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23 Dec 2011 08:59

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Tech: Scientists used math on Twitter to tell us we’re sad… which makes us even sadder.

  • Happiness is trending downward. Great.  After studying the Twitter accounts of 63 million users for 33 months, science tells us that we’re not using as many happiness keywords. Users seem to reach their peak happiness on and around holidays and the weekends; happiness “plummets” on Mondays and Tuesdays. All in all, people shouldn’t be using Twitter as their go-to source of human emotions; do they even count Sockington?  source
Posted by samimain • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Dec 2011 08:55

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World: French breast implants scrutinized for low quality, high rupture rate

  • 300k breast implant recipients in danger of rupturing source
  • » The implants were made by French company Poly Implant Prothese. Before the company was shut down in 2010, they sold cheaply made breast implants to over 300,000 customers. They have a high rupture rate — roughly around 10 percent — and are currently being investigated for any links to cancer. “It’s sick that they could even think about putting this stuff into a human.” said Amanda Harrison, a British woman looking for compensation in the case. “You wouldn’t even put it in an animal.”
Posted by samimain • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Dec 2011 01:15

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Politics: Pennsylvania Judge issues rulings in rhyme

  • Sentenced on the other crimes, he surely won’t go free / But we find he can’t be guilty of this final felony / Convictions for the forgery and theft are approbated / The sentence for insurance fraud, however, is vacated
  • Judge J. Michael Eakin • Apparently, this Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice is known locally as the “rhyming judge” for — you guessed it — issuing judicial verdicts in verse. We love that people like this exist. (Correction: The initial post had the wrong state. Oops, sorry about that.)  source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Dec 2011 01:09

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Politics: Reporting on the campaign trail: Harder than you might think

  • on camera A candidate like Mitt Romney, for example, fields questions day in and day out, and it’s not an easy racket. NBC’s Chuck Todd explains: “[It’s] tough to have the 75th interview in the last 72 hours. Everything’s been asked.” It’s a game where being first and asking the best questions is key.
  • off camera Members of Romney’s press bus tour have traveled since June. NBC reporter, producer and cameraman Garrett Haake explains it as such: “You’re running around. You’re on buses. You’re on planes. You don’t see your family, but you wake up in the morning and you still really want to do it.” source
Posted by samimain • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2011 23:20

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Tech: GoDaddy faces all-out boycott over stated SOPA support

  • Why they support SOPA GoDaddy has been one of the more vocal supporters of SOPA, as a statement they submitted to the House of Representatives makes clear: “As much as some would like to paint a bleak picture, this debate is not about Hollywood vs. Silicon Valley. This debate is about preserving, protecting, and creating American jobs and protecting American consumers from the dangers that they face on-line.”
  • Prone to controversy GoDaddy doesn’t exactly have the most pristine reputation among tech companies (what with its scantily-clad commercials and elephant-hunting CEO), but it hasn’t hurt their service in the past. Why? Quick — name another company that sells domains off the top of your head. Most people probably can’t. That’s what might hurt this boycott amongst mainstream users.
  • An uphill battle? GoDaddy users face a very similar situation to PayPal or Craigslist or Internet Explorer— no matter how controversial, user-unfriendly, or outdated the service may get, the market leader is seated pretty firmly due to years of market recognition and popularity, and it’ll take a lot to shake them. GoDaddy’s offered annoyed users a good reason to move elsewhere, however. But how many will there be? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2011 20:58

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U.S.: Arizona State student describes recovery after going missing for 10 days

  • I am so thankful to be alive and warm. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers — they worked. At times I was afraid, but mostly I had faith that I would be found.
  • Arizona State University student Lauren Elizabeth Weinberg • Making a statement about her 10-day ordeal, in which she and her car were stranded in a remote, snow-covered part of Arizona. She survived on just two candy bars and snow water she melted in the sun. After taking a drive with no particular destination, she found herself stuck with roughly two feet of snow around her. She lacked a blanket or heavy coat to keep warm, making her survival all the more remarkable to rescuers. Good luck in your recovery, Lauren. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2011 20:39

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World: North Korean state media: Jimmy Carter offered condolences

For some reason, right-leaning blogs and news sites are obsessed with this story. Mind you, this is also the same North Korean media which has been using extremely figurative language to describe Dear Leader’s death. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

22 Dec 2011 20:08

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Politics: A rare concession: House GOP loses on payroll tax-cut issue

  • The GOP lost one. The tell-tale signs were everywhere. On a day where John Boehner lost support from the GOP establishment on blocking a payroll tax-cut plan — which mind you, was just for two months, and otherwise would’ve been a big GOP victory because of the Democratic concessions made — the political kayfabe finally gave way to inevitability. Here’s how it went down. (Photo by Gage Skidmore, that guy who takes all the GOP politician photos on Flickr)
  • cause For months, Republicans were soft on the idea of extending payroll tax cuts into 2012, a key issue for Democrats, because they thought it didn’t stimulate the economy. Eventually, the Senate passed a limited extension, but the House wouldn’t go for it.
  • reaction For days, House speaker John Boehner faced significant pressure over the House’s stance, and eventually his own party started criticizing the late-December move, which they believed could give the Democrats major leverage in 2012.
  • result Today, Boehner  gave in, with the House speaker allowing for a voice vote on the issue. “We have fought the good fight,” Boehner said. “Why not do the right thing for the American people even though it’s not exactly what we want?” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2011 11:28

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Biz: Christmas miracle: Why Virginia farms plant lots of evergreens these days

  • cause Tobacco has long been a key crop for farmers in Virginia, and until the early 2000s, it was a heavily-regulated industry, with quotas and price supports for farmers. However, in 2004, the industry was largely deregulated.
  • reaction After the deregulation happened, farmers got money from the federal government allowing them to focus on new kinds of crops. One of the big ones? Christmas trees, which are hard to smoke but pretty easy to decorate. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2011 11:18

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Politics: Three ways Web sites and users have been protesting SOPA

  • People upset with the Stop Online Piracy Act have a small reason to cheer this morning. The anti-piracy bill, which many Internet users feel could have a chilling effect on the Web, got tabled until early next year, giving a brief respite and an opportunity for alternative bills (such as Rep. Darrell Issa’s OPEN act) to gain footing. Being a creative bunch, many users have taken to design tricks, boycotts, even music to protest what they feel is a dangerous bill. Here are just a few examples of SOPA protests online:
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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