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08 Apr 2009 23:52

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Biz, Politics: We’re using this site to protest the Associated Press tomorrow

  • We’re only using AP content tomorrow. Consider it civil disobedience. The Associated Press has made a lot of questionable decisions lately, what with that whole going against bloggers and Google News thing. But the latest takes the cake – they went after a radio station and AP affiliate for embedding a YouTube video on their site. (WTF?) AP put up the embed code on YouTube for people to link. So, as a protest, tomorrow, we’ll only post news from AP sites. We want them to get hits from us because they’re great. We hope the AP understands. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Apr 2009 10:12

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Culture, Music, Politics: Dear Eminem: The formula’s wearing very thin

  • We get it, man. Marshall, you’re one of the biggest pop stars in the world, and this is the make-or-break moment. Critics, who howled in disappointment at “Encore,” are wanting “Relapse” (out in May) to be a return to form. Fans are looking for the most notorious rapper of the last decade to start making hits again. But could you at least make it a little more surprising? source
  • We get it, man. Marshall, you’re one of the biggest pop stars in the world, and this is the make-or-break moment. Critics, who howled in disappointment at “Encore,” are wanting “Relapse” (out in May) to be a return to form. Fans are looking for the most notorious rapper of the last decade to start making hits again. But could you at least make it a little more surprising?
  • The video Eminem is one of maybe four artists – Michael Jackson, Weird Al and Weezer being the other three – who nails the videos every time. “We Made You,” the first single from “Relapse,” is no exception. With pop-culture riffs all over the place, it manages to nail Jessica Simpson, “Star Trek” (see Dre as Capt. Kirk; LOL) and a host of other media icons with ease. source
  • We get it, man. Marshall, you’re one of the biggest pop stars in the world, and this is the make-or-break moment. Critics, who howled in disappointment at “Encore,” are wanting “Relapse” (out in May) to be a return to form. Fans are looking for the most notorious rapper of the last decade to start making hits again. But could you at least make it a little more surprising?
  • The video Eminem is one of maybe four artists – Michael Jackson, Weird Al and Weezer being the other three – who nails the videos every time. “We Made You,” the first single from “Relapse,” is no exception. With pop-culture riffs all over the place, it manages to nail Jessica Simpson, “Star Trek” (see Dre as Capt. Kirk; LOL) and a host of other media icons with ease.
  • However … … this is exactly the kind of song and exactly the kind of video that Eminem releases as a first single – and a decade in, and his aim’s getting a little off. Riffs on Bret Michaels and Portia di Rossi? Really? And we can see a few Republicans getting uppity over Sarah Palin’s trashing. Marshall, you need a new trick; this one’s just old and tired. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

07 Apr 2009 01:29

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Biz, Politics: Dear Associated Press: You’re not the only game in town

  • The dispute The Associated Press, one of the most-quoted and most-highly-regarded wire services, wants to battle Web sites who use their content – even under commentary and fair use standards – head-on. “We can no longer stand by and watch others walk off with our work under some very misguided, unfounded legal theories,” said AP chair Dean Singleton, who we cited directly from an insightful AP article on the topic. source
  • The dispute The Associated Press, one of the most-quoted and most-highly-regarded wire services, wants to battle Web sites who use their content – even under commentary and fair use standards – head-on. “We can no longer stand by and watch others walk off with our work under some very misguided, unfounded legal theories,” said AP chair Dean Singleton, who we cited directly from an insightful AP article on the topic.
  • Our suggestion The wire service currently is still debating how to do this, but here’s how we think they should handle it. They should set up a satellite, AP-1, put it into orbit, implant mind chips into their audience and whenever someone even thinks about reading a newspaper article anywhere besides a newspaper, they’ll get a small, corrective electric shock. Sound idiotic, malformed and unrealistic? That’s because it is, just like this stupid idea. source
  • The dispute The Associated Press, one of the most-quoted and most-highly-regarded wire services, wants to battle Web sites who use their content – even under commentary and fair use standards – head-on. “We can no longer stand by and watch others walk off with our work under some very misguided, unfounded legal theories,” said AP chair Dean Singleton, who we cited directly from an insightful AP article on the topic.
  • Our suggestion The wire service currently is still debating how to do this, but here’s how we think they should handle it. They should set up a satellite, AP-1, put it into orbit, implant mind chips into their audience and whenever someone even thinks about reading a newspaper article anywhere besides a newspaper, they’ll get a small, corrective electric shock. Sound idiotic, malformed and unrealistic? That’s because it is, just like this stupid idea.
  • We’ll just use Reuters If this crazy idea that a bunch of out-of-touch newspaper publishers conjured up gains legs, it’s OK. There are lots of other places to gather content. And to blame this on blogs and Google News, this is beyond unwise; you could speed up the very road to irrelevancy that you’re trying to prevent with a move like this. Only people who don’t understand the Internet would suggest this idea. Good job screwing it up, old guys. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Apr 2009 11:04

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Politics, U.S.: Obama adviser: Bush a “statesman,” Cheney a jerk

  • [President Bush] has behaved like a statesman. And as I’ve said before, here and elsewhere, I just don’t think the memo got passed down to the vice president.
  • Top Obama adviser David Axelrod • On former President Bush’s relative silence on the Obama administration (Bush said last month that Obama “deserves my silence”), which contrasts with Dick Cheney’s increased public profile. It was like the dude just showed up after not being around for eight years to complain about Obama! • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Apr 2009 20:34

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Politics, U.S.: Key piece of commentary on the Blago indictment

  • We can only hope the former governor will not view this indictment as a green light for another publicity tour. Rod Blagojevich deserves his day in court, but the people of Illinois deserve a break.
  • Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois • On the indictment of ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. What, Dick, do you have something against Larry King? • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Apr 2009 22:56

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Biz, Politics: Editorial: Carmakers could have pulled the electric trigger long ago

  • In Michigan, we are doing everything we can to become the home of this new electric auto industry – and to the jobs this industry will create.
  • Gov. Jennifer Granholm • On the rebuilding of the industry that’s the cornerstone of that state. GM had a chance to do the electric car right and a captive audience, and they limited its appeal and let it die. It seems like a sad commentary on our country’s priorities that it takes near-bankruptcy to convince the auto industry to properly give electric cars an actual shot. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

01 Apr 2009 01:53

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Politics: Commentary: April Fool’s Jokes about politics aren’t funny

  • “A conservative lesbian” offers a great example. Cynthia Yockey’s article, titled “Obama confesses to treason and resigns, co-conspirators are in custody, Hillary Clinton sworn in as president,” imagines Obama getting arrested for being everything that bat$&^# insane conservatives say he is. Ms. Yockey, April Fool’s Day jokes are supposed to be funny. Make something up about how they found cheese on the moon. Pull a prank on your boss. But don’t subject people to stuff like this. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 4 Comments • Permalink
 

31 Mar 2009 22:02

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Biz, Politics: Opinion: If GM or Chrysler fail, is nationalization really that bad?

  • It’s the kind of daunting task that calls for a great national project. Nationalizing the first automaker to go would give us a lab for that project, and save American manufacturing to boot.
  • Non Vivant Blogger John Zwick • Suggesting the idea of a nationally-reworked car company; Zwick suggests that the it would allow the country to move towards cleaner, greener cars and into a more modern approach to an industry famous for bloat. We’re sure some might claim it’s socialism or *gasp* communism, but that’s why this article is clearly marked as opinion, so you jerks can’t claim we’re the ones saying it. As it is, Zwick is making a reasoned argument. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Mar 2009 20:23

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Culture, Politics: Some fat guy with a camera is stalking D.C. lawmakers

Michael Moore is working on his next movie. (It’s about the economy. Duh. Why wouldn’t it be?) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Mar 2009 09:59

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Music, Politics: We’re going to use this post to rail against Billy Corgan

  • Smashing suckage Hi, guys. We’re ShortFormBlog. You may know us from such posts as this one and that one. Anyway, we’re here to talk about a serious problem we’ve noticed lately – Billy Corgan’s ruining the legacy of his band, The Smashing Pumpkins. It started slowly. Then it became more obvious. Now, it’s just too much and we think Billy should stop ruining our positive memories of watching his band on MTV. source
  • Smashing suckage Hi, guys. We’re ShortFormBlog. You may know us from such posts as this one and that one. Anyway, we’re here to talk about a serious problem we’ve noticed lately – Billy Corgan’s ruining the legacy of his band, The Smashing Pumpkins. It started slowly. Then it became more obvious. Now, it’s just too much and we think Billy should stop ruining our positive memories of watching his band on MTV.
  • Lame things he did Earlier this month, Billy Corgan made his opinions known on two fronts that have the potential to hurt fans. Know the RIAA-supported Performance Rights Act, which would give Corgan money every time “Landslide” plays? He testified to Congress about it. Know that heavily-criticized Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger that’s on the table? He wrote a letter to Congress supporting it. source
  • Smashing suckage Hi, guys. We’re ShortFormBlog. You may know us from such posts as this one and that one. Anyway, we’re here to talk about a serious problem we’ve noticed lately – Billy Corgan’s ruining the legacy of his band, The Smashing Pumpkins. It started slowly. Then it became more obvious. Now, it’s just too much and we think Billy should stop ruining our positive memories of watching his band on MTV.
  • Lame things he did Earlier this month, Billy Corgan made his opinions known on two fronts that have the potential to hurt fans. Know the RIAA-supported Performance Rights Act, which would give Corgan money every time “Landslide” plays? He testified to Congress about it. Know that heavily-criticized Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger that’s on the table? He wrote a letter to Congress supporting it.
  • The final final straw Recently, Jimmy Chamberlain – the only other member of the band still left from the legacy era, Tinted Windows notwithstanding – left Smashing Pumpkins due to a desire not to “cash the check,” as he put it. (Is he uncomfortable with selling out his band’s legacy?) Now, the band is going to have an open call for drummers. Limp Bizkit did something like this, and we know they suck. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 8 Comments • Permalink
 
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