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23 Jun 2010 11:22

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Biz, U.S.: BP’s new oil disaster plan: Command center in Houston

  • We were always going to set up the organization. We have across the Gulf Coast, people that are there, temporary, rotating in and out. We’re going to bed this down now. We’re in for the long haul and we’re going to make sure that it’s sustained and efficient.
  • BP top staffer Robert Dudley • Regarding his role in the oil spill cleanup, along with the changes BP is making. The company has put together a command center, based in Houston (a bit off, but close enough), to deal with the spill. Why? And why now? Dudley says they needed “a more sustainable organization” to see things through. We have to agree with that. They’ve looked pretty disorganized so far. source

23 Jun 2010 11:14

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World: Who thinks Israel’s flotilla raid was a bad idea? Raise your hand

  • 13 European countries, including Turkey, raised their hands source

23 Jun 2010 11:07

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Tech: Gourmet Live: A dead magazine, rekindled as an iPad app

  • Is this the future? Or at least a good approximation of it? For our friends at Gourmet Magazine, the demise of the publication was sudden and painful. But a phoenix appears to be rising out of the ashes in the form of this iPad app, coming this fall. “We closed the magazine last fall but we did not close the brand,” said Conde Nast’s president of consumer marketing, Robert Sauerberg. Curious to see how this experiment works out. source

23 Jun 2010 10:58

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Politics: Oil companies force anti-green initiative on California’s ballot

  • This initiative sponsored by greedy Texas oil companies would cripple California’s fastest-growing economic sector, reverse our renewable energy policy and decimate our environmental progress for the benefit of these oil companies’ profit margins. … I will not allow this to happen on my watch.
  • California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger • Reacting with disgust about the addition of a ballot initiative which would limit a global warming bill from getting enacted until the unemployment rate, currently at 12 percent in the state, was at 5.5 percent for at least a year. Which is total crap, because the bill’s designed to create new kinds of jobs. Who’s behind the initative? Texas oil giants Valero Energy Inc. and Tesoro Corp. That’s right. Big oil is trying to make a global warming initiative go away. They’ve spent $3 million on it and have painted it as an “energy tax.” Which isn’t what the bill is at all. Unbelievable. source

23 Jun 2010 10:44

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Culture: Obit: Lady who got a really good kiss after World War II

  • Remember this lady? Remember this kiss? Of course you don’t. You weren’t in Times Square that day; you probably weren’t born. And based on a check of our demographics, you probably didn’t serve in World War II. But the nurse in this famous Alfred Eisenstaedt photo, Edith Shain, died Tuesday at 91. This lucky moment was never to be re-kindled. Some random guy, so happy about V-J Day, just came up and kissed her. His identity has never been discovered. If he’s alive, he’s probably thinking about the kiss right now. source

23 Jun 2010 10:31

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Biz: HOLY CRAP IN BOLD LETTERS: Home sales absolutely PLUMMET

  • 33% drop in sales in May, which is unprecedented source

23 Jun 2010 10:15

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World: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd tries to save his job

  • cause Julia Gillard, a member of the prime minister’s party, said she was going to challenge Kevin Rudd’s Labor party leadership.
  • reaction Rudd held a late-night press conference where he forced the issue – the party will hold a leadership vote on Thursday. source
 

23 Jun 2010 10:03

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Music: Real headline: “Weird Al ponders Lady Gaga parody”

  • I don’t want to give anything away. All you’ve got to do is look at the top of the Billboard charts; that’s what I’m looking at, too.
  • “Weird Al” Yankovic • Discussing the process he uses to make parodies of pop songs. He’s currently in the midst of working on a new album; he hasn’t had a big hit in a few years. (We have to admit that the headline made us think of this.) He claims his job is tougher nowadays because of the high number of parodies online. “It makes it harder to be fresh and unique,” he says. “It’s frustrating, but it does help me step up my game. If I can’t be the first and only, I can be the best.” We just want to see him wearing a Lady Gaga hatsource

23 Jun 2010 09:53

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Tech: iPhones have high failure rates, but they’ve improved over time

  • 26% of iPhones suffer breakdowns within two years as of 2010
  • 31% of iPhones suffered breakdowns within two years as of 2009
  • 35%+ the failure rates of older, first-generation iPhones source

23 Jun 2010 09:43

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U.S.: Gen. Stanley McChrystal could have his ass handed to him, guys

  • He’s in the midst of meeting with Obama this morning. Will he lose his position? Well, Obama wants a list of replacements. We’re guessing it’ll be people who aren’t loyal to McChrystal. It does not look good for the dude. The Pentagon would prefer that he be reprimanded but allowed to continue. Obama and McChrystal are meeting now. This is what happens when you do an article in a magazine that gives a general as much press as Lady Gaga. source