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01 Feb 2012 20:45

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Politics: Susan G. Komen foundation cuts funding to Planned Parenthood

  • the change The Susan G. Komen foundation, the most prominent breast cancer awareness group in the United States, has halted funding for Planned Parenthood. They had been major funders, paying nearly $700,000 in cancer screenings and preventive care in 2011 alone.
  • the reason According to the Komen foundation, internal rules prohibit them from granting funds to a group under investigation; Planned Parenthood is, by Florida Rep. Cliff Stearns. Komen defended itself on Facebook, saying the decision was “not about politics.” source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2012 20:12

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World: Sec. of State Clinton makes case to UN on Syria

  • Every member of the Council has to make a decision: Whose side are you on? Are you on the side of the Syrian people? Are you on the side of the Arab League? Are you on the side of the people of the Middle East and North Africa who have during this past year spoken out courageously and often for their rights? Or are you on the side of a brutal, dictatorial regime?
  • U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton • Stating her case to the UN Security Council, on the matter of the violent turmoil that continues in Syria. Clinton is clearly arguing on somewhat simplistic moral grounds, trying to put more pressure on Russia, which has said they’ll veto a resolution if it mandates that Bashar al-Assad step down from power. In particular, memory of the NATO mission in Libya is likely in play — Russia approved a resolution to protect Libyan civilians, only to see it broaden into a mission to depose dictator Muammar Gaddafi, which they opposed. Consequently, they’re now unwilling to agree to a resolution that carries either the overt or implied goal of regime change. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2012 15:43

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Biz: New J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson on remaking the brand

  • I chose J.C. Penney because I think it’s the single biggest opportunity in American retailing. Inherently, department stores have significant advantages compared to all other retailers. Yet, our productivity is at the low end, and that just doesn’t make sense.
  • J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson • Remarks in an interview with the AP’s Anne D’Innocenzio. Johnson made news in the world of department store retail when he first took over, announcing a reduction in unique sales events coupled with a 40% across the board price cut. In this interview, he expands a bit on his plan for J.C. Penney’s future; he mentions his time with Apple frequently in the interview, as a reference point for the sort of modern imaginings that may be to come. It’s worth remembering that Johnson was the brain behind the Apple Store, the “Genius Bar” in particular, which we think says a lot about his insight on balancing design, efficiency and customer service in a retail setting. Apple just found their replacement for Johnson, John Brownett, but with the legacy he left there, we wonder how long it will be until they wish they had him back on board. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2012 15:19

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World: Soccer riot in Egypt leaves many dead, many more injured

  • 83 people killed in a soccer riot in Port Said, Egypt source
  • » Tragedy and inhumanity: A match between Egyptian soccer (or football, if you prefer) teams Al-Ahly and Al-Masry turned into a scene of violence, chaos and death, as riots broke out after the game’s conclusion. Said CNN contributor James Montague: “It’s kind of a security vacuum in the football stadium. … It’s not unheard of to have organized violence between football clubs, but something on this scale has never been seen before.” In addition to the 83 dead, Egyptian authorities estimate 180 people were injured in the mayhem.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2012 14:59

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Culture: Soul Train’s biggest fan? Questlove looks back on Don Cornelius

  • “im just kinda writing from the heart”: The news of Don Cornelius’ death today has sparked many reflections on the man’s career, and lasting societal impact. Soul Train holds a significant place in the many people’s hearts for presenting a celebration of not just black artists, but identity as well, and Cornelius himself was the core of that. Perhaps the best tribute we’ve read on the subject comes from Questlove, and we urge you to read the full piece. “Soul Train to me is the GREATEST creation and inspiration of my life… i will NEVER EVER forget its powerful impact on education on pride on creativity on culture and on me. i love you don.” (Photo on left by Naoharu; photo on right by Questlove, showing his huge selection of hard drives full of old Soul Train episodes, which he says he brings with him everywhere.) source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2012 14:27

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Politics: Mitt Romney provides his opponents with tailor-made gaffe

  • I’m not concerned about the very poor; we have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I’ll fix it. I’m not concerned about the very rich; they’re doing just fine. I’m concerned about the very heart of America, the 90-95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling.
  • Mitt Romney • Speaking to CNN’s Soledad O’Brien this morning. There’s a few different reasons this will, and likely should, be seen as a gaffe. Romney’s political opponents now have footage of him saying he’s not concerned about the very poor, which isolated from his broader point feeds the very narrative that is most damaging to him, that of the disaffected millionaire. Snipping the quote and excising his real point about the Americans in between would be somewhat disingenuous. Even taken in full context, though, he is suggesting the very poor and very rich are somehow equally undeserving of a President’s attention, which is a peculiar philosophical position in and of itself, and one we suspect won’t play well with a great deal of people. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2012 10:08

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Biz: Pfizer recalls one million birth control packets over packaging error

  • An investigation by Pfizer found that some blister packs may contain an inexact count of inert or active ingredient tablets and that the tablets may be out of sequence. As a result of this packaging error, the daily regimen for these oral contraceptives may be incorrect and could leave women without adequate contraception, and at risk for unintended pregnancy.
  • A statement from Pfizer • Discussing their recall of one million packets of birth control medication. Phrases you don’t want to see in a story about a recall of birth-control medication: “At risk for unintended pregnancy.” The problem, described by the company as a “mechanical and operator visual inspection systems failure on the packaging line,” has reportedly been corrected already. But yeah, that’s kind of a big mistake. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2012 10:07

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Politics: CBO: What if Congress did nothing this year? Well, we’d cut the deficit

  • positive According to a hypothetical posed by the Congressional Budget Office, if Congress’ deadlock worsened and nothing got done this year, the deficit would shrink heavily as the Bush tax cuts would expire and other spending initiatives would end. Huh.
  • negative However … this comes with a lot of pain. As federal workers lose their jobs, the unemployment rate would rise above 9 percent again, and the economy’s recent gains would get pushed back, according to CBO estimates. Would the cost be worth the benefit, guys? source
  • » The trade-off: “On the one hand, if policymakers leave current laws unchanged, the federal debt will probably recede slowly,” said CBO director Douglas W. Elmendorf. “On the other hand, changing current laws to let current policies continue … would boost the economy and allow people to pay less in taxes and benefit more from government programs in the next few years — but put the nation on an unsustainable fiscal course.” That’s a tough one, kids.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Jan 2012 23:37

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Politics: Not only is Newt Gingrich not quitting, he hasn’t even started fighting yet

  • I would define Newt’s head space as: ‘Now, this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.’
  • David Lane • A  conservative leader close to Gingrich. This quote is actually from before the primary, and Lane’s prediction was born out in Gingrich’s speech tonight, wherein the former Speaker pledged to plow forward despite having lost Florida tonight. The article’s author, Alexander Burns, adds that “Gingrich has made a career out of upending conventional wisdom and ignoring the establishment view that he should go to the corner and shut up.” A long, protracted primary probably won’t be any help to the eventual nominee, but it’ll sure be fun for political nerds like us.  source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Jan 2012 20:23

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Politics: Mitt Romney projected as winner of the GOP Florida Primary

  • Mitt’s it!: ABC News, among other outlets, has projected that Mitt Romney is the winner of the 2012 Florida GOP Primary. This was not a surprising result — he’d led chief rival Newt Gingrich in the polls by double digits coming into today, and by double digits it seems he will win. He presently leads Gingrich by about 16%, with close to 50% of all Florida precincts reporting. Newt Gingrich is projected to place in second, with Rick Santorum and Ron Paul trailing in third and forth, respectively. Now, the campaigns move on to Nevada (though both Paul and Santorum left Florida early, ceding their chances in Florida to get a head-start in the Silver State), where Newt Gingrich faces a tall order indeed; his campaign has nowhere near the organization and ground game that Romney’s does there, and after this decisive loss he needs a roaring comeback to stay viable. (Photo by Erik Hersman) source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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