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12 Jan 2011 10:20

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U.S.: So, how did NYC handle their latest snowstorm, anyway?

  • 5″-9″ number of inches of snow that fell in the NYC area last night; heavy, but not too heavy
  • 2,400+ sanitation workers were out using over 300 trucks to clear out snow – they were ready this time
  • no public schools didn’t close today, but they’ve only closed six times since 1978 source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

12 Jan 2011 10:05

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Politics: Sarah Palin incorrectly uses term “blood libel” to defend herself

  • Especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.
  • Sarah Palin • Defending herself from criticism while using a pretty heavy term incorrectly. From Wikipedia: “Blood libel (also blood accusation) refers to a false accusation or claim that religious minorities, almost always Jews, murder children to use their blood in certain aspects of their religious rituals and holidays.” She may have a claim to being unfairly treated by some, but it certainly wasn’t “blood libel.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 23:51

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U.S.: How major newspaper editors played Jared Loughner’s mug

  • too hot New York Post editor Col Allen, on blowing the photo out: “We felt his leering grin and wild eyes revealed something of his mental state. The image conveyed a sense of madness.”
  • too coldWashington Post editor Marcus Brauchli, who chose to stay local over giving the mugshot big play: “Our community is one of the communities hard hit by this. The photo reflected that.”
  • just rightNew York Times editor Bill Keller, on playing the pic at an effectively large (for them) three columns: “It felt to me like the obvious right choice. This was the picture of the day.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 23:33

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U.S.: Gabrielle Giffords’ surgeon: Things going as well as they could be

  • No one that shouldn’t have died, died.
  • University Medical Center Trauma Unit chief Peter Rhee • Sounding cautiously optimistic about the results his surgery crew has had with the Gabrielle Giffords shooting last week. Rhee sounds like the right guy to be handling a shooting like this unfortunate mess – he has loads of experience with these sorts of incidents. “I was in the Navy for 24 years and I trained for nothing but battlefield casualties,” he said. . “We can take anything they throw at us from a civilian standpoint.” Giffords, by the way, remains in critical condition. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 21:37

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U.S.: Illinois about to become sixteenth state without death penalty

  • then Since January of 2000, Illinois hasn’t executed anybody on death row, because it was discovered that the state executed people later found to be innocent.
  • now In a slow-coming-but-now-here move, Pat Quinn is about to sign legislation abolishing the death penalty in the state. They’ll be joining 15 states and DC. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 21:00

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U.S.: Jared Lee Loughner’s family makes media statement

  • This is a very difficult time for us. We ask the media to respect our privacy. There are no words that can possibly express how we feel. We wish that there were, so we could make you feel better. We don’t understand why this happened. It may not make any difference, but we wish that we could change the heinous events of Saturday. We care very deeply about the victims and their families. We are so very sorry for their loss.
  • Randy and Amy Loughner • In a statement about their son, Jared Lee Loughner, and his role in Saturday’s shooting. We feel the same way they do. We wish we could give them a hug. They probably need one. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 20:33

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U.S.: Gun control advocates in Congress get their legislation ready

  • 30+ number of rounds of ammo gunman Jared Lee Loughner was able to hold in the magazine he used in Saturday’s shooting
  • 10 maximum number of rounds magazines could have if a bill from Rep. Carolyn McCarthy and Sen. Frank Lautenberg passed source
  • » A personal cause: Carolyn McCarthy has first-hand experience with what gun violence can do. She entered politics in 1993 after her husband was killed and her son injured during a shooting on Long Island. Even considering her own personal feelings on the matter, even she’s not sure what can pass. “I have to look at … what can actually pass in Congress and have it signed by the president,” she said Tuesday. “The House and the Senate are pro-gun houses.”
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

11 Jan 2011 20:16

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U.S.: Arizona legislature to Westboro: Don’t picket a kid’s funeral. Ugh.

  • 29-0 the number of votes the bill garnered in the state Senate
  • 58-0 the number of votes the bill garnered in the State House
  • duh Jan Brewer is probably going to sign this emergency bill source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 11:04

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Politics: Henry Rollins drops some knowledge on Jared Lee Loughner case

  • I could be completely wrong here, but I think there is a much harder-core element in American society that doesn’t listen to these pundits, doesn’t care who is president, and has nothing but contempt and hatred for government in general.
  • Henry Rollins • Offering his little piece of insight on the Jared Lee Loughner thang to Vanity Fair readers. Rollins’ argument? He just thinks the pundits on the right are too simple-minded to truly inspire this kind of rage. Sample: “I saw Glenn Beck in action last summer at his Restore Honor Rally. His speech sucked and his audience looked ancient and out-of-shape.” Oh wait, there’s more: “Rush Limbaugh makes money getting simpleminded people to feel good about their intellectually undernourished brain spasms. He’s very good at it, and I scarcely believe a fraction of what he says.” And finally: “Sarah Palin embarrasses herself almost immediately upon opening her mouth to speak or upon moving her fingers to send messages to her dull flock.” Instead, he feels that a guy like Timothy McVeigh didn’t really care who was president when he did what he did. In other news, Henry Rollins is now upmarket enough to write for Vanity Fair. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Jan 2011 10:49

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Tech: Google Goggles: Tough Sudoku puzzles now thing of the past

  • When IBM defeated chess, they needed a supercomputer. According to this promotional clip for Google Goggles, all Google needs to topple Sudoku is a cell phone. Train rides are about to get a heckuva lot more boring, guys. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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