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04 Mar 2011 20:26

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Biz: More on the unemployment figures: Who wants a job, anyway?

  • 6.4 million people not counted in the “labor force” want jobs now
  • 8.9% the percentage of people the U.S. government says are unemployed, according to traditional figures which have been caressed with great care to look as good as possible
  • 12.6% the percentage of people who the government says want a job, but are unable to get one – a number that includes, but extends BEYOND the unemployed source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Mar 2011 19:48

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Politics: P.J. Crowley: Gaddafi just “forfeited his right to lead Libya”

  • Based on what he has done in turning his weapons against his people, rather than engaging them, we believe that he has forfeited his right to lead Libya.
  • State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley • Speaking from the American view of what Muammar Gaddafi should do next in Libya. Nothing against the U.S. sentiments, but we’re pretty sure that this isn’t how it works. Running a country isn’t like letting a coupon expire. It isn’t like not showing up for a basketball game with five players, either. More goes into it than that. Power has to be negotiated or wrestled away. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Mar 2011 17:14

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U.S.: Wes Leonard: A perfect season, a winning basket … then, tragedy.

  • That last shot Wes Leonard made? That was perhaps the greatest moment of a life that ended too soon. The Fennville, Mich. high-school basketball star made the winning basket in a game that led his team to an undefeated season. It was a great moment for a small town, but it was a victory that came with an unspeakable, unbelievable tragedy. Leonard collapsed and died soon after, a victim of cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart. A gut punch to say the least. Our heart goes out to his family and friends. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Mar 2011 15:56

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Tech: Apple still doesn’t do streaming music yet, or why we miss Lala

  • issue Apple bought this really awesome company called Lala, then quickly killed it, making a few music fans (like us) start crying profusely. It killed a weekly music feature we had, quite sadly.
  • reason Well, Apple has a huge facility to allow this sort of streaming, but no streaming deals with the record labels – but they’re working on it. Note to Apple: Please make albums embeddable if this happens. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Mar 2011 15:35

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U.S.: Jared Loughner faces fresh charges in Arizona shooting rampage

  • 49 total charges for the gunman who shot Gabrielle Giffords source
  • » Focusing on the other victims: This time, the charges focus less on Gabrielle Giffords (the only wounded victim still in the hospital or in rehabilitation) and more on those killed or wounded in the attack. Some of the charges include murder charges in the death of a federal judge and congressional aide, as well as charges revolving around causing death or injury at a federally-provided event. Let’s be honest, though. No matter how many charges they nail him for – or at least try to – the fact of the matter is, he’ll be punished severely when he’s convicted.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Mar 2011 12:26

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Biz: “The Other White Meat” no more: Pork wants you to “Be Inspired”

  • In terms of slogans we can get behind, we probably shouldn’t list slogans that make us think of Chicago songs, and the National Pork Board’s new slogan does. It’s as needed. Peter Cetera didn’t die for sins quite that egregious (in fact he’s still alive). As for the reasoning – the pork folks are done with pretending people will go with pork over chicken. So they’re trying to reach the 82 million Americans who already eat pork rinds. Yum. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Mar 2011 10:46

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Biz: Job numbers: Why Feburary’s numbers are particularly promising

  • 8.9% the unemployment rate in February, the lowest it’s been in over two years
  • 192k the increase in nonfarm payrolls – the biggest monthly leap since May
  • 58k the jump in January’s payroll numbers in revised estimates source
  • » Why this jump is a pretty big deal: Simply put, this is all private-sector growth, meaning that business are hiring again. It’s not nearly as quick as economists want it, but the growth is promising, so they’ll take it. Also worth noting – the jump in jobs last May was due to the Census, which means that those were here-today-gone-tomorrow-type jobs. This is actual, real growth. Hopefully it keeps up.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

04 Mar 2011 10:28

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World: Roundup: Who wants Chavez to mediate in Libya (hint: just Gaddafi)

  • no The outside world has no interest in having Chavez involved in talks with Libya.
  • no The rebels have rejected talking to Chavez – Gaddafi’s ally – in any sort of negotiations.
  • no Gaddafi’s own son Saif doesn’t think bringing Chavez in to mediate is a good idea.
  • yes… However, Gaddafi thinks that Chavez would be a great fit for the negotiations. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Mar 2011 01:46

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Offbeat: “Heart Attack Grill” ironically loses spokesperson to “mild death”

  • Protip to all greasy burger joints: If you want to promote your product, you probably shouldn’t use an incredibly fat guy to satirically promote a “diet” designed around gluttonous pursuits, and then suggest that said diet might lead to “mild death.” Which is why we’re writing about our boy Blair River right now. Yes, he died. It was sad. He was only 29. While it’s rumored it was because of flu/pneumonia symptoms, everyone is going to think his weight – 575 pounds on a 6-foot-8 frame – had something to do with it, even if it didn’t. Which, as an end effect, may lead the Heart Attack Grill to lose a few customers. To put it lightly. (thanks nhaler) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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