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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

07 Jul 2009 16:15

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Biz: Facebook to world: What recession? We still rock.

  • $500 million is their lowball estimate of what Facebook will be raking in this year for revenue. source
 

07 Jul 2009 12:33

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07 Jul 2009 12:30

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Politics: Hopefully the MJ story dies after this memorial, but here’s a live stream

  • Most. Annoying. News. Story. Ever. Nothing against Michael Jackson or his fans or his memory, but this thing needs to go away. Hopefully, after this memorial, we can all get on with our lives.source

07 Jul 2009 12:21

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Biz: Another sign the economy sucks: People can’t pay off credit

  • 6.6% of all card debt is delinquent; that’s a record source