The fact is, more than $3 billion of public money is invested in that building, and, as a public agency, we have the responsibility to make sure it is completed and that we utilize the best strategy to make certain it is fully occupied.
Stephen Sigmund • Spokesman for the Port Authority, on changing the name of “Freedom Tower” to the not-as-free-sounding “One World Trade Center.” We’re sure some nutjobs are going to claim the name changed because Bush isn’t in office, but we personally blame the proliferation of rapping flight attendants. Because that makes just as much sense. • source
The Royal Bank of Scotland, well-known for its globalization efforts, has been ordered by the British government to pump billions into the British credit market. source
So RBS can redouble its efforts in its homeland, the company has recently started to scale back and tried to sell a number of its global endeavors – in countries big and small. source
Due to the new tightening of credit in developing countries such as Vietnam and Romania, the world credit market takes a hit and begins to constrict even more. Yikes. source
The Sims 3? No DRM. Just a serial code. Back in the dark ages of last year, this hotly anticipated game called “Spore” came out. Somehow, it managed to get completely overshadowed by its digital rights management scheme, which was particularly invasive and seemed to take ownership away from fans. Well, Electronic Arts has apparently learned its lesson; “The Sims 3,” out later this year, will not use any DRM at all beyond a serial code. Someone got burned. source
At this point we’re so beyond being able to communicate with each other that way, that we just kind of developed our own language in terms of music-making. And that’s why it’s not important to us.
Dave Portner (a.k.a. Avey Tare) • In an interview with Pitchfork talking about their unique approach to making music, which, as most of you know, critics and a capella groups really like. They’re even making inroads into the mainstream. Good for them! • source
We did what we could to stop it. There were so many red flags that no one could mistake them as any other color.
Luzerne County, Pa. Commissioner Stephen A. Urban • On the Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and Judge Michael T. Conahan, who screwed over hundreds of kids by sending them to detention centers, receiving kickbacks that allowed them to chill at a resort home in Florida. Everyone knew something sketchy was going on but they had an iron grip over the court. Actual justice has finally been served and now they’re going to jail. • source