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13 Mar 2010 22:00

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Politics: Rachel Maddow’s skinny on Daylight Saving Time: It’s useless

  • The idea for this clip is pretty goofy, but it’s interesting to note the misconceptions that have come up regarding the falling back and springing forward. Farmers actually dislike the concept of Daylight Saving Time. FYI: This morning, you’ll be springing forward an hour.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Mar 2010 21:05

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Tech: Dear New York Times, can you put this illustration on a T-shirt?

  • This image (which we cropped) is from an article the New York Times wrote about how Google and Apple are at odds with one another because Steve Jobs thinks Google stole its technology. Daniel Adel, please consider putting this on Threadless. We’d buy it. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Mar 2010 20:49

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Tech: Microsoft’s old phones sucked so much, not even workers used them

  • 10,000 Microsoft workers use an iPhone source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Mar 2010 20:34

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Culture: Keith Olberman writes the sweetest, most sincere obit ever

  • “He was my inspiration, and will always remain so. His bravery these last six months cannot be measured. He is as much my hero now, as he was when I was five years old.” We have nothing to add to Keith Olbermann’s heartfelt obit for his own father. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Mar 2010 14:00

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Music: Saturday Mixtape: Is Titus Andronicus the best of 2010 so far?

  • 1. It’s big, it’s messy, and it’s not really about the Civil War. But man, is it a lot of fun. “Four Score and Seven,” an eight minute track off Titus Andronicus‘ excellent second album, “The Monitor,” has a lot of everything, but doesn’t feel like a dirge. That says a lot.
  • 2. It’s pretty awesome to see Lou Reed used this well this late in his career. This Gorillaz tune, “Some Kind of Nature,” is one of the Velvet Underground singer’s best performances – guest or otherwise – in years. It’s a credit to Damon Albarn that he fits in so well.
  • 3. Man, we missed Ted Leo. Leo isn’t at the height of his “Ballad of the Sin Eater” powers, but he feels a lot closer to that point on “Even Heroes Have to Die” than he has in a while.
  • 4. And now for something different. We stumbled upon German pianist Nils Frahm earlier this week, and while his neo-classical solo piano improvisations aren’t exactly the kind of thing that will burn up the charts, they’re always interesting.
  • 5. Both James Mercer and Danger Mouse sounded like they were in dire need of a side project, and Broken Bells has proven to be the exact tone both were looking for. “The Mall & Misery” has a little of everything in modest servings – pretty pensive synths, calming strings, a little slide guitar, a little more surf guitar, and a few riffs that cut through the middle like a New Order song. It’s full of ideas, but none that scream at you.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Mar 2010 13:08

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Culture: The first and only time “The Marriage Ref” will ever be funny

  • OK Ricky, we admit it. We put crack in your drink. Pretty much everything about “The Marriage Ref” is stupid as heck, especially the fact that Jerry Seinfeld produced it, but at least the celebrities appearing on the show seem to realize it too. Ricky Gervais calls it “the weirdest show I’ve ever been on,” and is bewildered at his fellow celebrity guests – Larry David and Madonna. At least the celebrities agree that this show sucks. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Mar 2010 12:42

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Tech: The iPad’s pre-launch is looking like an out-of-the-ballpark success

  • 120,000
    orders     number of pre-bought iPads yesterday, according to an estimate
  • $75
    million     the size of revenues on that insane single-day number source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

13 Mar 2010 12:35

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Biz: Tribune Co.’s CEO micromanages what can be said on the radio

  • 119 words and phrases you can’t say on WGN radio source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Mar 2010 12:32

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Biz: Bank closings didn’t stop just because of a new year!

  • 140 number of banks that closed in 2009, that’s a depressing record
  • 30 number of banks that have closed already in 2010, which is high
  • 152 number of banks that could close this year if that rate keeps up source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Mar 2010 12:23

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Culture: Jack Bauer’s fate could get outfoxed by a peacock

  • “24” could leave Fox soon, only to show up on NBC. Could the never-ending adventures of Jack Bauer live another day? That’s the word on the street from NBC, which is itching for more dramas after that whole Jay Leno experiment went bust. Fox is thinking about canceling the show due to dipping ratings and rising costs, which would open the producers up to make Jack Bauer movies, but NBC’s gauntlet could throw a wrench in that plan. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink
 
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