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07 Aug 2009 21:49

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World: Shiites targeted in a series of deadly attacks in Iraq

  • 52+ people died in a attacks in Iraq targeting Shiite Muslims
  • 39+ died in a car bombing in Mosul, many Shiite Turkmens source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Aug 2009 20:24

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Culture: Free fonts are awesome. Especially really awesome ones.

Disclosure: Our long-in-the-works redesign features a brand new logo which uses this font. It, along with the other fonts here, rock. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

07 Aug 2009 20:13

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World: Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud may have been killed

  • This is a major setback for the Taliban in Pakistan. He was the leader. The successors are all non-entities.
  • Former Pakistani security leader Mahmood Shah • Discussing the ramifications of the death of Baitullah Mehsud, who was reported killed in a bombing on Wednesday. Friday, two Taliban fighters said he was killed but the U.S. and Pakistan could not confirm this. Mehsud is blamed for much of the instability in the region and Pakistan has been targeting him for months. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Aug 2009 19:56

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U.S.: Worst PR ever: The Gun Source adds the LA Fitness killer to its list

The Virginia Tech shooter, the Northern Illinois shooter and now the LA Fitness shooter can claim to have bought guns or accessories from TGSCOM Inc. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

07 Aug 2009 19:38

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Sports: Ben Wallace grovels his way back to the Pistons fold

  • 2006 In a classic bad career move, Detroit’s biggest star, Ben Wallace, takes a massive payday from Pistons’ biggest rival, the Chicago Bulls. He quickly declines.
  • 2009 After spending time sucking for two different teams, Wallace re-signs with the Pistons for the veterans’ minimum. He didn’t completely burn the bridge. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Aug 2009 19:28

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Culture: Autopsy shocker: Billy Mays was on cocaine? Wow.

  • Our evil first thought: “Guess that explains the shouting.” Medical reports on the death of Billy Mays confirm that he used cocaine just days before his death. Mays died from heart disease, but the onset of it was brought in part on by cocaine usage. The family, who did not know of any cocaine usage, dismissed the report and considered having someone independent do the autopsy. Either way, this was a bizarre, unexpected turn of events for the pitchman. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Aug 2009 17:29

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Biz, Tech: Reuters exec: Please link to us and let us steal AP’s thunder!

  • I believe in the link economy. Please feel free to link to our stories — it adds value to all producers of content. I believe you should play fair and encourage your readers to read-around to what others are producing if you use it and find it interesting.
  • Thomson Reuters President of Media Chris Ahearn • Providing a breath of fresh air in the whole journalism-linking debate, which AP stoked the fires of over the last few weeks and Rupert Murdoch may continue to light up down the road. Ahern’s attitude towards the situation is a total breath of fresh air and makes us optimistic that some wire services totally get this new media thing. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 4 Comments • Permalink
 

07 Aug 2009 17:17

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Tech: Artificial Intelligence powers up again, shoots fireballs at goombas

  • It’s a-him, mario! If you’re like us, you feel that the Super Mario Bros. games are a pinnacle of human achievement – challenging games that still hold up to this day. We think all resources should go to building a better Mario, though. While Big Blue was neat, screw chess. We want computers that kick butt at Mario.
  • The AI challenge Smart people agree with us apparently, because the IEEE Consumer Electronics Society is holding a competition where they plan on giving out a $500 prize to the designer of the most capable artificially intelligent Mario bot. Which could be transferred to other games eventually.
  • You should play thisObviously, you’re human and aren’t a better Mario, but you can still play the game the competition’s based on – the awesome, completely randomized Java-based game Infinite Mario Bros. We know we couldn’t stop playing, and we suck at video games worse than we do at dating! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Aug 2009 16:37

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Biz, Tech: Are you an out-of-work journalist? Come a-knockin’ on AOL’s door

  • 1,500 journos hired by AOL in the last year source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Aug 2009 16:26

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Politics: Political polls based on scientific facts? Usually a bad idea.

  • 51% of Democrats think that America and Africa were once part of the same continent, a proven scientific fact that shouldn’t be the basis of a poll question
  • 24% of Republicans agree; only 35% of white people polled agreed with this poll, which smells of partisan baiting designed to conservatives look stupid source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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