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07 Feb 2012 14:59

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U.S.: South Carolina AG sues Justice Department over voter ID law

  • then The U.S. Justice Department blocked enforcement of a new law in South Carolina, which would have required government issued photo identification in order to vote at one’s polling place; Justice says the law would have inordinately disenfranchised minority voters.
  • now The attorney general of South Carolina, Alan Wilson, has sued the Justice Department, hoping to get it overturned. The Republican Party has supported the law as anti-voter fraud, with many Democrats opposed, saying it amounts to voter suppression. source
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07 Feb 2012 14:55

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U.S.: CDC: majority of Americans’ salt comes from bread

  • Too much salted dough? A report by the Center for Disease Control claims the majority of salt in the American diet comes from bread consumption. You might find this surprising, especially considering evidently high-salt items like potato chips rank far lower on the list (tenth, in fact). The CDC attributes this to people’s willingness to overindulge in those sorts of foods, which despite a lower salt content in general can smuggle a high sodium total into the body. Salt intake for an otherwise healthy adult is advised at no more than 2,300 milligrams per day, but the average American consumes 1000 milligrams more than that. (Photo by Charles Haynes) source
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07 Feb 2012 14:05

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Politics: California’s gay marriage ban, Prop. 8, struck down by court panel

  • Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California.
  • The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals • On today’s 2-1 panel ruling, which overturned California’s gay marriage ban on constitutional grounds. This is a validation of a previous ruling against Proposition 8 back in August 2010, made by now retired Judge Vaughn Walker. ProtectMarriage, the group that backed Proposition 8, still has legal recourse, however; they can seek the ruling of a larger 9th Circuit panel, or try to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The likely “swing vote” in that case is thought to be Justice Kennedy, who could therefore occupy the unusual position of holding millions of people’s future marriages and families in his hands. source
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01 Feb 2012 21:56

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World: Egyptian MPs accuse military of neglecting security over deadly soccer riot

  • The reason for this tragedy is the deliberate neglect and absence of the military and the police. This will not pass without punishment, a thousand punishments.
  • Essam el Erian, Egyptian lawmaker with the Muslim Brotherhood • Accusing, in essence, the Egyptian military government of taking a hands-off approach to security, allowing moments of chaos in order to justify expansive military power. The incitement of this charge came earlier today, when a soccer riot broke out which killed over eighty people — the bloodiest single incident in Egypt since the removal of Hosni Mubarak last year. Reports claim police at the soccer match were either unable or unwilling to intervene or try to stop the riot, while video of the incident showed some standing by, apparently idle. Said Mohammed Abu Trika, star of the visiting team, Al Ahly: “People here are dying and no one is doing a thing. It’s like a war. Is life this cheap?” source
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01 Feb 2012 21:29

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Biz: Facebook’s SEC filing reveals the things they worry about most

  • one Facebook Mobile, unlike the normal web layout, doesn’t have ads built into the interface. Meaning as Mobile grows, ad revenue will suffer.
  • twoGame developer Zynga accounts for a whopping 12% of Facebook’s total revenue. Therefore, any trouble for Zynga is trouble for Facebook as well.
  • threeFacebook’s revenue grew by 88% last year, which they deem unsustainable. In short, that level of growth will slow down someday.
  • fourThey could be sued for copyright infringement due to content uploaded by their users; quite likely the reason they opposed SOPA. source
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01 Feb 2012 20:45

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Politics: Susan G. Komen foundation cuts funding to Planned Parenthood

  • the change The Susan G. Komen foundation, the most prominent breast cancer awareness group in the United States, has halted funding for Planned Parenthood. They had been major funders, paying nearly $700,000 in cancer screenings and preventive care in 2011 alone.
  • the reason According to the Komen foundation, internal rules prohibit them from granting funds to a group under investigation; Planned Parenthood is, by Florida Rep. Cliff Stearns. Komen defended itself on Facebook, saying the decision was “not about politics.” source
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01 Feb 2012 20:12

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World: Sec. of State Clinton makes case to UN on Syria

  • Every member of the Council has to make a decision: Whose side are you on? Are you on the side of the Syrian people? Are you on the side of the Arab League? Are you on the side of the people of the Middle East and North Africa who have during this past year spoken out courageously and often for their rights? Or are you on the side of a brutal, dictatorial regime?
  • U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton • Stating her case to the UN Security Council, on the matter of the violent turmoil that continues in Syria. Clinton is clearly arguing on somewhat simplistic moral grounds, trying to put more pressure on Russia, which has said they’ll veto a resolution if it mandates that Bashar al-Assad step down from power. In particular, memory of the NATO mission in Libya is likely in play — Russia approved a resolution to protect Libyan civilians, only to see it broaden into a mission to depose dictator Muammar Gaddafi, which they opposed. Consequently, they’re now unwilling to agree to a resolution that carries either the overt or implied goal of regime change. source
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01 Feb 2012 15:43

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Biz: New J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson on remaking the brand

  • I chose J.C. Penney because I think it’s the single biggest opportunity in American retailing. Inherently, department stores have significant advantages compared to all other retailers. Yet, our productivity is at the low end, and that just doesn’t make sense.
  • J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson • Remarks in an interview with the AP’s Anne D’Innocenzio. Johnson made news in the world of department store retail when he first took over, announcing a reduction in unique sales events coupled with a 40% across the board price cut. In this interview, he expands a bit on his plan for J.C. Penney’s future; he mentions his time with Apple frequently in the interview, as a reference point for the sort of modern imaginings that may be to come. It’s worth remembering that Johnson was the brain behind the Apple Store, the “Genius Bar” in particular, which we think says a lot about his insight on balancing design, efficiency and customer service in a retail setting. Apple just found their replacement for Johnson, John Brownett, but with the legacy he left there, we wonder how long it will be until they wish they had him back on board. source
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01 Feb 2012 15:19

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World: Soccer riot in Egypt leaves many dead, many more injured

  • 83 people killed in a soccer riot in Port Said, Egypt source
  • » Tragedy and inhumanity: A match between Egyptian soccer (or football, if you prefer) teams Al-Ahly and Al-Masry turned into a scene of violence, chaos and death, as riots broke out after the game’s conclusion. Said CNN contributor James Montague: “It’s kind of a security vacuum in the football stadium. … It’s not unheard of to have organized violence between football clubs, but something on this scale has never been seen before.” In addition to the 83 dead, Egyptian authorities estimate 180 people were injured in the mayhem.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2012 14:59

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Culture: Soul Train’s biggest fan? Questlove looks back on Don Cornelius

  • “im just kinda writing from the heart”: The news of Don Cornelius’ death today has sparked many reflections on the man’s career, and lasting societal impact. Soul Train holds a significant place in the many people’s hearts for presenting a celebration of not just black artists, but identity as well, and Cornelius himself was the core of that. Perhaps the best tribute we’ve read on the subject comes from Questlove, and we urge you to read the full piece. “Soul Train to me is the GREATEST creation and inspiration of my life… i will NEVER EVER forget its powerful impact on education on pride on creativity on culture and on me. i love you don.” (Photo on left by Naoharu; photo on right by Questlove, showing his huge selection of hard drives full of old Soul Train episodes, which he says he brings with him everywhere.) source
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