California is not exactly the GOP’s idea of home turf. But in the 2012 Republican presidential primary, it’s the most important state on the calendar. California’s June 5 primary, despite being the second-to-last contest, is looking more and more like it may determine whether Mitt Romney can win the Republican nomination or whether the party goes to its August convention without a nominee. Read full article > >

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California could decide the GOP nominee

Leap days disrupt our calendar, and with it — if history is any indication — our entire societal sense of decorum. Clutch your pearls and ready your smelling salts for what you’re about to hear: On a leap day, women are permitted to propose to men, according to tradition. Read full article > >

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Leap Day: When women are ‘allowed’ to propose

We know you’ve got Tuesday, Feb. 14, circled on your calendar, but there’s a lot to do before Valentine’s Day, including many ways to celebrate this weekend. See our ideas for the best events this weekend , including dual exhibits featuring two Founding Fathers, plays put together in a day and the International Wine and Food Festival. Read full article > >

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Plan your weekend: Founding Fathers exhibits, Play In a Day

Viola Herms Drath had been to the Blue Star Mothers convention the week of Aug. 8, and she spoke excitedly about an upcoming family dinner at the Prime Rib on K Street and her great-granddaughter’s first birthday. She was pleased that, even at 91 years old, her calendar was so full. But by the end of the week, she was found dead. Read full article > >

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Viola Drath: A remarkable life hijacked

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I could really use a personal assistant” ? Apple’s aiming to fill that gap for you with Siri, the voice recognition and navigation feature in the new iPhone. I hear you, Android users. You’re saying, “Well, my phone already does that.” And that’s true — Android phones have the capability to transcribe text messages, give directions, play music, make calls, send e-mails, navigate the Web and more. But what sets Siri apart is the way it recognizes natural speech and the way it syncs with your calendar and clock. Read full article > >

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iPhone 4S: Siri, your personal assistant

Reid has yet to put it on the calendar.

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Some Dems Against Jobs Bill

Mark your calendar for April 25, when lawyers on all sides of the Google Books Settlement will be reconvene to signal how the agreement between Google, the Authors Guild, and the Association of American Publishers may change after a federal judge rejected it last month. It’s unclear exactly what modifications the parties may offer, but they’ll need to do something in light of Judge Denny Chin’s strongly worded judgment. “U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin in Manhattan said the creation of a universal library would ‘simply go too far,’ and he was troubled by the differences between Google’s views and those of everyone affected by the settlement,” the AP summarized . The settlement, originally announced on October 28, 2008 , has drawn objections from all types of groups. And theoretically, there are certainly good objections. Practically, though, my question has always been: who else is paying to scan 15 million books and making them available online? What are the real, not theoretical, alternatives? I’ll be investigating those questions this month in the lead-up to the April 25 court date.

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The Next Chapter in the Google Books Saga

As has been said, probably rightly, the 19th century did not end until 1914, when the First World War broke out; similarly, the 20th century did not end on New Year’s Eve 2000 or New Year’s Day 2001, as the calendar would suggest, but continued for another few months. I daresay that the 20th century finally ended only on September 11, 2001, when suicide bombers succeeded in attacking the World Trade Center. Naturally, terrorism had been known for a long time. It was known all too well to 19th-century Europe. It also existed in the 20th century, and in plenty of shades. read more

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Farewell to Modernity in the New Age of Surveillance

Apple announced what analysts like to call a “blow-out quarter” today, selling more than 16 million iPhones during the three months that included the holiday season. In fact, Apple has sold 30 million iPhones in the last two quarters. In the three years before that, the company had sold a total of 60 million units. We chart the iPhone explosion above. While Apple’s fiscal year begins in October, this chart uses the calendar year. If you’re wondering what happened in the third quarter of 2008, that period saw the release of the iPhone 3G.

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Chart: iPhone Sales by Quarter

What’s your sign? Not what you think it is: Research by the Minnesota Planetarium Society has recalculated the Zodiac calendar to correspond with the original Babylonian zodiac. The goal was to adjust the calendar so it reflects what the Babylonians…

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Zodiac Calendar Changes

ABC News reports that the Congressional Budget Office this week released its latest report on the effects of the Recovery Act and found that it “raised the GDP, lowered unemployment, and increased the number of people with jobs.” According to the report, CBO estimates that the Recovery Act’s policies in the third quarter of the calendar year 2010 had the following effects (emphasis added): read more

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CBO: Recovery Act Raised GDP and Lowered Unemployment but Effects Are ‘Expected to Wane’

Five shows reinventing puppetry at Minneapolis’ Walker Art Center From Jason Segel’s to the Internet sensation-turned-IFC show Food Party , puppetry endures as a medium that brings the absurd and fantastical to life. To celebrate the ancient art form, the Twin Cities’ Walker Art Center kickd off the performing arts season with five distinct shows under the banner Adventures in New Puppetry . ” Dark Matters ” is a puppetry/dance hybrid fable by the Canadian dancer and choreographer Crystal Pite and her company, Kidd Pivot Frankfurt RM . After the show, the company will lead a dance improvisation workshop . The Twin Cities-based Open Eye Figure Theater will co-present Toy Theater After Dark , a modern take on old-world toy puppetry. A collaboration between the avant-garde Slovene theater troupe Betontanc and Latvian object theater masters, Umka.lv , ” Show Your Face! ” is the dark story of an empty snowsuit brought to life by seven actors and live musicians. Woyzeck on the Highveld is a mixed-media adaptation of Georg Buchner’s play. Director William Kentridge collaborated with the Handspring Puppet Company for this synthesis of animated film, puppets and actors. The Devil and Mister Punch is a work-in-progress from the irreverent British theater company, Improbable . To find tickets and specific show dates visit the Walker Calendar .

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Adventures in New Puppetry