This week, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) released the latest version of his financial regulatory reform bill, which aims to correct the deficiencies in the financial system that led to 2008’s economic crisis. The House of Representatives has already passed a comprehensive regulatory reform bill, and now that Dodd has given up on negotiating with recalcitrant Republicans, he is moving on an expedited timeline, with a markup scheduled for Monday.
In 1996, German artist HA Schult installed 1,000 life-sized “Trash People” made from, you guessed it, trash, in the Ampitheatre of Xanten. Since then, his trash people have traveled to nearly every big city in the world.
[From Junk Art (PHOTOS): 10 Amazing Artists Using Recycled Materials]
The vast selection of free 3rd party applications available for Mac OS X always surprises people when they’re new to the platform. Among that abundance of software is a collection of free Mac video converters which can cover nearly any situation you could find yourself in.
[From 6 best free Mac video converters to handle nearly any file format | MacYourself]
BookBook – BookBook – Twelve South
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BookBook is a one-of-a-kind, hardback leather case designed exclusively for MacBook and MacBook Pro. Available in Classic Black or Vibrant Red, BookBook brings three levels of security to your prized Mac. First, the hardback cover and spine provide solid protection from the rigors of the road. Second, the vintage book design disguises MacBook for superior security. And third, the stylish case protects you from being like everyone else because BookBook is totally original, just like you.
Metakine – Fairmount
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Free & open-source DVD decryption
Fairmount is a free tool which allows on-the-fly decryption of DVD content for convenient access. Fairmount does not perform the actual decryption, it simply forwards the data to VLC Media Player, which is used for the decryption. Hence, VLC Media Player must be installed for Fairmount to work.
[From Metakine - Fairmount]
Apple CEO Steve Jobs hit the star-studded red carpet at the 82nd Academy Awards yesterday evening.
Oscar night was big for Jobs. He not only traded in his trademark turtleneck for his tux, but his company also debuted its first-ever iPad ad, which was aired twice during the three-and-a-half-hour Academy Award broadcast. (Watch it here).
See photos of Steve Jobs, famous for his California-casual uniform of jeans and New Balance sneakers, in his black-tie ensemble.
Twitter user @WayneSutton was one of the first on the blogosphere to remark of Steve Jobs’ attendance at the awards. ‘OMG it’s Steve Jobs! I’m the only one yelling at him! #oscars #kodakredcarpet,’ Sutton tweeted.
[From Steve Jobs' Oscar Cameo: PICTURES Of Tux-Wearing Apple CEO On The Red Carpet]
The 12 Biggest Ripoffs in America
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Many of us feel ripped off in our day to day spending, so much so that bringing up even a single rip-off story in a group of people is likely to trigger a flood of them from everyone else. Whether it’s at the movies, in restaurants or on vacation, we seldom believe we are getting as much for our money as we ought to. Of course, some rip-off stories are more debatable than others. Often times, what is called a ripoff is little more than someone’s subjective opinion of what they “really” deserve for their money, whatever that means. However, other purchases actually do appear, by all objective criteria, to be a raw deal just about all the time. Today, BillShrink analyzes some common ripoffs as mentioned recently by CNN Money, that most of our readers are likely to be well acquainted with.
Amazing Album Covers Mix and Match
[From Amazing Album Covers Mix and Match | The Design Inspiration]
Palms sweating, hairs on back of neck standing on end territory. I’m feeling this shit like never before, and the grand old sax lion
of hard blowing German 60’s free music Peter Brotzmann is the one killing me the hardest. He’s playing something called a tarogato here that dates back to the mid 1800’s andhas a gut wrenching tone that I can’t explain and which he milks so hard, your soul will ache. Dude’s in his mid 60’s or so circa this footage and still blowing with gut busting fury…I don’t know where some of these cat’s get their energy reserves from at that age, but it’s envious and amazing. Pure soul food:
[From YouTube - Peter Brotzmann / Mark Sanders / Anthony Cox ]
Disgruntled skater’s bizarre claim
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Evgeni Plushenko’s long, delusional journey continues. Just days after the silver medalist for men’s figure skating denied that Evan Lysacek is the true champion of men’s figure skating, he has apparently awarded himself a platinum medal. From his official website:
Something Wicked This Way Comes | Spin Magazine Online
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Each summer, 500 goths descend on Disneyland to smoke cigarettes and mock Snow White. Why? Because it’s the only place where they can truly feel at home
If you can’t find a reason to hate Disneyland, you’re just not trying. Like the insincere smile of an aging bank teller, Disneyland represents a contradiction with no discernible upside: It’s hokey and archaic yet gaudy and corporate. It’s all kitsch sunshine and crass consumerism, and any self-respecting cynic would despise its very existence.
[From Something Wicked This Way Comes | Spin Magazine Online]
‘Family Guy’ Actress Responds To Sarah Palin’s Criticism
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My name is Andrea Fay Friedman. I was born with Down syndrome. I played the role of Ellen on the “Extra Large Medium” episode of Family Guy that was broadcast on Valentine’s day. Although they gave me red hair on the show, I am really a blonde. I also wore a red wig for my role in ” Smudge” but I was a blonde in “Life Goes On”. I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line “I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska” was very funny. I think the word is “sarcasm”.
In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes.
[From 'Family Guy' Actress Responds To Sarah Palin's Criticism]
Bees are partial to coffee and cigarettes | Mail Online
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Why bees are partial to coffee and cigarettes – they may be addicted
[From Bees are partial to coffee and cigarettes | Mail Online]
Parrot AR.Drone: Coolest iPhone accessory ever? [VIDEO]
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[From Parrot AR.Drone: Coolest iPhone accessory ever? [VIDEO]]
