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    News Round-Up: Friday, February 18, 2011

    Friday, February 18th, 2011

    Obama backs protests in the Badger State, Congress continues the fiscal fights, and Glee takes down the King of Rock-n-Roll.

    CRUCIAL

    Obama Joins Wisconsin Budget Battle, Opposing Republican Anti-Union Bill, http://wapo.st/ft99OT

    The President backs protesters in Wisconsin after Republicans planned to cut public worker benefits, among other things, saying that the Governor “assulted” unions.

    Popular Rage is Met With Violence in Mideast, http://nyti.ms/e8sCw3

    Governments try to put a stop to the protests that have errupted across the Middle East have become more and more violent.

    Facebook Adds LGBT-Friendly Relationship Status Options, http://on.mash.to/dZfILp

    Civil Union and Domestic Partnership are now two of the options for US Facebook users relationship status.

    Is Social Search the Future of the Internet?, http://bit.ly/ezz9Ea

    Google will allow users to connect their YouTube, Twitter and Flickr accounts in order to personalize search results, adding a social element.

    Totes Votes: Targeting Chicago’s Young Voters, http://bit.ly/e43bcP

    Although young voters make up a large percentage of the eligible voting population, they still do not feel as though candidates are addressing them or their issues of concern. In Chicago, Rock the Vote and Rockit Bar and Grill hosted a Mayoral Debate after party   to bring candidates and young voters together.

    BP Says Spill Settlement Terms Are Too Generous, http://nyti.ms/idttTF

    Many of those filing for reimbursements after the BP disaster don’t feel as though they are getting enough, however, BP feels differently, arguing that too much compensation is being given.

    Meet Their Backyard Backstabbers, http://politi.co/eUxUvw

    Politicians from the same state attack each other shamelessly in hopes of destroying presidential hopefuls.

    Congress Finally Earns its Pay, http://on.wsj.com/gHXfH1

    The debating over the 2011 budget this week has shown democracy at its finest, allowing for the minority to be heard and for each member of the parties to assert their own opinions.

    CULTURAL:

    Seyfried and Phillippe officially over: http://bit.ly/gmgEWh\

    Former TV star and father of 8, working on the rooftops: http://bit.ly/fqVANc

    A new beer named after princess-to-be: http://bit.ly/fbxf9I

    Elvis Presley toppled by Glee: http://bit.ly/h6R2zN

    Vick not ready to talk to Oprah: http://yhoo.it/i4W9Fj

    Kristin Andrews
    Bio: Kristin is Rock the Vote's Communications Intern

    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com



    News Round-Up: August 4, 2010

    Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

    Hello Rockers!

    In today’s Twitteriffic news we see candidates embracing the social media tools we love and Kanye West’s tweets resurfacing as captions for New Yorker cartoons!

    CRUCIAL:

    Is the world’s worst oil spill coming to a close? http://yhoo.it/aco6vo

    BP had success plugging the leak by pumping mud down the oil well. However, a great deal of the previously leaked oil is still left to clean up.

    Rejected: Missouri votes against key provision in health care reform: http://bit.ly/cOOFrv

    In yesterday’s primary, Missouri voters overwhelmingly rejected a key aspect of Obama’s healthcare reform when they supported a ballot to prohibit penalizing people who fail to procure health insurance.

    Coming soon… California Court to announce ruling on gay marriage: http://bit.ly/bNVsxv

    A federal judge in California has reached a decision on whether the state’s same-sex marriage ban ( known as Prop 8 ) amounts to unconstitutional discrimination. Check back tomorrow when we’ll have a story after the judge releases the final decision.

    BrunnerTube: Ohio Secretary of State adopts a YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/9qJVft

    Secretary Brunner created a YouTube channel specifically to educate voters on the midterm election. Will you tune in?

    Do you follow #marcorubio, #kendrickmeek or #charliecristfl? http://bit.ly/bRNY2N

    Florida’s Senate candidates have turned to Twitter to get their messages out. But how much does tweeting help their campaign?

    No excuses: Colorado Senate candidates Buck and Norton oppose abortion: http://huff.to/cc0hfW

    Both candidates oppose abortion and agree that there shouldn’t be exceptions in cases of rape or incest.

    CULTURAL:

    Happy birthday, @BarackObama! http://bit.ly/c4ug5u

    Congrats on turning 49! Wish him your own congratulations by signing his birthday card linked above.

    Bristol + Levi 4 Ever: http://bit.ly/dkktCs

    Palin told Johnston that it’s off. Again.

    600 Home Runs?! No biggie for Rodriguez: http://nyti.ms/dCjRK0

    Yankee fans were cheering loudly for A-Rod today when he hit his 600th home run.

    “We lookin’ crazy fresh where’s paparazzi when you need ‘em” #KanyeNewYorkerTweet: http://bit.ly/baV6ls

    Yesterday the Twitter world got taken away by “Kanye New Yorker Tweets,” where people paired old New Yorker cartoons with new captions inspired by Mr. West’s tweets.

    Was “Inception” a rip-off?? http://bit.ly/cqtryH

    Some are saying the extremely popular movie by Christopher Nolan was taken from the cartoon “Scrooge McDuck & The Beagle Boys”

    Rachel
    Bio:

    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com



    News Round-up

    Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

    Hello Rockers!

    We hope you enjoy reading Rock the Vote’s inaugural news updates! We know how important it is to stay informed about what’s going on in the U.S. and in particular with young people, so we’re here to help you out. Here, we’ve provided a few news articles – both Crucial & Cultural – that highlight the most recent big stories:

    Crucial:

    UCLA tries to help its struggling students during a tough recession: http://n.pr/aTriB2

    For many college students, rising tuition costs coupled with a poor economy are resulting in homelessness and hunger. UCLA created an Economic Crisis Response Team to try to help out.

    Government just set your iPhone free! And protected other digital access rights, too: http://bit.ly/92RZDe

    The Librarian of Congress just delivered huge victory for digital tech users like us Millennials! Yesterday’s ruling now protects the legality of certain activities, like being the ability to “jailbreak” an iPhone. You can now also use portions of motion pictures in new works for educational and documentary uses.

    Could a new immigration approach be more explosive than Arizona’s law? http://huff.to/asfAtk

    Currently, the Secure Communities program fingerprints every person who is booked in jail to check their immigration status. Yet advocate groups say the program discourages immigrants who are victims from reporting crimes because they would fear being fingerprinted and arrested as well.

    BP gives the boot to Tony Hayward: http://bit.ly/a0EyNz

    BP named American Robert Dudley its new Chief Executive Officer. Meanwhile, the company has sent letters to the government estimating that about 50,000 barrels of oil are spilling into the gulf daily… do you think Dudley will bring change to the oil spill clean-up?

    Can politicians truly be held accountable? Maybe in Ohio! http://politifact.com/ohio/

    Hey, Ohio voters! Wish you had a Truth-O-Meter for your politicians statements? Well stop wishing because now you do. Plain Dealer and PolitiFact take on the job to hold your politicians accountable.

    How do you define “personhood?” Pro-life advocates put defining law on Colorado’s ballot: http://bit.ly/9hjwNV

    Colorado voters will again decide whether “personhood” should be defined as   “beginning with a fertilized human egg” in this year’s midterm election. Some opponents are concerned that the definition could lead to a ban of abortion and birth control.

    Cultural:

    Welcome to Twitter, @AngelinaJolie! http://bit.ly/9Jnvwh

    America’s favorite actress and mommy just joined Twitter! But you should know before you follow her – she’s not accepting followers or tweeting until “later this year.”

    Who would you rather see on American Idol: Justin Timberlake or Elton John? The TV show puts both singers on its judge wish list: http://bit.ly/9Jnvwh

    These two talented artists are both the apple of American Idol’s eye. Do you think they should take the bait, or do you think someone else should judge the show?

    John and Kate have finally reached a custody deal for their beloved eight! http://bit.ly/bMYI4B

    The infamous parents can focus on future projects – like Kate’s show “Twist of Kate” – now that they’ve finally settled a custody deal for their children.

    Rachel
    Bio:

    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com



    White House Oil Spill Call: Dial-In on Tuesday

    Monday, June 14th, 2010

    Want to hear directly from senior officials in the White House what’s going on to stop and cleanup the BP oil spill? You can TODAY.

    As you probably know, this spill is a huge problem: the largest environmental disaster in our history, in fact. Fouled water, destroyed ecosystems, loss of jobs, tourism crushed. President Obama is visiting the beaches and command centers in the region and plans to address the nation about the topic on Tuesday night. You have chance to hear directly from the White House officials about the government’s plans for the oil spill and the Gulf region before the speech.

    Here are the details for the conference call:

    When: Tuesday, June 15th at 12:30 p.m. NOW AT 1:30 Eastern (call in at least 5 minutes ahead of time)
    Call-in number 800-230-1085

    BTW, here are some links about the oil spill which you might find interesting:

    Also, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration just launched a new website meant to be a “one-stop shop for detailed and near-real-time information about the response,” including technical and scientific information. See www.GeoPlatform.gov/gulfresponse for the latest data on the oil spill’s trajectory, fishery closed areas, wildlife and place-based Gulf Coast resources — such as pinpointed locations of oiled shoreline and daily position of research ships.

    Thomas Bates
    Bio: Thomas is Rock the Vote's Vice President of Civic Engagement.
    @BatesThomas
    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com