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20 Dec 2009 11:04

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U.S.: Arnold Schwarzenegger could really do anything after leaving office

  • one If he wants, he could always return to that high-paying acting career.
  • two Screw acting! Arnold could totally run a network or movie studio!
  • three And really, does it need to be in the film industry? Business could use his acumen.
  • fourDude could stay in politics, head towards the Senate, and win some friends.
  • five Become a homemaker to prep for his role in “Junior 2: Mr. Dad.” source

20 Dec 2009 10:54

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World: Iranian reform icon Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri dead at 87

  • Independence is being free of foreign intervention, and freedom is giving people the freedom to express their opinions. Not being put in prison for every protest one utters.
  • Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri • Regarding the rights of people in Iran. Montazeri, a Shiite cleric who didn’t tow the hard-line party line, died today at 87. He moved away from the hard line in the ’80s and later became an icon of the country’s reform movement, the one that made itself very well-known back in June. In other words, he’ll be greatly missed by green-wearing types. source

20 Dec 2009 10:46

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U.S.: So, how much snow did the East Coast get, anyway, guys?

  • 24″ of snow fell in Bethesda, Maryland, within earshot of D.C.
  • 16″ of snow fell in the National Mall, within the city limits of D.C.
  • 23.2″ of snow fell in Philly, a road trip away from D.C. source

20 Dec 2009 10:40

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Politics: Fox News’ angle on Ben Nelson: He sold his vote for his state!

  • Do the twist! Saying that the abortion concessions weren’t enough, Fox News claims that Nelson sold his vote for health care to win kickbacks. “It’s pretty obvious votes have been bought,” Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia said. Nelson did get Reid to agree to help pick up his state’s future Medicaid tab, at a cost of $45 million. Most other states will get their tab picked up, but only over a short period.
  • Fair & balanced Politico covers the issue differently – they note it’s the kind of concessionary agreement made with legislation like this. Nelson’s fellow Democratic Nebraska senator, Tom Harkin, makes a good point: “… it is going to be the impetus for all the states to stay at 100 percent. So he might have done all of us a favor.” That’s right, the Feds might pay the balance of Medicaid for everyone eventually.

20 Dec 2009 10:17

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Biz: Target plays the Grinch over some Zhu Zhu Hamsters

  • 7 Target workers lost their jobs over a stupid $8 toy source

20 Dec 2009 10:08

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Culture: The plot twist to end all plot twists. It’s BEYOND laughably bad.

  • On The CW’s stalwart “One Tree Hill,” a major plot point involves a major organ. We won’t reveal anything else other than to say you need to watch the video. source

20 Dec 2009 08:30

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Politics: Obama will take his victories, no matter how symbolic they are

  • Mr. Obama has put a high value on process and keeping things moving, recognizing that history generally does not remember the to and fro, only the big sweep of presidential accomplishments.
  • New York Times reporter Peter Baker • In an analysis piece on the recent pushes he’s made to get stuff done, even if it’s meant that the ends – particularly on climate change, although health care is the same way – don’t look anything like the means. The downside of this, of course, is that he’s had to compromise to achieve basic goals instead of more complex ones. Are these victories worth the paper they’re written on? We’ll find out. source