Read a little. Learn a lot. • Tightly-written news, views and stuff • Follow us on TwitterBe a Facebook FanTumble us!

04 Jul 2010 17:37

tags

Offbeat: Can we just say that Kobayashi’s arrest is the weirdest thing EVER?

  • He wanted to compete in the hot-dog eating contest. But he wouldn’t sign an exclusive contract with the dudes who run it (“Major League Eating” – we’re not kidding, that’s what they’re called), so when he ran onto the stage after the event, he was arrested. This is the hot-dog-eating equivalent of running onto the field during a football game in the midst of a contract hold-out. And you know what? It’s going to reflect really badly on the corporatized nature of what was once a goofy, fun event. (By the way, Joey Chestnut won for a fourth year in a row. But he only ate 54 hot dogs – far short of his own record.) source

04 Jul 2010 12:16

tags

Politics: Anderson Cooper on oil spill media zones: He sounds angry

  • Know what’s been missing from CNN all these months? Stuff like this. The network’s real problem is not that it doesn’t have yakkers, but its model has become tired and unemotional. And you can hear it in Cooper’s voice here. He’s super-emotional, in a “mad as hell and can’t take it anymore” sorta way. Give us a reason to care, CNN, and we’ll come back.

04 Jul 2010 11:45

tags

Biz: Old man doesn’t like Starbucks’ unlimited wi-fi for some reason

  • You won’t be able to find a place to sit down anymore if more people are coming in to use their computers. I thought a coffee shop was for drinking coffee.
  • Santa Clarita, Calif. resident Ted Thompson • Getting really angry over Starbucks’ unlimited wi-fi service. See, the problem that Thompson doesn’t seem to understand is that Starbucks is that coffee shops were never about drinking coffee. They all have coffee, sure, but they’re social beasts in nature, plus they encourage people to read the news or play checkers while they’re there. But, with laptops, people don’t have to do that anymore. The social element is online. If you want good coffee instead of a place filled with laptops, try somewhere that doesn’t have wi-fi. Just a tip. And get out of our way  so that we can blog in peace, kind sir! source

04 Jul 2010 11:29

tags

U.S.: Going green: Obama throws a bunch of money at solar jobs

  • $1.85
    billion
    the amount Obama is setting aside for solar energy
  • 5,000
    jobs
    the amount of work that’ll add to the labor force source

04 Jul 2010 11:13

tags

World: The DR Congo oil tanker explosion looks pretty freaking scary

Despite early word that UN peacekeepers died in the incident, the organization says no UN members were involved. The current count: 230 dead, 190 injured. source

04 Jul 2010 10:52

tags

U.S.: David Petraeus jumps into Afghanistan just in time for the Fourth

  • We are in this to win. We have arrived at a critical moment.
  • Gen. David Petraeus • Speaking to his Afghan troops on the Fourth of July (of all days), his first official day of service in the region. It’s been a difficult month in the region, with more coalition casualties in June than at any period since the war began. Petraeus reflected that in his speech. “As you and our Afghan partners on the ground get into tough situations, we must employ all assets to ensure your safety,” he said, “keeping in mind, again, the importance of avoiding civilian casualties.” source

04 Jul 2010 10:34

tags

World: Top Lebanese cleric and spiritual leader Fadlallah dies at 75

The Lebanese cleric was said to be one of Hezbollah’s early leaders, but he denied it. His full name: Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammad Hussain Fadlallah. source
 

04 Jul 2010 10:22

tags

Offbeat: Happy 4th of July! Let’s celebrate with a fireworks mutilation story

  • 1 dude blew off his arm with fireworks by accident (USA!!! USA!!!) source

03 Jul 2010 23:00

tags

03 Jul 2010 22:12

tags

Politics: Jeb Bush big ups help for immigrants; commenters miss the point

  • One important difference, however, that separates immigration then and now: We native-born Americans are doing less than our great-grandparents did to welcome immigrants.
  • Jeb Bush and Robert D. Putnam • Describing the issues facing legal (not illegal, big difference) immigration in the 21st century. Those coming from other countries bring essential skills, but the route they face is more difficult than ever – these two guys suggest stronger English education, investing more in public education and giving communities facing large influxes of immigrants some financial help. As you might assume, this article from the Washington Post attracted crazy commenters like light attracts moths. Our favorite was, “One of the stupidest articles printed in the history of the Washington Post.” source