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06 May 2009 10:42

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Politics, U.S.: The GOP’s big problem: The Dems’ YouTube ads are funnier

05 May 2009 23:03

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Politics, U.S.: Arnold Schwarzenegger seems ready to fire up pot legalization

  • All those ideas of creating extra revenues, I’m always for an open debate on it. We ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana. What effect did it have on those countries? Are they happy with the decision?
  • California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger • On the possibility of legalizing pot. He goes on to note that his native Austria did not have a good experience with legalization. By the way, most people think pot should be legal as a way to raise state revenue. • source

05 May 2009 21:58

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Politics, Sports: Dear Brett Favre: Stay retired, you old whiny dude. OK?

  • Please. Brett. We love you. You’re awesome. You had a great career with the Green Bay Packers. You got to date Mary back in 1997. But you don’t know the definition of the word retirement. You created the greatest dramabomb ever when you un-retired, then left for the New York Jets, then flopped. source
  • Please. Brett. We love you. You’re awesome. You had a great career with the Green Bay Packers. You got to date Mary back in 1997. But you don’t know the definition of the word retirement. You created the greatest dramabomb ever when you un-retired, then left for the New York Jets, then flopped.
  • Pretty please? Now we hear word that you’re talking to the Minnesota Vikings about a QB position. Why? Did Mississippi get a little old and tired for you? Stay at home. Mow the lawn. Cook some burgers on the grill. Run for school board president. Anything, ANYTHING, but play again. PLEEEEAAAASSEE? source

05 May 2009 18:47

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Politics, U.S.: Timothy Geithner celebrates HIS 100th day. How’s he doin’?

  • He is faced with so many challenges, so many financial stalls to muck out, that it may be a long time before we can measure his results beyond his growing skill at projecting confidence.
  • Daily Beast blogger Allan Dodds Frank • In an analysis piece on Geithner so far. He says the treasury secretary has had so much on his plate compared to his predecessors that we have to focus on him in the long-term rather than by short-term results, which thus far have alternated between nightmarish and redemptive. • source

04 May 2009 19:50

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Politics, U.S.: Indiana governor Mitch Daniels to GOP: Quit yer whining

  • I hear Republicans whining about, you know, the Democrats not being bipartisan. You know, ‘We weren’t included in this, we weren’t at the table in that.’ Well, get over it, that’s the way those folks are.
  • Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels • On the GOP’s current also-ran status, and why this might be a good thing long-term. He says it just provides them the opportunity to come up with alternative solutions to pitch. Even if you’re not at the big kids’ table, you can still be the smart kids. • source

04 May 2009 08:21

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Politics, Tech: Dear newspapers: A widescreen Kindle sounds smart, but …

  • I implore newspapers not to put too much stock in these big screen Kindles. I know the options are awfully thin as to what can save you, and the Kindle is a potentially sexy savior; but it is not the answer.
  • MG Siegler • Techcrunch blogger, on the possibility of Amazon throwing a hail-mary pass to newspapers in the form of a wide-screen Kindle this week. It won’t work, he says, mainly because newspapers are a different kind of beast from books. He notes that it might cost a lot more and that the place a type of product like this could really help consumers is textbooks. We’re prone to agree. By the way, Hearst is working on something like this. By the way, super-smart newspaper consultant Steve Yelvington agrees. • source

03 May 2009 20:28

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Politics, World: Dear Egyptian officials: You’re overreacting on swine flu

First, Egypt’s like, kill every pig. Now they’re like, forcibly take the pigs away, despite the fact that they won’t get people sick. WTF? source
 

01 May 2009 12:00

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Politics: Opinion: How do you become a genius? Work really, really hard.

  • The key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not a divine spark. It’s not I.Q., a generally bad predictor of success, even in realms like chess. Instead, it’s deliberate practice.
  • New York Times columnist David Brooks • On the spark that leads to genius – great amounts of work. He points, specifically, to Mozart and Tiger Woods, two who became leaders in their field because they put the work in to become leaders. • source

30 Apr 2009 21:32

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Politics: “Do you feel safer?” Rep. John Boehner tweaks our fear of stuff

  • Are you scared yet? We’re totally scared. We totally feel unsafe. Run for the hills! We’re all gonna die! PANIC!!!! AHH!!!!!! Thanks, Rep. John Boehner!source

29 Apr 2009 09:40

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Politics, U.S.: 100 days: Why is 100 days in office such a big deal?

  • Blame it on FDR. Franklin Roosevelt tried pushing through a boatload of legislation quickly at the height of the Great Depression, and mostly succeeded. If anything, Obama has gotten closest to FDR’s high standard for getting stuff done. A political science professor says it best: “There is no magic to the first 100 days,” said Ross Baker of Rutgers University. “I think people are always looking for a marker or some sort of guidepost.” source