Biz Stone To Murdoch: Paying For Internet Content Won’t Work
November 20, 2009 by Huffington Post
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The co-founder of Twitter today warned Rupert Murdoch that his plans to charge for online content, and block Google from using stories produced by his News International titles, were a vain attempt to “put the genie back in the bottle”.
U.S. resetting its relationship with Karzai
November 19, 2009 by The Washington Post
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When a team of senior U.S. officials led by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton entered the presidential palace in Kabul on Wednesday for a dinner meeting, they had little indication of what Afghan President Hamid Karzai planned to discuss, or whether questions about corruption and governance…
White House Pep Talk To Dems On Health Care: "We Must All Hang Together, Or Assuredly We Shall All Hang Separately"
November 19, 2009 by Huffington Post
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With health reform’s first test vote on the Senate floor less than 72 hours away, a platoon of top strategists — including pollsters Mark Mellman and Geoff Garin, incoming White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer and deputy White House chief of staff Jim Messina — met with Democratic Senators Thursday afternoon to impress upon those who might be wavering that everyone’s political fate is now joined with the success or failure of President Obama’s top domestic priority.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1941119,00.html#ixzz0XMykUBPM
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Charlie Coles, Miami University Coach, Humiliates Reporter After Kentucky Game (VIDEO)
November 19, 2009 by Huffington Post
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*** SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH VIDEO ***
Miami of Ohio coach Charlie Coles was asked the wrong question at the wrong time. After a hard-fought game between the RedHawks and the Kentucky Wildcats, which was decided by a 15-foot jumper with six seconds remaining in regulation from Kentucky freshman John Wall, a reporter asked Coles “how the game got away from him.” Unfortunately for the reporter, Coles made sure he knew he made a poor choice of words and went on a rant that thoroughly and comically embarrassed him.
WATCH:
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Robert Pattinson On Letterman VIDEO: Biting Fans & Dodging Kristen (WATCH)
November 19, 2009 by Huffington Post
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Robert Pattinson, everyone’s favorite vampire hunk of the moment, was on Letterman Wednesday night to promote the second “Twilight” movie, “New Moon.”
In between awkward hair tugging Pattinson talked about the strange phenomenon of fans who want to be bitten by him. With the second film, the would-be bitees include men and the moms of teenage girl fans.
Letterman also asked the question everyone asks Pattinson about co-star Kristen Stewart – if they two are dating in real life.
Pattinson responded, “I’ve been so sort of cryptically avoiding this question throughout the entire press tour.”
Letterman’s response? “Oh bite me! What do I care?!?”
WATCH:
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Senate announces $849 billion health-care bill
November 18, 2009 by The Washington Post
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Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid presented an $849 billion health-care overhaul package on Wednesday that would extend coverage to 31 million Americans and reform insurance practices while adding an array of tax increases, including a rise in payroll taxes for high earners.
Leighton Meester’s GQ Shoot: Lingerie, Spreads Legs (PHOTOS)
November 18, 2009 by Huffington Post
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The pictures are up!
Leighton Meester has a sexy shoot in the upcoming GQ. Below are some pictures of the ‘Gossip Girl’ star wearing a leather corset, lingerie and smoldering stare. In one she’s seated spread eagle, in another she’s on all fours.
Leighton wore similar getups in her recent music video, and considerably less in her sex tape released last summer.
You can read the GQ piece, in which Leighton gives a few sounds bites and “lunges for a piece of bacon” over a breakfast interview, here.
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LeBron James’ Dunks VIDEO: LeBron Slams Two Mighty Dunks Against Warriors
November 18, 2009 by Huffington Post
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LeBron James was a human highlight reel in last night’s game against the Golden State Warriors, and he accentuated his offensive performance with two beautiful dunks. The first occurred with just over 6:30 left in the third quarter, when LeBron found an open lane and took it to the hoop. His second dunk, also down the middle, occurred with 4.6 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The two dunks weren’t James’ only highlights of the night. Late in the first quarter he seemingly came out of nowhere to forcefully block what looked to be a sure-fire Monta Ellis layup. James finished with 31 points and 12 assists in a 114-108 Cavs win.
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Afghan minister accused of taking bribe
November 17, 2009 by The Washington Post
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KABUL — The Afghan minister of mines accepted a roughly $30 million bribe to award the country’s largest development project to a Chinese mining firm, according to a U.S. official who is familiar with military intelligence reports.
Goldman Sachs, Warren Buffett To Help Small Businesses
November 17, 2009 by Huffington Post
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NEW YORK — Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said Tuesday it is teaming with billionaire investor Warren Buffett to invest $500 million to provide thousands of small business owners across America with college scholarships and boost their access to capital.
Goldman’s philanthropic effort, called “10,000 Small Businesses,” includes a $200 million contribution to community colleges, universities and other institutions to give grants to small business owners to further their education.
The New York-based bank also will invest $300 million through a combination of lending and charitable support. Goldman said the money will be funneled through community development financial institutions to boost lending and technical assistance available to small businesses in underserved communities.
In addition, Goldman Sachs executives, in partnership with national and local business organizations, will aid small businesses with advice, technical assistance and professional networking opportunities.
The $500 million initiative is dwarfed by the $16.7 billion that Goldman Sachs has set aside for employee compensation in just the first nine months of 2009. Goldman Sachs has donated $1 billion to charity since 1999, according to a spokesman for the company who was quoted in a recent story by The New York Times.
An advisory council co-chaired by Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein will oversee the initiative. Legendary investor and Goldman’s largest shareholder, Warren Buffett, and Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter will serve as co-chairs as well.
“Our recovery is dependent on hard working small business owners across America who will create the jobs that America needs,” Buffett said in a statement. “Im proud to be a part of this innovative program which provides greater access to know-how and capital — two ingredients critical to success.”
The initiative comes as Goldman has started to see a rebound across many of its businesses even as the broader economy and consumers continue to struggle with rising unemployment and mounting loan losses. The bank, which has outperformed other financial companies for years, has been the strongest in its industry throughout the financial crisis. It had less exposure to toxic mortgage-backed securities than other companies and also has been more aggressive in its trading.
Its continued strength throughout the downturn allowed Goldman to quickly repay the $10 billion government bailout it received at the height of the credit crisis. That repayment was also done, in part, to rid the bank of restrictions on annual compensation that were attached to the loan. Goldman has been criticized for setting aside billions for employee paychecks despite the continuing weak economy.
10,000 Small Businesses, which has been in development for nearly a year, is a five-year program modeled on the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative, which creates partnerships between academic institutions and non-profits to provide business and management education to women around the world.
Other Council members include George Boggs, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, Glenn Hubbard, dean of Columbia Business School and Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, among others.
The first community college to participate will be LaGuardia Community College in New York City’s Queens borough, which houses a Small Business Development Center. The first community development financial institution to receive financing from Goldman Sachs will be New York-based Seedco Financial Services Inc.
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