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03 Aug 2010 22:53

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Tech: The BlackBerry Torch: About time RIM stepped up to the plate

     

  • goodResearch in Motion finally came up with a device good enough to take on the upstarts in the smartphone market. Whoo-hoo! Talk about user retention techniques!
  • troubling Despite all this, it’s going to be tough for the company to attract new users and app developers into the fold. Especially if those new users live in Saudi Arabia. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

03 Aug 2010 22:24

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Tech: Will RIM cave to foreign pressure on BlackBerry data processing?

  • NO caving could damage business relationships source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Aug 2010 21:42

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U.S.: The Connecticut workplace shooter seemed perfectly normal

  • From my few meetings with him, he didn’t stand out as one of those people who would do anything like this – just a co-worker to everyone.
  • Teamsters official John Hollis • Describing Omar S. Thornton, the disgruntled employee who shot and killed eight, then himself, in a workplace shooting. Thornton had just finished a disciplinary meeting with management at Manchester, Conn.-based Hartford Distributors when he started shooting “indiscriminately,” according to Hollis. Thornton was the newest hire at the family-owned beer and wine distribution company, and had worked there around two years. Nobody saw it coming. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Aug 2010 21:25

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World: Wyclef Jean for Haitian president: Crazier things have happened

  • We’re not sure what, but it’s pretty weird. Jean, pretty much the most famous Haitian in the world, plans to take his deep knowledge of economi … oh, who are we kidding? He’s like Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003. He’s famous and riding a strong wave of good will, and that high profile and good will may actually be helpful in rebuilding earthquake-torn Haiti, because (while he may only come with a level of political experience equivalent to Alvin Greene) he has charisma and can keep the tragedy on people’s minds. Someone has to. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

03 Aug 2010 10:27

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Politics: Monkeys on cocaine? The GOP narrows down bad stimulus projects

  • What a beautiful scene, right? Too bad it’s no longer open to the public. The Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center at Mount St. Helens was closed back in 2007 due to staffing issues – but, as the GOP is quick to remind you, it’s getting new glass windows anyway thanks to the stimulus. It’s just one of the recipients Senators Tom Coburn and John McCain pointed out in their list of the 100 worst stimulus projects. Our personal favorite? Monkeys on cocaine. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Aug 2010 10:09

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U.S.: In Louisiana, half a dozen teens drown in underwater sinkhole

  • Unfortunately, I’m afraid, and it’s with a heavy heart, to report that we have pulled so far (six) bodies from the river. … I can honestly say that in my 26 years of service I’ve never seen anything of this magnitude. And I hope I never see it again.
  • Shreveport, La. Fire Chief Brian Crawford • Describing the sinkhole that killed six people last night. (A seventh was rescued.) The 18-foot hole sucked in the teenagers, who largely didn’t know how to swim and had otherwise been in the shallow water. A friend of the families, Marilyn Robinson witnessed the deaths: “None of us could swim. They were yelling ‘help me, help me. Somebody please help me.’ It was nothing I could do but watch them drown one by one.” Harrowing. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Aug 2010 09:50

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U.S.: The FBI thinks Wikipedia has no right to use its logo

  • The reasoningWikipedia puts logos on its various pages, often recreating them in a vector format in cases where the original is a low-resolution sample. Also, most things acquired by the U.S. government, from logos to photos to numerous other assets are designated public domain. Certain insignias, such as the FBI’s, however, are restricted for non-copyright reasons.

    The conflict This particular logo of the FBI led to Wikipedia’s offices getting a letter claiming that “Whoever possesses any insignia …or any colourable imitation thereof..shall be fined … or imprisoned … or both.” Considering that the seal is commonly used in other places, this seems like an odd source to attack. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 6 Comments • Permalink
 

03 Aug 2010 09:29

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World: Pakistan: A politician’s assassination in Karachi leads to violence

  • 45+ killed in the wake of Raza Haider’s assassination source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Aug 2010 09:20

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World: Border battle: Tensions between Israel and Lebanon bubble over

  • cause Israeli officials reportedly attempted to uproot a tree on the Lebanese side of the border.
  • effect Gunfire broke out between the sides, and three Lebanese soldiers and a journalist died. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Aug 2010 00:00

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Biz: Newsweek’s sale was for a bargain-basement price (and lots of debt)

  • $1 the amount Sidney Harman will pay the Post for Newsweek
  • $70M the amount of debt Harman will take on in exchange for the price
  • 250 the number of the mag’s 325 employees Harman will keep source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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