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14 Feb 2009 09:31

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Biz, U.S.: Obama has his stimulus package – he just needs to sign it

  • I will sign this legislation into law shortly, and we’ll begin making the immediate investments necessary to put people back to work doing the work America needs done.
  • President Barack Obama • During his weekly radio address, on the passage of the $787 billion stimulus package he pushed through Congress. He hoped to get bipartisan support but it didn’t happen, with the bill passing along party lines. • source

13 Feb 2009 15:57

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Biz, U.S.: How it all fell apart for Peanut Corp. of America

How did this happen? The company seems to have put profits before public safety. source

13 Feb 2009 15:46

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Biz, U.S.: Bankruptcy? That’s nuts.

13 Feb 2009 15:31

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Biz, U.S., World: How do you fix a war-tarnished brand name? Two letters.

  • Xe security firm Blackwater’s new (dumb) name for itself source

13 Feb 2009 15:06

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U.S.: On the doomed Buffalo plane: A prominent 9/11 widow

  • We know she was on that plane, and now she’s with him.
  • Sue Bourque • sister of Beverly Eckert, who was on the plane that crashed in Buffalo. Eckert’s husband, Sean Rooney, died in the September 11, 2001 attacks, and she became a noted advocate for victims’ families as part of the group Voices of September 11. Eckert, along with other family members of victims, met with President Barack Obama just a week ago. • source

13 Feb 2009 10:32

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U.S.: Microsoft wants to be Apple, have its own retail outlets

  • Putting players in place Yesterday, MS named David Porter, a former Wal-Mart and Dreamworks Animation exec, as vice president of its retail stores. Taking a cue from Apple, the stores would sell computers with Microsoft software on them, as well as non-PC products like Zunes and Xboxes. Since starting their stores, Apple has made out like gangbusters and cut into MS’ market share. source
  • Putting players in place Yesterday, MS named David Porter, a former Wal-Mart and Dreamworks Animation exec, as vice president of its retail stores. Taking a cue from Apple, the stores would sell computers with Microsoft software on them, as well as non-PC products like Zunes and Xboxes. Since starting their stores, Apple has made out like gangbusters and cut into MS’ market share.
  • What we imagine We think this could perhaps be the ninth layer of hell if done wrong. Just imagine – stores with Songsmith karaoke bars, walls lined with numerous versions of Windows, and repeated showings of those terrible Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates commercials on giant TV screens. And honestly, we’d be afraid of getting locked in the store overnight by a blue screen of death. source
  • Putting players in place Yesterday, MS named David Porter, a former Wal-Mart and Dreamworks Animation exec, as vice president of its retail stores. Taking a cue from Apple, the stores would sell computers with Microsoft software on them, as well as non-PC products like Zunes and Xboxes. Since starting their stores, Apple has made out like gangbusters and cut into MS’ market share.
  • What we imagine We think this could perhaps be the ninth layer of hell if done wrong. Just imagine – stores with Songsmith karaoke bars, walls lined with numerous versions of Windows, and repeated showings of those terrible Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates commercials on giant TV screens. And honestly, we’d be afraid of getting locked in the store overnight by a blue screen of death.
  • Bad timing? Yeah, nothing against the idea or anything, guys, but you realize we’re in a recession, right? You guys laid off people recently, too, so it’s not exactly like you should be unaware of this fact. And on top of that, one of your biggest retail outlets, Circuit City, bit the big one. Not to tell you not to do this, guys, but is this really the best use of your time? source

13 Feb 2009 09:34

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U.S.: Wanna help the octet’s mom, Nadya Suleman? Donate!

Yeah, that’s right, she wants you to donate money to pay for her poor decision-making. source
 

13 Feb 2009 07:36

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U.S.: Hooray! Another peanut butter plant shut down!

  • Peanut Corp. of America nixes its Texas plant, too. The company, in the midst of a world of pain due to a major salmonella outbreak involving its Georgia plant, had to close its Plainview, Texas, plant due to finding filth and debris near a production area. All of the products ever made at the plant were recalled too, going all the way back to 2005. Which means your favorite nutty product is going off the shelf. source

13 Feb 2009 07:23

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U.S.: In the words of a man who witnessed the crash

  • I did not see any landing gear. I saw the underbelly of the plane fairly well. There was nothing burning on the plane and no physical damage. Nothing seemed wrong, except it was on a bad path.
  • Tony Tatro • A man who witnessed the plane crash while he was driving. He also noted that the plane was unusually loud before it crashed into a home in Clarence Center, N.Y., outside of Buffalo • source

13 Feb 2009 07:18

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U.S.: A major plane crash – with a major toll – near Buffalo

  • 49 people, including 4 crew, died in last night’s fiery crash source