Read a little. Learn a lot. • Tightly-written news, views and stuff • Follow us on TwitterBe a Facebook FanTumble us!

05 Jan 2011 10:36

tags

Tech: MetroPCS decides to ensure nobody switches to their service

  • december The FCC approves new net-neutrality rules that give more power to mobile providers while mostly blocking content limitations for landline users. Basically nobody liked the plan.
  • january Just a few days into the new year, MetroPCS is ready to try out the new policy with a tiered data system that limits users’ access to non-YouTube video and audio content on the lowest tier. source

05 Jan 2011 10:26

tags

Politics: Sigh: Robert Gibbs stepping down as Obama’s press secretary

  • You know, we like Robert Gibbs. Endlessly entertaining, more willing to make waves than any other recent press secretary, and a great fit for Obama. He’s feisty where Obama is measured. He isn’t a mouthpiece. He’s a contributor and played a huge role in Obama’s first two years. And that’s why, even though he’s leaving as press secretary in February, he’s still likely to play a role in Obama’s future campaigns. We salute you, Robert Gibbs. You make Scott McClellan look like the straight-up mouthpiece he was. source

05 Jan 2011 01:02

tags

U.S.: Scientists know why you’re going bald (it’s not what you think)

  • The fact that there are normal numbers of stem cells in bald scalp gives us hope for reactivating those stem cells.
  • Dr George Cotsarelis • Raising optimism towards the idea that baldness can be reversed. Cotsarelis and his team at the University of Pennsylvania discovered that the root of baldness is way different than anyone was expecting – instead of hair falling out, the hair grows so small as to be invisible to the human eye. But on the plus side, this could possibly be reversed through the use of creams and other things to get those stem cells doing their thing. No word on whether Cotsarelis is also a client of Hair Club for Mensource

04 Jan 2011 23:17

tags

U.S.: If you’re arrested, can police search your phone without warrants?

  • NO … as long as you don’t live in California (sigh … great) source

04 Jan 2011 22:55

tags

U.S.: Ninth District makes boring, indecisive decision on Prop 8 case

  • *shrug* The 9th District Court’s ruling on gay marriage – neither in favor of keeping Prop 8 nor against the controversial measure. Good answer, important people!
  • instead The court transferred the case to the California Supreme Court, to decide whether Prop. 8 backers can even defend the measure in court. Hmm. source

04 Jan 2011 22:42

tags

Politics: Antonin Scalia: Hates deep-dish, likes helping the Tea Party

  • On the plus side, nobody’s talking about Ginni Thomas anymore. So, Michele Bachmann has convinced our boy Antonin Scalia to have a fireside chat with incoming GOP members of Congress to remind them of the finer points of the constitution. Now, obviously, this is kind of a bad idea because it makes Scalia look like he’s in bed with the Tea Party and conservatives in Congress. But, who cares? This is the guy who’s so traditionalist that he complains about pizza that isn’t made New York-style. Sure, it’s bad judgment, but he doesn’t like deep dish pizza, so his judgment is worthless anyway. (photo by Stephen Masker) source

04 Jan 2011 21:23

tags

Politics: From Pelosi to Boehner: The changing of the Twitter guard

  • I’m now @NancyPelosi – 2 characters shorter than @SpeakerPelosi. RTers rejoice!
  • A tweet from @NancyPelosi • Regarding Pelosi’s change from Speaker to mere House Majority Leader. In case you’re wondering, John Boehner can be found at @SpeakerBoehner. And the ceremonial change of the Twitter guard commences. Hey, @SpeakerGingrich is open! So is @SpeakerHastert! And @SpeakerNewt! Anyone wanna make a parody account? (thanks pantlessprogressive for the tip) source
 

04 Jan 2011 21:10

tags

U.S.: Capt. Owen Honors fired, but he has a Facebook posse

  • 15,281 Honors supporters on Facebook source
  • » And a big gripe with Fox News: If you’re going to report about this story, please get the name of the paper that broke the story correct. It’s not the “Richmond Virginian-Pilot.” It’s “The Virginian-Pilot.” And it’s not even based in Richmond. It’s based in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Sorry … we used to work in that building, and we don’t like the fact that they source the paper that got the scoop with an obvious misrepresentation of the paper and lack of understanding of why they would care about the story – hello, massive Navy town! Please correct.

04 Jan 2011 11:20

tags

Politics: Obama’s optimistic that GOP will be less obstructionist in 2011

  • And so my expectation, my hope is that John Boehner and Mitch McConnell will realize that there will be plenty of time to campaign for 2012 in 2012, and that our job this year is to make sure that we build on the recovery.
  • Barack Obama • Offering up a pretty solid statement of intent for 2011. Obama, whose vacation to Hawaii just ended, says that he expects some playing of politics in 2011 (McConnell has already promised it). “But I’m pretty confident,” he continued, “that they’re going to recognize that our job is to govern and make sure that we are delivering jobs for the American people and that we’re creating a competitive economy for the 21st century, not just for this generation but for the next one.” Wishful thinking? source

04 Jan 2011 11:01

tags

World: Queensland flooding: By the (insanely depressing) numbers

  • 200k people have been affected by the recent Queensland floods
  • 10+ people have died in the prolonged flooding in the region
  • 9.4m the expected crest of the wide-ranging floodwaters today source