We try to undo most of the misleading tricks lower-end journalists use to tart up headlines. In fact, "Exclusive" and "Breaking" get trimmed off automatically.

I would hardly call Valleywag a lower-end publication. I mean they have at least 3 stories about bay area escort services on the front page today. ;)

That's how they power their back ends

It's not new: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43534

Ah ha! Thanks for the link.

they've been changing titles for quite some time when they believe its necessary, almost since the beggining