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30 May 2009 10:37

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Culture, Politics: We’re pretty “laodicean” about the National Spelling Bee

  • At some point, spelling became this national pasttime. Why? OK, we get it – education is important and athletics ultimately aren’t. And for some, seeing the National Spelling Bee become this big, all-caps EVENT is kind of a big deal. But we don’t agree. We have zero interest in seeing Kavya Shivashankar win the event spelling huge words like “laodicean.” We have even less interest in looking for drama to be found out of kids spelling big words. It seems like spelling shouldn’t play on the same type of field as football. We got 2nd place in our third-grade spelling bee. Maybe we’re bitter because of that. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 9 Comments • Permalink

30 May 2009 09:07

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Culture, Politics: The Mancow waterboarding stunt was just that – a stunt

  • I know nothing about waterboarding. I had never done it before, I have no formal training in it, and I’ve never had it done to me. The only thing I knew was what I saw on the internet.
  • Klay South • The man who performed an act of “waterboarding” on Mancow. He said he faked it to raise money and gain publicity for his organization, Veterans of Valor, which helps wounded vets. Both he and radio host Mancow were very quick to admit that the whole thing was a hoax. Great job, guys! Maybe Keith should get back his money. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 May 2009 20:57

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Politics, U.S.: Protip: Don’t get on NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg’s bad side

  • Reporter Azi Paybarah of the New York Observer dared to ask a question about the improving economy which seemed to undercut Bloomberg’s reasoning for running for a third term. It was an honest question. source
  • Bloomberg responded harshly, telling him, “When you have a serious question about the economy, I’d be happy to answer it.” He then ended the news conference by calling Paybarah a disgrace. LOL. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 May 2009 13:20

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Politics, U.S.: People seem to generally like Sonia Sotomayor, a poll sez

  • 54% of those polled say that Obama’s justice pick is the bee’s knees source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 May 2009 21:46

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Politics, Tech: Is web music retailer Lala’s business model evil and bad?

  • One CEO’s criticism Perennial startup CEO Michael Robertson, most famously of the jerked-around MP3.com, claims that Lala’s model attempts to lock users into evil major-label-supported DRM for their most popular product, ten-cent web songs. He pointed specifically to a patent they own. Robertson has a personal claim, by the way – he currently owns competitor MP3tunes.com. source
  • One CEO’s criticism Perennial startup CEO Michael Robertson, most famously of the jerked-around MP3.com, claims that Lala’s model attempts to lock users into evil major-label-supported DRM for their most popular product, ten-cent web songs. He pointed specifically to a patent they own. Robertson has a personal claim, by the way – he currently owns competitor MP3tunes.com.
  • Lala’s defense Lala, which we use here pretty regularly (it hosts our Saturday Mixtape feature), claims that there’s nothing nefarious about what’s going on. “We’re trying to provide a way so that users can have more access to their music than they had in the past,” says CEO Geoff Ralston. It’s important to note, by the way, that you can also buy MP3s of most songs available at the site. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 11 Comments • Permalink

28 May 2009 20:42

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Music, Politics: This new TV news + music collabo is pretty F&%*ed Up

  • Fox goes hardcore The conservative-leaning news network’s late-night show “Red Eye” has a new regular contributor, and he’s the lead screamer of one of our favorite hardcore bands, Toronto’s F&%*ed Up. The manic Pink Eyes (a.k.a. Damian Abraham) got the gig after ballsily calling out the show’s host, Greg Gutfield, on comments he made regarding the Canadian military. Gutfield, BTW, is a fan. source
  • Fox goes hardcore The conservative-leaning news network’s late-night show “Red Eye” has a new regular contributor, and he’s the lead screamer of one of our favorite hardcore bands, Toronto’s F&%*ed Up. The manic Pink Eyes (a.k.a. Damian Abraham) got the gig after ballsily calling out the show’s host, Greg Gutfield, on comments he made regarding the Canadian military. Gutfield, BTW, is a fan.
  • What Pink Eyes thinks Abraham, who’s known for doing such awesomely insane things as drawing his own blood at shows, is just as surprised as anybody. “It’s one of those things where do you take this ridiculous opportunity as it’s presented to you, or do you avoid it and just continue on with your life?” he said of the surreal gig. “That’s sort of the internal struggle I’m dealing with.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 May 2009 10:16

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Politics, U.S.: Joe Biden’s trashing on Obama’s teleprompter habit. LOL.

  • What am I gonna tell the president? I’m gonna tell him his teleprompter is broken. What will he do then?
  • Vice President Joe Biden • After one of his teleprompters fell down during a speech by Biden. Obama has been criticized by some politicians for being over-reliant on his teleprompter, even during minor speeches. Because, clearly, someone with the president’s oratorical skills shouldn’t be allowed to have a teleprompter. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

27 May 2009 23:15

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Politics, U.S.: New Democrat Arlen Specter’s now getting it from both sides

  • There’s too much doubt in my mind not to have the intent right now to get in this race, pending just a little time with my family to make sure we’re all together.
  • Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak • Who seems ready to take on longtime Republican Senator Arlen Specter, who recently switched to the Democratic party, in the primaries. Specter, if you remember, switched parties in part because he was afraid he would lose the Republican primaries. Ah, giant nebulous areas. You gotta love ’em. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 May 2009 10:56

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Politics, U.S.: Ah Rush, saying such soothing words about Sonia Sotomayor

  • Do I want her to fail? Yeah. Do I want her to fail to get on the court? Yes. She’d be a disaster on the court. Do I still want to Obama to fail as president? Yeah. … He’s going to fail anyway, but the sooner the better here so that as little damage can be done to the country.
  • Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh • Stuck between a rock and a hard place in criticism of Obama’s supreme court justice pick Sonia Sotomayor, who he called a “reverse racist.” The challenge that the GOP faces is that Hispanics make up a good portion of their base currently, and if they’re not careful, they could alienate them with their attacks. But Rush doesn’t care. Rush is Rush. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

26 May 2009 09:05

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Politics, Tech: Here’s a random argument in favor of taxing e-mail

  • The tax will not stop unsolicited communications, just as post charges limit, but do not kill, junk mail. An email tax would force senders to apply a simple test: is this message worth a penny to send?
  • Prospect Magazine contributor Edward Gottesman • On the idea of taxing e-mail as a way to stop spam. Gottesman, chairman of an international investment company and a lawyer, says the minimal charge – just like sending a letter – would help deter spammers without limiting e-mail communications. One problem, dude: E-mail’s already so last century. Everyone’s just going to use Facebook or Twitter instead and e-mail would become irrelevant. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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