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28 Sep 2010 10:29

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U.S.: Pentagon-censored author can’t believe his book was burned

  • The whole premise smacks of retaliation. Someone buying 10,000 books to suppress a story in this digital age is ludicrous.
  • Army Reserve Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer • Regarding the Pentagon going out of its way to censor his memoir, “Operation Dark Heart” – by destroying thousands of copies. By the way, in case you’re wondering, it’s on the Kindle in digital form, but heavily redacted. Way to stand up for free speech, federal government! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Sep 2010 01:53

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Politics, U.S.: California Democrats edging out their opponents

  • thenWeeks ago, Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer seemed perilously close to losing their respective races for Governor and the Senate.
  • now Brown is now ahead of Meg Whitman for the first time in weeks, and Boxer has extended her lead over Carly Fiorina to eight points.
  • FOR A supposedly blue state, California was looking uncharacteristically hostile to Democrats as recently as last week. However, the latest USC/LA Times poll puts both Democrats ahead  of their GOP opponents (Boxer more comfortably so). Possible reasons for the turnaround include Whitman’s over-saturation of the  ad market (she’s spent $119 million so far on the race), and this brutal attack ad from Barbara Boxer. Whatever the reason, it’s a good day for Democrats in the Golden State. source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Sep 2010 22:44

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U.S.: Chicago’s next mayor? Rahm Emanuel probably leaving White House

  • We see nothing that will stop a run. But you don’t announce a campaign for mayor of Chicago in Washington, D.C. You leave and go home and finish your business there.
  • A White House staffer • Regarding Rahm Emanuel’s expected departure to make a run for mayor of Chicago. Come on, you knew it was coming, guys. The writing has been on the wall for a while. Emanuel is reportedly putting together his own team and making stuff happen. Emanuel will be missed – he’s the most-well-known figure in Obama’s staff and the brother of Jeremy Piven … kinda. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Sep 2010 10:58

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U.S.: Would Obama put his daughters in a D.C. public school? No.

  • He says that they’re really bad. And they have the potential to get worse thanks to the uncertain future of D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, a controversial, high-profile education reformer who may not last when Vincent Gray becomes mayor. Obama has a stake in this whole thing because of his daughters, both of whom attend the snazzy Sidwell private school. When asked whether they could get a comparable public education, he was blunt: “I’ll be blunt with you: The answer is no right now.” While he says he could get them in a good public school due to his connections, most parents don’t have his advantage. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Sep 2010 10:46

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U.S.: Obama wants to wiretap the Internet: Why you should worry

  • They are really asking for the authority to redesign services that take advantage of the unique, and now pervasive, architecture of the Internet. They basically want to turn back the clock and make Internet services function the way that the telephone system used to function.
  • Center for Democracy and Technology vice president James X. Dempsey • Explaining why the Obama administration is suddenly making a push to add wiretapping functions to the entire Internet – functions which they haven’t had and draw controversy every single time they come up. Law enforcement agents argue that it’s necessary to make it easier to do their jobs. Wanna know our feeling? If Obama follows through with this, it has the possibility to negate much of the positive goodwill he has among the Left. You thought Bush’s wiretapping desires were bad? This is miles worse. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Sep 2010 19:53

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U.S.: California leaning towards waving its pot flag high

  • 49% of residents support legalizing pot in the state via Prop. 19
  • 42% don’t think it should be legalized at the ballot
  • 9% were too stoned to know what was going on source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Sep 2010 10:24

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U.S.: Bishop Eddie Long plans to fight sex-abuse allegations

  • On the advice of counsel, I am not going to address the allegations and the attacks. I want this to be dealt with in the court of justice not the court of public opinion. I am going to fight. Fight very vigorously. Things New Birth has stood for … we will continue to do.
  • Bishop Eddie Long • In a press conference in the wake of the allegations against him, which include multiple lawsuits by young men who claim to have been coerced into sexual relationships. Long, a staunch anti-homosexuality pastor who flaunts his wealth, has been under huge amounts of pressure the last few days because of the lawsuits. We wish the kids suing Long and his church – and heck, his parishioners – the best; we have to imagine this must be hard all for you, no matter what happened. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

26 Sep 2010 10:07

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U.S.: The Pentagon gets all book-censory over a memoir

  • Apparently, The Pentagon didn’t want certain details getting out. So they took Army Reserve Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer’s book and reportedly destroyed a bunch of copies. Can’t wait until they hear about the Kindle. Some quick numbers on the incident:
  • 9,500 number of copies of “Operation Dark Heart” the Pentagon bought – and destroyed! Muahahahahah
  • $25.99 the cost of buying all those books at retail – a taxpayer cost of $246,905 according to our count source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Sep 2010 09:23

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U.S.: Getting people to eat veggies is like pulling teeth

  • 26%of people eat veggies three or more times a day source
  • 23% of all meals include a vegetable
  • 17%of meals at home include a salad
  • 5%of meals at restaurants are salads source
  • » And in case you’re wondering: No, that doesn’t include fries, guys.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Sep 2010 19:13

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U.S.: Federal judge to military: Reinstate lesbian Air Force member

  • Another major sign that the tide is turning. But beyond the larger political ammo it offers, it’s a major win for Major Margaret Witt, who was dismissed from the military as a result of her sexuality. In the two-week nonjury “bench” trial, brought with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, many of her co-workers supporter her. The Air Force, however, argued that they had to keep a consistent position on the issue for morale reasons. We’ll see what happens. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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