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09 Jan 2011 22:34

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Politics: Max Headroom: Sheriff Clarence Dupnik takes on “vitriolic rhetoric”

  • To simply the current societal argument going on right now: Some are arguing that the current anger and rage in our country’s politics have influenced events like the Gabrielle Giffords tragedy in Tucson on Saturday. Pima County, Az. Sheriff Clarence Dupnik has perhaps been the leading voice for this kind of opinion. Many conservatives have been of the other opinion on this whole issue. This piece on Fox News, led by Megyn Kelly narrows the two points into one convenient video. Dupnik has some valid points, but Kelly arguably wins – she sticks to her guns and keeps asking for hard evidence, not speculation. She never gets it.
  • Olbermann’s repudiation hunt “If all of these are not responsible for what happened in Tucson, they must now be responsible for doing everything they can to make sure Tucson does not happen again.” It takes a few minutes for Olbermann’s main point to become clear, but when it does, it shines. The reason why it shines? Because he criticizes himself and his own side in the clip. That’s why it sticks to your bones.
  • The most heart-wrenching Story “I just assumed they got into a car accident.” When Christina Taylor Green went to witness Gabrielle Giffords speak on Saturday, she went with the kind of ambition that most nine-year-olds don’t have. And that’s what hurts the most about this incident. Gabrielle Giffords is still holding on and may make it. But her potential successor did not. You could feel it from the way her mom talks. Our heart breaks for her.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jan 2011 21:21

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World: Iranian plane crash: Blame ancient fleet for latest accident

  • Iran’s had trouble with planes recently. Part of this is due to an ancient fleet and little way to get new supplies for the aircraft. So, as a result we have scenes like this one, where 72 people die (and 33 are hurt) in a plane crash. On a ground covered with snow. In the dark. This isn’t even the worst aviation disaster Iran has had in the last decade. Sigh. Can we offer a word of advice, Iran? Perhaps, instead of putting so much energy into building a nuclear facility, maybe you should build some new planes. It might help save some lives. (We retract this for the reasons explained here. See? We’re not made of stone.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jan 2011 21:05

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World: Here’s another awful tragedy to fill out your rough weekend

  • Look, there has been a lot of sadness in the news this weekend. The whole uplifting thing with golden-voiced Ted Williams seems like a long-ago memory, which is unfortunate. And now, more sadness. In Niger, two French men – a groom and a best man – were kidnapped before a wedding could take place. Antoine de Léocour, a 25-year-old aid worker, had planned to marry a local woman, but the two men were instead kidnapped by people reportedly part of al-Qaeda’s North African operation. A day later, they were found killed in the desert. French president Nicolas Sarkozy called the situation a “cowardly and barbaric act.” Like we haven’t had many of those this weekend. Sigh. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jan 2011 20:36

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World: Hotel Shepherd demolished – along with the Israeli peace process?

Thought of the day – tearing down a hotel in Jerusalem with any sort of sentimental value to Palestinians is probably a very bad idea that might hurt the ongoing peace process. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jan 2011 19:56

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U.S.: Jared Lee Loughner charged: Gabrielle Giffords shooting update

  • NO the second person of interest wasn’t involved at all source
  • » Other updates: Jared Lee Loughner has been charged with five separate criminal charges, including multiple counts of murder and attempted assassination of a U.S. congresswoman – with evidence in the incident coming from, on top of other sources, surveillance tape. Loughner, by the way, isn’t talking, but he did leave a note on an envelope for investigators scoping out his home: “I planned ahead.” With the envelope was a letter from Giffords in appreciation of Loughner’s visit to a similar 2007 event as the one on Saturday. Oh, and the initial 911 call was released. Whew.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jan 2011 12:08

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U.S.: Did Jared Loughner have ties to racist, anti-Zionist group?

  • claim A report from the Department of Homeland Security suggests that Gabrielle Giffords shooting suspect Jared Loughner has ties to American Renaissance, a group they called “anti-ZOG (Zionist Occupational Government) and anti-semitic.” Hmm.
  • denial The group’s founder, Jared Taylor, denies this: “I have absolutely no idea what DHS is talking about. We have never used the term ‘ZOG.’ We have never thought in those terms. If this is the level of research we are getting from DHS, then Heaven help us.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jan 2011 11:56

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U.S.: U.S. Government: Kids are getting way too much fluoride

  • » Sound weird, guys? Well yeah. Part of this is due to the level of fluoride in the water. Some areas have naturally-occurring high levels, while the government generally recommends utilities add a certain amount to drinking water. Now, Health and Human Services is suggesting lower levels, because many children are getting too much of it – especially in areas with naturally-occurring high levels. Hear that sound? That’s the crinkling of some weird guy’s tinfoil hat.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink
 

09 Jan 2011 11:32

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World: North Korea hacked to the tune of “Super Mario World.” Heh.

  • So, when North Korea’s YouTube and Twitter accounts got hacked yesterday, this crude-looking cartoon got posted. The toon, which features background music from one of our favorite video games of all time (Super Mario World, what what?) shows Kim Jong-un violently slamming his convertible into starving North Korean children, and the heir apparent talking to his dad on an iPhone – while driving. The clip is crude and violent, so keep that in mind, but still interesting. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

09 Jan 2011 11:17

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World: Hey everybody! Think good thoughts for Sudan today

  • Today, southern Sudan votes for independence: In potentially heartwarming news, Southern Sudan could be placed in charge of its own destiny if the vote in the country favors an independent state. As we noted last night, Obama has been pushing for this. Considering the recent electoral strife in the African continent (looking at you, Ivory Coast), it would be great news if this particular election went well. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jan 2011 11:03

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U.S.: Carlos Castro “scared to sleep” with boyfriend suspected of killing him

  • I’m scared to sleep with him here. I actually changed my flight to go home a couple of days early – this guy’s been acting crazy.
  • Portuguese celebrity journalist Carlos Castro • Speaking to a friend about Renato Seabra, his former lover who he went to NYC with. Castro never made it back home, reportedly dying in a wild fight with Seabra where the 20-year-old reality TV star did some things to him we choose not to repeat. If you want the full details on those, go to the link to New York Daily News, who has less of a squeam factor than we do. As for Seabra, he’s currently being held in a psychiatric facility. This story kind of got buried yesterday in the wake of the Giffords tragedy, but, really, it’s no less shocking – and involves a fairly well-known celebrity in Portugal. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink
 
 
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