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• Most Topular Stories

• Texts Now Popular Ammo for Divorce Battles [VIDEO]

  Mashable!

  Mashable Video

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:39 am

  New technological and social media tools have a way of messing up relationships — and they can also be used for evidence when those relationships fail and end up in divorce court. A study of divorce attorneys released this week shows an increase in smartphones being used as evidence. Ninety-two percent of the attorneys surveyed in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers study said they’ve seen an increase in the past few years in the number of cases that use evidence from smartphones; 94% said they’ve seen a rise in the use of texts as evidence in the past three years.

• Lawmakers Set Aside Money for Construction Projects

  NYT > U.S.

  By RON NIXON

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:22 am

  Dozens of local and regional projects, which the Obama administration did not include in this year’s budget, managed to received special financing.

• The deadly path to legal status

  CNN.com - U.S.

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:58 am

  Tania Nava has one piece of advice for anyone seeking to come out of the shadows and pursue a path to U.S. citizenship: don't do it.

• Doctor in Homs: Everyone is waiting to die

  CNN.com Recently Published/Updated

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:34 am

  The bodies begin coming in before the sun had risen to the sky. Some arrive with heads decapitated or their torsos split open like animals after slaughter. Or their limbs are mangled under the crush of rubble.

• Stocks set to advance on hopes for Greek bailout deal

  Financial news of the day - CNNMoney.com

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:03 am

  U.S. stocks were poised for a higher start Thursday, as investors continued to focus on Greece, where political parties are negotiating austerity measures and reforms that are needed to secure more bailout funds and a default.

• 

  Mashable!

• Texts Now Popular Ammo for Divorce Battles [VIDEO]

  Mashable Video

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:39 am

  New technological and social media tools have a way of messing up relationships — and they can also be used for evidence when those relationships fail and end up in divorce court. A study of divorce attorneys released this week shows an increase in smartphones being used as evidence. Ninety-two percent of the attorneys surveyed in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers study said they’ve seen an increase in the past few years in the number of cases that use evidence from smartphones; 94% said they’ve seen a rise in the use of texts as evidence in the past three years.

• Photo Finish: Kodak to Stop Selling Digital Cameras

  Todd Wasserman

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:28 am

  In a cost-cutting move and a signal of the company’s poor financial situation, Eastman Kodak on Thursday announced it plans to stop selling digital cameras. The company, which filed for bankruptcy protection last month, will instead focus on online and retail-based photo printing as well as desktop inkjet printing. Kodak plans to phase out all digital camera sales within the first half of this year. The move is expected to save Kodak $100 million. Kodak expects to incur charges of $30 million for exiting the business. “For some time, Kodak’s strategy has been to improve margins in…

• iPhone, Meet Laser Blaster. Is This 2012′s Hottest Toy?

  Chris Taylor

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:17 am

  iPhones aren’t cool. You know what’s cool? Shooting your friends with your iPhone, mounted into a laser blaster. A couple of phone-based friend-blasting systems have crossed our radar this week — one for iPhone, one for any smartphone. First came news that Hasbro is updating Lazer Tag (remember that?) for the app-obsessed 21st century. Its 2012 edition guns, hitting toy store shelves this August for $40 per blaster, include a slot for your iPhone or iPod Touch. Using a free Lazer Tag app and the phone’s built-in camera, the set-up will keep track of who shot whom and…

• 3 Ways to Optimize Search on Your Ecommerce Site

  Stephanie Buck

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:01 am

  The Future of Search Series is supported by SES New York, the leading search, social and display conference. From March 19 to 23, get five days of education, inspiration and conversations with marketing experts from the digital space. Register with MASH20 to save 20%. More people are flocking online to get their shopping done these days. But, an online shopper doesn’t necessarily equal genius website navigator. Your need to ensure that your business website’s search tools are simple and intuitive for those who are less technologically inclined — or risk losing customers.

• Twitter to Get First Look at Several New York Fashion Week Collections

  Lauren Indvik

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:35 am

  It worked for Burberry, so why couldn’t it work for us? So seems to be the thought process of several prominent U.S. fashion labels during New York Fashion Week, all of which are planning their own takes on the “Tweetwalk” Burberry debuted at its womenswear show in September 2011. The London-based fashion house made headlines when it posted photos of every look from its Spring/Summer 2012 collection on Twitter seconds before they appeared on the catwalk. The initiative generated a huge amount of interest on Twitter — so much so that both “#Burberry” and “Christopher…

• 

  NYT > U.S.

• Lawmakers Set Aside Money for Construction Projects

  By RON NIXON

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:22 am

  Dozens of local and regional projects, which the Obama administration did not include in this year’s budget, managed to received special financing.

• States Negotiate $26 Billion Agreement for Homeowners

  By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ and SHAILA DEWAN

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:22 am

  Nearly two million Americans could benefit from mortgage relief from the nation’s biggest banks, as part of a broad government settlement to be announced on Thursday.

• Foster Friess, a Santorum Supporter With Deep Pockets

  By JIM RUTENBERG and NICHOLAS CONFESSORE

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:22 am

  Few people played a more pivotal role in Rick Santorum’s victories in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado than Foster Friess, a wealthy donor to conservative causes.

• Virginia Home-Schoolers Make a Play to Join High School Teams

  By JERÉ LONGMAN

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:10 am

  A bill in Virginia would permit home-schooled students to play varsity sports at public high schools, raising concerns about fairness, recruiting and oversight.

• In Piracy Debate, Is the Sky Falling?

  By JENNA WORTHAM and AMY CHOZICK

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:07 am

  Media and Internet giants at odds over dealing with purloined content on the Web may need to agree first on exactly how bad the problem is.

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  CNN.com - U.S.

• The deadly path to legal status

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:58 am

  Tania Nava has one piece of advice for anyone seeking to come out of the shadows and pursue a path to U.S. citizenship: don't do it.

• Authorites probe 911 response to Josh Powell's home

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:34 am

  Authorities launched an investigation into how dispatchers handled 911 calls from those seeking help before Josh Powell killed his sons and himself in his Washington home.

• University of Florida suspends fraternity for 'physical hazing incident'

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:29 am

  The University of Florida has temporarily suspended its chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity after learning about a hazing incident involving fraternity members, a university spokeswoman said Tuesday.

• Mississippi pardons to be challenged at court hearing

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:28 am

  The Mississippi Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday about the legality of scores of controversial pardons issued recently by outgoing Gov. Haley Barbour.

• Rutgers student's suicide shouldn't define him, brother says

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:26 am

  Almost 15 months since Tyler Clementi committed suicide, his older brother James wants people to know that "he's much more than the way that he died."

• 

  CNN.com Recently Published/Updated

• Doctor in Homs: Everyone is waiting to die

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:34 am

  The bodies begin coming in before the sun had risen to the sky. Some arrive with heads decapitated or their torsos split open like animals after slaughter. Or their limbs are mangled under the crush of rubble.

• Hey Mr. DJ, the Grammys are playing your song

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:33 am

  "DJs are the new rock stars," Simon Cowell recently declared when announcing that he -- along with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith -- will be developing a new reality competition to find the next great DJ talent.

• Journalist hacked Paul McCartney voice mail, ex testifies

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:30 am

  Voice mails left by Paul McCartney for his then-girlfriend Heather Mills were illegally accessed and heard by a former employee of a major British newspaper group, Mills told an independent investigation into press ethics Thursday.

• Ukraine's emergency services under pressure as winter bites

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:26 am

  Suffering in the grip of a brutal winter where temperatures have not risen above freezing in nearly a month, Ukraine has seen a wave of deaths related to the cold, and the country's ambulance service is inundated with calls for help.

• Asylum rumors sparked by China crime buster's 'medical leave'

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:24 am

  Reports that the crime-busting deputy major of a Chinese city had gone on "medical leave" sparked a frenzied response on social media Wednesday, amid speculation that he had sought asylum at a U.S. consulate.

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  Financial news of the day - CNNMoney.com

• Stocks set to advance on hopes for Greek bailout deal

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:03 am

  U.S. stocks were poised for a higher start Thursday, as investors continued to focus on Greece, where political parties are negotiating austerity measures and reforms that are needed to secure more bailout funds and a default.

• Big states set to make mortgage deal real

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:44 am

  Some relief for more than a million beleaguered homeowners appears to be at hand, as New York and California will join just about all the other states in a $26 billion foreclosure settlement with the nation's largest banks, according to a person familiar with negotiations.

• Greece getting down to the wire

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:14 am

  Greek political leaders have agreed on all but one unspecified point in a package of austerity measures aimed at securing much-needed bailout money.

• Nuts! Diamond Foods boots CEO. Stock plunges.

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:07 am

  Diamond Foods replaced its chief executive officer and chief financial officer and will have to restate its finances for the last two fiscal years because of bad accounting over payments to walnut farmers, the snack purveyor said on Wednesday.

• First Premier's $400-a-year credit card

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:45 am

  Would you pay $400 a year to own a credit card?

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  CNN.com - Politics

• Billionaire backer on money behind Santorum

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:21 am

  Foster Friess, longtime supporter of Rick Santorum, talks to Erin Burnett about the campaign and the money behind it.

• Michelle Obama challenges Jimmy Fallon

  8 Feb 2012 | 10:15 am

  First lady Michelle Obama takes on late night TV host Jimmy Fallon in a fitness challenge.

• Washington state OKs same-sex marriage

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:48 am

  Lawmakers in Washington State voted 55-43 Wednesday in favor of a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage.

• CNN suspends analyst Roland Martin

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:45 am

  CNN said Wednesday it has suspended political analyst Roland Martin for "regrettable and offensive" Tweets written during the Super Bowl that critics said appeared to call for violence against gays.

• Romney promises to get more aggressive with Santorum

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:41 am

  Suddenly facing new questions about the strength of his candidacy, GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney indicated Wednesday he's prepared to wage a more aggressive campaign against Rick Santorum, the surprise winner of all three of Tuesday's Republican contests.

• 

  /Film

• VOTD: ‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ as a 60-Second, Live-Action Short

  Angie Han

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Phil Lord and Chris Miller‘s Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs contains so many crazy, fantastical elements that I never figured the story could’ve worked as anything but an animated film. I mean, c’mon. Live-action hobbits or dragons or space battles are one thing, but live-action hamburger storms would just be ridiculous, right? But perhaps that’s just my own lack of imagination talking, because appropriately named YouTube user Megasteakman has reimagined the foodie tale as a 60-second live-action short, and the results are actually quite charming. Watch the video…

• Cool Stuff: Oscar 2012 ‘We Showed You’ Ad Campaign

  Germain Lussier

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  Each year, the Oscars are the culmination of a year of movies in Hollywood. Films from January through December of the previous year are celebrated and awards are handed to the best of the best. This year however, maybe I’m crazy, but something doesn’t feel right. It all began with the Brett Ratner/Eddie Murphy debacle. Brian Grazer and Billy Crystal replaced them, which was fine, but then the nominations came out and were almost too predictable for words. Even as recently as Tuesday, it was announced the two Best Original Song nominees won’t be performed. What’s…

• The JustifiedCast S3E04 – The Devil You Know (GUEST: Joanna Robinson from Pajiba)

  David Chen

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:46 pm

  Dave Chen chats with Joanna Robinson from Pajiba about this season’s fourth episode, “The Devil You Know.” Can Neal McDonough do a decent preacher impression? And how does Boyd deal with a potential uprising in his ranks? Tune in to find out. E-mail us and let us know what you thought of the episode, as well as of the podcast, at justifiedcast@gmail.com. You can find every episode of the show at justifiedcast.com If you like the show, please leave a review for us in iTunes. Download or Play in Browser: Subscribe to The JustifiedCast: The JustifiedCast S3E03 – Harlan…

• Billy Connolly is the Final Addition to the Cast of ‘The Hobbit’

  Russ Fischer

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:00 pm

  The cast of Peter Jackson‘s two Hobbit films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is huge. Like, really, tremendously huge. They actors are all listed at the bottom of the post, but the point is that, after months of shooting, the cast isn’t quite big enough. Jackson has just added the man who will seemingly be the last on the roster: Scottish actor and comedian Billy Connolly. He’ll play Dain Ironfoot, a Dwarf warrior. THR reports the casting, but doesn’t say if Connolly will appear in An Unexpected Journey, which hits theaters on…

• New Official Info on Lars von Trier’s “Light and Poetic” and Hardcore ‘Nymphomaniac’

  Russ Fischer

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:30 pm

  The idea of presenting an ‘official synopsis’ for any given upcoming film is typically pretty dull, as these plot summaries often do little more than recap what we already know about a story. Things are a bit different, however, for a movie like Lars von Trier‘s Nymphomaniac. The director has joked about the film since his appearance last year at Cannes, but the project is no gag. Nymphomaniac will star Charlotte Gainsbourg, making this her third film with Trier, and likely feature Stellan Skarsgard as well. The film is said to be extremely sexually explicit, with plans to…

• 

  Rotten Tomatoes: News

• Total Recall: Luis Guzman's Best Movies

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:07 pm

  Ready or not, it's time for another 3D Journey. Only this time instead of Brendan Fraser making his way to the center of the earth, we've got Dwayne Johnson muscling to the shores of The Mysterious Island in the company of Michael Caine, Vanessa Hudgens, and the inimitable Luis Guzmán -- who's been stealing scenes throughout his career, and now gets his first chance to upstage some giant bees. In honor of Luis' latest role, we decided to dedicate this week's list to some of the best films in a résumé filled with memorable moments. It's time for Total Recall!

• Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum The Vow Interview

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:05 pm

  The duo discusses how they got involved in "The Vow," whether they met the real-life people the film is based on, and more.

• Ridley Scott Talks New Blade Runner Project

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:54 pm

  He doesn't have a script -- or any idea whether it'll be a prequel, sequel, or something else.

• Billy Connolly Joins The Hobbit

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:53 pm

  He'll play "Dain Ironfoot, a great dwarf warrior and cousin of Thorin Oakenshield."

• Stallone and Schwarzenegger Enter The Tomb

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:50 pm

  The duo will reunite for an action thriller about a prison designer who must team up with a convict to bust out of his own joint.

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  NYT > Movies

• The Carpetbagger: Oscar Nominees in the Crafts Categories

  By MELENA RYZIK

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:34 am

  The craft professions behind the movies — costume design, art direction and makeup — get a moment in the spotlight too.

• MOVIES: From the Monstrous to the Subtle

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:37 am

  Melena Ryzik visits Matthew Mungle, an Oscar-winning makeup artist, at his studio in North Hollywood to discuss his work transforming women into men in “Albert Nobbs.”

• The Carpetbagger: The Art of Goo and Innards

  By MELENA RYZIK

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am

  The Oscar-nominated makeup artist who created the subtle effects for "Albert Nobbs" also works on gorefests like "CSI."

• The Carpetbagger: George Clooney's Next Tour Stop

  By THE NEW YORK TIMES

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:00 pm

  George Clooney, "The Descendants" star, and that film's director, Alexander Payne, will be answering questions in a live-streamed TimesTalk.

• Carpetbagger | Below the Line: The Oscar-Nominated Editor of 'Moneyball' Deconstructs a Scene

  By MEKADO MURPHY

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:02 pm

  Christopher Tellefsen, the Oscar-nominated editor of “Moneyball,” breaks down a video clip from the Oscar-nominated movie.

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  Citizen L. aka Laurent François on Social Media

• Pinterest: when curation becomes mainstream

  Laurent François

  6 Feb 2012 | 6:36 am

  If you want to know what I think about Pinterest, well, you can either follow me there or read my post on SocialMediaToday. Ha!    

• 3 simple things more important than Social Media skills

  Laurent François

  18 Jan 2012 | 10:29 am

  This week, I had the pleasure to discover again 3 simple things that were far more impactful on my consumer journey than Social Media skills: a service provider (plumber) called to inform me that he was on his way to my apartment: how come delivery guys for e-business never tell you when they’re in? I’ve been looking for hours a bloody serial number on a bloody heater: I still don’t understand how it’s possible that a missing number drives a whole value chain down, as the sales I had on the line could not tell me what to do. Non-sense. I gave tips to a pizza delivery…

• TV, Social Media, and the reasons why we should watch TV

  Laurent François

  12 Jan 2012 | 1:39 am

  Another article for Social Media Today on the reasons why TV is the main crossroad for Social Media. Check this out!  

• Social Media & Suicide

  Laurent François

  8 Jan 2012 | 10:00 pm

  I wrote a post on Social Media hopes to fight against the very first social fact, suicide. And it’s on Social Media Today, of course!

• 2012 Sarkozy campaign weakness: digital communication

  Laurent François

  4 Jan 2012 | 5:33 am

  This morning, the French political party UMP (they run for President Sarkozy) tried to generate a buzz  as François Hollande (his main opponent for 2012 – at least we hope it’s not Marine Le Pen- a socialist)  was supposed to have declared that Sarkozy is a “dirty guy” (sale mec in French).UMP politicians tried to widen the rumor and generated some appearances in front of TV teams. What’s interesting is that in France, in order to make a news BIG, you still need to wait 8pm, and our TV prime-time for news (we only have one time zone, remember ). But even…

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  Ignite Social Media

• Starburst: Facebook Fan Page Example #14

  Caroline Monday

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:47 am

  The next stop in our Facebook Fan Page Example series is Starburst. This brand has built a sizable following of about 10.4 million fans but has it taken full advantage of this opportunity to engage them? Let’s take a closer look to find out. Starburst Landing Tab: Wall When users come to the Starburst fan page for the first time, they land on the wall. The numerous fan postings on this tab show the positive sentiment consumers have for the product. However, the wall lacks a call to action and does little to share brand messaging with page visitors. Starburst has long established itself as…

• Disney Parks Prove to be Big on Magic, Short on Social Media

  Craig Carter

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:48 am

  Recently, my family and I went to Orlando to escape the arctic tundra that is the North Carolina winter and go to the happiest place on Earth. While there, I figured I’d see what kind of social media efforts were present within the Disney parks. As the Disney Corporation is one of the great marketing forces on the planet, I figured it would be a time for me to take notes and learn from the great masters behind the Mouse. However, what I found was quite to the contrary. My first stop was at Epcot (my personal favorite). I whipped out my smartphone and started looking for @Epcot so that I…

• NASA, Reuters, NASCAR, Social Media Project – Topics That Are Igniting

  Craig Carter

  7 Feb 2012 | 10:08 am

  NASA Releases First Multiplayer Facebook Game NASA recently launched its first online game for the social media age, Space Race Blastoff. Available through NASA’s Facebook page, the multiplayer game challenges players with trivia of NASA history, technology, science, and pop culture. Players who correctly answer questions earn virtual badges depicting astronauts, spacecraft, and astronomical objects. David Weaver, NASA’s associate administrator for communications hopes the game opens up NASA to a wide new audience of people accustomed to using social media. Reuters Debuts…

• Social Media Marketing Examples from Super Bowl XLVI

  Ann Marie Taepke

  6 Feb 2012 | 11:54 am

  Last year, I made a few predictions about this year’s Super Bowl 46.  And most of them actually came true.  This year we saw the first ever QR code integration into a Super Bowl ad, over 20 ad leaks on YouTube before the big game and a better use of hashtags in commercials.   While I still think improvements can be made building more integration into traditional advertisements with social campaigns, here are a few examples from this year: Jumping on the ‘Volkswagen’ Last year, Volkswagen broke ground by releasing their ‘The Force‘ Super Bowl commercial early on YouTube…

• Top 50 Branded Facebook Fan Pages, January 2012: Nokia leaps, Monster slips

  Jim Tobin

  2 Feb 2012 | 6:08 am

  The latest monthly list of the Top 50 Branded Facebook Fan Pages is now available for January 2012, and several brands made impressive runs to kick off the year. While some brand grew slowly in the way I described recently on Mashable.com, many more brands bucked that trend and grew 5, 10, even 39% percent in one month. Fastest Growing Facebook Pages The fastest growing branded Facebook fan pages of January 2012, by percentage growth, are: Nokia, which grew 39% and broke on the list at #50 Xbox, which grew 19% and moved up 3 spaces to #17 McDonalds, which grew 18% and moved up 1 space to #18…

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  NYT > Home Page

• Russia Defends Its Diplomacy in Syria Amid New Accounts of Violence

  By NEIL MacFARQUHAR, MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ and ALAN COWELL

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:16 am

  Reports Thursday of a fifth day of assaults on rebellious areas by Syrian government forces came on the heels of Russia’s leaders defending their diplomatic efforts.

• Spanish Judge Guilty of Misusing Authority

  By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:16 am

  The Spanish judge celebrated for pursuing international human rights cases was convicted of overstepping his jurisdiction in a domestic corruption probe on Thursday — the culmination of a spectacular fall from grace of one of Spain's most prominent people.

• Libya’s New Government Unable to Control Militias

  By ANTHONY SHADID

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:14 am

  The Arab world’s most sweeping revolution is foundering as the interim Libyan government seems to be paralyzed by its lack of power to control competing militias.

• Breakthrough on Austerity Clears Way for Greek Deal

  By RACHEL DONADIO and NIKI KITSANTONIS

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:14 am

  After days of talks, Greek political leaders reached a deal Thursday to support a package of harsh austerity measures demanded by Greece’s financial backers in return for a bailout.

• States Negotiate $26 Billion Agreement for Homeowners

  By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ and SHAILA DEWAN

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:10 am

  Nearly two million Americans could benefit from mortgage relief from the nation’s biggest banks, as part of a broad government settlement announced on Thursday.

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  Real Time Economics

• Wholesale Inventories Increased in December

  WSJ Staff

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:39 am

  By Eric Morath and Tom Barkley U.S. wholesale inventories and sales both posted solid increases in December, as a broad restocking by businesses helped propel stronger economic growth at the end of last year. The inventories of U.S. wholesalers increased by 1.0% from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted $473.17 billion, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast a 0.5% increase. Sales rose at the fastest pace since March, up 1.3% in December to $413.11 billion. The U.S. economy grew by 2.8% on an annualized basis during the final three…

• Secondary Sources: Construction Unemployment, Golden Echoes, Overvalued Euro?

  Phil Izzo

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:35 am

  A roundup of economic news from around the Web. –Construction Unemployment: Lawrence Mishel looks at how much impact the construction industry has on the unemployment rate. “In the early aftermath of the housing collapse in 2007, the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent, just one-tenth of a percentage point higher than if there were no construction sector. By 2011, the unemployment rate had risen to 8.9 percent and would have been 8.6 percent without construction. The rise in unemployment from 2007 to 2011 was 4.3 percentage points (going from 4.6 percent to 8.9 percent) and would…

• ECB Statement on Expansion of Acceptable Collateral for Loans

  WSJ Staff

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:10 am

  The European Central Bank announced the approval of new eligibility criteria for some euro-zone countries seeking to use its liquidity operations. Here’s the central bank’s statement. The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) has approved, for the seven national central banks (NCBs) that have put forward relevant proposals, specific national eligibility criteria and risk control measures for the temporary acceptance of additional credit claims as collateral in Eurosystem credit operations. Details of these specific national measures will be made available on the…

• Vitals Signs: Euro on the Rebound

  Josh Mitchell

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:41 am

  The euro has rebounded in recent days as European officials work to resolve the sovereign-debt crisis in the 17-nation currency bloc. The euro settled at $1.326 on Wednesday, reaching its highest value since early December. The currency fell to $1.266 on Jan. 16 amid concerns that the Continent’s woes could lead to a financial crisis and weigh on the global economy.

• Despite Recession’s Toll, Young Adults Are Optimistic

  Conor Dougherty

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:01 pm

  Young adults were hard hit by the recession but a new survey finds they are optimistic the economy will turn eventually, and that both they and their children will earn enough money to live how they want. About 41% of the public thinks young adults have borne the brunt of the recession, according to a poll to be released Thursday by the Pew Research Center. That belief meshes with reality: the share of employed 18-24-year-olds, at 54.3%, is at its lowest level since those records began in 1948. From 2007 to 2011, younger workers saw their earnings fall more steeply than workers in older age…

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  NYT > Politics

• Lawmakers Set Aside Money for Construction Projects

  By RON NIXON

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:22 am

  Dozens of local and regional projects, which the Obama administration did not include in this year’s budget, managed to received special financing.

• Foster Friess, a Santorum Supporter With Deep Pockets

  By JIM RUTENBERG and NICHOLAS CONFESSORE

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:22 am

  Few people played a more pivotal role in Rick Santorum’s victories in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado than Foster Friess, a wealthy donor to conservative causes.

• The Caucus: The Early Word: Revival

  By ASHLEY SOUTHALL

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:21 am

  Political news from today's Times, and a look at what's happening in Washington.

• U.S. and Israel Split Over How to Deter Iran

  By MARK LANDLER and DAVID E. SANGER

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:54 am

  An intense debate has erupted over when Tehran’s nuclear facilities will become invulnerable to an Israeli attack, and if economic sanctions need more time to work.

• Santorum Sweep Sets Stage for New Battle in Republican Race

  By MICHAEL D. SHEAR

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:07 am

  Rick Santorum’s defeat of Mitt Romney in three states could scramble the dynamics of the race.

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  Drudge Retort

• Wash. State Approves Gay Marriage

  American1st

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:32 am

  Washington state lawmakers voted to approve gay marriage Wednesday, which will make the state to become the seventh in the U.S. to allow same-sex couples to wed. The action comes a day after a federal appeals court declared California's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, saying it was a violation of the civil rights of gay and lesbian couples. The Washington House passed the bill on a 55-43 vote after the state Senate approved the measure last week. Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) said she's going to sign it.

• O'Reilly Defends Ellen DeGeneres

  adammm

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:09 pm

  After an American Family Association-affiliated group called a boycott of J.C. Penney unless the retailer fires Ellen DeGeneres from its commercials because she's a lesbian, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly compared the effort to McCarthyism. "What is the difference between the McCarthy era of the '50s and the Million Moms saying, 'Hey, JCPenney and all you other stores, don't you hire any gay people. Don't you dare.' What is the difference?"

• CNN Suspends Roland Martin

  rcade

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:53 pm

  CNN has suspended political analyst Roland Martin for Twitter posts during the Super Bowl that were called anti-gay. After a commercial showed soccer star David Beckham in underwear, Martin tweeted, "If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham's H & M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him." Martin also tweeted, "Who the hell was that New England Patriot they just showed in a head to toe pink suit? Oh, he needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass."

• Callista Gingrich Keeping Quiet

  rcade

  8 Feb 2012 | 4:25 pm

  Though Newt Gingrich's wife Callista has been a constant visual presence on the campaign trail and during his election night speeches, she's rarely made any comments for public consumption. When asked in Iowa if the public would be hearing more from her, she said, "If R.C. says yes." Campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond controls the messaging strategy. Newt Gingrich said, "We're waiting for R.C. to unleash her and he's being very measured and paced."

• Walker Aide Pleads Guilty

  Danforth

  8 Feb 2012 | 2:32 pm

  A former aide to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) pleaded guilty Tuesday to soliciting campaign contributions while she was supposed to be working at her government job. Darlene Wink, 61, an assistant to Walker when he was Milwaukee County Executive, agreed as part of her plea to assist the investigation into illegal fundraising. Wisconsin Democratic party chair Mike Tate said the plea is the "clearest evidence yet of the culture of corruption built to benefit Scott Walker on his crooked path from Milwaukee to Madison."

• 

  Daily Kos

• First-time claims for unemployment benefits fall again

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:04 am

  The Department of Labor reported this morning that seasonally adjusted first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits fell to 358,000 for the week ending Feb. 4. That was a drop of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 373,000, and the second-lowest level since April 2008. The 4-week moving average that flattens volatility in the weekly numbers was 366,250, a drop of 11,000 from the previous week's revised average of 377,250. When regular and emergency extended benefits are all taken into account, the total number of people claiming benefits for the week ending Jan. 21 was…

• Today in Congress: STOCK Act in the House, then lunch on the plane home

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Woooo! T.G.I.T.! L8Rz! Recapping yesterday's action: This is getting depressing, though I suppose we should count our blessings that the output volume is so low. The House yesterday passed the "Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act," then debated but did not vote on another Democratic motion to instruct conferees on the payroll tax cut extension. That's it. The Senate was not in session. Senate Dems used the down time (things were being held up while the clock ran on the ripening of a cloture motion) for an off-site issues conference and retreat. Looking ahead to today: No…

• Cheers and Jeers: Thursday

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:44 am

  From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE… Oh! More Things I Know: As of today, the Netroots Nation convention in Providence is only 17 weeks away. Democrats come up with really good policies but they're really bad at selling them. Republicans come up with really bad policies but they're really good at selling them. The winner of South Carolina's GOP primary always wins the GOP nomination. The way in which Romney and Santorum are forced to leave the race will leave you slack-jawed. If a celebrity is ever photographed without makeup, a tabloid will run it on the front page with a headline saying that…

• Daily Kos Elections Morning Digest: Patrick Murphy pursues Allen West up the Florida coast

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  Want the scoop on hot races around the country? Get the digest emailed to you each weekday morning. Sign up here. Leading Off: • FL-18, FL-22: Democrat Patrick Murphy is refusing to let GOP freshman Allen West out of his grasp. A week ago, West declared he'd flee the proposed new 22nd Congressional District for the friendlier confines of the 18th. Now Murphy—who'd been running against the Tea Party favorite West for a year—has decided that he'll chase West one seat up the Florida coastline in order to continue the fight. That should set up a colossal one-on-one battle between West and…

• Abbreviated Pundit Round-up: State of the nation

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:28 am

  Visual source: Newseum Dan Balz: In the aftermath of Rick Santorum’s clean sweep of Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, Mitt Romney is still, in fact, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination. But the lack of enthusiasm for his candidacy among conservatives foreshadows a potentially ugly road ahead to Tampa and general election problems if he is nominee. Colorado was the shocker. But given a choice between social issues and the economy, the GOP base went with social issues. It's a killer for the fall, but they don't care. Jonathan Capehart: Mitt Romney can’t translate his…

• 

  AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (AJE)

• Greece leaders announce austerity deal

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:31 am

  Prime Minister Lucas Papademos' office says coalition partners have reached a tentative agreement on new austerity cuts.

• Unprecedented cold paralyses life in Europe

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:17 am

  Cold snap hits normal life as 2,860km-long Danube river is wholly or partially frozen.

• Arrest warrant for former Maldives leader

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:26 am

  Former president Mohamed Nasheed says "tomorrow I will be in jail", as international concern grows and unrest spreads.

• Deadly assault continues on Syria's Homs

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:19 am

  Activists say scores more killed as government forces shell neighbourhoods in central city for a sixth day.

• Spanish court convicts judge Baltasar Garzon

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:33 am

  Judge found guilty of ordering illegal recordings in corruption case and suspended from bench for 11 years.

• 

  Politics on HuffingtonPost.com

• Santorum Backer Takes A Shot At Newt's Looks

  Katy Hall

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:59 am

  A spokesman for a Santorum-backing Super PAC made an interesting comparison when describing Newt Gingrich's Southern problem in an email to the LA Times: "The final decisions haven't yet been made on television ad placement but we are taking a hard look at states that may have previously been viewed as completely uphill... both ways," Stuart Roy wrote. "For instance, a couple of the Southern states are in play since Romney's Northeastern politics don't play well there. And although Gingrich may look a bit like Paula Deen, politically he's no Southerner." Deen recently announced that she has…

• As California Reluctant To Use Powerful Law, The Number Of Homeless Families Grow

  Marcus Baram

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:45 am

  Along the banks of the American River, adjacent to the Highway 160 bridge in Sacramento, reside a few dozen homeless men and drifters. Nylon tents sprawl across the grass. In one of them lived Kevin Moore and Ray Sletto, whose bodies were found on the afternoon of Jan. 17. The two men were the closest of friends for more than 10 years, taking care of each other and Baby Girl, the pit bull mix they adopted. Kevin Moore, 38, was a jeweler with a goatee and an easy smile and Ray Sletto, 44, sleepy-eyed and mustachioed, was a chef with a bad back. They had been homeless for many years after…

• Presidential Candidates, Conservative Leaders Hit Washington

  Elyse Siegel

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:42 am

  The 2012 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) begins on Thursday in the nation's capital. Candidates competing for the Republican presidential nomination are delivering speeches at the annual event. Big conservative names like U.S. Sens. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) are also taking part in the conservative gathering. Sarah Palin will deliver the keynote address at CPAC on Saturday night. The results of the event's straw poll will be announced the same evening. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul placed first in the straw poll the past two years. He will not attend CPAC this year.

• Ohio AG: 'Take A Deep Breath' And Make Fracking Regulations Tougher

  AP

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:31 am

  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio's top law enforcer says tougher environmental sanctions on polluters in the oil and gas industry and required disclosure of the chemicals used in the drilling technique called fracking are needed to adequately protect residents as shale exploration burgeons in the state. In a Wednesday interview with The Associated Press, Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine called for hiking civil penalties to $10,000 a day from the current maximum of $20,000 per incident. That would bring fines in line with states such as Pennsylvania, Colorado and Texas. Requiring…

• Hilary Rosen: Have We Really Come Down to a Boys Against the Girls Fight?

  Hilary Rosen

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:25 am

  This public debate on whether or not the Obama administration's sensible policy on covering birth control has turned into a boys against the girls fight. And the boys are out of touch and out of line. Are Chris Matthews, Joe Scarborough, Mike Barnicle, EJ Dionne and George Will etc. going to run around the country telling men to wear condoms? And by the way, pay for them themselves? Because if that isn't their plan for the next few years, they need to keep quiet. Guess what folks, people have sex. And when they do, unless women want to get pregnant, they need birth control. How dare these…

• 

  Politics

• With Lull In GOP Race, Candidates Fan Out And Regroup

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:51 am

  After Rick Santorum swept Tuesday's GOP contests, he headed to Texas. Mitt Romney made a bold move and went to Georgia — Newt Gingrich's home turf.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• N.Y., California To Sign Mortgage Settlement

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:48 am

  Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank and Ally Financial agreed to the settlement for lowering homeowners' mortgage principal, refinancing, a reserve account, and checks to homeowners.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• White House Official: 10 States Get Education Waiver

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:20 am

  The move gives long-sought leeway to states that promise to improve how they prepare and evaluate students. The states are Colorado, Florida,Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey,Oklahoma and Tennessee.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• Obama, Monti To Discuss Europe's Debt Crisis

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 am

  Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti meets President Obama at the White House Thursday for talks, just as confidence in Italy's economy is beginning to return. The technocrat who succeeded the flamboyant Silvio Berlusconi is trying to change Italy's image abroad.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• After 3 Wins, Santorum Campaign Moves To Texas

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 am

  One day after winning caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota, as well as a "beauty contest" primary in Missouri, GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum traveled to Texas for a series of campaign appearances. He met with evangelical pastors in the morning and members of the Tea Party in the afternoon.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• 

  Democracy Now!

• Ramarley Graham: NYPD Slays Unarmed Black Teen as Outrage over Targeting of People of Color Grows

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:46 am

  The New York City Police Department is under mounting criticism after police shot dead an unarmed teenager inside his own home. Eighteen-year-old Ramarley Graham was shot at close range in his parents’ apartment in the Bronx after being chased into the house by narcotics detectives. Police said they found marijuana in the home and think Graham may have been trying to flush some down the toilet. The NYPD is coming under criticism not only for shooting Graham, but also for its broader stop-and-frisk policy, which critics say disproportionately targets people of color. On Monday, about 500…

• As Contraceptives Rule Enters GOP Race, Will Reproductive Rights Affect 2012 Election?

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:22 am

  Rick Santorum’s three-state victory comes after a week of heavy Republican campaigning against a new Obama administration rule requiring health insurance plans, including those provided by Catholic-affiliated hospitals and universities, to offer free birth control methods. Reproductive rights groups have hailed the measure, which was fueled by research showing birth control is necessary for women’s health and well-being. The row over contraceptives comes as a top official at the breast cancer charity Komen has resigned after a controversial decision to defund Planned Parenthood…

• Santorum Wins GOP Contests in 3 States as Evangelical Vote Surges and Pro-Romney Spending Dips

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:10 am

  Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has surged in the Republican presidential contest with wins in the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses, as well as a nonbinding primary in Missouri. Santorum’s win appears to have been fueled by evangelical voters, emboldening his claim to be the "true conservative" in the Republican race. The contests in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri notably differed from earlier states in the absence of a flood of spending backing front-runner Mitt Romney. We get reaction to Santorum’s victories from Michael Brendan Dougherty of Business Insider…

• Headlines for February 8, 2012

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  Santorum Campaign Rises with 3-State VictoryCourt Overturns California Same-Sex Marriage BanKomen Exec Behind Planned Parenthood Defunding ResignsDrone Attack Kills 10 in PakistanU.S. May Cut Iraqi Embassy Staff by HalfCIA to Keep Massive Covert Presence in Iraq, AfghanistanSyria: Dozens Killed as Homs Siege ContinuesUNICEF: 400 Children Killed in SyriaStudy: Homegrown Muslim Extremists Pose "Miniscule Threat"South Carolina Sues Justice Dept. to Uphold Voter ID LawHezbollah Leader Urges Talks for Assad, Syrian Opposition

• "Who Killed Che? How the CIA Got Away with Murder": New Book Ties Johnson Admin to Guevara's Death

  7 Feb 2012 | 5:52 am

  Michael Ratner and Michael Steven Smith are the co-authors of a new book about the U.S. role in the killing of Cuban revolutionary, Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Born in Argentina in 1928, Che rose to international prominence as one of the key leaders of the 1959 Cuban Revolution that overthrew U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista. After a period in the new Cuban government leadership, Che aimed to spark revolutionary activity internationally. On October 8, 1967, he was captured by Bolivian troops working with the CIA. He was executed one day later. In their book, "Who Killed…

• 

  ThinkProgress

• 16 Things Super Bowl Ads Would Like You to Know About Women in 2012

  Alyssa Rosenberg

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:52 am

  What would I do without Super Bowl ads to explain my own gender to me? Truly, I would be lost. Super Bowl 2012 actually seemed less egregiously sexist than previous years, even given the inevitable GoDaddy ad, so predictably gross that I don’t even include it here. But taken together, the ads form a pretty striking portrait of how American industry views American ladies. Let’s take a look, shall we? 1. Women don’t invent things (people of color don’t either), but they will sell you electronics: 2. When we’re superheroes, we get the cute little guns that can fit…

• Flashback: Santorum Compared Democratic Effort To Block Pro-Enron Judge To Adolf Hitler

  Ian Millhiser

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:50 am

  Harry Reid: Not HitlerIn 2005, President Bush nominated Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen to a federal appellate judgeship. Senate Democrats eventually staged a failed filibuster effort driven in large part because of concerns that Owen is ethically unsuited to the federal bench. As a Texas justice, Owen took thousands of dollars worth of campaign contributions from Enron and then wrote a key opinion reducing Enron’s taxes by $15 million. As BuzzFeed points out, however, Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) had quite an odd reaction to this effort to keep Enron’s friend off the…

• NYT: GOP ‘Drill-Now-Drill-Everywhere’ Transportation Bill Is ‘Uniquely Terrible’

  Brad Johnson

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:31 am

  The New York Times editorial board slams the Republican $260 billion five-year transportation infrastructure bill (HR 7) as “uniquely terrible,” “an attempt to promote the Republicans’ drill-now-drill-everywhere agenda and the interests of their industry patrons,” that puts public transit in peril and guts environmental protections.

• The Foreclosure Fraud Settlement, By The Numbers

  Pat Garofalo

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:20 am

  Federal and state officials today will finally announce that they’ve reached a settlement with the nation’s biggest banks over the banks’ various foreclosure fraud abuses, such as “robo-signing” foreclosure documents and submitting falsely notarized documents to courts. The settlement has been in the works for several months, as a few key states — most notably California and New York — were holding out for tougher terms against the banks. Here are some of the key numbers in the settlement, which is being officially announced at 10 a.m.: 49: States…

• Romney Mixes up Solyndra and Keystone Pipeline at Campaign Rally

  Stephen Lacey

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:15 am

  Perhaps a bit flustered from losing three primary races a day earlier to fellow GOP presidential contender Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney got his energy talking points confused at a campaign rally in Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday. Speaking about his plan to encourage domestic energy production, Romney got the solar company Solyndra and the Keystone tar sands pipeline mixed up: “My course for America is to become energy secure and to open up that Solyndra – that, that pipeline, excuse me, the Keystone pipeline,” Romney told about 400 supporters at a stone importing company in northern…

• 

  Movies

• Meryl Streep: The Fresh Air Interview

  6 Feb 2012 | 8:36 am

  Meryl Streep won a Golden Globe for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. She talks about preparing for that role, her other films and how her perceptions of herself have changed over the years.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• Verizon To Set Up Streaming Service With Redbox

  6 Feb 2012 | 8:20 am

  Verizon Communications Inc. will challenge Netflix and start a video streaming service this year with Redbox and its DVD rental kiosks. Verizon and Coinstar Inc., Redbox's parent, say the service will be national and available to non-Verizon customers as well.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• How 'Hugo' Turned From Book To Film

  5 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  Before Hugo was the hit film directed by Martin Scorsese, it was a children's book called The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick. Host Rachel Martin speaks to screenwriter John Logan, whose script for the film has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• Filmmakers Die In Helicopter Crash In Australia

  5 Feb 2012 | 4:14 am

  National Geographic confirms the deaths of award-winning American cinematographer Mike deGruy and Australian television writer-producer Andrew Wight. The pair reportedly set off to film a documentary when they crashed.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• Director Ti West Talks Slow Horror, 'The Innkeepers'

  4 Feb 2012 | 3:08 am

  Known to many devoted genre fans for his methodical horror movies, the director of The House of the Devil and Trigger Man talks about his influences and his newest film.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us