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Sarah Palin’s Media Con-undrum

Brace Yourself: This Is the Tip of the Iceberg for Oil-Induced Enviro Catastrophes
The blame-game theory is still a red herring distracting us from the environmental disaster’s prime suspect: All of us.

The blame-game theory is still a red herring distracting us from the environmental disaster's prime suspect: All of us.

10 Things You Can Do to Improve America’s Health Care System
Key things you should know about the new health care law and ways you can bring true reform to the industry.

Key things you should know about the new health care law and ways you can bring true reform to the industry.

The 21st Century Soldier: Supports Gay Rights, Clean Energy and Is Often Progressive
Votevets is making waves educating the public about a very different kind of soldier.

Votevets is making waves educating the public about a very different kind of soldier.

At this point in the game I’m pretty much bored with the whole iPhone HD leak meme. In a twisted way, the run up to Apple launches was a lot of fun. There was endless speculation but no real data and all of a sudden a guy in a turtleneck and jeans pops out and, like Mephisto, springs something new on the world. Let the rest of the CE manufacturers leak like sieves. I want my dance of the seven veils, damn it!

Anyway, another day, another Vietnamese site with pictures of the iPhone HD. Nothing much to see except for shots of the proto-OS running on the handheld which seems to be called Inferno and does nothing but boot into that screen we saw in the previous leak.

I’m spitballing here, but could Vietnam be picking up China’s manufacturing slack and, as a result be leaking gear to the world now? It’s a tantalizing thought: China has gotten so professional and held in so many leaks that they’re too expensive and the onus now falls on Vietnam to manufacture – and leak – iPhones HD. Thoughts?

via Nowhereelse

New York Justice Goes National
Barack Obama’s vision of American justice seems a bit parochial, with Attorney General Eric Holder hailing from the New York City borough of Queens; Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg coming from a once-proud, upwardly mobile Jewish section of Brooklyn…



Barack Obama – Ruth Bader Ginsburg – United States Supreme Court – United States – New York

Sign In Issues
Folks, we’re in the process of implementing Facebook Connect at TPM. It should be live now on most of the site. However, we’ve had a number of emails from regular users telling us they have not been able to sign…


Facebook Connect – Facebook – Social network – Online Communities – Business

This Week in Bigotry
This Week in Bigotry In an attempt to “rebrand” Arizona, whose recent immigration law has been called racist, Governor Jan Brewer bans teaching ethnic studies. After smearing Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan for having worked for civil rights icon Thurgood…

NRA Members Approve Of Concealed Carry Restriction At Annual Convention
ThinkProgress is reporting from the NRA Convention. This is our fourth dispatch. See our previous posts here, here, and here. The NRA is holding its annual meetings this weekend at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC. Violence Policy Center executive director Josh Sugarmann noted this sign at the convention warning its members not to bring […]

ThinkProgress is reporting from the NRA Convention. This is our fourth dispatch. See our previous posts here, here, and here.

The NRA is holding its annual meetings this weekend at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC. Violence Policy Center executive director Josh Sugarmann noted this sign at the convention warning its members not to bring concealed carry weapons onto its property:

ThinkProgress spoke to a number of attendees and asked if they were bothered by the convention center’s policy. Nearly everyone agreed that there needed to be some sort of restriction, suggesting NRA members who attended the conference understand the need for sensible safety regulations. “I think that’s probably a pretty good policy,” one NRA member said. Some other reactions:

– TP: You don’t have a problem with not bringing firearms here?

NRA MEMBER1: Not really. It’s up to the individual place of business. It’s their right to do as they choose. It’s my right to choose not to come in if I choose not to do so.

– NRA MEMBER2: I understand it. I think most people carry a gun for self defense. In a place like this, I’ve seen enough police presence around here I don’t think that there would be much of a problem.

– NRA MEMBER3: Whether I truly agree with it or not, no I don’t, because again I say it’s an infringement on my rights. But I understand, like you said, they have to have a facility to hold this convention. This is a rule they have so we’re willing to abide by it.

Watch the video:

The NRA lobby is pushing hard to loosen concealed carry restrictions, urging states such as Tennessee and Georgia to allow gun-holders to carry their guns into bars.

HTC today announced the Wildfire (you might remember that name from a contest HTC ran), essentially the Desire squeezed down into a 3.2-inch screen, with a lower price the end result. (That’s also known as "entry level" these days.)

The screen itself is QVGA, so it’s not as high-resolution as you get on the Desire, Nexus One and the like. But it does have a 5-megapixel camera the new HTC Sense, WiFi, Bluetooth, aGPS, 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD card and Europe’s 3G bands. It also features the same trackpad found on the Desire and Legend.

The Wildfire also features a new widget that lets you recommend an application by e-mail.

Pricing was not announced, but the Wildfire should be available in Europe and Asia in the third quarter. Full presser after the break.

read more

TARP becomes prime target for senators facing reelection battles
It was the chant heard around the Senate: Angry GOP delegates in Utah calling out “TARP! TARP! TARP!” as they tossed Sen. Robert F. Bennett from the primary ballot, punishment for the veteran lawmaker’s 2008 vote to bail out the financial sector.


United States – Government – Republican – History – United States Senate

Palin calls Fiorina and other Republican candidates ‘mama grizzlies’
Sarah Palin appears to be building a pack of “mama grizzlies” in the 2010 elections that could send a powerful political message if she decides to run for president in 2012.


Republican – Sarah Palin – United States – Politics – Parties

8 probes into Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill
The April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig and the massive oil spill that has stemmed from the accident have prompted eight formal investigations so far, and more could be coming . They address two basic questions: What went wrong with BP’s drilling operation in the Gulf of Mexico, and what…



Oil spill – Environment – Energy – Petroleum in the Environment – Business

Asi es, acaba de ser publicada una nueva foto espía y un vídeo en el que podemos observar con todo detalle esta unidad de prueba que aún cuenta con una gran cantidad de camuflaje. El BMW X3 espera hacerse con un trozo del sector de los SUV urbanos ofreciendo un mayor espacio y confort en su interior.

En el vídeo podremos ver perfectamente los nuevos faros tanto delanteros como traseros y la nueva línea general que tendrá el diseño de este todoterreno.

A continuación os dejo con el vídeo:

Related posts:

1. Volkswagen Touareg, nuevas fotos espía
2. Nuevas fotos espía BMW Serie 1 2011
3. Nuevas fotos espía del BMW Serie 1 2012

2011 Porsche Panamera / 2011 Porsche Cayenne

While Porsche’s April sales were up 17 percent when compared with the same period in 2009, U.S. sales have grown only 3 percent. Nonetheless, Detlev von Platen, the CEO of Porsche Cars North America, expects sales to pick up when the redesigned 2011 Cayenne and the V6 version of the Panamera go on sale later this summer.

Click here to get pricing on the Porsche Panamera.

Porsche is facing many challenges as it tries to increase sales and meet a tougher federal fuel economy target of 41 mpg by the 2016 model year. The requirement has Porsche working hard to develop more fuel-efficient models, which is now a possibility since the company is merging with Volkswagen AG. Von Platen says that the two companies are in discussion on possible platform and technology sharing (find out more info on that here).

The new four-door Panamera was Porsche’s best-selling model in the U.S. so far this year. To date, Porsche has sold 3,410 Panamera models in the U.S. since it went on sale in October 2009.

The Porsche Panamera V6 and Porsche Panamera 4 are powered by a 3.6L V6 engine making 300-hp and a peak torque of 295 lb-ft. Prices start at $74,400 for the base V6 Panamera and $78,900 for the V6 Panamera 4.

2011 Porsche Panamera V6:

2011 Porsche Cayenne:

– By: Kap Shah

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Are you the kind of person who has to have the best of everything? Two-ply toilet paper? Nice plastic plates? The best mixture of Alpo and brown gravy spread liberally onto your chest as a libido suppressant? Then you’re going to need the Calypso Crystal iPhone stands.

These stands, which range from $199 to $349 for the Aurora model, are made of leaded crystal and take “15 days to make” in Central Europe. The sad thing is that these are actually probably made in Poland where leaded crystal is actually quite popular (my mom collects it, incidentally, but I doubt she wants these.)

The difference between crystal and glass is that the former contains lead oxide, which adds magnificent optical effects, a special breaking of the light and certain softness. Crystal can be cut, polished and further processed, since it does not chip as easily as glass. Because of the added lead, crystal is surprisingly heavy, which gives it even more appeal. Cutting makes crystal beautiful, while polishing makes it shine even brighter – it is truly something special.

I mean God bless you if you need this. I’m just wondering if a broken bottle and an iPod cable couldn’t perform the same trick.

Product Page

So Much for Europe’s Superiority
Joel Kotkin, The Daily Beast
For much of the last quarter century, European pundits, particularly in France, have been promoting the notion that the old continent sat on the verge of a grand resurgence. The events of the past month—culminating in a trillion dollar rescue of the Euro—should, at least, put that dodgy notion to rest.Although the financial crisis may have originated on Wall Street, it’s been Europe and the Euro that now represent the big threat to drive world markets back into recession. The show stealers are India, China and Brazil. Still the big boy on the block, the American…

The Threat to Miranda

The GOP’s Grass-Roots Obstructionists
Galston & Mann, Washington Post
We commend The Post for initiating a forum on polarization, which is indeed the dominant political phenomenon of our time. Consider that for the first time in modern history, in both the House and the Senate, the most conservative Democrat is slightly more liberal than the most liberal Republican. This is more than an interesting scholarly finding; it has consequences for the legislative process. The most conservative Senate Democrat (Ben Nelson) ended up supporting health reform; the most liberal Republican (Olympia Snowe) ended up opposing it. For decades, the operational core of…

Democrats’ Diverse Coalition
E.J. Dionne, Washington Post

Despite an acrimonious couple of years, it appears that Bill Simmons and ESPN will be renewing their contract together in the next couple weeks.  While the news itself is noteworthy due to Simmons’ celebrated ability to keep sports-minded professionals from actually doing their jobs, Deadspin does a great job of evaluating what Simmons is worth as a commodity to ESPN, despite the nebulous nature of being an “internet and podcast” celebrity.

Few have leveraged their internet readerships better than Simmons.  If you’re reading this (or any other men’s site), you are likely directly or indirectly affected by his work or his approach to internet marketing.  Get the low down in a great article here.

Related posts:

1. Baby Phat CEO Tweets While Giving Birth
2. Playboy to Launch Safe-for-Work Website; May Be Missing the Point of It All
3. Bill O’Reilly Hates Hot Naked Chicks

Destined for our European friends, the Wildfire is a budget-friendly Android phone from HTC, with their much-loved Sense interface slicked over the top. What separates it from others is the new app-sharing widget that works on Twitter, texts or email. More »










Android – HTC – Twitter – Handhelds – HTC Hero

After Saturday’s SSL Certificate expiration sent the App Catalog into a tailspin of failed installations (fixed within a day for most apps, though), we decided to take a little breather on listing the new apps. We’re back, though, and here’s what’s new:

• Snapperfish is back developing apps for Palm! The creators of my personal favorite PalmOS email client, SnapperMail have put together an app called The Best for My Child that’s a intelligent mash-up of a parenting book into a mobile app complete with notifications. It’s a little pricey even at the half-off intro price of $19.95, but a guide to actually understanding those tiny monsters children is probably worth the price.
• Bell Mobility has created an account manager app for webOS
• This App Does Nothing gets points for chutzpah for clocking in at $4.99
• Rainy Mood offers ambient noise for free, because sometimes it’s just too quiet to sleep.
• goRPN looks like a solid RPN calculator that isn’t too overwhelming for those new to the format.

All the rest after the break!

read more

A “market-leading gaming console company” hired a contact center provider, Alpine Access in Denver, to provide phone support. But they can’t find 200 or so video gamers who are willing to walk parents through how to pull a grilled cheese sandwich out of the optical drive near Denver so they’re going to that hotbed of excellent and stable talent: housebound Internet fans.

Their site, www.alpineaccess.com/superhero/, offers the opportunity to apply to a work-from-home job with benefits, competitive wages, and the opportunity to talk about video games.

Anyway, if you’re out of a job and you think about Bayonetta when you spend alone time, this may work. Give it a go.

Alpine Access Hiring 200 Video Gamers for Work From Home Jobs

Virtual Call Center Seeks to Fill Positions Immediately After Selection by Major Video Gaming Console Company
DENVER, May 17 /PRNewswire/ — Alpine Access, the premier provider of virtual contact center solutions and services, today launched an aggressive recruiting and hiring campaign seeking intermediate to experienced video game enthusiasts to provide inbound technical support to fellow gamers. Alpine Access was recently selected by a market-leading gaming console company to help customers resolve technical issues over the phone. All positions are available immediately and are performed from an employee’s home.
Ideal candidates are self-starters desiring home-based employment who enjoy playing video games on the latest gaming systems. In addition to being people-oriented and able to rapidly build rapport with fellow gamers, candidates must have strong technical aptitude, problem-solving skills and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment. To learn more about specific employment requirements or to apply for these home-based positions, please visit: www.alpineaccess.com/superhero/
As the founder of the at-home call center model, Alpine Access has the ability to locate, hire and train people from anywhere in the U.S. With no geographical barriers, the company can employ gamers from across the country and provide them with the unique advantages that come with working from home. For example, applicants can select from full or part-time shifts and have input on setting their schedules.
The virtual employment model was a main reason the client selected Alpine Access to provide technical support to the more than 40 million users of its gaming platform. With access to the largest talent pool in the nation, Alpine Access can find applicants that possess very specific, hard-to-find qualifications. This employee-match program has proven to have positive financial benefits with better results for one-call resolution, customer satisfaction and customer retention. In this case, the unique skills and experience of video gamers make them ideally suited to help fellow gamers and quickly resolve their issues.
“A typical contact center is limited to hiring within a 30 mile radius, making it nearly impossible to find 200 well-qualified video gamers in a single location,” said Christopher Carrington, Alpine Access CEO. “Alpine Access’ home-based positions provide employees with paid training, competitive wages, access to benefits, and the freedom and flexibility to work from the comfort of their own homes. It’s a fantastic opportunity for people who play and enjoy video games.”

Materials: Hopen Wardrobe Doors (2), Malm Bedframe (1), Indoor/Outdoor Potlights (2)

Description: My old bed frame was broken so I replaced it with a MALM frame which nicely matched the dresser and bedside table I already had from the HOPEN line. However, I found the finished look to be too simplistic which is where the hack comes in.

Using two spare HOPEN wardrobe doors that I had picked up from the “Ikea reject” area a couple of years ago, I framed my existing piece of artwork using the doors (side) and the headboard (bottom). Then I back-lit the whole thing. The lightening looks chic but it’s also very functional if you only need a bit of light.

STEPS
There is very little construction work required to achieve this look:

1. Fasten the doors about 2-inches away from the wall (in order for the light to get in). You can either fasten them to the wall or to the bed itself. If you’re really lazy you can lean the door against the wall (braced by the bed at the bottom). I’m not sure if Ikea still has the HOPEN ddors but you can use anyones that match your existing furniture.

2. Get some mini-pot lights from a construction store. They are about $20 dollars and are pre-wired – you just plug them in. They also come with a dimmer so you can experiment with the light.

3. I wanted to incorporate my art, but you can do whatever you want in the middle of the two doors. I think a few more back-lit doors would look good but I’m sure there are tons of hack-worthy ideas…

~ Warren, Toronto

Cat’s out the bag for Jude and Sienna: The on-again-off-again lovebirds are reportedly planning a secret wedding set for this summer.

The pair have been engaged before but split in 2006, after Jude had an affair with his children’s nanny. He also fathered a daughter born last year following a one-night stand with Florida model Samantha Burke.

All water under the bridge for Sienna, who is in the middle of planning Bohemian-style nups in the couple’s native Britain and a second wedding in their adopted home of New York sometime in the next few months.

A source told The Mail on Sunday this week: “They don’t want to jinx things by talking about it, but they have told their nearest and dearest that they would like to get married in the summer. Sienna is also saying that she has some other really exciting news, but she is not saying anything to anyone at the moment.”

Keep your eye on him, girl!

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

We already know what the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will look like and how much it will cost. Nonetheless, Chrysler Group LLC has yet to hold an official unveiling of the vehicle… until now. Later this week, Friday to be specific, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne will officially reveal the 2011 Grand Cherokee at the renovated Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit where the vehicle is being assembled.

The new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the refurbished plant will be the first look at Chrysler’s future and its ongoing partnership with Fiat SpA.

Marchionne will be joined by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing at the Jefferson North plant to help employees celebrate the production launch of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Sales of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will start next month with prices starting at $32,995 for the Grand Cherokee Laredo 4×4.

Later this year, Chrysler will unveil a 7-passenger Dodge crossover based on the Grand Cherokee to replace the Dodge Durango. Rumor has it that Chrysler could drop the Durango name in favor of Magnum.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee:

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit News

It’s about time those small tablet-shaped alkaline batteries go green. And that’s exactly what Sony though of, and came up with these five Mercury-Free (0%) Mini Alkaline battery models, which will debut in August. Batteries like these are used in watches, calculators, toys and portable game consoles. These however have mercury, which when disposed of cause significant harm to the environment. When not disposed of properly, the mercury infiltrates the food chain.

Mercury can also harm the human body as well as the environment on entering the food chain. Sony’s baby, the 0% Mercury Mini Alkaline battery however keeps the mercury at bay, and the problems caused by it away. This does not affect the performance of these batteries either. Introducing batteries like these will decrease mercury by around 470 kg annually, or so Sony hopes.

[Sonyinsider]

Who needs all that horsepower when you can power up your Beemer with your feet! The BMW M Bike is as awesome as it looks. This bike is one of those you can proudly flaunt, while riding through those terribly gridlocked streets on your way to work or the local park, instead of using your car. Sturdy as a stallion, the bike has a beautiful matte anthracite frame and disk brakes for quick stops. It also uses a high tech Shimano SLX gear system.

To keep those bumps away, the bike also uses a Manitou Match suspension fork for the front wheel. It lacks rear shock absorbers though, so don’t try taking this one up a mountain. You’ll just end up with a sore backside. Talking about backside, the bike boasts a leather saddle with red inlays and an eye-catching pair of wheels with an equally eye-catching and matching handle. The bike will be expensive, taken that it flaunts features like these. Keeps your fingers crossed for the yet to be announced price.

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