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The Morning Flap: January 31, 2013
These are my links for January 30th through January 31st:
- The Chuck Hagel confirmation whip count –
- Obama’s jobs council shutting down Thursday – President Barack Obama will let his jobs council expire this week without renewing its charter, winding down one source of input from the business community even as unemployment remains stubbornly high.When Obama in January 2011 formed his Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, unemployment was hovering above 9 percent. Two years president later, more than 12 million people in the U.S. are out of work. The unemployment rate has improved to 7.8 percent, but both parties agree that’s still too high.A provision in Obama’s executive order establishing the council says it sunsets on Thursday. A White House official said the president does not plan to extend it.
- Controversial school bonds create ‘debt for the next generation’ – The Bay Citizen – Controversial school bonds create ‘debt for the next generation’
- California taxes surge in January, report says – latimes.com – California taxes surge in January, report says
- Poll: Californians fear shootings, support citizenship | news10.net – PPIC Poll: Californians fear shootings, support citizenship
- Myths of Weight Loss Are Plentiful, Researcher Says – NYTimes.com – Myths of Weight Loss Are Plentiful, Researcher Says #tcot
- Science Says, ‘Good Riddance, Sen. Tom Harkin’ – Progressive Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced his retirement recently, foregoing a re-election bid in 2014. Science Insider, the policy news arm of the journal Science, wished him a fond farewell, calling him a “longtime champion” of biomedical research.This is exactly backwards.In reality, Harkin has been one of the leading voices of alternative medicine, up to 95% of which is complete nonsense. His insistence upon funding woo, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) no less, has served to undermine biomedical research. Called the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), this joke of an organization was created — and packed full of woo-loving cronies — by Senator Tom Harkin.
- ObamaCare: Some families to be priced out of health overhaul – Some families could get priced out of health insurance due to what’s being called a glitch in President Barack Obama’s overhaul law. IRS regulations issued Wednesday failed to fix the problem as liberal backers of the president’s plan had hoped.As a result, some families that can’t afford the employer coverage that they are offered on the job will not be able to get financial assistance from the government to buy private health insurance on their own. How many people will be affected is unclear.The Obama administration says its hands were tied by the way Congress wrote the law. Officials said the administration tried to mitigate the impact. Families that can’t get coverage because of the glitch will not face a tax penalty for remaining uninsured, the IRS rules said.
“This is a very significant problem, and we have urged that it be fixed,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, an advocacy group that supported the overhaul from its early days. “It is clear that the only way this can be fixed is through legislation and not the regulatory process.”
But there’s not much hope for an immediate fix from Congress, since the House is controlled by Republicans who would still like to see the whole law repealed.
- Jobless Claims Go Higher; Income Surges, Spending Up – The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose sharply last week but remained at a level consistent with moderate hiring, while income surged much higher than expected and spending inched higher as well.The Labor Department says weekly applications for unemployment benefits leapt 38,000 to a seasonally adjusted 368,000. The increase comes after applications plummeted in the previous two weeks to five-year lows.Personal income rose 2.6 percent and spending was up 0.2 percent for the month, according to a separate report.
- Why I Love Twitter | RedState – This —->RT @MelissaTweets: RT @JammieWF: Why I Love Twitter via @benhowe
- Henninger: Obama’s Thunderdome Strategy – The president’s goal is to make Republican ideas intolerable – Henninger: Obama’s Thunderdome Strategy – The president’s goal is to make Republican ideas intolerable #tcot
- On Immigration, Obama Acts as if He Has the Upper Hand –
- Why Labor Has Learned to Love Immigration Reform – Why Labor Has Learned to Love Immigration Reform #tcot
- Surprise decline in GDP fails to shift debate over ending sequestration – Surprise decline in GDP fails to shift debate over ending sequestration #tcot
- Democratic super PAC targets 10 GOP representatives – Democratic super PAC targets 10 GOP representatives #tcot
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Digest for 2013-01-30 – Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Digest for 2013-01-30
- Obama expects immigration reform bill as early as June – The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room – Obama expects #immigration reform bill as early as June by @joneasley
- Rand Paul: GOP must ‘evolve’ on immigration – Kevin Cirilli – POLITICO.com – Rand Paul: GOP needs immigration evolution:
- Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-01-30 – Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-01-30 #tcot
- My Daily Twitter Digest for 2013-01-30 – Locum Tenens (Temporary) Dentist – Gregory Cole, D.D.S. – My Daily Twitter Digest for 2013-01-30
- Gingrich: Don’t trust Rubio, McCain on immigration | WashingtonExaminer.com – Gingrich: Don’t trust Rubio, McCain on immigration | #tcot
- For millionaire athletes, states with highest tax rates may not make the cut | Fox News – For millionaire athletes, states with highest tax rates may not make the cut | Fox News #tcot
- Gingrich: Don’t trust Rubio, McCain on immigration | WashingtonExaminer.com – Gingrich: Don’t trust Rubio, McCain on immigration | #tcot
- Rubio’s amnesty: A path to oblivion for the GOP – IT’S NOT AMNESTY! Rubio’s proponents cry. They seem to think they can bully Republicans the way the Democrats do, by controlling the language.Rubio’s bill is nothing but amnesty. It isn’t even “amnesty thinly disguised as border enforcement.” This is a wolf in wolf’s clothing.Despite all the blather about how Rubio demands “Enforcement First!” the very first thing his proposal does is make illegal aliens legal. (Don’t call them “illegal aliens”!)
The ability to live and work legally in America is the most valuable commodity in the world; it’s the Hope Diamond of the universe. I know young, well-educated Canadians who waited a decade for that privilege.
Step One of Marco Rubio’s plan is: Grant illegal aliens the right to live and work in America legally. (Rubio’s first move in poker: Fold.)
People who have broken our laws will thus leap ahead of millions of foreigners dying to immigrate here, but — unwilling to enter illegally — waiting patiently in their own countries.
The only thing the newly legalized illegal immigrants won’t get immediately is citizenship. Rubio claims that under his plan, they won’t be able to vote or go on welfare. But in practice, they’ll have to wait only until the ACLU finds a judge to say otherwise.
- A Pointless Amnesty – Illegal immigration is a curious subject: It is one of the few domains in which the authorities entrusted with enforcing the law feel obliged to negotiate the most concessionary terms and conditions with those who are breaking it, as though law enforcement were an embarrassing inconvenience. But the rule of law, national security, and economic dynamism are not mere pro forma matters — they are in fact fundamental, a reality lost on our would-be “comprehensive” immigration reformers.
- Pushback: Gingrich, Vitter, National Review, Malkin, Coulter, Erickson oppose Rubio’s immigration plan – The key subplot to Rubio’s immigration push, of course, is how much of a headache it’ll be for him with conservatives in the 2016 primaries. The talk-radio charm offensive is mainly designed to get grassroots opinion-shapers like Rush to at least wait and see what the bill looks like before lobbying against it, but more broadly it’s designed to move the Overton window on what positions are acceptable for a good conservative to hold. Rubio can afford to have immigration reform fail; he can’t afford to be RINO-ized over it. Like I said yesterday, whether or not a bill ends up passing, he’s already achieved something significant by getting Rush et al. to acknowledge that “recognizing reality” in terms of a grand bargain on immigration is something “admirable and noteworthy.” No matter what happens now, unless he ends up voting for a watered-down Democratic bill with token enforcement (which he won’t), he’s got that as a soundbite for his primary ads in 2016. James Antle makes a good point too in noting that none of Rubio’s would-be rivals for the nomination have attacked him on this yet. Jindal, Paul, and Christie have all kept quiet and Ryan has actually endorsed Rubio’s plan. The likely candidates don’t want to alienate Latino voters and the pundits with big audiences don’t want to kneecap a guy who might end up being the party’s best chance to regain the presidency.
- Marco Rubio: Applying Conservative Principles To Immigration – I appreciate the opportunity to respond to Erick’s post last night regarding the principles for immigration reform I have recently developed. Before diving into the details of the plan, I want to take a moment to point out how the debate about immigration reflects positively on the conservative movement in general. Unlike the left, whose default tactic is to attack and destroy the personal character of those who disagree with their views, the conservative movement is capable of accommodating a vibrant internal debate on important issues solely on the merits. RedState has always been a welcoming forum for that sort of debate.
- Legislation proposed to help California launch healthcare overhaul – Los Angeles Times – Untitled (… #tcot
- Guest Blog: Dr. Josie Dovidio – Dental Health Considerations & Aspergers Syndrome – Guest Blog: Dr. Josie Dovidio – Dental Health Considerations & Aspergers Syndrome
- Photo of the Day: Bullet Turns Tooth Upside Down – Photo of the Day: Bullet Turns Tooth Upside Down
- L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, again, cast as possible transportation secretary – LA Daily News – L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, again, cast as possible transportation secretary
- State ordered to pay back districts $1 billion for 20-year-old mandate | EdSource Today – State ordered to pay back districts $1 billion for 20-year-old mandate
- Counties express concerns about Medi-Cal expansion – latimes.com – Counties express concerns about Medi-Cal expansion
- Phil Mickelson’s net state income tax increase: 83.6%!!!!! | CalWatchDog – Phil Mickelson’s net state income tax increase: 83.6%!!!!!
- Five reasons Republicans won’t win Latino voters with immigration reform – Here are five reasons why.1. ¡es la economía, estúpido!Latinos didn’t vote for President Obama because Mitt Romney was seen as insensitive on immigration. According to a Fox Latino poll before the election, only 6% of Latinos said that immigration was the most important issue to their vote. A Latino Decisions (LD) election eve poll allowed multiple answers to issues that were important and, still, 65% did not say immigration was important to them.
Latinos instead cared about the economy. About 50% said the economy was the most important issue to their vote. By a 75% to 19% margin, Latinos are more likely to believe in a bigger government, with more services, to a smaller one. President Obama got 75% of the Latino vote in the LD election eve poll – a perfect match.
2. Latinos are liberal
Latinos have said openly they won’t change their vote because of immigration policy. Only 31% of Latinos in the LD survey said they would be more likely to vote GOP, if the Republican party took a leadership role in immigration reform. A full 58% said they didn’t know or it would have no effect, while 11% said it would actually make them less likely to vote Republican.
The reason is that Latinos are 9pt more likely to say they are liberal than the general population. Most of that has to do with the economy, but even on social issues, Latinos, especially second- and third-generation, are no more conservative than the general population. In fact, second- and third-generation Latinos are more likely to believe abortion should be legal and homosexuality accepted by society than the general population.
- Unions and Hollywood Donors Bankroll New Advocacy Group – Shocker —>RT @politicalwire: Unions and Hollywood donors are bankrolling Obama’s new advocacy group
- Clinton: Health won’t ‘factor in at all’ in decision to run for president – The Hill’s Video – Uh Huh! RT @thehill: #Hillary Clinton: Health won’t ‘factor in at all’ in decision to run in #2016 @HillTube
- Untitled (http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/30/5150647/dan-walters-gun-control-theory.html#mi_rss=Dan%20Walters) – RT @RobStutzman Sacbee – Dan Walters: Gun control theory doesn’t match reality
- TABLE – U.S. Q4 GDP fell 0.1 pct
| Reuters – RT @conncarroll so how are Obama’s tax hikes and defense cuts working out? | U.S. Q4 GDP fell 0.1 pct - Immigration reform could boost cost of Obamacare by hundreds of billions | Mobile Washington Examiner – Immigration reform could boost cost of Obamacare by hundreds of billions #tcot
- Reid declines to endorse Feinstein’s assault-weapons ban – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday declined to voice support for Democratic legislation that would ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.Reid said he would bring gun-violence legislation to the floor and open it to a lengthy amendment process. But he declined to endorse the assault weapons ban introduced last week by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), which has the support of the 2nd- and 3rd-ranking Senate Democratic leaders.
“She’s talked to me about her assault weapons. The new one. She believes in it fervently and I admire her for that. I’ll take a look at that,” he said in response to a reporter’s question. “We’re going to have votes on all kinds of issues dealing with guns, and I think everyone would be well advised to read the legislation before they determine how they’re going to vote [on] it.” - Why Immigration Reform Won’t Cure the GOP’s Struggles with Hispanics – Leading Republicans are jumping on the immigration reform bandwagon, hoping that taking the issue off the table will give them a second chance to make inroads with Hispanic voters. But even with a bipartisan deal looking within reach, the Republican party may not benefit as much as strategists expect.Indeed, there’s evidence that Hispanic resistance to the Republican party is as rooted in the GOP’s skeptical view of government, as it is their disagreement with GOP hardliners on immigration. The Republican Party calls for smaller government, but many Latinos look to government assistance as a necessity. Forty-two percent of Hispanic voters say that a government job offers the best chance of gaining career success, compared to only one-third of white voters, according to a June Allstate/National Journal/Heartland Monitor poll.
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Twitter Out Yet Again
You would think with Twitter’s growth that these outages would be a thing of the past.
Twitter is currently experiencing a widespread service outage that appears to be intermittent, according to our checks with the web client, third-party apps and website service status checking tools. Other TC staff are able to access the service on and off every few minutes, but it seems like the stream is interrupted, and third-party clients like Tweetbot still appear to be having trouble connecting at all, although they’re still able to send and receive direct messages.
There’s nothing yet on Twitter’s own service status page, but the generally dependableDownForEveryoneOrJustMe seems to think that it’s having problems, as doesdownrightnow.com. Based on our information, it looks like the outages began appearing around 20 minutes or so ago, and are affecting users globally. The fail whale is coming up when we try to visit Twitter.com, with a message saying the service is “over capacity.”
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Day By Day January 31, 2013 – We’ve Seen this Play Before
Chris, doesn’t this ALL remind us about tyrannical governments and why the American Founders crafted the Second Amendment?
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Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-01-30
- My Daily Twitter Digest for 2013-01-30 – Locum Tenens (Temporary) Dentist – Gregory Cole, D.D.S. http://t.co/Id9IMzs7 #tcot 22:09:25, 2013-01-30
- Gingrich: Don't trust Rubio, McCain on immigration | http://t.co/D2rHhz9A http://t.co/Dvs0WjP4 #tcot 22:09:24, 2013-01-30
- My Daily Twitter Digest for 2013-01-30 http://t.co/YTcUcLyZ 21:06:31, 2013-01-30
- Gingrich: Don't trust Rubio, McCain on immigration | http://t.co/D2rHhz9A http://t.co/qjLII9FW #tcot 21:01:27, 2013-01-30
- Gingrich: Don't trust Rubio, McCain on immigration | http://t.co/D2rHhz9A http://t.co/5hl2ageT #tcot 20:29:20, 2013-01-30
- Gingrich: Don't trust Rubio, McCain on immigration | http://t.co/D2rHhz9A http://t.co/4X2IkXUE #tcot 19:15:42, 2013-01-30
- For millionaire athletes, states with highest tax rates may not make the cut | Fox News http://t.co/8yXTUqp4 #tcot 19:15:42, 2013-01-30
- For millionaire athletes, states with highest tax rates may not make the cut | Fox News http://t.co/CwtsaKSv #tcot 18:40:40, 2013-01-30
- Gingrich: Don't trust Rubio, McCain on immigration | http://t.co/D2rHhz9A http://t.co/rOnGsrJI #tcot 18:40:40, 2013-01-30
- Gingrich: Don't trust Rubio, McCain on immigration | http://t.co/D2rHhz9A http://t.co/XV9cR6ZY #tcot 18:04:55, 2013-01-30
- For millionaire athletes, states with highest tax rates may not make the cut | Fox News http://t.co/49yLJvqv #tcot 18:04:55, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara Suit yourself – have a good evening! in reply to tx_cara 17:30:04, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara Then, you go to court and force him. Obama's Executive Orders will be repealed or held to be unconstitutional in reply to tx_cara 17:29:38, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara The President must enforce the law in reply to tx_cara 17:27:54, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara GOP is not dying! We control the House and 30 statehouses. Don't buy the lamestream media hype. in reply to tx_cara 17:25:53, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara No, let's insist that Obama enforce the law and elect more conservatives to Congress to support border enforcement = forget amnesty in reply to tx_cara 17:24:20, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara A more recent article: Gingrich: Don't trust Rubio, McCain on immigration http://t.co/d6BxL7l3 in reply to tx_cara 17:19:23, 2013-01-30
- For millionaire athletes, states with highest tax rates may not make the cut http://t.co/c28TJO0o 17:19:08, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara Cruz and Gingrich are against McCain-Rubio amnesty plan. Links are in my past tweets. in reply to tx_cara 17:14:21, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara Exactly and I bet he walks away and there will be no law. Obama will continue to demogogue the issue to get votes from Hispanics. in reply to tx_cara 17:06:21, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara Cara, The law has not been written yet. There are no stipulations. Just wait! in reply to tx_cara 16:58:11, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara Texas is not going blue anytime soon = at least 20 years, if ever. Reagan did something in 1986 (amnesty) & made things much worse. in reply to tx_cara 16:49:28, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara But, Cara, you are going to create a worse law which will not be enforced either – with 11 million amnesty. Better to do nothing! in reply to tx_cara 16:46:16, 2013-01-30
- RT @AnnCoulter: NEW COLUMN IS POSTED! RUBIO'S AMNESTY: A PATH TO OBLIVION FOR THE GOP – http://t.co/GIs6i3LF 16:42:55, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara I posted Sen Rubio's response to Erick Erickson a few tweets ago. My bet is that he quits the gang of 8 after law is written. in reply to tx_cara 16:39:49, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara Obama and the Dems are only pushing the issue to win votes from Hispanics. But, no reason why the GOP shuld support a bad deal in reply to tx_cara 16:38:57, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara Yes, and do you really believe that will occur? And, who decides? From day one all 11 million have amnesty. in reply to tx_cara 16:22:55, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara The McCain-Rubio plan actually makes matters much worse because from day one it delivers a massive amnesty = magnet for more. in reply to tx_cara 16:16:08, 2013-01-30
- @ali Matt Lewis = an idiot. Yeah, call me a hater…..LOL…. in reply to ali 16:12:57, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara What is not going to happen? The laws are not being enforced. The border is not secure. Both can be done without any amnesty. in reply to tx_cara 16:09:45, 2013-01-30
- @SanJoePa Those folks have been here in California for decades and you see the result. Secure the border and enforce the law —-> best plan in reply to SanJoePa 16:07:31, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara Care, Done about illegal immigration? Start with enforcing existing law. Next, secure the border. After that —> the rest in reply to tx_cara 16:06:34, 2013-01-30
- @SanJoePa How about starting with enforcing the existing laws! in reply to SanJoePa 16:01:29, 2013-01-30
- @tx_cara Best solution? Can you be a little more clear. The McCain-Rubio amnesty is a failure. in reply to tx_cara 16:00:35, 2013-01-30
- Rubio's amnesty: A path to oblivion for the GOP http://t.co/zPzAmiWW #tcot 15:49:34, 2013-01-30
- A Pointless Amnesty http://t.co/5BNVfgCj #tcot 15:14:58, 2013-01-30
- Pushback: Gingrich, Vitter, National Review, Malkin, Coulter, Erickson oppose Rubio’s immigration plan http://t.co/G1PQ73kI #tcot 14:03:58, 2013-01-30
- Marco Rubio: Applying Conservative Principles To Immigration http://t.co/rmyI25s4 #tcot 14:03:58, 2013-01-30
- Untitled (http://t.co/nJPEr55U… http://t.co/jWhQ0H8M #tcot 13:27:25, 2013-01-30
- Guest Blog: Dr. Josie Dovidio – Dental Health Considerations & Aspergers Syndrome http://t.co/PrAtIKNW #tcot 13:27:25, 2013-01-30
- Photo of the Day: Bullet Turns Tooth Upside Down http://t.co/F4zGMQz8 #tcot 13:27:25, 2013-01-30
- Legislation proposed to help California launch healthcare overhaul http://t.co/gzT6FYCi 13:17:17, 2013-01-30
- @GerryMaine Not too dangerous! LOL…. in reply to GerryMaine 13:16:16, 2013-01-30
- Guest Blog: Dr. Josie Dovidio – Dental Health Considerations & Aspergers Syndrome http://t.co/dFTHUpPL 13:03:46, 2013-01-30
- Photo of the Day: Bullet Turns Tooth Upside Down http://t.co/fj9zYTG3 13:01:05, 2013-01-30
- Counties express concerns about Medi-Cal expansion http://t.co/g9ECsXWj 12:44:05, 2013-01-30
- State ordered to pay back districts $1 billion for 20-year-old mandate http://t.co/41MztScl 12:44:05, 2013-01-30
- L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, again, cast as possible transportation secretary http://t.co/wDCswaYM 12:44:05, 2013-01-30
- Phil Mickelson’s net state income tax increase: 83.6%!!!!! | CalWatchDog http://t.co/hlPqOYa1 #tcot 08:05:22, 2013-01-30
- Five reasons Republicans won't win Latino voters with immigration reform http://t.co/4TMwgQsj #tcot 08:05:21, 2013-01-30
- Unions and Hollywood Donors Bankroll New Advocacy Group http://t.co/1hrv0qF6 #tcot 08:05:21, 2013-01-30
- Phil Mickelson’s net state income tax increase: 83.6%!!!!! http://t.co/zF3AfKVJ 07:55:33, 2013-01-30
- Shocker —>RT @politicalwire: Unions and Hollywood donors are bankrolling Obama's new advocacy group
http://t.co/O2H4CbMu 06:34:36, 2013-01-30 - Uh Huh! RT @thehill: #Hillary Clinton: Health won't 'factor in at all' in decision to run in #2016 http://t.co/pSregye8 @HillTube 06:34:01, 2013-01-30
- RT @RobStutzman Sacbee – Dan Walters: Gun control theory doesn't match reality http://t.co/ltkXys17 06:17:43, 2013-01-30
- Yes – – >> RT @chucktodd News on economy contracting will be like a splash of cold water on all of DC, focused on immigration and guns. 06:16:44, 2013-01-30
- RT @conncarroll so how are Obama's tax hikes and defense cuts working out? | U.S. Q4 GDP fell 0.1 pct http://t.co/GrFAqDbP 06:14:20, 2013-01-30
- Reid declines to endorse Feinstein's assault-weapons ban http://t.co/QwcJSADR #tcot 06:13:22, 2013-01-30
- Why Immigration Reform Won't Cure the GOP's Struggles with Hispanics http://t.co/4gnfiwah #tcot 06:13:21, 2013-01-30
- Immigration reform could boost cost of Obamacare by hundreds of billions http://t.co/d0q7b6iw #tcot 06:13:21, 2013-01-30
- Chicken Pox and Shingles: 5 Things We Should Know About the Infections | http://t.co/k2Lo4AD3 http://t.co/1Go16jPX #tcot 05:37:21, 2013-01-30
- All of our dreams can come true – – if we have the courage to pursue them.
— Walt Disney
Happy Wednesday! 04:55:34, 2013-01-30
- Flap's Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-01-29 – Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/i5zzOunB #tcot 04:25:46, 2013-01-30
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Digest for 2013-01-29 http://t.co/wawWg5bB 04:03:44, 2013-01-30
- Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-01-29 http://t.co/ac5SBOP5 #tcot 03:03:07, 2013-01-30