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31 Aug 2009 22:08

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Culture: Chris Brown: I didn’t forget the attack, like I told Larry King

  • The first four times – or how ever many times it was – I gave the same answer — which was that I didn’t think it was appropriate for me to talk about what happened that night. I said it was not right for me and it really wasn’t fair to Rihanna. The fifth time – or whatever it was – I just misspoke.
  • A statement by Chris Brown • In an attempt at damage control after a devastating interview with Larry King where he said he had no recollection of attacking Rihanna in February. Based on the poll that TMZ is offering, we’re guessing that he lost any chance at sympathy because of the interview. Dude’s career is probably over after this. He screwed up the Larry King fall-from-grace interview – the softest-pedal interview you can find on televison. It’s all over from here. • source

31 Aug 2009 21:59

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Culture: This Michael Jackson coroner van video genuinely fooled us. Not.

31 Aug 2009 21:42

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U.S.: Montana’s in the center of a right-to-die legal storm

  • There are moral arguments, philosophical arguments on both sides, bioethical arguments on both sides, even medical and public health arguments on both sides.
  • Montana State Solicitor Anthony Johnstone • On the coming court case based around Robert Baxter, a 76-year-old truck driver with lymphocytic leukemia whose request for a lethal injection was refused by his doctor. (Baxter died last year.) Montana’s an interesting state for a case like this to take place: Their constitution leans libertarian, and personal rights court cases in the state have shown a history of later being replicated by the Supreme Court. In his miserable, protracted death, Baxter may just produce a better end of life for thousands of Montana residents. • source

31 Aug 2009 21:30

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Biz: Don’t be so scared of losing your job. It’s killing you.

  • No, really. A study says so. Three sociologists, based in California and Michigan – two perfect locations for a study like this – say that chronic worry about job loss leads to health decline more than the job loss itself. “Persistent stress is a strain on people. It is the unrelenting nature of the uncertainty that really gets you,” their study noted. So lighten up and act as if your crappy job isn’t even in jeopardy. source

31 Aug 2009 21:16

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Culture: Beyond IKEA and Verdana: Other famous fontroversies

Now that the IKEA controversy has gone mainstream, the backlash against the backlash has begun; it’s even hit us. It’s not the first time. (See Helvetica.) source

31 Aug 2009 21:02

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U.S.: The 911 tape in that Georgia mass murder was released

  • I just got home. I was out last night. I got home just now, and everybody’s dead. … My whole family’s dead. It looks like they’ve been beaten to death.
  • Guy Heinze Jr. • In the 911 call he made Saturday morning in the wake of finding his family dead. The Brunswick, Ga. resident was arrested Sunday for having drugs (including marijuana), evidence tampering and obstructing justice. He’s not yet a suspect, although he hasn’t been ruled out. • source

31 Aug 2009 20:54

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Tech: Next week an exciting time for Apple nerds who want new iPods

  • 9/9/09 mark your Jobsian calendar source
 

31 Aug 2009 20:30

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Sports, Tech: The NFL put in a bunch of stupid rules against social media

  • team Players (or team officials) can’t tweet (nor can surrogate tweet for them) during the game, nor 90 minutes before or after. The surrogate part is the Ochocinco rule.
  • press They can only use social media to update once a quarter, so as not to usurp play-by-play mechanisms media outlets pay the NFL a lot of money for.
  • fans Fans can tweet to their heart’s content based on current rules. Which means you have a leg up on NBC News if you go to a Redskins game with a cell phone. source

31 Aug 2009 11:16

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U.S.: Thanks, Ted: A poignant end to the Ted Kennedy memorial saga

  • A sad week comes to the end with a sign on the Massachusetts Turnpike. Very heartwarming to watch.

31 Aug 2009 11:08

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Biz: Turning away money: Cablevision blocks Verizon ads in Newsday

  • Customers are still coming to us, and the net of this is Cablevision doesn’t get the benefit of our revenue.
  • Verizon Senior Vice President Eric Rabe • Discussing Cablevision’s policy of turning away Verizon’s FiOS ads in Newsday, despite the fact that they had been a high-paying advertiser in the paper for years. Cablevision bought Newsday last year and has made a lot of questionable decisions like this, according to Gawker. • source