WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Thursday became the first president to respond to questions on Twitter, answering tweeted questions about the administration’s so-called Congress to-do list. The White House gave 40 minutes' notice -- in the form of a tweet signed by the president himself -- that Obama would take tweeted questions. Earlier in the day, its official Twitter account started soliciting questions, but was mum on who would answer. Obama is in Iowa, and answered the questions between a visit to a Newton, Iowa, wind turbine manufacturer and a campaign event in Des Moines. The chat lasted 21 minutes, during which Obama answered seven questions, promoting his energy policy, small business tax credits and "pushing big banks to do the right thing." It ... Continue reading →
[View the story " Is Modi in contention for India's Top Spot?" on Storify] Is Modi in contention for India's Top Spot?Indian voters are looking for alternatives to the ruling coalition ahead of the next general elections.Storified by The Stream · Tue, May 22 2012 18:15:31The chances of Narendra Modi — the controversial Chief Minister of the Western state of Gujarat — becoming India's next Prime Minister has been a major source of discussion for months, including in a March TIME magazine cover story. It was tweeted below by Indian Premier League founder, Lalit K Modi.good to see Narendra Modi on Time Magazine Cover. He is definitely one of India"s most able & capable political leaderleaderOn Tuesday, netizens discussed the issue in droves, using the ... Continue reading →
In a dramatic shift, Maryland voters overwhelmingly would vote to uphold a law allowing same-sex marriage, according to a survey released Thursday by Public Policy Polling. Fifty-seven percent of likely voters would vote to uphold the law allowing same-sex marriage, while 37 percent would not, representing a 12-point shift from an identical survey in early March. Fifty-two percent think gay marriage should be recognized, while 39 percent do not. Both polls were commissioned for Marylanders for Marriage Equality. Maryland passed a gay marriage law, but it doesn't take effect until January 1, 2013. Opponents of the law are seeking to get 55,736 signatures to force a referendum on it by June 30, which is likely to happen. Maine and Minnesota will vote on gay marriage ... Continue reading →
In a dramatic shift, Maryland voters overwhelmingly would vote to uphold a law allowing same-sex marriage, according to a survey released Thursday by Public Policy Polling. Fifty-seven percent of likely voters would vote to uphold the law allowing same-sex marriage, while 37 percent would not, representing a 12-point shift from an identical survey in early March. Fifty-two percent think gay marriage should be recognized, while 39 percent do not. Both polls were commissioned for Marylanders for Marriage Equality. Maryland passed a gay marriage law, but it doesn't take effect until January 1, 2013. Opponents of the law are seeking to get 55,736 signatures to force a referendum on it by June 30, which is likely to happen. Maine and Minnesota will vote on gay marriage ... Continue reading →
Facebook IPO’s Youngest Victim: 11-Year-Old Investor Wants His Money BackA fifth-grade victim of last Friday's technical glitches does not ‘like’ how NASDAQ handled Facebook's IPO. ReutersFacebook shares sank on Monday in the first day of trading without the full support of the company's underwriters, leaving some investors down 25 percent from where they were Friday afternoonSam Lesser isn’t old enough to go on Facebook without his parents’ help. But he may be the youngest victim yet of the social networking site’s turbulent IPO. Lesser, an 11-year-old investor and business prodigy, tried to buy 300 shares of Facebook stock during the company’s initial public offering last week with more than $10,000 saved up from a small company he set up selling skateboards and bracelets. (MORE: 7 ... Continue reading →
RT @pink Justin Timberlake tells the paparazzi to 'get a real job' http://t.co/duShIOME RT @nero Wedding announcements that spell disaster http://t.co/RBMxa4WO Continue reading →
[View the story "Punishable by death" on Storify]Punishable by deathAs countries drop the death penalty, executions are still on the riseStorified by The Stream · Tue, May 22 2012 12:33:07In the late 1970s, only 16 countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes. Today, that number has increased to 97, with an average of more than three countries each year abolishing capital punishment for some or all offences. Death Penalty in 2011amnestyinternationalDespite the decline in countries allowing the use of the death penalty, Amnesty International's annual report saw a 78 percent increase in executions around the world. This number does not include executions in China, which does not disclose official numbers; human rights organizations consider the country to be the global leader in capital ... Continue reading →
