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02 Mar 2010 23:20

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02 Mar 2010 22:53

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02 Mar 2010 22:37

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Tech: We’re following Topeka’s lead, changing our name to Google

  • We’ve thought long and hard about it these last fifteen minutes. Dear Google, we want on the fast broadband gravy train just like Topeka, and we feel that we have a surefire way to ensure that we get on said gravy train. That’s right. We’re changing our name to Google. ShortFormBlog had a good run these last fourteen months, but we all know that you can’t take anything to chance when fast internet is on the line. We’re still working out the details of transferring the domain name over from the old owner (they won’t sell, but we hope we can get them to budge), but let us from now on be known as Google. Unofficially.

02 Mar 2010 21:54

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Tech: Topeka, Kansas willing to change name to “Google” for fast Internet

Sure, it’s not real. Sure, it’s a gimmick. But how many largeish cities do you see changing their name to Taco Bell for free Chalupas? Just sayin’. source

02 Mar 2010 20:57

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Biz: Rupert Murdoch is an old guy who likes to settle scores

  • Here he is at the height of his powers, and all anyone wants to talk about is this one quote. He finds that incredibly frustrating.
  • A senior News Corp. exec • Regarding News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch and “this one quote” in a New York Times article about Fox News chief Roger Ailes (which we covered here). Murdoch had to do some major spin to stop that quote, from a son-in-law who doesn’t like Ailes’ politics. Murdoch was covered at length in a recent New York Magazine piece which is worth the read. Synopsis: He’s old. He’s powerful. He’s not going after his son-in-law. He’s going after The New York Times (with the Wall Street Journal). source

02 Mar 2010 20:46

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Culture: Jay Leno’s first episode back a ratings, uh, blockbuster

  • 6.6M number of people who watched the re-premiere of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” last night
  • 17.7M number of people who watched the premiere of “The Jay Leno Show” back in September
  • 9.2M number of people who watched the premiere of “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” source
  • In other news: “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels is on Team Coco, saying that he’s a guy with a good character who always prevails, “And I’m sure he will again.” source

02 Mar 2010 20:35

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Politics: Here’s a guy who’s upset with Jim Bunning right now. Thanks CNN!

Joe Orr, right, got an e-mail the other night explaining that his unemployment benefits were ending. He says that Jim Bunning needs a “reality check.” source
 

02 Mar 2010 20:26

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Tech: Don’t hit the F1 key: Irony hits unpatched Windows XP computers

  • Press this key and your computer will blow up, Microsoft says. You gotta love the hilarious sense of humor that malware-makers have. People who use Internet Explorer in Windows XP should avoid pressing this key for the time being because a zero-day exploit can severely damage your computer if you use the help function. Well, that’s not very helpful! source

02 Mar 2010 20:16

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Politics: Jim Bunning gets what he wants, and all is right with the world

  • Dude got the emergency unemployment bill paid for. Thanks to a lot of complaining and even more grandstanding, the lame-duck Senator got the emergency unemployment bill paid for. How? Democrats decided to remove a biofuel tax credit on so-called “black liquor,” a byproduct of the paper manufacturing process, which is expected to save $24 billion – more than enough to cover the emergency $10 billion unemployment benefits bill. You win, Sen. Jim Bunning. Next time, do it on a bill that doesn’t screw over a million people, OK? source

02 Mar 2010 15:42

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Culture: Amazing: Roger Ebert “talks” in his real voice again

  • There are no words for how awesome this is. Ebert is an amazing human being. source