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21 Nov 2010 12:25

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Culture: Latest Harry Potter scores massive box-office opening

  • $125.1
    million     the amount that the not-in-3D-at-all “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” made in its first weekend
  • $102.7
    million     the amount that the next highest opener in the series, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” made in its first weekend in 2005 source
  • » One of the best openings of all-time: While it didn’t top 2008’s “The Dark Knight,” it did score the sixth-best opening of all-time and helped continue the series’ run as the most popular franchise in Hollywood history. What’s a Hogwart?
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Nov 2010 12:08

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Politics: Sarah Palin’s new enemy: Barbara Bush suggests she stays in Alaska

  • I sat next to her once, thought she was beautiful and I think she’s very happy in Alaska — and I hope she’ll stay there.
  • Former First Lady Barbara Bush • Saying something basically designed to piss off Sarah Palin. Bush, most recently in the news for this strange number, was interviewed (along with her husband) by Larry King in an interview to air Monday. George the elder, for his part, likes some of the Tea Party’s ideas but is confused by what the party is and their plans “to get Republicans in Congress to do something.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Nov 2010 11:55

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World: North Korea invents new way to piss off world leaders

So yeah, As if we didn’t have enough to worry about, apparently North Korea has a new, highly sophisticated nuclear facility. Are they using it for leverage? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Nov 2010 11:38

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Politics: Posted without comment: Kid strip-searched by the TSA (wow)

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Nov 2010 11:30

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Biz: In this post, we give the L.A. Times crap for having too many ads

  • We rip on the L.A. Times a lot for the massive amount of advertising it runs on its front page, on the front page of its Web site, and other places. One place we haven’t run them over the coals over is the article pages that often get linked on Google News. Above the ad is another 728×90 ad. So, in other words, you have FOUR ads above the fold. FOUR. And here’s a article about the dangers of buying precious metals from certain firms. And it’s surrounded by ads … that encourage you to buy precious metals. Whoever is on the staff of the ad side of the L.A. Times needs to do some serious thinking about the kind of precedent the heavy advertising creates for their paper. Because, we’ll tell you now – it’s not a good one. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Nov 2010 11:27

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Biz, World: Ireland willing to take bailout money … VERY begrudgingly

  • Hey, yo, Ireland. ShortFormBlog here. We just wanted to commend you for coming to your senses and deciding to take a loan from the European Union. But there’s still a problem – you’re remaining way too timid about accepting help. You guys don’t want to end up like Greece or Iceland, do you? While we don’t know how much you’ll be willing to take (all you’re on the record for is saying €100 billion would be “too much”), but with that crappy housing market and contracting economy of yours, you might be wise to work on improving your economic stability with a bailout, not trying to figure out how little you can get. Again, if you don’t want the bailout money, we’ll take if off your hands. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Nov 2010 10:58

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World: Taliban: If you don’t leave Afghanistan, NATO, we’ll force you out

  • Various untoward and tragic events and battles will take place as a result of this meaningless, imposed and unwinnable war. They should not postpone withdrawal of their forces even be it for one day.
  • A message from the Taliban • Suggesting that NATO is going to suffer a world of pain if they hold off leaving the country until 2014 (2015, by some counts). Right now, violence is the worst it’s ever been in the country, leading to record casualties. This is despite the 150,000 international troops there. By the way, let’s emphasize a pretty good point about this mess – this is what the Taliban’s going to say. That’s not to undercut the need for us to stay in the country for another four years – there are good reasons on both sides for us to get out (or stay). But the Taliban is a formidable foe and they’re going to taunt us. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

21 Nov 2010 10:44

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World: Terrorists’ latest plot fiscally responsible, apparently

  • $4,200 cost of the recent cargo bomb plot source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Nov 2010 22:00

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Tech: TapTyping makers Flairify: People can type 100WPM on an iPad

  • It’s been a few months since we posted about TapTyping, Flairify’s tap-typing app for the iPad. Anyway, they let us know the other day about two new features on their app: One, a universal version’s out (so you can test your tap-typing skillz with your thumbs on an iPhone or iPod Touch), and also, there’s a new leaderboard feature. Would you believe that someone can actually type 111 words a minute on an iPad? Well, someone has. Get that person a job as a secretary. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Nov 2010 21:50

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Music, Tech: Protip from MC Paul Barman: Cell phones emit radiation, guys

  • Our friend (and reader) Shawn Vulliez sent this clip along to us, which features MC Paul Barman (a guy you might know if you follow underground hip-hop) noting the dangers of cell phones over animations that Vulliez (a well-known artist himself) created. Sleep with your cell phone? Keep it in your jeans? You may want to consider not doing that. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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