Month: February 2008
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US Automaker Halts Production of Neck Belts
From The Onion archives in 1997: (click through for very funny photo) Chrysler Halts Production Of Neckbelts: “In the case of collision, it would appear that the neckbelts have a detrimental effect on overall passenger safety,” read a statement released by the company Monday. The recall, the most expensive in Chrysler’s history, goes into effect […]
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Bank of America Asks Government for $739 Billion
Context and commentary from Mischa: “The proposal warns that up to $739 billion in mortgages are at “moderate to high risk” of defaulting over the next five years and that millions of families could lose their homes. To prevent that, Bank of America suggested creating a Federal Homeowner Preservation Corporation that would buy up billions […]
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Obama Defuses Right-Wing Attacks
No screaming, no shouting, just plain common sense: He’s not on the defensive at all. Instead, he’s swatting away these slurs with the dismissive contempt they deserve, and then eagerly and aggressively engaging the debate on offense because he’s confident, rather than insecure, about his position: “A party that presided over a war in which […]
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Supreme Court Justice Thomas Hasn't Asked a Question in 2 Years
Heckuva job: Two years and 142 cases have passed since Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas last spoke up at oral arguments. It is a period of unbroken silence that contrasts with the rest of the court’s unceasing inquiries.
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Pope's Mistress Hid His Dead Body, Looted the Palace
Via Wikipedia: Olimpia Maidalchini was notorious for guarding access to Innocent X, and utilizing it to her own financial benefit. In fact, after the death of Innocent X, Maidalchini removed treasures from the papal palace for three days, while the pontiff’s body was hidden in a corner.
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British Special Forces Soldier: "Government knew about extraordinary rendition"
The UK’s role in assisting the US in kidnapping people gets worse: Last week, the Foreign Secretary David Miliband apologised to MPs in the Commons and admitted that two US rendition flights transporting terrorists suspects for questioning by the US had landed on UK soil. The former SAS soldier, Ben Griffins, claims this “pales into […]
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US's Fire on Dead Satellite Could Hit Int'l Space Station
1 in 1000 chance: The ‘shot’ — that’s what Ambassador James Jeffrey called the decision to use an an Aegis SM-3 to try to shoot down satellite USA 193 in the next 3-12 days. Last I checked, the Space Shutle’s PRAN (probability risk assessment number, of complete loss of life) was 1 in 100. Extrapolating, […]
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Indiana Jones Trailer Censored for US Audience
From Ain’t It Cool: If you have to treat intelligent adult audiences this poorly on a regular basis to “protect the children,” I’d say you’re spectacularly shitty at your job and someone else should be given a chance to run the system. It’s been said before and said better, but it bears saying again: the […]
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World Markets Lose $5.2 Trillion in January
World stockmarkets lost 5.2 trillion dollars (3.6 trillion euros) in January thanks to the fallout from the US subprime crisis and fears of a global economic slowdown, Standard & Poor’s said Saturday. Standard & Poor’s said the world’s equity markets lost a combined 5.2 trillion dollars as emerging markets fell 12.44 percent and developed markets […]