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08 Mar 2009 21:34

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Tech, World: Is film piracy linked to organized crime and terrorism? Maybe.

  • Given the enormous profit margins, it’s no surprise that organized crime has moved into film piracy. The profits are high, and penalties for being caught are relatively low.
  • Greg Treverton • Lead author of a report on how organized crime and piracy go hand-in-hand. He’s also the director of RAND Corp.’s Center for Global Risk and Security. The study was sponsored by – surprise – the Motion Picture Association, the international arm of the Motion Picture Association of America. The study also linked terrorism and piracy. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Mar 2009 21:24

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Biz, U.S.: In NYC, bargain-hunters bought foreclosed homes

  • 1,000 number of New Yorkers who came out to a rare foreclosure auction
  • $1,000 starting bids on some of the homes at the auction. Oh boy. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Mar 2009 21:16

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Biz, World: When it comes to bailouts, don’t forget the third world

  • $700 billion might be needed; at least they’re not AIG. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Mar 2009 21:06

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Tech: When it comes to Twitter, forget Failwhale. It’s all about Failbird.

Check out this amazing Failwhale-inspired Twitter illustration by Martin Gee. It’s neato. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Mar 2009 20:51

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Offbeat: Throwing food as protest: It’s not funny and it gets you arrested

  • What happened? A woman was arrested for throwing goopy green custard at British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, who was going to attend a meeting on carbon emissions. The protester was upset with a plan to expand London’s Heathrow airport, so she threw a food projectile. What is this, the Three Freaking Stooges?
  • Analysis The thing about throwing food we don’t get is the fact that it’s pretty much the only form of cartoon violence you can use in real life. You can’t drop a 16-ton weight, you can’t fall down a gorge, you can’t hit an adversary over the head with a mallet. Those things would kill people. But you can throw a freaking pie. Sigh. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Mar 2009 20:41

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U.S.: Obama’s budget dude: We’re avoiding the pork in the future

  • This is like your relief pitcher coming into the ninth inning and wanting to redo the whole game. Next year we’re going to be the starting pitcher, and the game’s going to be completely different.
  • Peter Orszag • Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, on the $410 billion omnibus spending bill that was laden with pork-barrel spending. Orszag says that the bill was well on its way when Obama went into office and the administration had no choice but to support it so the government could remain functioning. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 7 Comments • Permalink

08 Mar 2009 20:33

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Sports: UNC proves once again to be ACC kings in men’s hoops

  • 17 outright ACC titles for the Tar Heels. Plus, they beat Duke. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

08 Mar 2009 20:13

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U.S.: Pastor shot, killed during a service; nobody’s sure why.

  • It hit the very top of the Bible and exploded on top of the Bible and turned into what many thought was confetti. In fact, some thought it was some type of skit or some type of program at the time.
  • Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent • About the first shot fired at the Rev. Fred Winters. The second shot him him in the chest and he died. The incident, which also wounded others, has shaken the First Baptist Church in Maryville, Ill., but nobody’s sure what the connection between the pastor and shooter was – if there was any. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Mar 2009 19:57

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Biz: Cooking the books, forcing layoffs, funding a killer shoe habit

  • $9.9 million Amount Annette Yeomans allegedly stole while the CFO of Quality Woodworks, Inc., a cabinetry company
  • 400 pairs number of shoes Yeomans owned – she spent at least $240,000 on shoes and $300,000 on clothes. Her spending caused layoffs. Evil. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Mar 2009 19:49

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Biz: We won’t use the “short circuit” pun with this Circuit City story

  • Oops, we just did. Anyway, their last day is today. The former mega-retailer, once a formidable force in electronics retail, just spent the last month and a half liquidating. They gave themselves until March 31, but finished early. So tonight, the lights go off for the last time on the retailer that wanted to be Best Buy, but wasn’t as good. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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