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07 Jul 2009 22:44

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World: File this under: people who obviously aren’t on Twitter

  • It was the most clean and free election in the world…This election has doubled the dignity of the Iranian nation.
  • Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad • said in a televised speech today. No offense, but has this guy not been surfin’ the net since the June 12th election?  • source

07 Jul 2009 21:41

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Biz, U.S.: T. Boone Pickens has a lot of wind turbines to give away, guys

  • $2 billion in turbines for a Texas wind farm he’s not building source

07 Jul 2009 21:30

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Biz, Tech: The sad fate of The Printed Blog, an idea loaded with optimism

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  • What it was Right around the time ShortFormBlog launched back in January, a fairly original twisting of the newspaper medium called The Printed Blog launched. We were fast fans, in part because the idea was so loudly original and because it partly felt like the kind of idea we’ve played with in the past. source
  • What it was Right around the time ShortFormBlog launched back in January, a fairly original twisting of the newspaper medium called The Printed Blog launched. We were fast fans, in part because the idea was so loudly original and because it partly felt like the kind of idea we’ve played with in the past.
  • Why it’s dying It’s a victim of the economy and the idea didn’t work. Founder Joshua Karp announced the publication’s fate today, blaming it on a lack of venture capital support. Some, like Gawker (shut up, jerks), are claiming it was because it was a backwards idea. It was crazy, but it wasn’t backwards. source
  • What it was Right around the time ShortFormBlog launched back in January, a fairly original twisting of the newspaper medium called The Printed Blog launched. We were fast fans, in part because the idea was so loudly original and because it partly felt like the kind of idea we’ve played with in the past.
  • Why it’s dying It’s a victim of the economy and the idea didn’t work. Founder Joshua Karp announced the publication’s fate today, blaming it on a lack of venture capital support. Some, like Gawker (shut up, jerks), are claiming it was because it was a backwards idea. It was crazy, but it wasn’t backwards.
  • What we’d do We liked the idea but felt it could have used refinement. We would have used the publication as a guidepost to blog content online rather than straight-up printing blog items. It should’ve used its role as gatekeeper to edit and refine the content – like a newspaper! It might have gotten there, sadly. :( source

07 Jul 2009 20:59

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World: Heartwrenching Urumqi riots quote of the day. A gut-punch.

  • The policemen took away my husband last night. I don’t know why and I don’t know where he is.
  • A woman named Abdurajit • Talking to foreign media in the midst of heavy protests in China. Since Sunday, at least 1,434 have been arrested in connection with the rioting. By the way, read the Guardian story in the link – you’ll be glad you did. Tania Branigan has such a beautiful way with the written word in describing the tension in the air. Her way of discussing how an old woman’s words stepped above the fray in a mass of protests is chilling. • source

07 Jul 2009 20:48

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Tech: Great news! Pandora (and other ‘net radio) gets to stay alive!

  • Internet radio became an industry off the radar of the major labels, starting with no rules and constricting over time. The environment has thus far allowed for the growth of sites like Pandora and Last.fm. source
  • For years, record companies, songwriters and publishers wanted their fair share. Unfortunately, that fair share was so high that it threatened to kill sites like Pandora. Enter stalemate. source
  • Today, Pandora and SoundExchange agreed to 40-50% lower rates which will allow Pandora and others to keep operating. The rates are still higher than the FM dial, but they can live with them. source

07 Jul 2009 19:44

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Culture: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes (your toast) Black, for $54.99

The brains at Lucasfilm want you to have a side of Darth Vader toast with your breakfast. Our question: do fans find this sacrilegious or sa-weet? source

07 Jul 2009 19:05

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Culture: A reminder that not everyone had to “win” tickets to his funeral

  • I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can imagine. I just wanted to say I love him so much.
  • Michael Jackson’s 11-year-old daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson • speaking at the end of his memorial service today. Paris’ words, which set the tone for the service, were notable for many reasons, the biggest being that she’s never spoken in public before. • source
 

07 Jul 2009 18:03

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World: China blocks access to Twitter, Facebook, proves they’re total douches.

  • Following the deadly riots in Xinjiang, the government is reportedly blocking all the fun stuff on the internet. I mean, Twitter, Facebook, Google, YouTube? That’s a lot of people’s plans for Saturday night summed up right there. Not to mention all those, um, human rights issues too. Bummer. source

07 Jul 2009 16:50

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Culture: Couldn’t figure out the Rubik’s Cube? Try the Rubik’s 360.

Erno Rubik has created a new puzzle, 30 years after his stupidly impossible Rubik’s Cube burst onto the scene. Something tells us we won’t figure this one out either. source

07 Jul 2009 16:29

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Biz: Generally speaking, money is growing on trees over at Facebook.

  • Generally speaking, people who are selling their stock in Facebook now are making a mistake.
  • Facebook board member and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Mark Andreessen • stating the obvious. With money coming out its a** and more than 225 million registered users, we think you would have to have a serious brain fart (or some killer insider information) to sell any of its stock.  • source