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11 Nov 2010 11:02

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Politics: Alaska Senate: Early write-in counts favor Lisa Murkowski

  • 98% of write-in votes favor Lisa Murkowski so far source
  • » And despite Joe Miller’s wishes: Murkowski misspellings are being allowed, making it so that she’s even more likely to win when all the votes are counted. It’s going to take five days to count every single one of the write-in votes.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Nov 2010 10:53

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U.S., World: Obama fails to secure free trade deal with South Korea

“Hey man, Barack Obama, how are you. So, would you like to make a free trade deal today?” “No.” “Ah, crap. The auto industry’s gonna be pissed.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Nov 2010 10:29

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Biz: Wal-Mart offers free online shipping, with a couple catches

  • Want some crap from Wal-Mart? Well, based on what it is, you might be able to get it shipped for free over the holidays. This is a big change that could potentially give the retailer a huge leg-up on its competitors. The deal, which runs through December 20, includes giant flat-screen TVs, computers and other electronics. However, it doesn’t include furniture, toys, home appliances, some video games, baby crap (go to Diapers.com), jewelry, iPhones or iPads … wait. No iPhones or iPads? Not interested. Screw you, Wal-Mart. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Nov 2010 10:10

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Biz: Amazon’s “pedophile” crisis: “Free speech” loses out to angry mob

  • bad Some guy decides publishing an e-book called “The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure” is a good idea. (It wasn’t, guys.)
  • worse TechCrunch notices the instant classic, creating a huge firestorm and leading to thousands of one-star “reviews” on the book’s Amazon page.
  • worser Amazon initially keeps the book online for “free speech” reasons, before finally taking it down after it reached the Top 100 in book sales. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Nov 2010 09:58

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Culture: With latest renewal, “The Simpsons” will clear 500 episodes

  • 23 the number of seasons “The Simpsons” will have after its latest renewal by Fox
  • 515 the number of episodes the long-running show will have at that point, which is kind of a lot source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Nov 2010 09:42

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Politics: Obama: Skip the politics, let’s listen to fiscal commission’s ideas

  • Before anybody starts shooting down proposals, I think we need to listen, we need to gather up all the facts. If people are, in fact, concerned about spending, debt, deficits and the future of our country, then they’re going to need to be armed with the information about the kinds of choices that are going to be involved, and we can’t just engage in political rhetoric.
  • President Barack Obama • Offering firm – but vague – support for his fiscal commission’s work. An early version if his report was released yesterday, and it specifically made Democrats very angry (and Republicans as well, over proposed massive defense cuts). Obama’s point? Let’s look at their ideas, avoid the politics and start talking about what makes most sense. That said, though, Obama’s not offering specifics until he sees the full report, which isn’t coming along until December 1. Plus, he’s in Seoul, not DC. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Nov 2010 22:01

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U.S.: Social Security solvency suggestions draw tons of criticism

  • good Obama’s bipartisan fiscal committee wants to ensure Medicare and Social Security are around at least another 75 years, if not longer. We want to retire someday.
  • bad Their plan to do it involves pushing the retirement age back to 69, and cutting down on cost-of-living increases. Liberal groups are in a huge uproar over this. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

10 Nov 2010 21:53

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Politics: Obama’s fiscal commission: Outside groups have their fingers in it

  • Taxpayers fund the commission and they should work independently of Washington lobbyists and power brokers. This is the type of shenanigans that average Americans are so upset about right now – that money talks and everyone else is left out.
  • National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare founder Barbara B. Kennelly • Explaining why she’s upset about Obama’s fiscal commission. Simply put: it has a weird staffing structure. One out of every four members of its staff don’t get a paycheck from the government and instead get paid by outside groups. This has the effect of making the committee’s staff very diverse, but angers people like Kennelly, a former Democratic congresswoman from Connecticut. Democrats have been concerned the panel leans a little too close to the conservative side and influenced by special interests, something the group disputes. Either way, when it comes to cutting stuff, expect there to be constant debate and complaining. Lots of complaining. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Nov 2010 21:34

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U.S.: Obama’s fiscal commission: Cut defense spending, lose the contractors

  • $4 billion in deficit cuts proposed over the next freaking decade
  • $3T the cost to keep the Bush tax cuts for households that make under $250,000 over the next decade
  • 3/4ths of the proposed cuts would be from the Defense Department; the rest would be from tax revenues
  • 250k number of contractors whose jobs would be eliminated under the proposal, saving $18.4 billion source
  • » How will Congress adopt these ideas? Don’t expect a wholesale adoption of these ideas pushed forward by a bipartisan team of Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, but the ideas will definitely push Congress in a fiscally mindful direction.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Nov 2010 21:06

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Culture: George W. Bush’s “Decision Points” does boffo book sales

  • 170,000 number of hardcover copies of “Decision Points” sold on Tuesday, its first day on shelves
  • 50,000 number of electronic copies the book sold; and most of the early sales weren’t pre-orders, either source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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