[...]“Americans pay far too much for Internet connections that are far too slow compared to consumers in other countries. This unprecedented initiative brings together public- and private-sector groups to build the political and popular will to address this critical problem.”

Today’s launch included the release of One Nation Online, an overview of the current state of broadband adoption in the United States, demonstrating that the digital divide remains vast. Half of American homes still are not connected to high-speed Internet. This poor broadband performance has dropped the United States to 15th place in international broadband rankings — down from fourth place in 2001.
Source.

Basically, we Americans are really getting shafted by Comcast and the like. Not only are they BLOCKING OUR !@%#$&*~in’ BITTORRENT CONNECTIONS¹ , but we’re paying too much for our crippled service compared to other countries. ²

1. No matter if what you’re transferring is perfectly legal like competing online television provider’s videos or if you’re downloading Britney Spear’s latest album [↩]
2. Since this is from Freepress, I’m just going to guess that they’ve already figured inflation and the economy or lack thereof in. [↩]

US News

• Do I even need to say it? Gas prices rose again…
• Practically the entire Midwest is underwater
• Anti-war demonstrators cause ruckus worth 2 second news spot¹
• California is 2nd stage to legalize gay marriage
• Some CEO or other was a real sleaze </overplayed news>
• Northern California is on FIRE!!!!
• Tiger Woods still playing golf, did something to get in the news.²
• US border patrol does something
• Red Cross: “We has no moar monies. For srs, guys.”
• Florida: One dead, several others injured outside supermarket

Read more »

1. LULZ, oh mainstream news, u amuses me [↩]
2. For serious, does anyone watch golf? [↩]

US News

• Gas is 4 ∫υ€<¡Π dollars per gallon !!!

• Big tomato fight scare
• “HOTHOTHOTHOTHO~TT!!“
• Well, at least there’s not a drought…
• Sales of sidewalk salt and snowshovels skyrocket in June.
• Republicans still crushin’ on Big Voluptuous Oil
• Someone actually bothering to try to impeach Bush…6 months before he leaves office anyway
• Hillbot officially deactivated

US Entertainment News

• Like srsly, there’s nothing on TV. If anyone knows of anything on TV, please tell me. I’M BOREDDDD.

</stupid>

World News

• Stabbing spree leaves 7 dead in Akihabara
• Dozens killed in Sudanese plane crash

About the Akiba stabbing, that’s sad…one crazy guy kills those 7 people just for no reason…

And about the Sudanese plane crash, in the article, it says it was because the plane went off the runway, but the first report I heard was that it was struck by lightning. Anybody hear anything else?

*first person* Uh-Oh! I’ve been thinking. Dangerous. Very Danger. ¹

First off, I’m kind of getting sick of “Mari” this and “Mari” that. I’m sick of what I’ve done on this site, and on the Internet. I’ve managed to accomplish a pile of crap, and it sickens me. Not only have I gone in a terrible direction with this site, adding half-unthought-out features and writing posts that a 4 year old could have articulated better, but they’re in third person. It was cute for a while, but after about the first half of the first post I wrote in first person, it fizzled out and got annoying.

Read more »

1. Yes, I just referenced Aiba Masaki in Tensai! Shimura Doubutsuen, in the same post that I’m saying I’m an idiot for liking JE. Fondness for boy bands has warped my mind. [↩]

Welcome to the second half of the first edition of Biweekly News Bits.

In the second half of this week (May 1-May 3)

US News

• Tornadoes kill 7 in Arkansas, strong storms throughout southeast. Link Video of Arkansas tornadoes
• Minnesota bridge collapse lawsuit settled for $38 million. Link
• Living in Pittsburgh still barely living. Link¹
• The rich are twice as rich, the poor are even poorer if you consider inflation and gas prices. Link
• Gov’t. cracks down on shady credit card practices. Link
• US Economy not getting any suckier atm. Link
• Sgt. Leonard Trevino acquitted of premeditated murder in the death of an unarmed Iraqi insurgent who was killed in a village overrun by al Qaeda operatives. Link

World Events

• China and Tibet slated to begin talks. Link
• Austrian man kept his daughter and the children he fathered with her locked in a basement for 24 years. He had threatened to gas them if they left. Link
• Raul Castro may not be reforming Cuba as much as we thought. Link
• Dormant Chilean volcano causes hundreds to flee their homes.  Link

US Entertainment

• Brooke White kicked off American Idol. Link
• Amy Winehouse still having problems with addiction - delays new Bond theme. Link

1. Semi-quoting Groucho Marx there. Mari is from the burgh, so yay for Mari having a higher risk of lung problems! Also, *looks around* *shrugs* GO PENS!! </obligatory sports shoutout> [↩]