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12 Jun 2009 15:30

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Biz, U.S.: Hudson crash survivors had insurance from … AIG. Oh God.

  • I wish I had a hammer to get them to do the right thing. They’re riding a wave of feel-good opinion about how well the flight crew handled the bird strike.
  • Andrew J. Maloney • A partner the Kreindler & Kreindler law firm, on AIG’s bailing out of insurance claims for victims of US Airways Flight 1549, which Capt. Sully saved by landing in the Hudson River in New York, sure, but which meant some very tangible losses of stuff for passengers, along with injuries. And knowing that the public opinion is that everyone got off the plane unscathed, they’re taking advantage of this to not pay for damages. Jerks. • source

12 Jun 2009 11:16

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U.S.: A sample of the crazy opinions spouted by James von Brunn

  • The Holocaust is a lie. Obama was created by Jews. Obama does what Jew owners tell him to do. Jews captured America’s money. Jews control the mass media. The 1st Amendment is abrogated – henceforth.
  • James von Brunn • In a set of writings obtained by the FBI. Von Brunn, the dude who shot up the Holocaust Museum, apparently had a long history of things like this. One time, he threatened the owner of an art gallery with a gun for not selling his paintings. And his marriage crumbled in part because of his racist leanings. (His Web site, “Holy Western Empire,” is down, by the way.) • source

12 Jun 2009 10:59

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Biz, U.S.: *POOF* A bunch of our wealth just disappeared recently

  • $1.3 trillion is completely gone from households in 1Q ’09 source

12 Jun 2009 10:54

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Biz, U.S.: We’re in a better mood about the economy than we’ve been lately

  • 69 The current level of consumer sentiment, the highest in nine months source

12 Jun 2009 10:08

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Tech, U.S.: No, really this time: Analog is dead. TV is digital-only now.

You had months to get a digital converter or buy a new TV. They’ve been talking about it forever. You only have yourself to blame now. source

11 Jun 2009 21:52

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U.S.: Meet the d-bag who pretended to be a war-hardened marine

  • Hopefully the people that I hurt can in some way gain closure from that, and I myself don’t know what I can do short of leaving them alone and not being in their lives, to make that happen.
  • Richard Strandlof • Who, under the moniker Rick Duncan, claimed he was in the Pentagon on 9/11, survived a roadside bomb attack in Iraq, started a political lobbying group in Colorado, and – finally – got nailed on a minor traffic charge, which unraveled the whole stack of lies. He claims he suffers from an underdiagnosed mental illness. What’s it called, Richard? Liegnosis? • source

11 Jun 2009 21:12

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U.S.: That N.Y. state senate cluster^*#& is becoming a bigger one

  • One of the defectors says there isn’t enough Democratic support. Hiram Monserrate, one of the two guys responsible for leaving the Democratic-led New York State Senate majority in favor of a Republican-led one, walked out abruptly tonight, saying that there wasn’t enough support for the change and he needed to recruit more Democrats to help. So, which one of your alienated fellow party members are you going to hit up first, Hiram? Hope, like this guy, you like rejection. source
 

11 Jun 2009 20:48

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Biz, U.S.: Up in smoke: The tobacco industry is gonna get FDA-regulated

  • The vote In a historic Senate vote, with just 17 votes against it, Big Tobacco will see its cancer-causing product get treated just like a drug. The house already passed a bill We’re sure a bunch of cigarette industry lawyers are freaking out right now. source
  • The vote In a historic Senate vote, with just 17 votes against it, Big Tobacco will see its cancer-causing product get treated just like a drug. The house already passed a bill We’re sure a bunch of cigarette industry lawyers are freaking out right now.
  • The details On top of the longtime TV and radio advertising ban, flavored cigarettes (besides menthol) will be banned entirely, along with print ads in youth-oriented publications and cigarette vending machines in non-adult-oriented places. source
  • The vote In a historic Senate vote, with just 17 votes against it, Big Tobacco will see its cancer-causing product get treated just like a drug. The house already passed a bill We’re sure a bunch of cigarette industry lawyers are freaking out right now.
  • The details On top of the longtime TV and radio advertising ban, flavored cigarettes (besides menthol) will be banned entirely, along with print ads in youth-oriented publications and cigarette vending machines in non-adult-oriented places.
  • Public opinion Is this a good thing? Depends on who you ask. The tobacco companies of course hate it, and wellness groups love it. But some say the FDA isn’t up to the task, considering how nuts their last six months have been. source

11 Jun 2009 20:23

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Biz, U.S.: Big Health mounts a full-on assault against Obama’s plan

  • $6.4 million in 1Q ’09 to change the cycle to hardcore spin source

11 Jun 2009 10:57

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U.S.: Match.com meets its match in the form of a lonely Brooklyn man

  • Match’s policy causes severe emotional distress and anxiety for some [subscribers], including those who keep writing e-mails to one member after another and never hear back because he/she is writing to people who’ve canceled.
  • A lawsuit filed by Sean McGinn • In response to Match.com’s sucky policy of charging money and deceptively making it seem like all these women are interested in you when really you’re a lame bastard eating Cheetos and talking to yourself on the Internet. Have you tried Craigslist, Sean? Oh wait. • source