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02 Jun 2010 10:52

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U.S.: How much cancer can your smokes cause? Depends on the country

  • Americans have more; the U.K., Canada and Australia have less. Ah, nothing like a story about cigarettes to make you feel more alive. Researchers did a test of cigarette butts to see what sort of chemicals and toxins the cigarettes have. Apparently, different countries use different formulas and as a result, different countries have more dangerous smokes. And by different countries, we really mean “the U.S.” (Scary, right?) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Mar 2010 22:30

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Music: Cool bands like The Knife, brought to you by socialism

  • From the outside, there seem to be some people in America afraid of the state. But we’re not. Because Norway is divided: There’s the state, and there’s private ownership of stuff. I think there’s a perfect mix. It’s not communism, but it’s not the U.S. We’re somewhere in between.
  • Smalltown Supersound label runner Joakim Haugland • Regarding his native country, Norway’s, generous financial setup for the arts. In the U.S., rock bands don’t even get health insurance unless they pay for it themselves, while Scandinavian countries (along with Canada and the U.K.) can give their artists money to tour. Some fairly popular indie acts, including Sweden’s The Knife, Norway’s Annie and Canada’s Wolf Parade , have been able to record and tour thanks to the extra help. In the U.S., it’s a different story. Punk rocker Ted Leo nearly had to give up full-time music-making after a loved one got sick. Which is really depressing, especially considering he’s fairly famous. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

19 Jan 2010 11:03

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Music: Canadian folk music icon Kate McGarrigle dies of cancer at 63

McGarrigle, a noted folksinger in her own right, was the mother of Martha and Rufus Wainwright (shown right) and was married to Loudon Wainwright III. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Sep 2009 22:20

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U.S., World: It’s finally official, guys: Canada is now a part of the U.S.

  • For the stimulus plan, “Buy American” can mean Canada, too. The White House will reportedly exempt our neighbors up north from the stimulus provision which favors buying American-made products. It had become a sore spot in Canuck-American trade relations, eh? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Aug 2009 22:35

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Culture: Ryan Jenkins protected by a female friend before his death

The friend helped him get the seedy hotel room where he killed himself but the police don’t consider her a threat. (On a side note; WTF is up with the watermarking, TMZ?) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

14 Aug 2009 19:39

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World: Canada’s Simon Fraser University says simply failing isn’t good enough

  • FD it’s like failing, except with even more fail than usual source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Aug 2009 21:22

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U.S., World: Barack Obama puts immigration on the backburner for later

  • Now, am I going to be able to snap my fingers and get this done? No. But ultimately, I think the American people want fairness. And we can create a system in which you have strong border security and an orderly process for people to come in.
  • President Barack Obama • Discussing immigration reform in Mexico during a summit with Mexican President Felipe Calderón and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He can’t really focus too much on it now – “I’ve got a lot on my plate,” he admitted – but hopes to improve the process for everyone overall. For some conservatives who have made a game out of criticizing illegal immigration, it can’t come soon enough. (On the plus side, they’re busy complaining about health care reform.) • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

05 Aug 2009 10:22

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U.S., World: The Smoking Gun lays the smack down on a prank-call network

  • What is Pranknet? The until-now anonymous network, led by Windsor, Ontario resident Tariq Malik, has been a loose collective of shut-ins, some with criminal records, using Skype and chat networks to commit a campaign of terror on chain businesses – largely restaurants and hotels – around the U.S. source
  • What is Pranknet? The until-now anonymous network, led by Windsor, Ontario resident Tariq Malik, has been a loose collective of shut-ins, some with criminal records, using Skype and chat networks to commit a campaign of terror on chain businesses – largely restaurants and hotels – around the U.S.
  • The crimes In one case, they caused hotel employees to destroy sprinkler systems, causing $50,000 in damages. In another, they convinced a hotel employee to drink a patron’s urine. Most infamously, they convinced KFC employees to go outside, strip naked and urinate on each other.
  • Take cues from TSG The mainstream media could learn a lot from The Smoking Gun – which is owned by Time Warner, by the way. Here’s an organization that posts funny mugshots, sure, but then posts these killer investigative pieces full of finished homework that lots of people read. Newspapers, take note. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2009 11:25

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Culture, World: Kevin Costner: Nearly crushed by a falling stage in Alberta

It sounds like a Kevin Costner movie plot: His band was scheduled to be on the stage next. Instead, one person was killed and 15 were hurt in the stage collapse. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

30 Jul 2009 14:52

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U.S.: The HuffPo’s survey tactics might not be legit, but their findings are

  • I just hope the American people won’t be dumb enough to continue falling for the line that socialized health care means a loss of personal freedom. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
  • Canadian Lori Covington • On her country’s public healthcare system. The Huffington Post did a very unscientific email survey and found that it rocks. A lot. And that some Canadians think Americans are being pretty stupid about it.  • source
Posted by Nathalie Heiberg • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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