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06 Mar 2011 21:24

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U.S.: Obama’s thinking of pulling oil from our backup supply

  • problem Gas prices are rising rapidly, as a result of the drama going on in the Middle East at the moment. Oh no, $4 a gallon? Whatever shall we do? Society will fail miserably without cheap petrol in our tanks!
  • solution? Obama’s considering tapping into our strategic oil reserves, according to White House chief of staff, William Daley. Whew. All this excitement! Where is our fainting couch when we need it? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Mar 2011 11:32

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U.S.: Just chill out, bro: Montana may ditch medical marijuana

Montana’s medical marijuana industry is thriving. But some legislators are up in arms about who’s really benefiting and want to repeal the voter-implemented law. Boo! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Mar 2011 11:17

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U.S.: More people starting to notice Bradley Manning’s crappy treatment

  • The intention is not to cause any sort of humiliation or embarrassment. The intention is to ensure the safety and security of the detainee and make sure he is able to stand trial.
  • 1st Lt. Brian Villiard • Explaining why the folks in the Quantico brig are forcing Bradley Manning to sleep naked. If that explanation doesn’t make much sense to you, you’re not alone. Rep. Dennis Kucinich recently ripped Manning’s treatment as going against the Army’s own field manual. He wants to talk to Manning in the flesh. “My request to visit with Pfc. Manning must not be delayed further,” he said. When a member of Congress gets involved, you know something’s wrong. (On a side note … we think it’s great that Manning’s treatment is getting wider coverage from sources outside of Salon. Glenn Greenwald is great, but when The Washington Post and CBS News are giving it attention, it becomes clear that it’s a major PR problem for the military.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Mar 2011 15:36

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U.S.: How does the Westboro Baptist Church stay tax-exempt?

  • what Despite their status as being particularly offensive and their strong advocacy of various political issues, the Westboro Baptist Church has managed to stay tax-exempt, despite their 501(c)(3)/nonprofit status preventing certain kinds of advocacy.
  • whyThey know the law really well – note that the church never advocates specifically against legislation, but against groups and people it doesn’t like. So while they may not fight Prop 8’s repeal, the Phelps family advocates against homosexuality in general. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Mar 2011 13:28

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Tech, U.S.: Really smart computers replacing rooms full of lawyers

  • You tend to split a lot fewer infinitives when you think the FBI might be reading your mail.
  • Cataphora Chief Technology Officer Steve Roberts • Explaining the benefit of his company’s software, which can intelligently parse phrases and figure out when someone is changing their tone (presumably because they have something to hide). This is useful in law cases, particularly ones with a ton of documents – you know, the kind that once required armies of lawyers to do the dirty work. They’re just one of the companies who work in this pretty neat field, and their accuracy rate is actually way better than the people the machines are replacing. “Think about how much money had been spent to be slightly better than a coin toss,” said Bill Herr, a former chemical company lawyer who once herded lawyers in rooms to dig through documents en masse. Like cats. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Mar 2011 17:14

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U.S.: Wes Leonard: A perfect season, a winning basket … then, tragedy.

  • That last shot Wes Leonard made? That was perhaps the greatest moment of a life that ended too soon. The Fennville, Mich. high-school basketball star made the winning basket in a game that led his team to an undefeated season. It was a great moment for a small town, but it was a victory that came with an unspeakable, unbelievable tragedy. Leonard collapsed and died soon after, a victim of cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart. A gut punch to say the least. Our heart goes out to his family and friends. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Mar 2011 15:35

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U.S.: Jared Loughner faces fresh charges in Arizona shooting rampage

  • 49 total charges for the gunman who shot Gabrielle Giffords source
  • » Focusing on the other victims: This time, the charges focus less on Gabrielle Giffords (the only wounded victim still in the hospital or in rehabilitation) and more on those killed or wounded in the attack. Some of the charges include murder charges in the death of a federal judge and congressional aide, as well as charges revolving around causing death or injury at a federally-provided event. Let’s be honest, though. No matter how many charges they nail him for – or at least try to – the fact of the matter is, he’ll be punished severely when he’s convicted.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

03 Mar 2011 22:29

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U.S.: Harvard finally recognizes the ROTC again – four decades later

  • then The ROTC was blocked from Harvard’s campus at the height of the Vietnam War. Later, the group was blocked largely because of the military’s record on gay rights.
  • nowLargely because of the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” Harvard will now formally recognize the Naval ROTC. It only took 41 years for the change to happen. source
  • » Harvard’s take: “Our renewed relationship affirms the vital role that the members of our Armed Forces play in serving the nation and securing our freedoms, while also affirming inclusion and opportunity as powerful American ideals,” said university president Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust. She sounds very positive about the change, doesn’t she?
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Mar 2011 21:52

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U.S., World: Obama: “Full range” of military options on the table in Libya

  • YES Obama could bring U.S. military action to Libya source
  • » It’s not off the table: “We are looking at every option that’s out there,” he said, “in addition to the non-military actions that we’ve taken. I want to make sure that those full range of options are available to me.” He’s stressing great care, however, and it doesn’t sound like the first option on the table. (Nor does it sound like it would necessitate a large military campaign.) Do you guys think that Obama should lead us in this direction? Should this be our role in this particular crisis?
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Mar 2011 14:55

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U.S.: Memo to America: Simple as it sounds, sleep is important

  • 1 in 3 number of Americans surveyed by the Centers for Disease Control who reported inadvertently falling asleep at least once in a day
  • 1 in 20 number of Americans surveyed who admitted to falling asleep while behind the wheel of their car at least once in a month source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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