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07 Jan 2010 10:16

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Tech: Heavy cell phone use kills Alzheimer’s … in mice. Uh, OK.

  • We wonder what the mice talked about on their miniature cell phones. In one of the odder scientific studies to come out of the woodwork of late, scientists say that they found that exposing mice to electromagnetic radiation similar to cell phones reversed the effects of an animal version of Alzheimer’s disease. Did we accidentally solve the Alzheimer’s disease puzzle by talking on our iPhones? Whoa. That’s weird. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Jan 2010 19:12

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Music: Saturday Mixtape: Five trailblazers to start out the next decade

  • 1. Folk: The Avett Brothers had a pretty good 2009, with a large major-label mainstream breakthrough in the form of “I and Love and You.” As folk goes, their sound – influenced by ramshackle punk and Beatlesque melodies as much as traditional Guthrieisms – seems ready to define folk-rock for the next decade. And unlike Ryan Adams, they have a fairly consistent musical plot, which means they won’t screw this up so easily.
  • 2. Punk: Fucked Up may perhaps be the most interesting thing to happen to hardcore punk in a couple of decades. There’s a distinct level of risk in their performance style (they’re known for being violent and confrontational) and their sound (their most well-known album, “The Chemistry of Common Life,” opens with a flute solo – not exactly hardcore), and it’s a definite blueprint for punk’s future that could win them fans over time.
  • 3. Electronic/Noise: HEALTH has two pretty good albums to their name, and with a brutal live set (punctuated by pin-drop changes in dynamic), a tie to one of L.A.’s best scenes at The Smell, and an ear to the potential of electronic music (2007’s HEALTH//DISCO remix album proved to be a great evolution of their sound), they’re bound to come up with a great album eventually.
  • 4. Pop: Chromeo is perhaps the most influential pop band that currently isn’t getting heavy play on the radio. Mainstream acts are riffing on their retro sound (which itself riffs on Hall & Oates, with a little French electronica mixed in there) left and right, and they come up way more often in articles about pop music than they do on iPod playlists. With a third album in 2010, expect them to get an even bigger profile.
  • 5. Rock: Titus Andronicus perhaps has one of the most interesting conceits for an album in 2010 – “The Monitor,” a concept piece on the Civil War, anchored by a song called “The Battle of Hampton Roads.” The scrappy indie rockers, if they pull it off, could win the kind of respect handed to guys like Craig Finn of The Hold Steady. The band already has a history the with concept album, so it should be intriguing.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Jan 2010 18:27

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Politics: Rush Limbaugh says there’s “nothing wrong” with his heart

  • They found absolutely nothing wrong. It was a blessing. No arterial disease, no coronary disease whatsoever.
  • Rush Limbaugh • On his hospital stay for chest pains earlier this week. The health scare, which had some liberals on Twitter ripping on him hardcore, could not be narrowed down to heart problems. Limbaugh also got some rips in regarding the health system, which he says treated him no differently despite the fact that he’s a rich old guy. “Based on what happened to me here,” he said, “I don’t think there is one thing wrong with the American health care system. It is working just fine.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Dec 2009 15:45

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World: Tasmanian Devils spin around, get cancer, can’t catch Bugs Bunny

  • Apparently, the supremely Australian animals were suffering awful bouts of facial cancer. It was threatening the species. However, they discovered the source of cancer, and it’s a lesson that can be taken directly to humans. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Dec 2009 22:00

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Politics: Twitter’s keeping an eye out for Rush Limbaugh’s condition

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27 Dec 2009 11:26

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Culture: Why is Urban Meyer leaving Florida? It comes down to his health.

  • I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to re-evaluate my priorities of faith and family.
  • Florida football coach Urban Meyer • On his reasons for resignation. Meyer is one of those workaholic guys who eats, sleeps and breathes football, something his wife would try to do everything to help work around. But Meyer has also had some significant health problems – he was diagnosed with an arachnoid cyst on his brain in 1999, which is about as scary as it sounds. Many fans are largely supportive of his decision, as sad and shocking as it is to the ultra-successful Florida program. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Dec 2009 09:58

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U.S.: Thirsty? You won’t be after you see this photo

The NYT has a pretty interesting feature about how tap water is really, really dangerous and relatively unregulated. Stick with the bottles, kids. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

07 Dec 2009 20:23

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U.S.: It’s likely that you, too, have had a fresh drink of contaminated water

  • 49 million people have had a swig of some dirty dew source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Dec 2009 01:07

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Biz: Anyone want some tainted beef? Beef Packers Inc. has a lot of it

  • 22,723 pounds of illness causing beef source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Dec 2009 09:39

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World: On World AIDS Day, South Africa’s ready to do something to stop HIV

  • 5.7
    million     people tested positive for HIV in South Africa in 2007 – the world’s highest rate
  • all children infected with HIV in the country will get anti-AIDS drugs starting next year source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink
 
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