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23 Jan 2011 10:33

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World: Tunisia violence: Two differing death toll estimates

  • 100+ the United Nations estimate of the death toll in Tunisia in the wake of the extended protests
  • 78 the estimate from the country’s interior minister, Ahmed Friaa … so which estimate is right? source
  • » Currently under house arrest (reportedly): Two of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s strongest confidantes, Abdelaziz Ben Dhia and Abdallah Kallel, are in custody of the new government. Meanwhile, a third adviser, Abdelwaheb Abdallah, is on the run. The info comes from the country’s state-run Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, which didn’t reveal a source. Oh yeah, in case you’re wondering, those police officers from yesterday want to make it clear they weren’t responsible for the death toll above.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Jan 2011 23:53

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Offbeat: Unobservant texter suing mall for leaving fountain in bad spot

  • cause A couple of mall security workers started cracking up at some dumb girl who fell into a fountain while texting. It then got posted to the Interwebs, where it became a pretty major viral hit, with a solid three million views in a week and a hearty belly laugh from us.
  • reaction Cathy Cruz Marrero is suing the mall, saying she could’ve been seriously hurt. “I’m just like dumbfounded. And all I kept saying was, ‘I fell. I fell. I fell in the fountain. I fell in the fountain.'” Strike “founded” off of that phrase and we’ll agree. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Jan 2011 22:09

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Politics: Hawaii governor: I have Obama’s birth certificate, but can’t show it off

  • Our investigation is showing, it actually exists in the archives written down. What I can do, and all I have ever said, is that I am going to see to it as governor that I can verify to anyone who is honest about it that this is the case.
  • Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie • Discussing a controversy that should’ve died a long time ago that he’s been trying to get to the root of for some reason. Anyway, Abercrombie says they have the birth certificate and stuff, but later found out he’s unable to show it off due to privacy laws which he has no control over. WHY EVEN SAY YOU HAVE IT IF YOU’RE NOT ABLE TO SHOW IT OFF?! You’re feeding the trolls, who still want to see it. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Jan 2011 20:35

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Tech: Vehicles without friction in GTA4: Violent, bloody, hilarious

  • When does gratuitous violence become hilarious? When you take the friction out of Grand Theft Auto 4’s vehicles and let them go all willy-nilly. As this clip shows, people die left and right when flying cars are involved. (thanks nbclocal with an assist from doobybrain)
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Jan 2011 20:03

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Politics: Mitt Romney wins New Hampshire GOP straw poll

  • 35% Mitt Romney’s take in the New Hampshire poll
  • Why this matters: As one of the earliest states to hold its primary (only Iowa votes first), New Hampshire is critically important in determining presidential nominees. Although he won the state in ’08, some had worried that the presence of Tea Partiers might thwart his chances this time around. But if this poll is any indicator, Romney can relax: the very same people surveyed here also just elected a Tea Party activist to head the state GOP. Seeing as he probably won’t win in socially-conservative Iowa, New Hampshire is crucial if Romney wants to be the Republican nominee for President. This poll suggests he might have a fighting chance. Some other notable results:
  • 11% libertarian hero Ron Paul’s second-place result
  • <3% ultra-coiffed Donald Trump’s absurdly high showing
  • 0% well-regarded former lobbyist Haley Barbour’s showing; ouch source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Jan 2011 19:43

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Tech: Like milestones? Apple’s App Store just reached a major one

  • 10 billion apps have been sold as of today; we downloaded a few source
  • » And the lucky winner: Gail Davis of Orpington, Kent, UK, will be the lucky recipient of a lovely $10,000 iTunes gift card. Be sure not to spend that all on one app, OK? That Wolfram Alpha app is cool and stuff, but is it really worth it?
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Jan 2011 19:16

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Politics: Obama’s State of the Union plan: Jobs, jobs and more jobs

  • My number one focus is going to be making sure that we are competitive, that we are growing, and we are creating jobs not just now but well into the future.
  • President Barack Obama • Revealing to supporters through his Organizing for America grassroots thingy that he would be focusing on jobs during the State of the Union this time around. “We’re up to it, as long as we come together as a people – Republicans, Democrats, Independents – as long as we focus on what binds us together as a people,” he said. Odds are that Tea Partier Michele Bachmann will pop a hole in that optimism for bipartisanship by the second minute of her response-to-the-response SOTU response, which, based on her long track record, will most assuredly be loaded with lies. So much for that hope, Obama. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

22 Jan 2011 12:12

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U.S.: Unlucky lottery winner a domestic abuse victim, now in hiding

  • great Idaho single mom Holly Lahti had a turn of great luck after winning a $190 million in a Mega Millions lottery jackpot over a week ago. This is usually good news.
  • awful Sadly, the feel-good story just couldn’t last. Lahti’s 2003 mugshot showed clear signs of abuse. She’s long been separated from her husband.
  • result Since winning, Lahti has been in hiding, possibly because the husband has a claim to part of her winnings based on Idaho law. Oh god no. What a nightmare. source
  • » And the kicker: When her husband Josh found out from the reporter that she had won, he had this to say: “That’s awesome! I won’t have to pay child support!” He’ll get more than that, maybe.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Jan 2011 11:52

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World: World diplomats don’t learn: Iran knows your silly fuel-swap games

  • then In 2009, world powers were trying to get Iran to export its supply of low-grade uranium to be turned into higher-grade fuel. Iran pretended they were into it but eventually rebuffed the offer.
  • now With a little less creativity than last time, world leaders are trying to do something similar with Iran’s now-much-larger supply (it’s like three times larger now). Iran, of course, continues to play coy. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Jan 2011 11:37

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World: What the hell, Bob Barr? Ex-US politician helping “Baby Doc” in Haiti

The former Clinton-attacking legislator, who once got duped by “Borat,” is acting as Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier’s voice to the international community. Why? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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