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29 Apr 2009 23:49

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Music: Random music recommendation: The Humms

  • We were disappointed tonight that we couldn’t get to see King Khan & The Shrines at the 9:30 Club (long story), but these Georgia dudes, on songs like “Are You Dead?”, mine the same fuzzy psychedelic territory in an engaging way.

    Not bad guys. Come to D.C. You can sleep on our couch as long as you take turns sleeping on the couch, because we only have one.source

29 Apr 2009 23:05

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U.S.: President Obama: There will be “hundreds of days to follow”

  • I want to thank the American people for their support and their patience during these trying times, and I look forward to working with you in the next hundred days, in the hundred days after that, all of the hundreds of days to follow, to make sure that this country is what it can be.
  • President Barack Obama • During a live prime-time news conference that happened earlier tonight. Obama covered a ton of ground during his speech, specifically touching on the economy, Arlen Specter, the elusive promise of bipartisanship, swine flu, Iraq and the dynamics of getting things done in D.C. He’s not done yet – he still has hundreds of days of acts to go. • source

29 Apr 2009 20:52

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Tech: Twitter has a hard time keeping its members around

  • 60% of Twitter users love ’em and then leave ’em source

29 Apr 2009 10:48

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World: European countries: Cease-fire? Sri Lanka: *shakes head* NO!

  • They will not give up the fight with Tamil rebels. U.K. and French ministers tried to convince the Sri Lankan military to change its tune, but it continues to not want to budge, for fear of giving the Tamil Tigers time to regroup. The ministers also tried convincing the Tamil Tigers to let civilians leave what’s now described as a two-square-mile area holding up to 50,000 people. Someone has to budge here. source

29 Apr 2009 10:30

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U.S.: Could part of the Voting Rights Act get flipped over?

  • At some point you have to say we’ve come far enough. Why do we and the other affected jurisdictions have to have the federal government looking over our shoulder?
  • Gregory S. Coleman • Attorney for the Northwest Austin, Tx. Municipal Utility District, who argues that Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is too archaic and outdated. The section requires that the Justice Department approve changes in voting procedure for jurisdictions covered by the law (essentially, those with a history of disenfranchised voters). Coleman and the district will be arguing the case in front of the Supreme Court today, and many will be watching closely. • source

29 Apr 2009 10:16

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U.S., World: Five quick facts on swine flu that you should know

  • The swine flu virus was first isolated in 1930; this is not a new type of virus. source
  • The virus transferred from pigs to humans because it mutated. source
  • You can’t get swine flu from eating cooked pork or handling uncooked pork. source
  • Swine flu symptoms are essentially the same as regular flu strains. source
  • The last outbreak of swine flu happened in 1976. One died. source

29 Apr 2009 10:00

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U.S.: More optimistic numbers: The swine flu outbreak in the U.S.

  • 64 confirmed human cases of swine flu in the U.S. source
 

29 Apr 2009 09:51

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Biz, U.S.: The incredible shrinking economy shrinks even more

  • -6.1% free-fall in the United States’ GDP O_O source

29 Apr 2009 09:40

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Politics, U.S.: 100 days: Why is 100 days in office such a big deal?

  • Blame it on FDR. Franklin Roosevelt tried pushing through a boatload of legislation quickly at the height of the Great Depression, and mostly succeeded. If anything, Obama has gotten closest to FDR’s high standard for getting stuff done. A political science professor says it best: “There is no magic to the first 100 days,” said Ross Baker of Rutgers University. “I think people are always looking for a marker or some sort of guidepost.” source

29 Apr 2009 09:33

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U.S.: 100 days: Love him or hate him, Obama gets stuff done

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