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20 Jan 2011 22:52

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Politics: Why have Obama’s approval ratings skyrocketed?

  • 8% jump in Obama’s approval ratings since December
  • The question is, why? It feels like only yesterday that oil was spewing wildly throughout the Gulf Coast, Democrats were getting shellacked in the midterms, and prognosticators were foretelling of a one-term Obama presidency (well, okay, that’s still happening). But the President’s favorability ratings have been surging recently, up to the highest levels since July of ’09. We have three theories as to why.
  • the lame duck sessionIt was controversial to some, but for many Americans, the lame duck session was the first time they got to see members of Congress acting in a truly bipartisan manner. The President took an active role in this, hammering out compromises with GOP leadership. The result was one of the most productive lame duck sessions in our nation’s history. Also, nobody’s taxes went up.
  • A Divided GovernmentIn other words, the Republicans taking back the House. When one party controls the White House, the Senate, and the House, it’s easy to uniformly hate that party for the country’s problems. But with things a little more evenly divided, the President is getting some slack. It’s not necessarily a well-founded reason for liking the President more, but it’s likely a factor.
  • The Tuscon ShootingOkay, okay. We didn’t want to say it, but it’s true: After national tragedies, especially those with a human face, people tend to coalesce around the President. It happened with Bush after 9/11, and it’s happening now. Combine this with a wildly popular speech a few days after the shooting, and you have the recipe for surging approval ratings. source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Jan 2011 22:31

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Politics: Meg Whitman wants you to give Jerry Brown a shot

  • I want [Jerry Brown] to be successful. California needs him to be successful. Let’s give the guy a chance to turn around and let’s see what he can do.
  • Meg Whitman • In a speech this week at the University Club. Some have taken this speech, along with another she’s set to give at the end of the month, as a sign that Whitman is planning a political comeback. We think that’s a tad premature. This is simply an ex-candidate wishing good luck to the guy who beat her. In our current political climate, that’s is a nice change of pace. source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Jan 2011 22:26

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Tech: Google Offers: There goes the neighborhood, Groupon

  • So, here’s what happens when you turn down an insane multi-billion-dollar offer from Google. They become your direct competitors. Suck on that, Groupon. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Jan 2011 16:19

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Tech: Google CEO Eric Schmidt stepping down, becoming Executive Chairman

  • I am enormously proud of my last decade as CEO, and I am certain that the next 10 years under Larry will be even better! Larry, in my clear opinion, is ready to lead.
  • Google CEO Eric Schmidt • Revealing he’s stepping down as CEO to become Executive Chairman of the company. Larry Page will be taking over. Everyone give crap to the new guy, OK? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Jan 2011 14:15

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Culture: Geoge Lucas is no doomsday worrier, spokeswoman says

  • NO George Lucas doesn’t think the world will end in 2012 source
  • » That’s according to a Lucasfilm spokeswoman, Lynne Hale, who says she spoke with George, and that he was joking when discussing the 2012 doomsday theory with Seth Rogen. Curiously, though, Rogen claimed Lucas discussed this for nearly twenty-five minutes, which means either Rogen grossly overstated the time spent on the topic (wholly possible), or George Lucas’ idea of acceptable joke length must be rather torturous for those around him. (Hat tip to you, sir, inothernews)
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Jan 2011 13:54

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Tech: Wikipedia celebrates a decade, gets animated

  • It’s hard to believe it’s already ten years old: Wikipedia has been with us for a while now, and over its decade lifespan it has left an indelible mark on the culture of online information. We’ll let this beautifully animated video take it from here (thanks Simon Owens of Bloggasm).
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Jan 2011 13:37

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Tech: Woman undergoes groundbreaking larynx, tracheal transplant

  • Good morning, I want to go home.
  • Transplant recipient Brenda Jensen • Just the second person to receive a larynx transplant, and the first to receive both a larynx and tracheal transplant at the same time, Jensen spent thirteen days in recovery before speaking these first words. As the tongue, lips, brain, and lungs are critical to how people talk, it’s expected that her voice, new parts and all, will sound very similar to the one she lost. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

20 Jan 2011 13:05

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Culture: Fred Phelps will give funerals a break, protest a movie

  • the man Kevin Smith, director and tireless New Jersey promoter, who’s taking his latest work to the Sundance Film Festival.
  • the film “Red State,” about three high-schoolers in middle America who run afoul of a fundamentalist priest with murderous intent.
  • the resultFred Phelps, real-life fundamentalist and head of the hateful Westboro Baptist Church, will picket Sundance. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Jan 2011 12:36

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World: High deathtoll for Shi’ites, police following bombing in Iraq

  • 48+ people killed by bombs targeting Shi’ites, police source
  • » A horribly bloody week in Iraq Following a particularly devastating attack on police recruits in Tekrit, the sectarian bombings and targeting of Shi’ites and Iraqi forces continue. There’s not much that can be said to add significance to this. It’s the definition of terrorism, cold and stark.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Jan 2011 11:57

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Politics: Michael Steele feels betrayed by Priebus’ RNC win

  • I know exactly how Caesar felt. It is what it is.
  • Former RNC chairman Michael Steele • Likening himself to Julius Caesar in light of Reince Priebus, who he called a “friend,” beating him in his bid for a second term. Steele, who appointed Priebus as RNC general counsel, believes he knew he was going to mount the challenge yet hid it for months. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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