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24 Nov 2010 16:48

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U.S.: Turkeys more worthy of Obama’s mercy than humans

  • four number of turkeys Obama has pardoned since becoming president
  • zero number of people the president has pardoned so far source
  • » A fairly recent phenomenon: Although the pardoning of turkeys seems like a longstanding presidential phenomenon, it’s not. The first pardoning took place in 1989 under George H.W. Bush’s watch. And the shipping of turkeys to the White House only started in the 1940s, on Harry Truman’s watch. We’re guessing Truman killed the turkey himself.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Nov 2010 14:28

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U.S.: College suspends Iraq vet for frank paper about killing urges

  • lesson An Iraq War vet in college writes an English paper, frankly saying that how war gave him an addiction to killing and violent urges. He had previously only written privately about the war.
  • grade The teacher, who encouraged him to write about the subject, gave him an A and told him that he should get it printed in the school paper. It was printed a couple of weeks ago.
  • reaction Weeks after the paper was written, at the urging of other veterans on campus concerned about what he wrote, he was kicked out of school until he got a psychological evaluation. source
  • » Two conflicting cultural problems: What’s going on here is a bit of culture conflict. First, Charles Whittington takes medication and has received counseling on his issues. While in the paper he said that killing “is something that I do not just want but something I really need so I can feel like myself,” it’s clear that he’s trying to make an effort to move on. Meanwhile, his school, the Community College of Baltimore County in Catonsville, Md., is trying to prevent another Virginia Tech-style shooting. We feel that Whittington’s frankness is a clear signifier that those days are behind him – or at least he’s willing to try. (Thanks to pitusimz for the suggestion)
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Nov 2010 13:49

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World: Normal day: Vladimir Putin, Leonardo DiCaprio talk about tigers

  • To the left: The Russian Prime Minister, a man for whom absurdism doesn’t exist. To the right: The dude from “Inception,” who the man on the left calls “a real man.” They’re talking about, of all things, saving wild tigers. The guy on the right donated $1 million of his own money to saving wild tigers. Meanwhile, unintentional comedy continues unabated. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Nov 2010 10:41

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U.S.: Thanksgiving’s cost rises, hitting the poor the worst

  • $43.47 the cost of making a Thanksgiving dinner for ten people
  • 1% the increase in cost from last year, around 4 cents per person
  • 15% the percentage of families that can’t afford sufficient food source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Nov 2010 10:30

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Politics: Obama ensures us that he’s not thinking about Sarah Palin

  • I don’t think about Sarah Palin. … Obviously Sarah Palin has a strong base of support in the Republican Party and I respect those skills. But I spend most of my time right now on how I can be the best possible president.
  • President Barack Obama • Making sure to emphasize that he’s not in campaign mode for the next two years. It’s notable he mentions Sarah Palin, though, because that’s someone who probably will be. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Nov 2010 07:53

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U.S.: About time: Color-coded threat level system may disappear

  • Anyone else feel safer because of these colors? Didn’t think so. So the Obama administration, smarting from that whole TSA backlash thing, is actually talking about replacing this overly-basic scare system with something that actually tells people what’s going on. Great. About freaking time we got out of the color business. The only people this benefited were those working in print shops who got to charge more for the extra use of color. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Nov 2010 00:13

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U.S.: FCC chairman agrees with texters: “911 IS A JOKE LOL WTF”

  • The Virginia Tech campus shootings in 2007 are a tragic, real-life reminder of the technological limitations that 911 is now saddled with. Some students and witnesses tried to text 911 during that emergency and as we know, those messages never went through and were never received by local 911 dispatchers.
  • Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski • Evoking the 2007 Virginia Tech school shooting to explain why 911 needs a texting function. 911, a system around in its current form since 1968. And it’s one that hasn’t kept up with the fast pace of technology, either with mobile phones (which are now the primary source of 911 calls) or broadband technology: “Many 911 call centers don’t even have broadband, and some are in communities where broadband isn’t even available,” Genachowski said. “That is unacceptable.” All this stuff is on the list for things to improve thanks to the stimulus plan, by the way. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

23 Nov 2010 23:54

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Music: Axel Rose’s disdain for Slash hits a new “Guitar Hero” high

  • How much does Axl Rose hate Slash? Enough that he filed a $20 million suit against the makers of “Guitar Hero III” because he felt they lied to him about Slash’s role in the game. Rose, who allowed Guns ‘N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” to be in the game, did so only on the assurance that his estranged former guitarist and his new band, Velvet Revolver, would have no role in the game. Instead, Slash is featured prominently during “Welcome to the Jungle,” and Velvet Revolver songs are in the game. Dude, is your beef with him really worth this? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Nov 2010 23:43

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World: New Zealand mine blast: “It is our belief that no one has survived”

  • bad In New Zealand, there was another blast in the mine where 29 people have been stuck since Friday; no contact has been made.
  • worse Here’s what authorities had to say about what happened: “It was extremely severe. We are now in recovery mode.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Nov 2010 21:43

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U.S.: Don’t let suspect’s acting role overshadow grisly Brooklyn murder

  • He was a very nice kid, a gentle kid. I can’t believe this, man. This is my Thanksgiving.
  • Brooklyn resident Serge Marcel • On the grisly murder of his sister, Yannick Brea. The main suspect in the murder, Michael Brea, is getting a lot of attention because he was in a couple of minor acting roles, including  an episode of “Ugly Betty.” But the murder itself is why this murder case should be getting lots of attention. Brea reportedly asked his mother if she believed in God, then killed her with a machete. She was found decapitated.  He’s being given a psychiatric evaluation and has been charged with second-degree murder. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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