Read a little. Learn a lot. • Tightly-written news, views and stuff • Follow us on Twitter • Be a Facebook Fan • Tumble us!

11 Feb 2011 23:56

tags

Biz, World: Wael Ghonim’s situation a TAD uncomfortable for Google

  • They did not know anything about this and actually when I took the time off and I went to Cairo, they did not know I was going to the protest. But when everything became public, I talked with the company and they suggested that I take a leave of absence and I also suggested that to them and I think it was a good decision for that. Google has nothing to do with this.
  • Wael Ghonim • Talking about the now-unbreakable tie between his activism and his employment with Google. This is not the kind of thing that people like to see in the workforce – employees tied to public companies taking an active role in the political process, and as a result, tying the company’s name to the issue. “It’s one of those things that companies don’t want to touch with a ten foot pole,” one public-relations executive in the tech industry said about the matter. As far as Ghonim’s situation goes, he took a leave a leave of absence with the company and is happy to return at some point. Well, that is “if I’m not fired.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 21:59

tags

Tech: Nokia, Microsoft forced to fight for smartphone scraps together

  • This photo, showing Microsoft and Nokia’s CEOs, basically explains the entire story on its own. Nokia’s Stephen Elop: Down with whatever random OS we were trying to make that won’t succeed on the market because we waited too long! Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer: Up with our in-just-before-the-wire Windows Phone 7! By the way, how sad is it that Nokia, which basically wrote the script on the modern cell phone, now has to hop in bed with Microsoft to even keep up? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 21:20

tags

Biz: Consumers, Rep. Jackie Speier has your back on “do not track”

  • These two bills send a clear message — privacy over profit. Consumers have a right to determine what if any of their information is shared with big corporations, and the federal government must have the authority and tools to enforce reasonable protections.
  • Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier • In a statement explaining two consumer-privacy bills she just submitted to the House – one a proposal for “Do Not Track,” similar to “Do Not Call” except for advertising information on the interwebs, and the other that would give consumers more control over financial information. The key part of that bill? Making the process of allowing companies to view your financial information opt-in rather than opt-out. Both of these sound like really great ideas, so kudos to Speier for bringing these issues to the forefront. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 20:33

tags

Politics: Dead-on Sarah Palin impersonator causes scene at CPAC

  • Here at ShortFormBlog, we have instituted a standing no-Sarah-Palin policy until she actually announces she’s running for political office again. But that doesn’t mean we can’t post anything about Sarah Palin impostors hilariously storming CPAC. She’s not technically Sarah Palin. So, there you go guys … a Sarah Palin impostor hilariously storming CPAC. It’d be much funnier if it was a dude in drag, but we’ll take it. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 20:04

tags

World: On the Islamic Revolution’s 32nd anniversary, could Iran be next?

If Ahmadinejad has a nervous look on his face, it’s because the Egyptian protests may give Iranian activists new life on Monday. Especially after Wael Ghonim gave the Green Revolution a big up. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 18:07

tags

World: One country not cheering about Mubarak’s exit: Israel

  • The Muslim Brotherhood has already said they won’t be committed to the peace treaty. I don’t see a military conflict with Israel. But the whole regional order of the last 30 years will be totally shattered.
  • Former Israel ambassador to Egypt Eli Shaked • Expressing his, and by extension his country’s fears over losing a major ally in the revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak. Unlike the United States, Israel never turned away from their longtime ally in fear of what would come for Egypt after. Their biggest fear? While they don’t expect another war in the region, they fear the possibility that the Muslim Brotherhood, a group they feel would be against Israel, would gain a foothold in Egyptian politics. There’s a point where diplomatic concerns becomes a poor reason to diplomatically block a country’s freedoms, and most countries feel we passed it. Israel apparently didn’t. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 12:36

tags

U.S.: Chandra Levy’s convicted killer sentenced, didn’t get life in prison

  • 60 years in prison for convicted killer Ingmar Guandique source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

11 Feb 2011 11:21

tags

World: Mohamed ElBaradei on Mubarak: “The country has been liberated”

  • This is the greatest day of my life. The country has been liberated.
  • Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei • In his immediate reaction to the news that Hosni Mubarak has left power in Egypt. It’s too soon to tell what happens next, but the excitement is strong in Tahrir Square. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 11:10

tags

World: BREAKING: Hosni Mubarak steps down as Egyptian president

  • yesterday In a defiant speech, Hosni Mubarak made it clear that he was in fact not stepping down from his perch as Egyptian leader.
  • today Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak just stepped down today. Guess that wasn’t so true, huh? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 10:57

tags

Biz: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac getting kicked onto the curb?

  • This is a plan for fundamental reform — to wind down the GSEs, strengthen consumer protection and preserve access to affordable housing for people who need it.
  • Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner • Explaining how he wants to wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two government-owned mortgage-securities organizations which helped fuel the housing bubble and were ultimately felled by the subprime mortgage crisis. Geithner laid out three different ways to solve the Fannie and Freddie problem, all of which involve getting them off the taxpayer’s dime. The solutions rank in varying degrees – one is completely privatized with government guidance, one plays middle ground, and the third is a more-regulated version of Fannie and Freddie. The current organizations would pay off their massive debts, though. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
top tags
older >>