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07 Aug 2011 21:37

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Politics: So much for leaving; Timmy Boy Geithner sticking around for a while

While there was word on the street that he was going to depart after the brutal debt ceiling crisis, Obama wanted him to stick around instead. This sounds like an aneurysm waiting to happen. source

07 Aug 2011 11:52

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World: Syria: Bashar al-Assad defends violent, deadly crackdown on opposition

  • Dealing with the outlaws who block the roads and the cities and terrorize the people is the duty of the state.
  • Syrian President Bashar al-Assad • Validating his country’s stance against opposition in Syria, in the wake of violence that killed dozens yesterday alone. Question: What happens when the “outlaws who block the roads and the cities and terrorize the people” and “the state” are one in the same? Because in Syria, they are. source

07 Aug 2011 11:39

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Biz: Verizon: “Can you hear me now?” Workers: “No, because we’re on strike!”

  • 45,000 Verizon workers are now on strike source
  • » Verizon’s tough stance led to strike: In the first strike the company has faced in 11 years, many of the company’s field technicians and customer service workers were fending off a tough stance the company took in negotiations — they were hoping to make it easier to fire workers and also wanted to change the method they decided on raises. Verizon’s push is indicative of the evolution away from the more-profitable landline business and towards wireless.

07 Aug 2011 11:04

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World: Officials call for calm after fiery Tottenham riots engulf parts of London

  • This was appalling and unacceptable violence which put people’s lives and safety at risk and must not be tolerated. An independent investigation into the shooting of Mark Duggan had already begun last week, and that is the right way to respond.
  • Shadow Home Office Minister Shabana Mahmood • Reacting to anger in the Tottenham region of London over the fatal shooting of resident Mark Duggan at the hands of police. Buildings were set ablaze, buses were reduced to their frame, looters posted pictures of themselves stealing stuff on Twitter and dozens of police officers were injured overnight. At least 42 people were arrested for violent disorder, theft or burglary. To put it simply, it was not a particularly good night for the region. source

07 Aug 2011 10:41

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Culture: School district bans Kurt Vonnegut book at request of home-schooling dad

  • cause In the small Missouri town of Republic, some douchenozzle named Wesley Scroggins led a campaign to stop the distribution of a handful of books, including Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five,” in the local school district. He was actually successful, by the way. The kicker? While the dude has kids, he home schools them.
  • reaction While Sarah Ockler, the author of fellow banned book “Twenty Boy Summer,” wrote a harshly-worded response, the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library plans to offer up over 150 copies of the book to students for free. And yes, they’re taking donations. Take that, Scroggins, and take that, school district that bowed to him. source