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29 Nov 2009 09:41

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Politics: Here’s what one jerk says about the Swiss minaret ban referendum

  • Forced marriages and other things like cemeteries separating the pure and impure – we don’t have that in Switzerland, and we do not want to introduce it. Therefore, there’s no room for minarets in Switzerland.
  • Ulrich Schlueer • Co-president of the Initiative Committee to ban minarets in Switzerland. Nothing like the small of racism in the morning, or at the very least, a wedge issue to emphasize our differences in an ugly way. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

29 Nov 2009 09:34

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World: In an anti-Muslim move, the Swiss appear likely to ban minarets

  • What is up with the Swiss? First the bank accounts, then Roman Polanski, now this. It’s like we don’t know you anymore. Anyway, it appears likely that the country will constitutionally ban minarets – one of the strongest physical features of most mosques – after a referendum. 59% of those who voted favored the ban, according to exit polls. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Oct 2009 10:52

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U.S.: Did you know HIV-positive people couldn’t enter the U.S. for 22 years?

  • If we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it.
  • Barack Obama • Describing his decision to turn over a 22-year-old ban on HIV-positive people entering the country. Just a dozen countries had the ban, which sounds like it was put in place at the height of misinformation and hysteria about the disease. While we’re glad it’s getting overturned, it’s a sad statement on our country that the ban existed in the first place. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Sep 2009 22:07

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Tech: First Google Voice, now health care? Apple’s app bans get political

  • I feel like politicians already have a megaphone and Apple is making it worse instead of making it easier for a regular guy to get an application into the store.
  • iPhone app developer Red Daly • Describing his frustration with Apple declining his app iSinglePayer for political reasons. The app, which explained to people the benefits of a Canada-style health care system and gives those users ways to contact their representatives, was blocked by phone specifically because it pushed a political opinion. For Daly, he says it was defeating because he “went to the app store because I felt like I didn’t have much of a voice in other spheres.” Eventually, all these arbitrary bans are going to catch up with Apple. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Sep 2009 09:55

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Offbeat: Do you hear that? That’s rage over cat declawing.

  • San Francisco is trying to ban cat declawing. The SPCA isn’t happy. A fight for feline rights is turning into a bit of a brawl between Bay Area politicians and animal cruelty experts. San Francisco wants to ban declawing, saying it’s a simple animal cruelty issue. (It’s kinda like a concealed weapons law, really.) The local SPCA, while against declawing in general, says that it shouldn’t be regulated politically. If only cats had their own Harvey Milk to fight for them … source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Aug 2009 14:21

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Biz, Tech: Irony continues to ensue with Amazon’s “1984” Kindle removal

  • In an attempt to avoid a lawsuit over rights, Amazon decided to delete already-purchased copies of George Orwell’s most famous novels – “1984” and “Animal Farm.” source
  • People loudly complained, saying that it was unfair to consumers and that the deletions set a pretty sad-slash-hilarious example, considering the books’ context. source
  • A ticked-off high school student sued Amazon, saying that he had his notes on the book for school ruined because of Amazon’s, well, Orwellian way of handling things. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Jul 2009 21:37

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Biz, Tech: AT&T plays with fire, messes with the infamous 4chan

  • Anonymous is not amused. If you don’t know what the image board 4chan is, just imagine a giant board of internet nerds who have fun being disruptive. (Like the internet should be, if you ask us.) If you don’t know what AT&T is, just imagine a giant telecommunications company who has fun making disruptions for iPhone customers. Reports came out today saying that AT&T blocked access to a number of boards on 4chan, which means that AT&T has just opened up a can of worms and might find themselves under nerd attack. Good job guys! Expect your front page to have a disturbing image on it within the next day. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink
 

12 Jul 2009 10:30

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U.S.: Should soldiers be allowed to smoke? The military’s debating it

  • When you’re tired and you’ve been going days on end with minimum sleep, and you are not getting the proper meals on time, that hit of tobacco can make a difference.
  • Retired Gen. Russel Honore • Arguing in favor of allowing soldiers to smoke. The military is discussing banning it, saying it has negative short-term and long-term effects. Honore, known for having a stogie wherever he went, says having tobacco is good for soldiers morale, especially in light of high suicide rates. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

01 Jul 2009 11:18

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U.S.: Doctors are split on whether acetaminophen should be banned

  • I do not think eliminating combination products is necessary and that the vote to do so goes too far. Combination products, especially in caring for patients with chronic pain, are important.
  • Ohio State University-based Dr. Randy Wexler • Saying he feels that taking away drugs like Vicodin seems like a step too far. He’s not alone in thinking that, but not every doctor agrees with him. “I think that combo products are generally a bad idea,” said Dr. Elliot Krane of Stanford University. He would’ve liked to see the FDA put further limits on over-the-counter drugs, too. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Jun 2009 22:53

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Tech: Waaay behind the internet curve: BYU finally allows YouTube access

  • In an attempt to block unpure messages, they blocked a useful medium. Brigham Young University, that bastion of the Mormon life, blocked the video-sharing service because they felt that too much offensive material – like, you know, Keyboard Cat – showed up on the site. (Oh, and bandwidth issues, but whatever. Everyone says that.) BYU, which has incredibly strict moral standards, finally relented after professors complained about their ability to use the site’s heavy amount of educational material. Now, if we can only convince the Amish to drive cars … source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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