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22 Dec 2011 10:40

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Politics: Newt Gingrich wants Lincoln-Douglas-style debate with Mitt Romney

  • I’ve challenged Governor Romney to meet me for ninety minutes in Iowa next week, anywhere, anytime. Timekeeper. No moderator. And we will bring all of his negative ads and show them for free and he can explain them.
  • Newt Gingrich • Offering Mitt Romney a free Lincoln-Douglas style presidential debate ahead of the January 3 Iowa Caucuses; we hope that Gingrich decides to throw in a continental breakfast to sweeten the deal! They could, like, drink some juice, eat some rubber pancakes, and talk Israel. They wouldn’t even have to stand at podiums! They could just do it in the Marriott and put it on USTREAM. It’d be awesome. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2011 10:00

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Politics: Karl Rove: Republicans lost the payroll tax cut battle, and badly

  • That’s what he says in a new op-ed column: “The GOP leaders have somehow managed the remarkable feat of being blamed for opposing a one-year extension of a tax holiday that they are surely going to pass,” he writes. “This is no easy double play.” He also suggests that Republicans in Congress might have helped hand Obama an early 2012 victory. When you’ve lost Rove, you know you’ve messed up pretty badly. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2011 01:13

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Music: Rapper Slim Dunkin possibly killed over stolen piece of candy

  • The information we’re getting, it’s unconfirmed, but witnesses are saying this whole thing started over a piece of candy.
  • Atlanta homicide detective David Quinn • Discussing the death of rapper Slim Dunkin, an affiliate of Waka Flocka Flame who was shot and killed during an altercation last week at an Atlanta recording studio. Sources say that Dunkin, born Mario Hamilton, stole a piece of candy from another man, a scene which escalated quickly, leading to the rapper getting shot in the chest. Reportedly over a piece of candy. What a shame. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2011 01:03

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U.S.: Countrywide will pay massive settlement over subprime crisis

  • $335 million settlement over discrimination charges source
  • » They allegedly steered minorities towards bad mortgages. The company, something of the focal point of the subprime housing scandal, now has to face the music. Bank of America, the parent of Countrywide Financial, had to settle claims from before it purchased the company, a four-year period during the housing boom when loans were handed out very easily. In the case of Countrywide, however, there is evidence that while white homeowners got offered normal mortgage, black or Latino homeowners of similar stature received a subprime mortgage instead, meaning that they were given higher interest rates and unfavorable terms for loans, making it easier to default. As part of the settlement with the Justice Department, the company denied the charges, while Bank of America distanced itself from the housing-boom-era actions
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Dec 2011 22:41

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Offbeat: KTLA weatherguy walks off during live television

  • Raining on his parade: A weather personality for KTLA Los Angeles stormed off during a live interview after someone back at the station cut his weather segment short.source
Posted by Matthew Keys • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Dec 2011 11:41

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U.S.: Eight men charged in Chinese-American soldier’s suicide

  • No plea bargaining. There must be a strong message sent that this type of unlawful misconduct cannot be tolerated. … They have to create an atmosphere in which Asian-Americans feel safe.
  • OCA New York chapter president Elizabeth R. OuYang • Discussing the apparent suicide of Pvt. Danny Chen, a Chinese-American soldier found shot to death in a guard tower in Afghanistan. Chen died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, one which may have been precipitated due to hazing by other soldiers. Eight men have been charged in Chen’s death on an array of charges, including manslaughter and negligent homicide. Officials with ties to the Chinese-American community, like OuYang, have pressed for a deeper investigation by Army officials, but the Army has largely remained mum on said investigation. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Dec 2011 11:04

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U.S.: By witness counts alone, the odds are stacked against Bradley Manning

  • twenty number of witnesses prosecutors called against Bradley Manning, who faces charges of leaking classified information, over a four-day period
  • two number of witnesses the defense called before they said they were done — it took them part of Wednesday morning source
  • » What could happen to Manning? The man who allegedly gave Wikileaks its biggest coup could face the death penalty if convicted in his case — though the Army’s prosecutors have made it clear that they will not ask for that. Among the people who have testified against Manning: Jihrleah Showman, a former team leader of Manning’s who claims he once punched her in the face, and Adrian Lamo, the “grey hat” hacker who gained infamy in some circles for turning Manning in to federal authorities.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

21 Dec 2011 10:46

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World: Kim Jong-Un: Fully in charge of the North Korean military

  • He will, however, share power with his uncle … at first. Just before the death of his father was announced Monday, Kim Jong-Un issued his first military order. He told all members of the North Korean military to quit their training exercises and return to their bases. This is a biggish deal because South Korean officials didn’t actually think he was in complete control of the military. Meanwhile, as the country currently has no military strongman, it’s likely that Kim will share power with Jang Song-thaek, the brother-in-law of Kim Jong-Il, and the North Korean military. It’ll be interesting to see what changes in the country’s dynamic after this. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Dec 2011 22:47

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Politics: Supervillain? Or Newt Gingrich?

  • “Celebrating our next president’s best ideas:” This wonderful little website presents you with a proposal, and then asks you to guess whether it came from Newt Gingrich, or a supervillain from a movie/comic book/etc. It’s harder than it looks; we follow Gingrich pretty well, and we only scored 50%. source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Dec 2011 22:16

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U.S.: Unemployment fell in majority of states last month

  • 43 states have seen a decrease in unemployment since October source
  • » As goes the country, so go the states: Or maybe it’s the other way around? Well, either way, figures released today by the Department of Labor show that unemployment, in addition to falling to its lowest level in two and a half years at the national level, also decreased on a state-by-state basis in all but seven states. This is promising, as it suggests that the uptick in employment is a nationwide trend, and not the result of, say, five or ten states doing abnormally well for one reason or another. Note: The usual disclaimers about the problems with how unemployment is calculated apply.
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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