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12 Mar 2011 18:37

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U.S.: Fukushima: Dozens of people could’ve been exposed to radiation

  • 160 people are at risk of radiation according to the Japan Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency
  • nine people have shown signs of radiation so far, based on early tests by multiple authorities source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

12 Mar 2011 17:12

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U.S.: Wisconsin’s “Fabulous 14” comes back, parties with protesters

  • I’m one of the Fabulous 14 and I’m so proud. We are back to unite and fight with our supporters. We gave them hope. They gave us inspiration.
  • Democratic Wisconsin State Sen. Spencer Coggs • Discussing his return to Wisconsin after nearly three weeks of stalemate status. They were welcomed by the protesters in Madison. Republicans tried really hard to get them back – holding their paychecks, taking away staffer’s parking and access to copy machines, trying to pass even crazier crap than the collective bargaining thang – but ultimately, it was the roundabout sneak attack which finally brought the Fabulous 14 to the land of cheese and cheap beer. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Mar 2011 20:07

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U.S.: Obama completely sidesteps Bradley Manning treatment question

  • With respect to Private Manning, I have actually asked the Pentagon whether or not the procedures that have been taken in terms of his confinement are appropriate and are meeting our basic standards. They assure me that they are.
  • President Barack Obama • Saying something so bewildering about the treatment of Bradley Manning that he forced us to post something unrelated to Japan. “I can’t go into details about some of their concerns,” he added, “but some of this has to do with Private Manning’s safety as well.” Wow. He really said this? On the plus side, at least it’s far enough on his radar that he’s actually saying something about it. But it would’ve been nicer had he said something like this: “I don’t like our treatment of Bradley and have asked the Pentagon to adjust.” That’s what our president should’ve said about that naked guy our government is holding in Quantico brig. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Mar 2011 19:35

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U.S.: Japan’s been offered a lot of international help; they need it

  • 70+ government rescue teams have offered Japan help source
  • » We couldn’t have said it better: “Japan is possibly the most prepared country in the world,” says the International Rescue Committee’s Michael Kocher. “But obviously the scale of this is tremendous and that will sorely test even Japan’s capacity.”
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Mar 2011 15:35

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U.S.: Japanese tsunami claims first American victims

  • four Californians in Crescent City have been swept out to sea by the tsunami
  • twoof them have been rescued and taken to safety
  • one is confirmed dead; the fourth is, as of now, unaccounted for source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Mar 2011 10:31

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U.S.: Tsunami may hit Californian shores in a couple of minutes

  • yes A tsunami warning has been issued to Northern California; Crescent City’s shores could be hit any minute now, with San Francisco and Santa Barbara following within the hour.
  • however…It’s probably not a big deal; the estimated wave heights in California are only around 4ft, and none of San Francisco has been evacuated. Still, steer clear of any beaches. source
  • » Two of us at ShortFormBlog live in California, and despite the fact that four feet waves don’t sound too intimidating, we’re going to resist the temptation (however minimal) to go to any of our beaches today. To our fellow Californians, please play it safe, because with Mother Nature, you never know. Officials say the north end of Monterey Bay is expected to be hit the hardest, and these things can continue for up to twelve hours after the initial hit.
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Mar 2011 20:17

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Politics, U.S.: Congress continues working the budget layaway circuit

  • two number of weeks the government gave itself to figure out a budget plan by putting one on layaway
  • zero number of spending resolutions that passed both chambers of Congress in that two-week period
  • three number of weeks the government will likely put a new budget on layaway to prevent a shutdown source
  • » Oh yeah: The next temporary deal could include restrictions that limit how and when the budget can be used – such as, for example, no money spent on the new health care law. Hrm.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

10 Mar 2011 15:50

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U.S.: Chaotic protests, dischord in Madison, Wisconsin reaching fever pitch

  • Chaos at the capitol: As a means to reduce the amount of protests and (legitimately worrisome) rage in Madison, the state GOP’s sudden vote last night hasn’t been too helpful. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Mar 2011 15:26

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U.S.: The wholly expected response to last night’s drama

  • legal complaint filed against Wisconsin GOP: This was an expected and obvious counter-move by Wisconsin’s Democratic Party, on the heels of the union stripping fracas that boiled over last night. Greg Sargent’s The Plum Line blog has a link to the full complaint, and as we don’t have any legal background we can’t speak to its strength. That said, as protests continue to rage and recent polls forecast a grim political price for the state’s Republicans, any protracted, public fight over this figures to benefit pro-union advocates. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Mar 2011 14:39

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U.S.: Ohio Gov. John Kasich would like you to know he can crush unions too

  • Wisconsin As anybody with an even mild interest in politics now knows, Gov. Scott Walker’s “budget” bill is not about the budget, so much as it’s a duplicitous effort to crush public unions at seemingly any political price. Police and firefighters, being somewhat harder to scapegoat than teachers, are exempt.
  • Ohio Don’t look now, but Gov. John Kasich is the mega-Walker. The newly elected Republican (and former Bill O’Reilly fill-in host) has an even more draconian hope for unions, stripping broad bargaining rights (like health care), and even disallowing strikes. Oh, and no free pass for police or firefighters. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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