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02 Aug 2010 23:59

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Biz: More on Newsweek buyer: His wife is a congresswoman

Sidney Harman is 91? He doesn’t look a day over 80. His wife, Jane, by the way, represents the 36th district of California. She’s the second-richest House member. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2010 23:47

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Biz: Newsweek bought by a guy who knows something about white noise

  • A stereo tycoon will now own Newsweek. The Washington Post Company, in an effort to get rid of deadwood, tried selling their long-standing Time adversary, Newsweek, and tonight, word’s leaked out that they succeeded. And what better choice for a new boss than 91-year-old Sidney Harman, a stereo company owner who we’re ensured doesn’t have a tin ear. His plans for the product include amplification of online content, noise-cancellation of the editorial pages, and finding the right pitch for a publication that has struggled of late to find its way. Newsweek will be singing a new tune after tonight! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2010 20:53

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Politics: Mindbender: Guy makes racist comix, claims they’re not racist

  • I do not understand the connection with ‘big ears’ and ‘racism’, and I do not understand how a ‘dark face’ implies racism … The accusation of ‘hate’ is true, but it is the hate of an IDEOLGY, not a of race of people …
  • The anonymous author of Tea Party Comix • In an e-mail to underground comix collector Ethan Persoff, regarding his works, which parody Barack Obama in a very offensive way. We’ll let you see them if you really want to (note: racist comix at the link), but beyond the clearly incendiary design of them, they’re subversive in an R. Crumb/early Art Spiegelman way. Which is not to defend them but to note their obvious inspiration. These comix have drawn a lot of attention in the last few days, with the Modern Tea Party claiming they were planted by the Democrats, and everyone else in simple disbelief. Including us. What a terrible idea. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2010 20:34

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U.S.: Feds: The oil spill’s final tally is somewhere between a lot and A LOT

  • 5
    million     the number of barrels that U.S. scientists estimates came out of the Gulf Oil Spill
  • 3.3
    million     the number of barrels that reportedly came out of the next biggest oil spill –way back in 1979 source
  • Not perfect, but … While the oil spill certainly isn’t the easiest thing in the world to narrow down, but the federal science and engineering teams on the case claim their number is within ten percent. It’s the difference between huge and HUGE.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2010 11:17

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Politics: 2010 elections: Is Andrew Romanoff ready to upset in Colorado?

  • 48%
     Romanoff’s polling in the Colorado Senate Democratic primary
  • 45% incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet’s current poll number
  • 7% the percentage of people that could make or break Bennet’s day source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2010 11:06

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Music: “The Suburbs”: Arcade Fire’s new album available to sample

  • Pitchfork gave it an 8.6 today. It’s been universally feted by other critics (minus The Boston Phoenix, which seems to be contrarian for the sake of being contrarian). It’s got people using big words to describe how awesome it is. But hey, decide for yourself. NPR has the Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs” up for streaming today. You can therefore decide if the Pitchfork guy is full of crap or if the Boston Phoenix guy wasn’t really loved as a child. Your pick. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2010 10:55

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Biz: Fed Reserve: Ben Bernanke says what everyone knows already

“We have a considerable way to go to achieve full recovery in our economy.” Really? What gave you that idea? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

02 Aug 2010 10:50

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U.S.: BP hopes to plug the oil well once and for all by killing it – twice

  • 1st kill BP will conduct a “static kill” by pouring mud and cement into the oil well from above, a process held back by storms.
  • 2nd kill After a relief well is built, BP will confirm the “static kill” by using a “bottom kill” to seal it once and for all. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2010 10:38

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U.S., World: Obama’s ready to end major combat operations in Iraq

  • He plans to announce it in about a hour. Ready to see one of our wars go away? Well, get ready. Obama plans to announce that he plans to wind down major combat operations in Iraq. Instead, the U.S. will still take an advisory role. It’s not without risk, however – see, Iraq doesn’t have a stable government right now – but he still plans to make the announcement to a bunch of veterans today. He will not, however, declare “Mission Accomplished.” Probably a smart political move on his part, guys. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2010 10:21

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Culture: Lindsay Lohan’s long struggle with prison life ends

  • 13 whole days of a 90-day sentence behind bars before rehab source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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