Gather Weekly: Super Earth, Hellenic hijinks, fix-it bills and more

This week's Gather articles (12/12-12/19):

Finance

• Has Obama sold out to Wall Street? Matt Taibbi thinks so
• Turn-back-the-clock financial reform: McCain-Cantwell Senate bill would reinstate Glass-Steagall Act
• Risky business: Will Moody's downgrade of Greece's credit rating result in EU economic collapse?

Politics

• Corruption in the Commonwealth: Lawrence, MA's Lantigua to be both Mayor and State Rep
• Why stop at mere medical usage? Marijuana legalization referendum to be on 2010 California ballot

Social Media

• Social media in business: Twitter beta testing contributor feature
• Social media shockers: 10 amazing Facebook tales
• Most popular topics on Twitter in 2009

Unemployment

• Xmas comes early: Senate passes bill approving unemployment benefits and COBRA extensions
• Senate passes cloture vote on war funding, unemployment benefits extension bill; final vote tomorrow morning
• House approves two-month unemployment extension in war funding bill
• Season of hope: House to vote on jobs, unemployment benefits extension bills this week
• Clock is ticking on new unemployment extension legislation

Science

• Astronomers discover water-rich Earth-like planet GJ 1214b

Humor

• Holiday humor: SNL's "Schweddy Balls" sketch (video)

Health Care Reform

• Finish line in sight: Reid announces final Senate health care bill

Gather Weekly: pot politics, social media, spending galore

This week's Gather articles (12/5-12/11):


Web

• Google launches real-time search feature (video)

Economy

• Obama on jobs creation, new stimulus: US must "spend our way out of this recession"
• Millions may lose benefits as Congress debates unemployment extension
• Obama may support using TARP funds to pay for jobs bill
• Cash for Caulkers could rebate up to $12,000 per home

Politics

• Coakley, Brown win primaries for MA Senate seat
• Senate Dems agree to drop public option from health care bill
• Senate vote on abortion amendment to health care bill expected today
• New Jersey is next gay marriage battleground
• House passes huge $447 billion omnibus spending bill

Social Media

• Hate Facebook? Sick of social media? Check out Seppukoo
• Social media wish list: 5 Twitter feature requests for 2010
• Facebook for business: 5 tips to increase fan engagement

Money

• 9 top international retirement destinations from Mint.com
• Twitter stock investing app StockTwits closes $3 million series B round of funding
• Is a falling dollar good or bad for you?

Marijuana legalization (yes this deserves its own category this week)

• Cannabis in the capital? Omnibus bill allows for medical marijuana legalization in D.C.
• Denver's Ganja Gourmet to provide culinary cannabis

Science

• Hot air in climate change debate: 2000s warmest decade ever

Cannabis Cafe opens in Portland, Oregon

The nation's first marijuana cafe - the Cannabis Cafe - opened recently in Portland, Oregon. The opening comes following an announcement by the Obama administration that federal attorneys will not . . . more

The economics of marijuana legalization and taxation

	There's been a great deal of talk over the last year or so of legalization and taxation of marijuana. In fact certain states have decriminalized possession of the narcotic - including the great Commonwealth . . . more