Friday, October 25, 2013

@10:48, 10/24/13

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1
Opinion

Honor Killings in India

The author Phyllis Chesler discusses caste-related motives for murders.
Honor Killings; Hinduism; Religion and Belief 

Stale old wars are constantly refreshed.
 
2
World

7-Year Low Reported in Piracy Off Somalia

The United Nations secretary general attributed the decline to increased international policing and information-sharing, more prosecutions and imprisonment of captured pirates, and greater security steps by commercial shippers.
Piracy at Sea; Ships and Shipping 

We will never hang them all.
 
3
World

Between Big Cities, a Road Passes the Russia Left Behind

Along the highway between Moscow and St. Petersburg — a 12-hour trip by car — one sees great neglected stretches of land that seem drawn backward in time.
Roads and Traffic; Infrastructure (Public Works); Rural Areas 

Google maps.  Google earth might be better.

Russia off the highway is frightening.

It is hard to do human interest stories on a forest. 
And harder on a regrowing forest.

The fur trade is a surprise.
Two centuries of depopulation is all I can think of.

Pain at the bottom does not change the politics of the top.
It does change the top eventually but not the politics of the top.

4
Opinion

For District Attorney in Brooklyn

The Times recommends Kenneth Thompson, the winner of the Democratic primary who has shown passion for combating crime and injustice.
Elections, District Attorneys; Endorsements 

Charles Hynes is exhausted.  
He can have a judgeship in a year or two.
 
5
World

Syria: Government Releases Some Female Detainees

Antigovernment activists said Wednesday that the Syrian government had released at least 15 female detainees in what appeared to be part of an ambitious regional prisoner swap.
Detainees 

The fighting may soon pause. 
The war will continue.

6
Business Day

Sued Over Pay, Condé Nast Ends Internship Program

The publisher took the action after two former interns sued, complaining they had been paid below minimum wage for summer jobs at W Magazine and The New Yorker.
Internships; Minimum Wage; Suits and Litigation (Civil) 

Apprentices must be paid living costs and pocket money.
Even slaves get food and shelter if they are to last more than a month.
7
Fashion & Style

Video: Intersection: Flatbush Indie Fashion

Helen Milkson, 72, who was born in Grenada, has been living in Flatbush for 20 years. She likes to look special and doesn’t go for fashion, she says.
Fashion and Apparel 

Cities allow the luxury of fashion.
 
8
U.S.

Florida: No Charges in Zimmerman Marital Dispute

The police say the dispute between the man acquitted in the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin and his wife did not rise to a criminal level.

I regret the prejudices of the police in Florida.

9
Technology

In a Major Departure, Google Shows Banner Ads in Search Results

As Google’s search advertising business faces new challenges, it is experimenting with banner ads in search results, despite past promises to users that it would never show such ads.
Online Advertising; Search Engines 

The pressures of fiduciary responsibility are unremitting.

I can still refine my searches or start with the Wikipedia.
 
10
Home & Garden

A Blueprint for Misery

The artist Michael Elmgreen, on his design with Ingar Dragset of an apartment for a fictional failed architect at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Art 

I am very glad Norman Swann has little resemblance to me.
Starting at reduced scale does appeal.
Sooner is better.  As soon as you can is best.
 
11
World

A Royal Christening in Britain Amid a Refrain of Coos

People waited overnight for a view of Prince George, third in line to the throne, who was dressed in a replica of a lace gown first worn by Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter.
Royal Family 

All babies are loved.  They are dressed as desired.
12
Business Day

Ad-Sponsored Editorial Content Draws Regulator’s Notice

The use of editorial content for promotional purposes is being scrutinized by an investigative unit administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus.
Advertising and Marketing; Regulation and Deregulation of Industry; Conflicts of Interest; Online Advertising 

Infomercials!
 
13
World

Vatican Suspends German Bishop Accused of Lavish Spending on Himself

Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, the bishop of Limburg, has outraged Germans over his lavish spending on an official residence.

Symbolic.  Further action will mean more.

14
Sports

Outspoken Weir Will Be Quiet on Russian Law

Though he is married to a man, Johnny Weir, who will work as an analyst at the Sochi Games, said he would not speak out against a Russian law viewed as antigay in the West.
Figure Skating; Olympic Games (2014); Homosexuality 

Better to be paid than imprisoned.
It may be his way but it is not his choice.
 
15
U.S.

Heated Start in the Trial on Detroit’s Fiscal Future

The legal battle over Detroit’s eligibility for bankruptcy pits the city against unions and retirees, with a star witness, Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan, to come.
Bankruptcies 

This will be a fight.  The judge will decide and be appealed.
 
16
Automobiles

Nissan and Suzuki Issue Recalls for Braking Problems

Nissan said that it would recall 153,000 sport utility vehicles from the 2013-14 model years; Suzuki was recalling 210,000 motorcycles.
Automobiles; Automobile Safety Features and Defects; Brakes; Motorcycles, Motor Bikes and Motorscooters; Recalls and Bans of Products 

Not terribly significant.  The manufacturers will fix the problems.
 
17
Magazine

Could New York City Subways Survive Another Hurricane?

It helps that the transit workers have been at it so long — and have access to a lot of plywood.
Subways; Infrastructure (Public Works); Hurricane Sandy (2012); Levees and Dams 

It depends on how long we wait for another storm and hoe high the water rises.  Also on how skint the budget has been when it gets here.
Early retirement strips organizational memory.  Minimal staffing makes operation fragile.  Emergency supplies are an opportunity for theft as is emergency equipment.  Drills are expensive in time and money.

The short answer is we don't know.
 
18
Science

The Umbilical Link of Man to Robot

A December contest held by a Pentagon agency will show how far technology has come, and how far it has to go to catch up to sci-fi movie depictions.
Robots and Robotics; Research 

"Do what I mean and not what I say" has been the eternal cry of programmers.

The art has advanced a long way from my last attention.

19
N.Y. / Region

2 Officers Convicted of Harassing Latinos

Officers Dennis Spaulding, 30, and David Cari, of the Police Department in East Haven, Conn., were found guilty of conspiracy, false arrest, excessive force and obstruction of justice.
Police Brutality, Misconduct and Shootings; False Arrests, Convictions and Imprisonments; Hispanic-Americans 

The police and prosecutors have all the resources of the state to gather evidence.  
Direct action without immediate cause is another crime.

20
U.S.

Sebelius Thrust Into Firestorm on Exchanges

Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama’s health secretary, is facing criticism over the health care law’s problem-plagued insurance exchange.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010); Health Insurance and Managed Care; Computers and the Internet 

Asking the wrong questions is not yet a moral failure.
Just fix the mismatch.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

@16:00


1
World

Between Big Cities, a Road Passes the Russia Left Behind

Distance.

 
2
Fashion & Style

Video: Intersection: Flatbush Indie Fashion

3
World

Vatican Suspends German Bishop Accused of Lavish Spending on Himself

Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, the bishop of Limburg, has outraged Germans over his lavish spending on an official residence.

A symbolic act.
I will be interested in what follows.

4
Sports

Outspoken Weir Will Be Quiet on Russian Law

Though he is married to a man, Johnny Weir, who will work as an analyst at the Sochi Games, said he would not speak out against a Russian law viewed as antigay in the West.
Figure Skating; Olympic Games (2014); Homosexuality 

Prison rape is not healthy or fun.
 
5
U.S.

Heated Start in the Trial on Detroit’s Fiscal Future


Heat is an objective for now.

6
Automobiles

Nissan and Suzuki Issue Recalls for Braking Problems

7
Magazine

Could New York City Subways Survive Another Hurricane?


We don't know.

8
Science

The Umbilical Link of Man to Robot

9
N.Y. / Region

2 Officers Convicted of Harassing Latinos


Good job.

10
Opinion

A 'Wild' Book Tour With a Soundtrack

As an author reads about the strange relationship between people and wild animals, accordions and strings provide a soundtrack.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; Books and Literature; Endangered and Extinct Species; Environment; Hunting and Trapping; Polar Bears; Turtles and Tortoises; Wildlife Sanctuaries 

Another time.
11
Opinion

New Clean Air Rules Would Do Little

Proposed regulations are irrelevant because of cheap natural gas.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Global Warming; Coal; Natural Gas; Regulation and Deregulation of Industry; Carbon Dioxide; Electric Light and Power; Air Pollution 

An end to coal is something.  
An end to fossil carbon is not politically possible yet.

12
Opinion

The Deaths of Innocents

Two human rights groups cite evidence of dozens of civilians in Pakistan and Yemen killed by U.S. drone strikes.
Drones (Pilotless Planes); Civilian Casualties; Terrorism; Editorials 

Collateral  damage is unavoidable unless we send in assassination teams.
That is not an operation I want to see.

13
World

Ireland Vows to Review Roma Child Welfare Cases

The government’s move followed the removal of two blond, blue-eyed Roma children from their families, who were returned when DNA tests confirmed their parentage.
Romani People; Racial Profiling 

Echos of The Blood Libel persist.
 
14
U.S.

Lobbying Heats Up Before Farm Talks

Groups trying to get changes to the 1,000-page bill include advocates for the food stamp program, a seafood trade group and budget watchdogs.
Farm Bill (US); Lobbying and Lobbyists 

For the red states the farm bill is the federal government.
 
15
Arts

Posters Lost to Nazis Are Recovered, and Up for Sale

Premier poster collections that were forfeited when the Nazis came to power in Germany and Austria are gradually going on the block after being returned to the owners’ families.
Art; Antiques; Posters; Holocaust and the Nazi Era 

Collectors are a different world.
 
16
Health

Flavored Cigars Popular with Youth, Study Finds

About one in 30 middle and high school students said they smoke the sweet-flavored cigars, according to the first government study to gauge their use.
Smoking and Tobacco; Youth; Cigars; Teenagers and Adolescence 

Tobacco in all its forms is an addictive drug and a carcinogen.
 
17
Business Day

Tech Wealth and Ideas Are Heading Into News

The technology industry and its various power brokers are suddenly investing significant sums of money in preserving news capacity and quality.
News and News Media; Start-ups; Advertising and Marketing 

I am not interested in confirming what I know but in how what I don't yet know modifies what I know. 
I have not seen an automated system that can drive this paradigm.
The news comes close. 
Less concern with explaining the news to the innocent helps.

18
N.Y. / Region

Holding a Frightened Sparrow

Metropolitan Diary: Taking the point of view of a frightened sparrow that has flown into a New York City apartment.
Animal Abuse, Rights and Welfare; Birds; Fear (Emotion) 

Just an incident.  Magic for the person.
 
19
U.S.

Sebelius Thrust Into Firestorm on Exchanges

Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama’s health secretary, is facing criticism over the health care law’s problem-plagued insurance exchange.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010); Health Insurance and Managed Care; Computers and the Internet 

Project management is not her job though it is her responsibility.
Get the right person in the job.
 
20
Business Day

Health Care Law Fails to Lower Prices for Rural Areas

More than half of the counties in the 34 states on the federally run health exchange are served by just one or two insurers, and the premiums are high in areas with the least competition.
Health Insurance and Managed Care; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010); Rural Areas; Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates) 

Sabotage by the G.O.P.





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