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06 Mar 2011 23:11

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Politics: Tina Brown, on relaunching Newsweek with The Daily Beast

  • Ironically, it was living in The Daily Beast’s fast and furious news cycle for the past two years that revealed to me what a newsmagazine can bring to the table when it’s no longer chasing yesterday’s story. It’s about filling the gaps left when a story has seemingly passed, or resetting the agenda, or coming up with an insight or synthesis that connects the crackling, confusing digital dots.
  • Tina Brown • Explaining in her redesign-launching letter what Newsweek’s relaunch means. She’s absolutely right, really – her time with The Daily Beast makes her pretty much the perfect person to play the role of editor of a newsmagazine in 2011. She can take the lessons from the Beast and build a shared vision between two entities which are designed to handle different parts of the media pie. We wish her the best. source
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06 Mar 2011 22:05

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World: Opposing Irish parties decide to share the burden of leading

Coalition government ahoy! Fine Gael’s Enda Kenny and Labour’s Eamon Gilmore will share leadership duties as Ireland tries to shake off all that economic drama they’ve had lately. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Mar 2011 21:47

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Tech: Favimon: General web nerdery and Pokemon, together at last

  • For nerds only: Remember Pokemon? Of course you do. Do you know what Favicons are? Perhaps you might. Favimon combines the two, so you can surf and collect your favorite sites, Pokemon-style. As if you needed another reason to waste your time. (Thanks Hacker News) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Mar 2011 21:34

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Culture: Michael Bay: “Transformers 2” “was crap.” Good, we agree with you

  • The real fault with (Transformers 2) is that it ran into a mystical world. When I look back at it, that was crap. The writers’ strike was coming hard and fast. It was just terrible to do a movie where you’ve got to have a story in three weeks.
  • Michael Bay • Blaming the writers’ strike for the awfulness that is “Transformers 2.” Bay has previously taken credit for how bad the movie was, but he’s never gone so far as to call the film crap. Next up: Bay will atone for the sins of “Pearl Harbor.” Or not. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Mar 2011 21:24

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U.S.: Obama’s thinking of pulling oil from our backup supply

  • problem Gas prices are rising rapidly, as a result of the drama going on in the Middle East at the moment. Oh no, $4 a gallon? Whatever shall we do? Society will fail miserably without cheap petrol in our tanks!
  • solution? Obama’s considering tapping into our strategic oil reserves, according to White House chief of staff, William Daley. Whew. All this excitement! Where is our fainting couch when we need it? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Mar 2011 20:01

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Politics: White House official backs Muslims before Rep. Peter King’s hearings

  • You’ve sent a message that those who perpetrate such horrific attacks do not represent you or your faith, and that they will not succeed in pitting believers of different faiths against one another.
  • Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough • Speaking to a DC-area mosque this weekend to do damage control before Rep. Peter King, the chairman of the House’s Homeland Security panel, holds hearings on Islam radicalization. King defended his efforts earlier today: “The overwhelming majority of Muslims are outstanding Americans,” he said, “but at this stage in our history there’s an effort … to radicalize elements within the Muslim community.” Is ol’ Petey boy right? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Mar 2011 12:15

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Culture: Northwestern human sexuality professor apologizes (defensively)

  • Those who believe that there was, in fact, a serious problem have had considerable opportunity to explain why in the numerous media stories on the controversy, or in their various correspondences with me. But they have failed to do so. Saying that the demonstration ‘crossed the line,’ ‘went too far,’ ‘was inappropriate,’ or ‘was troubling’ convey disapproval but do not illuminate reasoning.
  • Northwestern professor J. Michael Bailey • Offering a spirited defense of the presentation at his human sexuality class, which focused on untraditional types of sex and reportedly used a thing with a name we won’t repeat here. While defensive, Bailey did apologize for upsetting so many with his class, which he has taught for 18 years. “I regret upsetting so many people in this particular manner,” he added. “I apologize.” source
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06 Mar 2011 11:48

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Politics: Rep. Peter King’s radical Islam hearing not exactly winning him fans

  • First off, this is a spectacular photo of Rep. Peter King. He’s straight-up draped in America in this pic, and it’s something that we must admire. Anyway, King (the chair of the Homeland Security committee) is planning these Congressional hearings about radical Islam this week, and they have some people up in arms. For example, here’s Rep. Keith Ellison, a Muslim himself who showed up on CNN’s “State of the Union” with King: “It’s absolutely the right thing to do for the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee to investigate radicalization. But to say we’re going to investigate a — a religious minority, and a particular one, I think is the wrong course of action to take.” King claims that radical Islam poses a graver threat than other types of radicalism. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Mar 2011 11:32

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U.S.: Just chill out, bro: Montana may ditch medical marijuana

Montana’s medical marijuana industry is thriving. But some legislators are up in arms about who’s really benefiting and want to repeal the voter-implemented law. Boo! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Mar 2011 11:17

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U.S.: More people starting to notice Bradley Manning’s crappy treatment

  • The intention is not to cause any sort of humiliation or embarrassment. The intention is to ensure the safety and security of the detainee and make sure he is able to stand trial.
  • 1st Lt. Brian Villiard • Explaining why the folks in the Quantico brig are forcing Bradley Manning to sleep naked. If that explanation doesn’t make much sense to you, you’re not alone. Rep. Dennis Kucinich recently ripped Manning’s treatment as going against the Army’s own field manual. He wants to talk to Manning in the flesh. “My request to visit with Pfc. Manning must not be delayed further,” he said. When a member of Congress gets involved, you know something’s wrong. (On a side note … we think it’s great that Manning’s treatment is getting wider coverage from sources outside of Salon. Glenn Greenwald is great, but when The Washington Post and CBS News are giving it attention, it becomes clear that it’s a major PR problem for the military.) source
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