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27 Mar 2009 14:17

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Music: Hip-hop mashed up with Sufan Stevens’ “Illinois”? Color us intrigued.

Producer Tor managed to find a way to make the hip-hop remix album interesting again. Good for him! source

25 Mar 2009 10:08

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Politics, U.S.: Aww… Blagojevich says he was “hijacked” from office :o

  • Dude was hosting a radio show this morning. Maybe that’s a good second career for the former Illinois governor – drive-time radio host. Anyway, Blago tried diligently to defend himself, took a sympathetic caller (comic D.L. Hughley, who’s been dipping into politico waters lately) and talked about his unfinished new book. source

08 Mar 2009 20:13

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U.S.: Pastor shot, killed during a service; nobody’s sure why.

  • It hit the very top of the Bible and exploded on top of the Bible and turned into what many thought was confetti. In fact, some thought it was some type of skit or some type of program at the time.
  • Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent • About the first shot fired at the Rev. Fred Winters. The second shot him him in the chest and he died. The incident, which also wounded others, has shaken the First Baptist Church in Maryville, Ill., but nobody’s sure what the connection between the pastor and shooter was – if there was any. • source

05 Mar 2009 22:58

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Tech, U.S.: Hey sheriff, some of us are trying to get dates on Craigslist!

  • Craigslist is the single largest source of prostitution in the nation. Missing children, runaways, abused women and women trafficked in from foreign countries are routinely forced to have sex with strangers because they’re being pimped on Craigslist.
  • Cook County, Ill. Sheriff Thomas Dart • On his lawsuit against Craigslist. Dart wants the site to remove the “Erotic Services” section of the site. We want him to post an ad on Craigslist so he can see what it feels like to be rejected. • source

03 Mar 2009 10:01

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U.S.: Blago’s new book: “How I still cashed in on Obama’s seat”

  • The latest Blago thing Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich allegedly tried to sell Barack Obama’s seat for a payday. Then he got impeached. Now, it appears he’s still getting his payday, in the form of a six-figure deal to sell his story to a publisher. The book will be on the shelves in October, just in time for us to not care anymore. source
  • The latest Blago thing Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich allegedly tried to sell Barack Obama’s seat for a payday. Then he got impeached. Now, it appears he’s still getting his payday, in the form of a six-figure deal to sell his story to a publisher. The book will be on the shelves in October, just in time for us to not care anymore.
  • Will this saga ever end? We admit it, the Rod Blagojevich/Roland Burris saga has given us a ton to write about. But you know, there are other newsworthy things going on. Like drag queens. Or the porn industry. Or Aretha Franklin’s stupid ugly hat that she wore at the inauguration. Anything but the stupid economy. That’s just too much for us. source

22 Feb 2009 10:23

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U.S.: The Feds and Roland Burris have a nice fireside chat

  • Wonder what they talked about. Burris, who had delayed the chat for several weeks, was asked by the Feds about his role in the Rod Blagojevich scandal, which saw the former Illinois governor try to sell Burris’ current Senate seat for profit or personal gain. Rod got kicked out last month, but now Burris is a giant question mark due to his recent admission that he actively campaigned to raise funds for Blagojevich. Burris faces no criminal charges – well, in this probe. source

20 Feb 2009 13:22

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U.S.: New Illinois governor: Yeah, Burris should resign

  • He will always be held in high regard by the people for making this decision. The common good is really what we have to focus on today.
  • Gov. Patrick Quinn • regarding a potential resignation by Illinois senator Roland Burris, who’s been a pretty entertaining dramabomb unto himself lately. • source
 

17 Feb 2009 21:41

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U.S.: We’re convinced Roland Burris is his own punchline.

Seriously, dude. Seriously? Come on. Seriously? Um, dude. Seriously? OK, once more. Seriously? source

14 Feb 2009 15:53

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U.S.: Just when you thought the Burris/Blagojevich story had died …

  • … here it comes, blazing back for another round! Rep. Roland Burris’ aides claim today that former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s brother had approached the former Illinois Attorney General about raising campaign money for the governor. Burris didn’t, he still got appointed to the senate anyway, and Rod got the boot. Of course, this does leave the matter of why Burris didn’t mention this a few weeks ago … source

04 Feb 2009 21:55

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U.S.: Authorities prescribe new leads in Tylenol murders

  • What happened? In 1982, a number of bottles of Tylenol were laced with cyanide, killing seven people in Chicago and causing a nationwide recall of the product. The crime was never solved, but its maker, Johnson & Johnson, was able to survive a PR disaster by aggressively recalling the product and creating safer, more secure packaging. (It’s an oft-used example of how to survive a crisis.) source
  • What happened? In 1982, a number of bottles of Tylenol were laced with cyanide, killing seven people in Chicago and causing a nationwide recall of the product. The crime was never solved, but its maker, Johnson & Johnson, was able to survive a PR disaster by aggressively recalling the product and creating safer, more secure packaging. (It’s an oft-used example of how to survive a crisis.)
  • Recent developments The FBI searched the Cambridge, Mass. home of James W. Lewis, who sent an extortion letter to the company and was sent to prison. He was never charged in the killings but was always considered a prime suspect. Due to renewed attention after its 25th anniversary, a number of tips led authorities to a major break in the case. source