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15 Dec 2010 22:17

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U.S.: Border agent’s death suggests smugglers becoming more dangerous

  • 111 unlucky border agents have died in the line of duty since 1919
  • one of those agents was killed in a gunfight on the Arizona border last night
  • 17 months since an agent was shot and killed in the line of duty source
  • » Why this is different: In the past, when a drug deal’s been going on at the border, the drug smugglers usually run away. (No, it’s not like “No Country for Old Men” or “Machete,” strangely enough, guys.) But this attack, which killed agent Brian Terry, suggests that they’re becoming more willing to fight the authorities. And this is bad. The suspects are still on the run, by the way.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Dec 2010 20:54

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U.S.: NYC TV meteorologist arrested for filing false rape report

  • accusing Heidi Jones, an on-air personality and meteorologist for WABC in New York City, claimed that she was sexually assaulted in Central Park, then ran into her alleged victim a couple months later.
  • recanting Jones, when questioned about the accusations by police, recanted her story and said she made it up. She was later arrested for filing a false report and has been suspended by her employer. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Dec 2010 11:21

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U.S.: NYT decides to show off by making insane demographic map

  • There’s everyone else, and then there’s the NYT. And we’re proven this fact yet again with his crazy demographic map based on U.S. Census data. You can get very detailed with this thang. We think they’re just showing off this time. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Dec 2010 10:41

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U.S.: Ineffective gunman Clay Duke had an extra box of bullets on him

  • 11 number of bullets fired by Clay Duke at the Bay District School Board; none of them connected, even though he was point-blank
  • two number of bullets fired by security guard Mike Jones, who connected both times; Duke then killed himself after the incident
  • yes Duke had more bullets; he had an extra clip and an entire box of bullets; considering how bad of a shot he was, he needed them source
  • » Why did he snap?: Duke was apparently upset that his wife, a teacher, was fired by the school district, based in Panama City, Fla., earlier this year. Oh yeah, Duke asked a couple of ROTC members that he ran into if their weapons were loaded. Should’ve asked the security guard. That said, we’re very happy that the intended victims weren’t hurt by this guy. Whew.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Dec 2010 23:46

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Politics, U.S.: GOP donors not thrilled about Michael Steele’s reelection bid

  • The long and short of it is I have a hard time finding any major donor who would trust [Michael Steele] to straighten out the RNC and run a principled and ethical fundraising operation…My own slogan is now, Anybody But Steele.
  • Former RNC Finance Chair Al Hoffman • On Michael “Drill, Baby, Drill” Steele’s announcement that he will run for a second term as RNC chair. Lots of big-money GOP donors have pledged stop giving to the RNC if Steele wins his reelection bid. Some worry that, should Steele win, the RNC might not even be able to raise enough money to fund the 2012 GOP Convention in Florida. source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Dec 2010 23:29

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Culture, U.S.: A year’s worth of movies in one six-minute YouTube video

  • This is really, really cool: Some very talented editor by the name of “Gen I” took all (or close to all) of the films released in 2010, and truncated them down to this six-minute montage. What’s impressive about this is a) the seamless blending of the clips, and b) the sheer variety of films represented. We spotted a clip from “Animal Kingdom,” a film we’re pretty sure was seen by about ten people total. The music is spot-on, as well, and it’s really fun to try and spot your favorite flicks as they pop up. Film buffs owe it to themselves to check this out.
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Dec 2010 23:22

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U.S.: Worst gunman ever: Guy holds up meeting, opens fire, misses

  • Look. This was a scary incident. This guy, Clay Duke, could’ve hurt a lot of people. But … man. This video makes us wonder. He started firing, and managed to hit absolutely nobody. They initially thought he was firing blanks at the Panama City, Fla. school board members … but no. He’s just perhaps the worst gunman ever. (That giant, inexplicable “V” on the wall? Also Duke’s handiwork.) During the incident, a security guard shot at Duke, who later shot himself in the head and died. And we have the entire thing on video. Wanna know more? Well, a reporter on the scene wrote an entertaining, colorful eyewitness account. Worth the read. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

14 Dec 2010 20:54

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U.S.: Air Force blocks newspapers that published Wikileaks materials

  • 25 news sites blocked by the Air Force over Wikileaks fears source
  • » What’s the point? Not allowing people to read The New York Times and The Guardian seems a little extreme, and the effect is futile, anyway. Why’s that? Well, see, all they have to do to read the cables is GO HOME AND FIRE UP THEIR LAPTOP. Wow, that’s some effective security there, guys. By the way, the Army, Navy and Marines aren’t doing this, and the Department of Defense is formally distancing itself from the Air Force on this issue.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Dec 2010 08:49

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U.S.: Three reasons the health-care ruling isn’t a very big deal

  • first Two other courts have already ruled that it’s constitutional. The difference here? The judge this time was a Bush appointee and partly owns a campaign consulting firm that fought against the bill. (Conflict of interest?)
  • second The only part of the law that Judge Henry E. Hudson overturned? The individual mandate, which forces people to buy insurance. He turned over nothing else in the bill, even though that’s what opponents wanted.
  • third And, the most alarming part for those against the bill? He wrote his decision very narrowly, ensuring that only the one section would be affected. And he didn’t stop the health care bill from being enacted, either. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Dec 2010 20:36

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U.S.: Police shoot, kill drunk guy holding pistol-shaped water nozzle

  • See this thing up here? That’s right. Water nozzle. Too bad police in Long Beach, Calif. didn’t notice that the drunk guy holding it wasn’t actually holding a gun. Unfortunately, he pointed it at the officers, who then shot him. Now, Douglas Zerby, who was waiting for his friend to pick him up on a street corner, is dead. His older sister, Eden Marie Biele, while being justifiably outraged, offered this thought of the day: “We’re outraged. You can’t get drunk in the city of Long Beach and not get shot? You’re trying to do the responsible thing and not drive and you get shot? Is that standard protocol? They didn’t wait for backup, they just shot him.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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