S.: Sky-high rents in NYC aren’t looking so sky-high anymore

We had a truly un-New York experience with our old landlord begging us to stay.
Tom Botts • a 39-year-old New York City resident who found a drastically different landscape for renting when he and his wife, Libbie Rice, went apartment-hunting. Deals were all over the place, and his old landlord even offered to cut the rent if they stayed. Tenants like Botts are finding significant deals, even free months of rent, in a recession-belabored market. • source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Feb 2009 01:15

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Biz, U.S.: Did bailed-out banks hire foreign workers over U.S. citizens?

The numbers suggest it. Just before the economic collapse that required hundreds of billions of dollars in bailouts, banks were attempting to hire foreign workers en masse, an Associated Press investigation recently found. The dozen banks getting the biggest chunks of the $150 billion set aside just for them applied for 21,800 visas in the last six years. That number only increased over time; in fiscal 2008 alone, it was 4,163. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2009 22:29

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Sports: Steelers Win! The final tally of Super Bowl XLIII

27-23 The final score of a nail-biting finish, which saw two late lead changes. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2009 17:21

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Culture: Tommy Lee’s helicopter pulled over, a.k.a. the best story ever

What happened? Lee, a rock star you may have heard of from a few videos, was riding shotgun in a helicopter that was flying too close to a LAPD copter in Glendale, Calif. Their helicopter was pulled over. We wish our life was this interesting. source

What happened? Lee, a rock star you may have heard of from a few videos, was riding shotgun in a helicopter that was flying too close to a LAPD copter in Glendale, Calif. Their helicopter was pulled over. We wish our life was this interesting.
Drinking afterwards? TMZ.com, which broke the story (because they’re that awesome) claims that Lee was drinking immediately after landing, and was given a blood-alcohol test by the cops. The FAA is still investigating the incident, and the pilot might face charges. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2009 17:12

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Culture, Tech: Super Bowl Sunday: Hate football but love commercials?

Check out the commercials here and skip all those guys tackling each other. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2009 17:00

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Offbeat, Tech: Spies. Intrigue. Espionage. In Redmond. At Microsoft.

Microsoft claims someone stole their ideas. MS claims that the CEO of a nearby corporation, Ancora Technologies, lied about being a former employee of Ancora when he was hired at the Windows-and-Xbox-and-Zune-pushing company in 2005. Ancora still existed, and Miki Mullor apparently took confidential documents for his company’s own benefit. Which is probably the coolest thing to ever happen at Microsoft. And that includes Songsmith. (Note: This case was settled in November. Read more here.) source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2009 16:11

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U.S.: Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn: Look at the future with “new eyes, no grudges”

We have to address each day with new eyes, no grudges. We always have to learn every day.
Pat Quinn • Illinois governor, in a statement at a Chicago megachurch today. Quinn became governor after Rod Blagojevich was impeached on Thursday over a pay-for-play scandal involving Barack Obama’s former senate seat, which Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to. • source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

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