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Friday, August 8, 2008

The Morning News

posted by on August 8 at 7:46 AM

OMGOLYMPICS! Live blogging the opening ceremonies at the Bird’s Nest.

Thou Doth Protest Too Much: Chinese officials arrest three Americans who planned to wave “Free Tibet” flags at the opening ceremonies, deport uppity foreigners, detain Chinese, close Tiananmen Square.

Cause du Jour: Reporters Without Borders hack airwaves in China to broadcast a 20-minute program in Chinese, English, and French. Meanwhile, thousands protest Chinese policy in major Asian cities, where the governments aren’t quite so repugnant.

Cancer in the Duwamish Valley: State’s Department of Health reports South Seattle residents face increased cancer risk, blame air pollution nearby industry and particularly within 200 yards of highways.

Recession Watch: Fannie Mae reports $2.3 billion loss—three times more than expected—as bellwether of future economic tumult.

Apple Kills App: The “I Am Rich” icon displayed a ruby. That’s it. Eight people paid the Apple Store $1000, until Apple yanked it last night.

Monitoring: Christian Science Monitor creates pseudovoter email accounts around country to track email messaging by presidential campaigns. They find that Obama’s emails are steady nationwide and localize issues, but McCain fails to email voters in some battleground states and messages are more conservative than television ads.

Smearing: Fellow Republican ousts incumbent in Tennessee primary by linking him to “big oil.”

Pakistan: Government officials begin to shuffle positions in response to impending move to impeach President Musharraf. Proceedings could begin by next week unless Musharraf declares state of emergency.

Texas: Thirteen people, all members of the Vietnamese Martyr Catholic Church, die in after bus blows a tire and careens off an overpass; bus found unfit for interstate travel last month.

On the Left, Exhibit A: Prosecutors reassemble a Ford Mustang in King County courtroom to prove how suspect may have committed murder.

Beleaguered Mayor: Detroit’s Kilpatrick will get out of jail for misconduct to face assault charges.

Open the Floodgates: Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wants to spend $20 billion bulking up Afghanistan’s army.

We’re All Going to Die: European scientists endeavor to build a collider on 17-mile underground track to smash protons together and test the origins of the universe.

Watching the Opening Ceremony: We can’t see it on US television until primetime. But you can watch it on the tubes right now.

RSS icon Comments

1

Why would Apple kill such a fucking awesome app? Ohhh, did they complain?!

Posted by Mr. Poe | August 8, 2008 9:04 AM
2

I cannot wait to watch the opening ceremonies . . . and synchronized swimming and rhythm gymnastics!

Posted by Balt-O-Matt | August 8, 2008 9:07 AM
3


Cancer in the Duwamish Valley:

Hey, isn't that where Greg Nickles and the Seattle Libs built their choo-choo train (nee Lite Rail) to foster dense urban growth?

Maybe Lite Rail will solve gridlock after all -- by killing off motorists entirely.

Posted by John Bailo | August 8, 2008 9:14 AM
4

I just finished watching the opening ceremony from Western Australia. So much to say! For one thing, I know that I am missing 90% of the symbolism offered by the costumes, regalia, Chinese characters, mythology references, colours- just about everything.

Posted by Mrs. Jarvie | August 8, 2008 9:18 AM
5

I am so looking forwards to watching the opening ceremonies tonight. If there's one thing I love, it's bizarre spectacles.

Posted by Abby | August 8, 2008 9:20 AM
6

I hope people die this year!

Posted by enthusiasts | August 8, 2008 9:25 AM
7

Jonathan Alter:
"As for Hillary, she would have much more leverage over Obama if he wins and needs her help to get his agenda through the Senate." Exactly. This is why is you dislike HRC putting her in as VP is how Obama gets control over her and ensures she is a force for his agenda. Too bad some Obama supporters can't see this.

Meanwhile, the campaign news ignored by Slog today is the Clintons both get speeches at the convention so they will occupy 2 of the 4 nights.

Love 'em, hate 'em, indifferent, it's news right?

Oh another item ignored: Russia bombing folks somewhere called Ostettia or something, in the republic of Georgia pr some kind of dipsuted territory.

Only about 1000 folks killed yet.

Yawn. Aggression, force, war, bombing...so timesome by now...

Posted by PC | August 8, 2008 9:35 AM
8

The ironic thing is, since that app got so much publicity and now only exists in 8 copies, the perceived value is probably much higher...

Posted by UNPAID BLOGGER | August 8, 2008 9:39 AM
9

@7

You should start your own blog, where you can care about everything you say.

I'd disable comments tho

Posted by Mr. Poe | August 8, 2008 9:41 AM
10

Did anyone else hear a weird, annoying buzzing noise around 9:35 a.m. (Pacific time)?

Posted by Georgia Guy | August 8, 2008 9:41 AM
11

@1 - Lucas has forced the early death of the Light Saber app too.

Posted by Le Juif | August 8, 2008 9:42 AM
12

@9 - Crap. Yours was better.

Posted by Georgia Guy | August 8, 2008 9:43 AM
13

I'm interested to see how the Russia/Georgia thing plays out, especially given the timing at the start of the Olympic games.

@8 You know, I didn't think of that, I assumed Apple also pulled the app from their phones and refunded their money, same with the light saber thing. But maybe not?

Posted by PopTart | August 8, 2008 9:53 AM
14

I love what you've done with this news.

Posted by Lindy | August 8, 2008 9:59 AM
15

I saw the light saber app.

That was just sad, in a nerdy, not really all that sad, but kinda pathetic way.

Posted by NapoleonXIV | August 8, 2008 10:17 AM
16

I sure am glad to have the CBC in addition to NBC, so I have the choice to watch these events live.

Posted by Gabriel | August 8, 2008 10:20 AM
17

Real olympics watchers know that CBC is on Channel 9 and they'll be showing the full feed from 9 pm PST to Midnight PST.

Don't go to the CBC website ... it will just make it even easier to get real coverage.

Oh, but don't expect exposes this year - with the upcoming Olympics in Vancouver BC they're not going to dis the Chinese govt in any way shape or form, and already dropped an MJ-toking newscaster from the coverage team because they're that paranoid.

Posted by Will in Seattle | August 8, 2008 11:11 AM
18

oh, and that collider - we have a nifty rail gun used for space launches in the atmospheric sciences building at the UW.

It's in the student newspaper if you need sources.

Posted by Will in Seattle | August 8, 2008 12:20 PM
19

The collider is for the good of science!
Watch and learn.

Posted by V | August 8, 2008 3:29 PM

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