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24 Jul 2009 11:15

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Offbeat, World: Scientific method at work: Does naked girls + farming = rain?

  • That’s what some farmers in India are trying. The farmers, located in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, told their unmarried daughters to get naked and plow the fields after sunset in an attempt to embarrass the gods and convince them to bring on monsoon weather. The farmers are currently in the midst to the worst start of monsoon season in eight decades. Might as well work the nudity angle, right? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Jul 2009 11:05

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Biz, Tech: Small businesses make out like bandits on the Twitter bandwagon

  • I would love to say that I just had a really good idea and strategy, but Twitter has been pretty essential to my success.
  • Curtis Kimball • The owner of a crème brûlée cart in San Francisco, on how Twitter has managed to build his side business into something that no longer requires him to keep his day job. He’s not alone. In fact, Mashable recently ran a neat little feature on how food cart owners have been using Twitter to stand out from the pack. But even beyond that, small businesses are using the site to market goods, find related businesses to partner with and talk directly to consumers. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

24 Jul 2009 10:41

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Biz, U.S.: The big question with minimum wage: Is now really the time?

  • Arguments for Much as with any wage increase, the biggest argument for is workers whose wage hasn’t kept up with the economic climate. The thinking, of course, is that if they get higher wages, they can afford a better lifestyle. source
  • Arguments for Much as with any wage increase, the biggest argument for is workers whose wage hasn’t kept up with the economic climate. The thinking, of course, is that if they get higher wages, they can afford a better lifestyle.
  • Arguments against Much as with any wage increase, the biggest argument against is the fact that the economy – specifically employers can’t support the wage increase. With high unemployment nationwide, this rings truer now than ever. source
  • Arguments for Much as with any wage increase, the biggest argument for is workers whose wage hasn’t kept up with the economic climate. The thinking, of course, is that if they get higher wages, they can afford a better lifestyle.
  • Arguments against Much as with any wage increase, the biggest argument against is the fact that the economy – specifically employers can’t support the wage increase. With high unemployment nationwide, this rings truer now than ever.
  • Who the law forgot The tip slave – whose livelihood is largely based on how much you jerks tip her for your Monte Cristo and fries – still only makes $2.13 an hour before tips. Now, tips can be a nice racket, but that’s a damn shame. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Jul 2009 10:29

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Biz, U.S.: Other notable numbers from the minimum-wage hike

  • 70¢ size of the increase in the national minimum wage – which is actually big enough to be felt source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Jul 2009 10:15

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Biz, U.S.: Today, the national minimum wage gets a kick in the pants

  • $7.25 the new ground floor of the minimum wage source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Jul 2009 10:09

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U.S.: Not coming in the immediate future: Massive health-care reform

  • The Obama administration anticipated having a sweeping health care bill out the door by Congress’ August recess. source
  • A deadlocked Senate and confusion over what the president wants means it’s gonna have to wait ’til later this year. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Jul 2009 03:06

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U.S.: Texas rethinking how important they want God to be in the classroom

  • We’re in an all-out moral and spiritual civil war for the soul of America, and the record of American history is right at the heart of it.
  • Reverend Peter Marshall • On his bid to add a major religious component to the Texas school curriculum. Among other things, the state’s education board is looking at recommendations to include history lessons on the role Christianity played in founding the United States. Some think he’s exaggerating and others think he’s spot on. As per usual, they’re all arguing.  • source
Posted by Nathalie Heiberg • 3 Comments • Permalink
 

24 Jul 2009 02:39

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World: 2009 has become a “bloodbath” for journalists, according to watchdog

  • 59 journalists have been killed so far this year. That’s a lot. source
Posted by Nathalie Heiberg • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Jul 2009 22:24

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Music: ShortFormBand: Psych-rockers Hopewell give us clever answers

Hopewell

  • Whoa, what is this?

    In our continuing effort to try new things, here’s our latest: Band coverage! This time, Hopewell (whose new album, “Good Good Desperation,” is worth the listen) brings us waves of dreamy guitar soundscapes (and some fun answers). Want to see your band here? E-mail us or bug us on Twitter!

    Listen to them

    Q1: In 15 words or less, describe your sound: Swept river manger up from strangers from the you. Swept river rolled hellfire wires.*
    * – Since this question is any credible musician’s worst nightmare, I put the lyrics to one of our songs into the “cut up machine” and generated a lyrical montage a la William Burroughs. That should do the trick.

    Q2: Name three influences that inspire you, with three words each on why they’re awesome:
    Lou Reed: genius now ornery
    Brooklyn, NY: Such modern history
    Vincent Gallo: Style over substance

    Q3: What’s a recent song you’ve been digging? Write ten words explaining why:
    Dirty Projectors – “Stillness Is The Move”: Makes me happy to see weird music so popular.

    Q4: In 140 characters or less, how do you use social networking to get the word out: Reluctantly we row the internet buzz boat down the stream. Watch this:
    www.facebook.com/wellhope
    www.twitter.com/wellhope
    www.myspace.com/hopewell

    Q5: In 15 words or less, what’s next for you? All Tomorrow’s Parties.source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Jul 2009 21:26

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Offbeat: It’s easy to forget stuff, like what we were gonna say next

  • 3 things are forgotten by adults each day, say forgetful researchers source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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