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29 Dec 2009 20:22

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U.S.: Quick question: Did the U.S. blow the underwear bomber case?

  • YES that’s what Obama is saying, not us source

29 Dec 2009 20:17

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Politics: “Fire the TSA”: Gizmodo kinda says what needed to be said

  • There is no other way to interpret it: The TSA is saying clearly that they can’t prevent terrorists from getting explosives on airplanes, but by god, they’ll make sure those planes explode only when the TSA says it’s okay.
  • Gizmodo writer Joel Johnson • Regarding the Transportation & Security Administration’s decisions on security. The tech site gathered every logical thought on the Internet regarding security restrictions and came to a conclusion everyone was pussyfooting around – airline security is a joke. Instead of fighting terrorism in a way that actually works, the government has spent billions of dollars trying to cover every possible scenario, when the likelihood of a terrorist attack actually happening to the average person is slim to none, based on simple logic. In other words, kids, the TSA is wasting everyone’s time and money by forcing us to take off our shoes or do any of the other expensive stuff they do. We’re with Gizmodo on this one. Fire the TSA. If you want to actually stop terrorism, focus on intelligence, Obama. source

29 Dec 2009 11:24

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Music: The year’s most popular songs, synthesized into one tune

  • If you’re like us and think mainstream pop (besides Taylor Swift, she’s dreamy) blends into one another, you’ll appreciate this mashup of the top 25 songs of 2009, which turns 25 mediocre songs into one awesome one. Somewhere, Gregg Gillis/Girl Talk is in a dimly-lit, noisy, sweaty room somewhere, screaming, “I got here first!”

29 Dec 2009 11:13

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Music: Avenged Sevenfold’s drummer dies; The Rev lived fast, died young

The Rev, born James Sullivan, was the driving force behind one of mainstream rock’s most popular acts. Indie kids don’t know who he is. source

29 Dec 2009 11:05

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Biz: Home prices increase, barely, but it’s not worth celebrating

  • 0.4% boost, mostly from gov’t incentives source

29 Dec 2009 10:55

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Politics: About taking off shoes at security checkpoints … it’s useless.

  • Another thing to thank the Underwear Bomber for – the dude helped us realize that the years of scanning our shoes through security checkpoints was complete bullshit! Know why? Our security could not actually detect the explosive plastic that Richard Reid‘s shoes were using. So, what’s worse, Janet Napolitano saying “the system worked” or the Bush Administration completely lying to everyone for seven years? You decide. source

29 Dec 2009 10:39

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Tech: Broadband customers in the U.K. may have to pay big for piracy

  • Broadband consumers shouldn’t have to bail out the music industry. If they really think it’s worth spending vast sums of money on these measures then they should be footing the bill; not the consumer.
  • Carphone Warehouse CEO Charles Dunstone (which runs the TalkTalk consumer broadband service in the U.K.) • Regarding the reported £500 million British broadband consumers will be forced to pay as part of an online piracy bill. Yes, you read that right – to fight online piracy for movie and music companies, the U.K. is working on a bill that benefits those companies, specifically, at the cost to consumers, with no real benefit to consumers. May we call bull(#$&( on this already? source
 

29 Dec 2009 10:23

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Biz: Consumers more confident, convinced they can do anything now

  • 50.6 the consumer confidence level in November; uhh, are we sure we can do this?
  • 52.9 the consumer confidence level this month; see, it went up! You can do anything, guys! source

29 Dec 2009 10:17

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Biz: Bad idea: Installing a security camera in Walmart bathroom

  • They say they were trying to monitor employee theft. Boom chicka wow. Seven Walmart employees (both current and former) are suing a Pennsylvania location that installed a security camera in the unisex washroom. Two employees in loss-prevention installed it, and it was found in March of last year. Three employees complained, and were fired for complaining. They’re part of the suit. Just think of how People of Walmart could use this technology, though! source

29 Dec 2009 10:06

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Culture: Is Charlie Sheen the Teflon Sheen? Observers say he is

  • Charlie Sheen has bounced back from various scandals, and I don’t think anyone expects anything more from him. Bad-boy behavior is part of his persona that’s been a work in progress since the 1980s. He has bounced back time and time again.
  • Public relations expert Vanessa J. Horwell • On why Charlie Sheen can do things like get in domestic violence disputes (with hilarious mug shots), accidentally shoot his girlfriend (I’m really sorry, Kelly) and show up prominently on the Hollywood Madam’s list without seeing any visible effect on his career. It’s because, unlike Emilio, everything rolls off him. It’s his sheen (*rimshot!*). source