11/29/12 late posting.

.

This is as far as I can get tonight.

1

Business Day

Lundberg Farms Responds to Reader Comments

By EILENE ZIMMERMAN | Nov 28, 2012

The only way forward, Tim Schultz, a third-generation Lundberg said, is to continue sharing information and conducting research into mitigation strategies.

Agriculture and Farming; Arsenic; Rice; Small Business; 

Brew and sell sake

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sake

 

2

Opinion

Learning History at the Movies

By GARY GUTTING | Nov 29, 2012

Films like "Lincoln" can contribute to our understanding of past events, but on their own, they are no substitute for the work of historians.

Civil War (US) (1861-65); History (Academic Subject); Movies; 

They make a strong argument.

 

3

Business Day

Despite Setbacks, Investor Is Bullish on Clean Technology

By RANDALL SMITH | Nov 29, 2012

After taking a hit on investments in biofuel companies, Vinod Khosla seems unwavering in his commitment to the clean energy industry, pouring more money into start-ups.

Alternative and Renewable Energy; Start-ups; Venture Capital; 

The attractions of a big return are great enough for plungers to ignore the science.  "There is no such thing as a free lunch" means the cost in energy of sequestering the carbon dioxide is greater than the energy gained.

 

4

U.S.

TimesCast Politics | Romney Visits the White House

By THE NEW YORK TIMES | Nov 29, 2012

A lunch meeting for two former rivals. | The stakes for same-sex marriage as it reaches the Supreme Court. | New York City's race for mayor gets under way.

Mayors; New York City; Romney, Mitt; Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships; 

Gay marriage has firm support.  

At this point we can just await developments.

I am not very hopeful of an end to DOMA.

5

N.Y. / Region

Plan Would Provide Help to Contest Deportation Cases

By KIRK SEMPLE | Nov 28, 2012

A task force has recommended the creation of a network of legal service providers to represent low-income immigrants facing deportation in the New York area.

Immigration Detention; Deportation; Legal Profession; Immigration and Emigration; Illegal Immigrants; 

Hard times seem to be an effective deterrent to immigration.

If 18% of the immigrants with council are successful in becoming residents the system is broken.  Supplying effective council is justice.

6

Opinion

The Enduring Cloudiness in Climate and Coastal Forecasts

By ANDREW C. REVKIN | Nov 29, 2012

An effort to clarify what's clear and what remains durably murky about global warming.

Environment; Global Warming; Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Hurricanes and Tropical Storms; Ice; Regulation and Deregulation of Industry; United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; 

The questions of how much and how soon are not yet answerable.

We know real bad and real soon and not easily reversed.

It is irresponsible to fail to act.  

I can advocate.  

I have not the resources to take unilateral action.

Nuclear power is a way to retain some civilization.

My camping experiences convince me that life in primitive conditions is "Nasty, brutish, and blessedly short".

7

Business Day

A 10 Percent Savings Rate? Yes, but There's a Catch

By ANN CARRNS | Nov 29, 2012

Military members in combat zones can earn a high rate on their savings.

Interest Rates; Savings; United States Defense and Military Forces; 

This is a sop to the GOP conscience.  A benefit that is not worth having.

 

8

World

A Port to Keep Up With Growth in Abu Dhabi

By SARA HAMDAN | Nov 29, 2012

The new Khalifa shipping port in Abu Dhabi is part of a large-scale project that aims to revamp transportation and trade in the emirate.

Ports; International Trade and World Market; Ships and Shipping; 

The entire development is predicated on cheap energy.  

The stated reason for the development is the decline of cheap energy.

The consequence will be failure as a result of self deception.

 

9

Health

After Dozens of Deaths, Inquiry Into Bed Rails

By RON NIXON | Nov 26, 2012

Government agencies knew about deaths from strangling on bed rails for years, but did little to address the issue.

Beds and Bedding; Nursing Homes; 

She has not fallen off her bed for years.  

The Shakers used an adult cradle.  Not the worst idea.

"Forcing the industry to improve designs and replace older models could have potentially cost bed rail makers and health care facilities hundreds of million of dollars, said Larry Kessler, a former F.D.A. official who headed its medical device office. “Quite frankly, none of the bed rails in use at that time would have passed the suggested design standards in the guidelines if we had made them mandatory,” he said. No analysis has been done to determine how much it would cost the manufacturers to reduce the hazards."

"There has never been a boat built that would not have been a better boat if she had cost more."  Payson

10

U.S.

With Ban on Drilling Practice, Town Lands in Thick of Dispute

By JACK HEALY | Nov 26, 2012

Longmont’s ban on hydraulic fracturing has inspired other cities to push for similar prohibitions. But it has also set the city head-to-head with oil companies and the state of Colorado.

Hydraulic Fracturing; Natural Gas; Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline; Suits and Litigation; 

Money now is much more valuable than money later to those living in the present.

Oil and gas will be much more valuable in the probable future but the probable future does not pay the groceries, rent and tuition.

I think the ban is a right action.

This man has doubts:

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/3q-fatih-birol-world-energy-outlook-1127.html

11

Health

New Efforts to Close Hospitals' Revolving Doors

By JORDAN RAU | Nov 27, 2012

Spurred by new financial penalties that Medicare started imposing in October on places with too many readmissions, hospitals are doing more outreach and intervention to make sure patients are following their discharge program.

Elderly; Hospitals; Medicare; 

Healing is the mission of medical practice.

Money is the mission of management.

The two missions are incompatible.

 

12

U.S.

Trying to Turn Obama Voters Into Tax Allies

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR | Nov 26, 2012

White House officials are reaching out to voters who supported President Obama during the campaign and asking them to help him as he negotiates with Congress.

Taxation; Voting and Voters; Demonstrations, Protests, and Riots; Federal Budget (US); Income Tax; 

I keep being reminded that very low income means a vanishingly low taxes.

The GOP will not yield.  They must be recalled.  Nothing short of that will be effective.

 

13

World

The Resilience of Sergeant Bales' Wife

By LORI VOLKMAN | Nov 28, 2012

A friend describes how Karilyn Bales, the wife of Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, an American soldier charged in the murder of 16 Afghan civilians, is coping with life.

Afghanistan War (2001- ); Defense and Military Forces; Murders and Attempted Murders; United States Defense and Military Forces; Veterans; 

I will put this into the integration I am trying to construct.

 

14

Fashion & Style

Guess Who Isn’t Coming to Dinner

By GUY TREBAY | Nov 29, 2012

Once an anchor of social life in New York, the intimate gathering around a dinner table is fighting for survival.

Parties (Social); Customs, Etiquette and Manners; Social Conditions and Trends; 

I agree that community has suffered badly in The City of New York.

The idea of the rugged individual has been sold to the entry level.

The constant recycling that we see on corporate boards tells me that exclusive social life is far from extinct.

15

U.S.

California: Eight-Year Term for Campaign Embezzler

By IAN LOVETT | Nov 29, 2012

A former campaign treasurer for California Democratic candidates was sentenced to more than eight years in prison on mail fraud charges.

Campaign Finance; Embezzlement; Sentences (Criminal); Elections; 

Now prosecute the bribing lobbyists.  

Then we might go looking at the votes they bought.

It might even get the anonymous PAC money out of politics.

16

Opinion

Health Care Entitlements

Nov 29, 2012

There is not much room for big cuts to Medicare and Medicaid in the negotiations over the so-called fiscal cliff and deficit reduction.

Health Insurance and Managed Care; Medicaid; Federal Budget (US); Editorials; 

 "Congressional Republicans are insisting that big cuts to Medicare and Medicaid be on the table in the negotiations over the so-called fiscal cliff and deficit reduction. That stance is largely a political move against two programs, which have been critical to the public welfare for the past half-century." 

Let the Republicans "Swing gently in the breeze".

17

Health

Sharing the Pain of Women in Medicine

By PAULINE W. CHEN, M.D. | Nov 29, 2012

A new study offers another reason for women's discontent in academic medical centers: the organizational culture. And it's not just women who are feeling demoralized.

Discrimination; Doctors; Gender; Medical Schools; Sexual Harassment; Women and Girls; 

"Based on this study and their earlier work, Dr. Pololi and her initiative collaborators have begun offering mentoring programs for faculty members, both female and male, at a handful of medical schools around the country. The program involves reading, writing and regular group exercises and discussions aimed at developing leadership skills and promoting a more open environment. In the Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, a preliminary survey has shown that the mentoring program, which has just begun its third year at the school, has already helped to increase the degree of trust among faculty members.
While it remains to be seen whether these changes will endure, it has become clearer that men, as well as women, stand to benefit from any improvement. “It is shocking that the situation for women in academic medicine hasn’t changed that much in the last 10 years,” Dr. Pololi said. “But it’s not always easy to notice the quality of an organization’s culture.”
She added: “That culture is like the air we breathe or the water that fish swim in. It has the potential, for better or worse, to affect everybody in the same way.”"
Just fix the culture.

18

U.S.

Gay ‘Conversion Therapy’ Faces Test in Courts

By ERIK ECKHOLM | Nov 28, 2012

The method, which claims to help men overcome unwanted same-sex attractions, is the focus of two lawsuits in New Jersey and California.

Homosexuality; Therapy and Rehabilitation; 

It is a personality disorder no matter how considered.  

Is the disorder the homosexual urge or is it the suppression of that urge?

I hold that the suppression is the disorder.

 

19

Technology

Justice Department Expands Hunt for Data on Cellphones

By SOMINI SENGUPTA | Nov 26, 2012

Federal law enforcement agencies affiliated with the Justice Department used more than 37,600 court orders in 2011 to gather cellphone data, a sharp increase from previous years. The total number has roughly doubled since 2007.

Cellular Telephones; Search and Seizure; 

There are several levels of privacy under consideration here.

Most basically there is "no expectation of privacy" for radio communications.

The phone company logs of cell phone calls like other call logs are a grey area.  They are the phone companies property and as such they can be shared with law enforcement with a judge's permission.

To listen to the content of the calls on the wired network is wire tapping. That requires a formal warrant and "probable cause".

Encrypt with a one time pad and use a "Cheese Box" if it is that important.

Cheese Box: a multiple line connection that enables an incoming call to call out on another number.

I am uncertain about the status of a Skype call.

20

Business Day

Tobacco Companies Are Told to Correct Lies About Smoking

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Nov 28, 2012

A federal judge in Washington ruled that the companies must publish statements admitting they lied years ago about the dangers of smoking.

Smoking and Tobacco; Decisions and Verdicts; Advertising and Marketing; 

The tobacco companies don't like it.

Changing culture is almost impossible.

The lies in question have killed the people who believed them.

The professionals in publicity understand how to make text unreadable.

What remains of the target audience is illiterate.

.