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13 May 2009 23:04

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Tech, U.S.: Creepster of the day: “Mr. Online Suicide Instigator”

  • It is really creepy stuff. If you read the chat logs, it makes your hair stand up on the back of your neck. [This person] certainly knows how to push the right buttons.
  • Celia Blay • A British woman who informed authorities of a creepster who masqueraded around online as a young girl, convincing people to join her in a suicide pact and arranged to let her watch on a webcam. Blay helped narrow it down to a Minnesota man who works as a male nurse. William Francis Melchert-Dinkel, 46, admitted to instigating five suicides, although he never actually watched the videos. He’s also suspected in a sixth in Canada. Creep. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 May 2009 08:40

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World: People are fleeing Taliban-stricken NW Pakistan en masse

  • 350,000 civilians have left the war zone in the last 12 days alone, 900,000 overall source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 May 2009 08:31

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World: A designated safe zone in Sri Lanka didn’t prevent civilian deaths

  • 1,000+ civilians got caught in the middle source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 May 2009 09:53

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U.S.: Jackson, Miss. mayor Frank Melton dies in dramatic fashion

  • Background: Melton moved to the city in the early 1980s to run a local TV station, where he became known for his fiery op-ed pieces. in 2005, he was elected mayor. source
  • Conflict: His odd way of running the city led to charges that he and a bodyguard attempted to attack a duplex he considered a crack house with sledgehammers. source
  • Crisis: The charges, which were about to be retried in federal court, took a toll on his political career, and he ended up losing a heated primary for re-election. source
  • Resolution: Melton, in ill health for years, went to the hospital just after the primary results were announced and then died. He leaves behind a killer biopic. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

06 May 2009 22:29

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Tech: A look back at the development history of “Duke Nukem Forever”

  • “Hey guys, we know you love Duke Nukem 3D; how about an awesome sequel? Woot!!” source
  • “Oh crap, nobody’s using the Quake II engine anymore; better switch to Unreal!” source
  • “We swear it’s coming soon, guys! Oh come on Take Two! Give us more money!!!!” source
  • “Ahhhh … another year topping Wired’s Vaporware Awards. Never gets old.” source
  • 3D Realms apparently shut its doors and no longer exists. Later, poor Duke. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 May 2009 22:18

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World: Large-scale bloodshed spoils a Turkish wedding

  • 45 were killed in an apparent blood feud between families source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 May 2009 21:30

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Culture, Music: “Idol” champ David Cook wins the “bravest person” award

  • I actually lost my brother yesterday to a brain tumor, and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else right now.
  • “Amercian Idol” winner David Cook • At D.C.’s Race for Hope 5K, which he was grand-marshaling the day after his brother Adam died. Adam, who was married with a family, had been fighting brain cancer for a decade. As you might expect, he fought back tears when saying this. This makes us really sad. :( • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

30 Apr 2009 08:22

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World: A school shooting in Azerbaijan; the motive as yet unknown

  • 13 killed in the Azeri school shooting, 13 more wounded source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Apr 2009 10:11

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World: Pope Benedict tours the Italian earthquake destruction

The pope says the Lord “is not deaf to the worried cry of so many families who lost everything.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Apr 2009 08:45

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U.S., World: The swine flu death toll has risen significantly

  • 152 deaths have been reported, all of them in Mexico source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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