5 Things: October 24, 2009

Wow, it was a slow news week. The balloon boy turned out to be a hoax, and reports of “Michael Jackson ordering take out” were unfounded. I really had to scrounge around the internet to even find 5 things I found important/interesting this week. But I did it, because this is how I give my life meaning and purpose. Here goes:

1. Montana football coach can’t take a joke the truth. In my line of work, I am well aware that some people have no sense of humor. Then Ian tuned me into this story about his alma matter. University of Montana football coach Bobby Hauck is leading his team in a boycott of the school newspaper because they printed an article he didn’t like. Now I am aware, people’s idiocy can reach heights I didn’t even realize. But, at least he got his name in Sports Illustrated!

2. Home Sales Rebound! Good news for the housing industry: existing home sales hit a 2-year high this week. Experts are crediting the rise to the first-time home buyer tax credit. Yes, you heard it here first, government programs actually work! Not let’s get some universal healthcare, because:

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3. Boy lit on fire over $40 video game This story actually happened two weeks ago, but I just found out about it this week thanks to a discussion about health insurance, which his parents supposedly don’t have. Basically, a 15-year-old in Florida was doused by rubbing alcohol and lit on fire because he turned in a classmate for trying to steal his dad’s bike. Scary. For information on donating to the family go here.

4. The Obamas Get their Picture Taken: I mostly just enjoy that the release of this photo on the white house flickr page was “highly anticipated.” But having Annie Lebowitz take your family portrait does seem like one of the best reasons to run for President I’ve heard.

5. Magazines resort to web propaganda: I like magazines, I really do. They pay well for writing, are cool to hold in your hand, and pass time at the doctors office. But this week, magazines stooped to a new low, with this catchy web propaganda video full of seemingly made up statistics. Apparently even the print dinosaurs know the Internet is the place to go to gain support for your cause. And look at the fancy moving graphics and music you can use to do it! But seriously, further proof that the internet is not killing print, the people who run it are.

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