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24 Jan 2010 11:09

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Politics: Tea Party conflict: How debate over candidates can help the left

  • The fact of the matter is that Robert Hurt is the establishment candidate, and it appears that the GOP is doing everything it can to make sure he is the nominee. That’s causing a whole lot of bad blood right now between some of the Tea Party people.
  • Charlottesville, Va.-based Jefferson Area Tea Party leader Bill Hay • Regarding a House race in his Virginia district which is something of a bellwether to larger problems facing the Republican party. Despite the unpopularity of Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello in his district, tea partiers are pushing for a more conservative candidate than the Republican Party, and it’s leading to difficulty in staying on message. Yo, tea partiers: Your push for conservative candidates is noble, but unrealistic. You’re going to hurt yourselves in November if you push away moderates. For every Scott Brown, there will be a Bill Owens. source
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24 Jan 2010 10:48

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U.S.: Hatin’ on the stimulus: Obama’s key legislation gets no love

  • 56% of Americans don’t want the stimulus anymore source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Jan 2010 10:41

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World: The power of tweets: Just ask this sleeping Toronto transit worker

A Twitpic of this napping Toronto transit worker led to anger about higher fares. The union’s response? It could’ve been a medical emergency. Hahah, WTF? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Jan 2010 10:24

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Culture: We live in a world where Sandra Bullock has a real chance at an Oscar

  • If you look at my career, I don’t think anyone would have said one day I can see her up here, no one would have predicted it, especially not me.
  • “The Blind Side” star Sandra Bullock • Regarding her win at the Screen Actors’ Guild awards last night. Bullock, already a winner at the Golden Globes, has a real shot at an Oscar, but don’t tell her that, because she shushed a reporter who tried to do just that. Her career is scattered with romantic roles and “Speed” – not exactly the resume of a perennial awards contender. So this is pretty odd. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

24 Jan 2010 01:07

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Culture: Twitter’s swarming with rumors of a Brangelina breakup. Whoa.

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24 Jan 2010 01:01

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Biz: There’s a dirty joke located somewhere in this salami recall

  • 1.2 million pounds of salami recalled due to salmonella source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Jan 2010 00:51

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Culture: “Jersey Shore” gets a Super Mario makeover, gets a lot better

  • As you might know, we have an instant affinity for all things Super Mario. And this is no exception, as Jersey Shore needed a little Mushroom Kingdom action going on – because they have so much in common, including the broad Italian stereotypes. We love the fact, in particular, that Donkey Kong and Bowser are hooking up. Amazing.
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24 Jan 2010 00:23

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World: A bunch of scammers tried to steal their own gross domestic product

  • seven dudes were behind the scheme – a mix of Europeans and Asians – and they’ve been arrested
  • $10.1 billion the amount they’re accused of trying to steal from the United Arab Emirates’ central bank source
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24 Jan 2010 00:12

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U.S., World: American should pat itself on the back for the Haiti telethon

  • $58 million in donations so far; holy freakin’ crap source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Jan 2010 23:57

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Music: Saturday Mixtape: Are the sad-sap Eels not made for these times?

  • 1. Most bands who aren’t Spoon would take a mainstream-rock-touching victory lap like 2007’s “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” and push even further towards success. But Spoon is Spoon, and Spoon makes songs like “The Mystery Zone” (and albums like the freaking awesome “Transference“) which are challenging (and avoid verse/chorus/verse boredom) but by no means inaccessible. And that’s why Spoon rules.
  • 2. Pitchfork hated the latest Eels album, and we think we know why. The level of directness Mark Oliver Everett touches upon in the songs on “End Times,” especially “In My Younger Days,” is super-high. It ditches the wry humor and straight up goes for the sad sap music. And at 46, the dude’s quickly looking like an elder statesman of the sad sap set. Throughout the late ’90s, music this direct dominated indie rock (see Elliott Smith, Sparklehorse, and well, Eels). And nowadays, it feels out of place. In our opinion, though, that’s why we like it. Even if Pitchfork hates it.
  • 3. Speaking of sad sap music, alt-country guy Ryan Bingham is gunning for Ryan Adams’ mantle and might just win it, thanks to “Crazy Heart.” Bingham – who’s halfway between Adams and Bruce Springsteen – wrote the movie’s theme song, “The Weary Kind,” which is destined to get nominated for an Oscar thanks to the longstanding buzz the movie has.
  • 4. With a frenetic attack reminiscent of Dan Deacon (with way more guitars thrown in for good measure), Fang Island’s “Daisy” is the kind of everywhere-at-once tune we can get behind on its good looks alone. It makes us look forward to their full album, out next month.
  • 5. Are The Avett Brothers as powerful when it’s just Avett Brother? Seth Avett released a handful of albums as Timothy Seth Avett As Darling back in the day, and the band’s old label, Ramseur, re-released them late last year. “Some Bad Dream” shows where The Avett Brothers were headed even if it wasn’t all the way there.
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