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15 Feb 2012 10:20

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World: Iran says it’s making its own nuclear fuel, doesn’t care what you jerks think

  • cause In a dramatic speech Wednesday, a white-lab-coat-clad Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran had figured out a way to produce its own domestically-made nuclear fuel. If true, this would be a big deal on the diplomatic front.
  • reaction For this and other reasons, both the U.S. and Europe are considering slamming the country with some super-strong financial sanctions, which have already led Iran to cut off oil exports to six European nations. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Feb 2012 22:01

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World: Americans are beginning to sour on foreign intervention

  • 63% of Americans believed, in March 2011, that the US had no obligation to intervene in Libya
  • 73% of Americans believe, as of today, that the US has no obligation to intervene in Syria source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Feb 2012 20:18

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U.S.: Researchers gradually deprive children of sleep over a century

  • 70 minutes of sleep taken away from children over 100 years source
  • » Between 1897 and 2009, 32 separate sets of sleeping guidelines for kids gradually suggested that children get less and less sleep — at a rate of about 0.71 fewer minutes each year. Despite this, parents over the year managed to fail at these declining expectations, with children getting on average of 37 fewer minutes of sleep each year. Why’s that? Depends on the era — at the turn of the 20th century, it was artificial light, radio and cinema; in the ’90s, it was video games, cell phones and the Internet. Let’s update these standards slightly: We blame Twitter and the iPad.
Posted by samimain • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Feb 2012 15:42

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Tech: Lancet report shows stem cells can heal scar tissue from heart attack

  • the problemWhen a person suffers a heart attack, their heart is deprived of oxygen, which causes a portion of the muscle to die. In recovery this becomes scar tissue, which can’t beat and help blood flow like a healthy heart muscle, making repeat issues much more likely.
  • a solution? Though the British Health Foundation qualifies that we’re still in “early days,” trials have taken place showing new, healthy heart muscle being created from a victim’s own stem cells. This is today’s exhibit A on why ongoing stem cell research matters. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Feb 2012 15:24

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Politics: Herman Cain says no to Dancing With The Stars

  • Can Herman dance? That was the question the producers of “Dancing With The Stars” were fixing to answer, but Cain has reportedly turned the offer down, with his executive assistant, Lisa Reichert, explaining thusly: “He can’t dance in an eight-count. He can only dance in a nine-count.” As if we didn’t know already – few know how to hammer a theme home like Cain and his people. (h/t imwithkanye, Photo by John Trainor) source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Feb 2012 15:21

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Politics: “Dogs Against Romney” protests at Westminster dog show

  • He clearly doesn’t understand his own dog. I just don’t see how any dog could enjoy being on top of a car for that long. Dogs enjoy sticking their head out for a little air, not being on top of a car.
  • Protester with “Dogs Against Romney” • Explaining why he joined a small group of demonstrators outside the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, protesting the treatment, by Mitt Romney, of his old dog Seamus. For the uninitiated: the Boston Globe reported that during a 1983 Romney family 12-hour road trip, the dog was put in a kennel (with a windshield) which was then tied to the roof of the car. That in and of itself has drawn the ire of animal rights proponents. Further, the dog began to relieve himself during the trip, but no new accommodation was made to the dog, then in a clear state of distress — Romney simply stopped at a gas station, cleaned up Seamus and hosed down the kennel, and kept on going. The journalist who broke the story reflects on and clarifies it here (there has been some misinformation about the incident since the story broke in 2007). source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Feb 2012 14:10

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World: Japanese activists want referendum on nuclear power in Osaka

  • then Last year, following the violent earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor was thrown into a state of emergency. System failure prevented adequate cooling of enriched uranium rods, causing a meltdown while hydrogen explosions rocked the plant.
  • nowJust under a year removed from the disaster, a group of Japanese activists have submitted a petition in Osaka (within Kansai Prefecture), calling for a referendum on nuclear power. Osaka is Japan’s second largest city behind Tokyo, and draws power from 11 nuclear reactors near the city. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Feb 2012 13:46

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Politics: Norris explains how Gingrich won the support of a Texas Ranger

  • How can the ‘alternative to Romney’ also be a Romney supporter?
  • Legendary actor and martial artist Chuck Norris • In an opinion piece, published today on World Net Daily, explaining his reasons for endorsing Newt Gingrich instead of Rick Santorum.  The former star of “Walker, Texas Ranger” pointed to Santorum’s time campaigning for Mitt Romney in 2008, during which time Norris and his wife were campaigning for Mike Huckabee, saying he didn’t understand how Santorum could support someone who allegedly bragged he was “more liberal than Ted Kennedy on social issues.” The actor also cited 27 different votes, cast by Rick Santorum during his time as a U.S. senator, which Norris felt betrayed conservative ideals. That’s right guys; Gingrich now has an endorsement from a glorified laundry detergent salesman. source
Posted by Scott Craft • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Feb 2012 11:01

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World: Was Tuesday’s Bangkok explosion tied to Iran, too? Israel says yes.

  • monday Israel blames the bombings of their embassy vehicles, in both India (successful) and Georgia (foiled), on Iran. Despite this, Iran denied responsibility for the attacks.
  • tuesday In Bangkok, an Iranian man carrying grenades managed to blow his own legs off and wound four others. Israel also blamed this attack on Iran. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Feb 2012 10:30

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U.S.: Pew study: Millions of voter registrations have significant errors

  • 1/8 of all voter registrations in the U.S. contain errors, Pew says
  • 24M voter registrations contain major errors, according to Pew
  • 2.7M people have current voter registrations in multiple states
  • 1.8M registered voters have one slight problem: they’re dead source
  • » Is this a sign of voter fraud? Not really, Pew says. The bigger problem, they claim, is that outdated methods are being used to sign voters up. They recommend a more centralized voting system that utilizes online registration — similar to the one eight states (Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Virginia and Washington) are already working on. They suggest such a system will save money by preventing duplication and cutting down on form usage.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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