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19 Jul 2009 11:42

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Politics, U.S.: Is NASA just a major financial boondoggle for the U.S.?

  • We know what we got from the interstate highway system—fast, easy transportation, the creation of the suburbs, an entire transformation of our way of life. What did we get economically from the space program, especially the manned portion? Much, much less.
  • BusinessWeek chief economist Michael Mandel • Pointing out the very low cost-benefit ratio of our space program. We’re not sure if financial benefit should be the only consideration of something like NASA, but points out that, with inflation considered, we spent $176 billion on NASA during the height of the space race era, 1962-1972. Comparatively, we spent $220 billion on highways during that same period. Like we said, not sure we agree, but something to consider. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

19 Jul 2009 10:58

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U.S.: None died, many hurt in yesterday’s San Francisco rail crash

  • 48 number of people who had to go to the hospital after the light rail crash source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Jul 2009 10:52

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U.S., World: The identity of the captured soldier in Afghanistan, confirmed

23-year-old Bowe R. Bergdahl, of Ketchum, Idaho, is scared he won’t be able to go home after being captured by the Taliban. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Jul 2009 23:41

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Tech, U.S.: President Obama’s peeps really dig this whole tweeting thing

  • It is on our White House Twitter, so yes, I can confirm.
  • A White House aide • On whether there was an upcoming presidential news conference scheduled. The White House Press Corps didn’t receive a direct official confirmation until two hours after the @whitehouse tweet – which kinda peeved them off. Reporter Julie Mason said, “If the administration wants to have a twitter conference, then Twitter is the way to go. For a press conference? Notify the press.” ZING!  • source
Posted by Nathalie Heiberg • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Jul 2009 16:26

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U.S.: Dun dun dun!!! Jumbo squid “menaces” the coast of San Diego

  • You can’t make this stuff up. Scuba divers off the coast of San Diego say the beaked Humboldt squid, a carnivorous and sometimes aggressive sea creature, has been engaging in some *pretty freaky* activity. Although their normal habitat is in deeper waters further south, they’ve been getting chummy with Californians – and the love isn’t mutual. One diver said a group of squid swam up to him, inspected him to see if he was edible and then kept hitting him on the back of the head. Err … how long until this becomes a giant blockbuster movie? source
Posted by Nathalie Heiberg • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Jul 2009 12:06

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U.S., World: The latest front for illegal immigrant drug-running: By sea

  • 136 people number of illegal immigrants arrested on the oceans in the fiscal year ended Oct. 30 source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Jul 2009 11:41

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U.S., World: It’s a giant party on the International Space Station right now

  • 13 people on the station; imagine it’s kinda like House Party 2 source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

17 Jul 2009 14:58

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Politics, U.S.: Obama sez black role models aren’t good enough

  • They might think they’ve got a pretty good jump shot or a pretty good flow, but our kids can’t all aspire to be the next LeBron or Lil Wayne. I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, not just ballers and rappers.
  • President Barack Obama • Speaking at last night’s NAACP 100th anniversary dinner. The president has largely avoided taking on issues of race in his presidency, letting his actions speak for themselves, but spoke openly about the racial divide at the dinner, saying “the pain of discrimination is still felt in America.” But of all the comments he made, this one strikes the hardest. Obama isn’t saying that either LeBron or Lil Wayne are bad on their own, but they set terrible examples for children. You don’t want to lean too hard on the “scientists or engineers” angle here, but he has a solid point. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Jul 2009 11:05

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Biz, U.S.: Michigan hits a level of unemployment few states have hit

  • 15.2% the highest level in any state since 1984 source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Jul 2009 22:34

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U.S.: The fastest route to aggravating a professor: writing about their politics

  • You think you’re so [expletive] cute with your little column. I read your piece and all you want is attention. You’re just like Bill O’Reilly. You just want to get up on your [expletive] soapbox and have people look at you.
  • A faculty member at the University of Oregon • To Dan Lawton, regarding his column on the lack of Republican professors at the school. He wrote that having two registered Republicans and 98 registered Democrats on staff was a bit too much of a disparity for his liking. Lawton’s column caused quite an uproar, garnering 68 comments (and counting) plus a whack-load of responses from people both praising and criticizing his observation. The comment above fits in the latter category, as you probably guessed.  • source
Posted by Nathalie Heiberg • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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