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This was about 15:30:

1

U.S.

Storm Sirens’ Last Wail

By KIRK JOHNSON | Dec 8, 2012

A decision to dismantle tsunami sirens on the Oregon coast has some residents concerned that the new warning system — texts and phone calls — will not reach everyone.

Tidal Waves and Tsunamis; Disasters and Emergencies; 

A measure only a realestate agent could love.

 

2

Opinion

Race to the Bottom

Dec 6, 2012

States should invest in public services and education, not subsidize big business by giving them billions a year in tax breaks.

Labor and Jobs; Tax Credits, Deductions and Exemptions; Corporate Taxes; 

YES

 

3

Opinion

Next Civil Rights Landmark

Dec 8, 2012

The battle over marriage equality finally lands on the Supreme Court’s docket.

Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships; Discrimination; Law and Legislation; 

We need a positive decision wiping out the DOMA and Proposition 8. 

That would invalidate the 31 state constitutional amendments.   Bets?

 

4

Business Day

Unused Pills Raise Issue of Disposal and Risks

By ANDREW POLLACK | Dec 7, 2012

The pharmaceutical industry is challenging a California law that stipulates it pay for the proper disposal of leftover pills that could otherwise pose a threat to the environment.

Drugs (Pharmaceuticals); Waste Materials and Disposal; 

This is a fight over the right to regulate.  

The regulation is cheap to implement and a good idea.

5

Education

Strapped District Plans to Add Online Classes

By JESS BIDGOOD | Dec 8, 2012

Budget cuts have eliminated about 95 full-time teachers from the school district in Manchester, N.H., over the past year, swelling class sizes.

E-Learning; Education (K-12); Teachers and School Employees; 

Just pay for the teachers and the books.  Cheap and effective.

There is no grant money to pocket.

 

6

World

Philippines: Typhoon Death Toll Rises Past 100

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Dec 5, 2012

At least 43 villagers and soldiers drowned in a southern town on Tuesday when torrents of water dumped by a powerful typhoon cascaded down a mountain.

Deaths (Fatalities); Typhoons; Hurricanes and Tropical Storms; 

Cheap realestate is cheap for a reason.

 

7

Your Money

As the Year Draws to a Close, Deciding How to Slice Your Charitable Pie

By RON LIEBER | Dec 8, 2012

This time of year, when charitable giving becomes rushed and routine, might be the best time to review how you divide your donations.

Philanthropy; Personal Finances; Ethics (Personal); 

I know how I want to spend my money.

You can tell me where and when.

8

Business Day

Britons Are Warned Of Lingering Austerity

By JULIA WERDIGIER and STEPHEN CASTLE | Dec 6, 2012

George Osborne, the chancellor of the Exchequer, said in Parliament on Wednesday that it would take four years instead of three for Britain to start reducing its debt as a share of national income.

Economic Conditions and Trends; European Sovereign Debt Crisis (2010- ); Budgets and Budgeting; 

Britain will not, cannot, rebuild under an austerity program.

9

Opinion

The True Meaning of Hanukkah

By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER | Dec 8, 2012

Hanukkah’s elevation as a widely celebrated holiday ignores and sanitizes its historical basis and real meaning.

Hanukkah; Jews and Judaism; Religion and Belief; 

The feast of the new oil is celebrated by memorializing the prelude to the siege of Massada: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Masada

10

Arts

Black and Jewish Music, Kentucky Cabinets, Magician Posters

By EVE M. KAHN | Dec 7, 2012

Sheet music by black and Jewish composers goes on display in Harlem; a museum buys an 18th-century Kentucky dresser; an auction features early-1900s posters promoting magicians.

Culture (Arts); Blacks;

I will not attend the display.  It would be a strain.

11

Business Day

More Than a Soft Drink, Coke Is an Array of Goods

By STUART ELLIOTT | Dec 7, 2012

Home Shopping Network is selling more than 275 Coca-Cola items on its cable channel, online, on mobile devices and through social media.

Soft Drinks; E-Commerce; Shopping and Retail; 

This is not a marketing ploy I have any ambition toward.

12

N.Y. / Region

Mona Ackerman, Advice Columnist, Dies at 66

By DANIEL E. SLOTNIK | Dec 6, 2012

Dr. Ackerman’s experience as a clinical psychologist informed a weekly advice column for The Huffington Post.

Psychology and Psychologists; Deaths (Obituaries); 

Good advice _ “Don’t assume you understand or can make the pain go away,” she added. “What you can do is listen, respond and give back what is needed, even if that is silence.” 

John Cage had people listen to silence.

They found that demanding.

So much around me is silence I may hear things I want to hear.

13

U.S.

Dole Appears, but G.O.P. Rejects a Disabilities Treaty

By JENNIFER STEINHAUER | Dec 5, 2012

Despite Bob Dole’s wishes, Republicans voted against a treaty that would ban discrimination against people with disabilities, fearing it would infringe on American sovereignty.

United States Politics and Government; Disabilities; 

Obdurate opposition to any action not their own.

 

14

Business Day

Campaigns for E-Cigarettes Borrow From Tobacco’s Heyday

By STUART ELLIOTT | Dec 6, 2012

Like the tobacco cigarette, electronic cigarette campaigns use commercials, catchy phrases and celebrity endorsers to sell the product.

Advertising and Marketing; Smoking and Tobacco; Television; 

It worked the first time.   

Regulate nicotine as the addictive drug it is.  

There seems to be no safe tobacco product.

 

15

Health

States Cut Antismoking Outlays Despite Record Tobacco Revenue

By SABRINA TAVERNISE | Dec 6, 2012

States have spent less on tobacco prevention over the past two years than in any period since a settlement in 1998, despite high revenues from the settlement and taxes, according to a new report.

Smoking and Tobacco; Sales and Excise Taxes; Research; 

The states may be playing for another round of penalties.

The tobacco marketers are deaf to the word no.

I quit.  So far I am smoke free.  That is not a strain.

16

U.S.

Bad News on Capitol Hill for Last Coal-Fired Ferry

By JONATHAN WEISMAN | Dec 6, 2012

The Badger, the last coal-fired ferry in the United States, will have to sink or sail on its own.

Environment; 

Convert to propane.  

Coal ash is not the worst of pollutants if one is careful about the coal seam. 

This is just a bit of political infighting.

 

17

World

Censorship of YouTube Is Shrugged Off as Less Than Sacrilegious

By AZAM AHMED | Dec 6, 2012

A block on the popular video Web site following the circulation of an anti-Islamic video has been met with praise, despite concerns of rights advocates.

Censorship; 

One culture's freedom of speech is another culture's sacrilege.  

Afghanistan is not part of the U.S.  Get over it.

18

Home & Garden

The Sun Rises Again on Café Royal

By RIMA SUQI | Dec 6, 2012

Café Royal, which opened in London more than a century ago and remained a sumptuous celebrity-studded destination for decades, is restored as a luxury hotel and restaurant.

Restoration and Renovation; Historic Buildings and Sites; Hotels and Travel Lodgings;

I am game if you will pay for it.

I want to spend time in the museums and libraries.  

The food is better here.  I won't be seen as either an idiot or a thief.

 

19

Real Estate

A Boom in Houston Is Led by the Energy Industry

By MATT HUDGINS | Dec 5, 2012

The energy sector has driven job growth and an increase in demand for office space, especially where oil and gas companies are clustered.

Real Estate (Commercial); Energy and Power; 

That is going to hurt.

Watch the crunch in a couple of months.

 

20

N.Y. / Region

Queens Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Blow Up Manhattan Synagogue

By COLIN MOYNIHAN | Dec 5, 2012

Ahmed Ferhani, who pleaded guilty to 10 charges on Tuesday, was arrested in Manhattan with another man, Mohamed Mamdouh.

Terrorism; Synagogues; 

We will have to apologize for this in a few years.

This way there was no grandstanding and parade of accusing witnesses.

No lectures by prosecutors and political judges.  

No screaming headlines in the yellow press. 

Entrapment and provocateurs have not been permitted under U.S. law for many years.

  @20:56  @20:56  @20:56  @20:56  @20:56  @20:56  @20:56  @20:56  @20:56 

1

U.S.

Storm Sirens’ Last Wail

By KIRK JOHNSON | Dec 8, 2012

A decision to dismantle tsunami sirens on the Oregon coast has some residents concerned that the new warning system — texts and phone calls — will not reach everyone.

Tidal Waves and Tsunamis; Disasters and Emergencies; 

Money gets its way. 

The dead come later.

 

2

Opinion

Next Civil Rights Landmark

Dec 8, 2012

The battle over marriage equality finally lands on the Supreme Court’s docket.

Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships; Discrimination; Law and Legislation; 

With the present Court this may not be good.

 

3

U.S.

Dole Appears, but G.O.P. Rejects a Disabilities Treaty

By JENNIFER STEINHAUER | Dec 5, 2012

Despite Bob Dole’s wishes, Republicans voted against a treaty that would ban discrimination against people with disabilities, fearing it would infringe on American sovereignty.

United States Politics and Government; Disabilities; 

Obdurate opposition to any policy not their own.

 

4

Business Day

Campaigns for E-Cigarettes Borrow From Tobacco’s Heyday

By STUART ELLIOTT | Dec 6, 2012

Like the tobacco cigarette, electronic cigarette campaigns use commercials, catchy phrases and celebrity endorsers to sell the product.

Advertising and Marketing; Smoking and Tobacco; Television; 

There is no safe way to use tobacco.

The money looks very good to some and it worked the first time.

 

5

Health

States Cut Antismoking Outlays Despite Record Tobacco Revenue

By SABRINA TAVERNISE | Dec 6, 2012

States have spent less on tobacco prevention over the past two years than in any period since a settlement in 1998, despite high revenues from the settlement and taxes, according to a new report.

Smoking and Tobacco; Sales and Excise Taxes; Research; 

Put as much time and effort into suppressing this dangerous drug as is applied to others.

Success will be as elusive.

   

6

U.S.

Bad News on Capitol Hill for Last Coal-Fired Ferry

By JONATHAN WEISMAN | Dec 6, 2012

The Badger, the last coal-fired ferry in the United States, will have to sink or sail on its own.

Environment; 

Just political squabbling.

Fire with propane or butane.  It could be done with ethanol.

 

7

World

Censorship of YouTube Is Shrugged Off as Less Than Sacrilegious

By AZAM AHMED | Dec 6, 2012

A block on the popular video Web site following the circulation of an anti-Islamic video has been met with praise, despite concerns of rights advocates.

Censorship; 

Afghanistan is not the U.S.   Think about "Piss Christ".

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

8

Real Estate

A Boom in Houston Is Led by the Energy Industry

By MATT HUDGINS | Dec 5, 2012

The energy sector has driven job growth and an increase in demand for office space, especially where oil and gas companies are clustered.

Real Estate (Commercial); Energy and Power; 

Crunch coming.

 

9

N.Y. / Region

Queens Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Blow Up Manhattan Synagogue

By COLIN MOYNIHAN | Dec 5, 2012

Ahmed Ferhani, who pleaded guilty to 10 charges on Tuesday, was arrested in Manhattan with another man, Mohamed Mamdouh.

Terrorism; Synagogues; 

Embarrassing

 

10

Home & Garden

The Sun Rises Again on Café Royal

By RIMA SUQI | Dec 6, 2012

Café Royal, which opened in London more than a century ago and remained a sumptuous celebrity-studded destination for decades, is restored as a luxury hotel and restaurant.

Restoration and Renovation; Historic Buildings and Sites; Hotels and Travel Lodgings; 

Nothing I want.

Here I am not thought a fool or a thief. 

I do want to visit the museums and libraries.

 

11

Business Day

Fraud Accusation by Solar Panel Maker

By REUTERS | Dec 8, 2012

A Chinese solar panel maker, Suntech Power Holdings, said an internal investigation had determined that the company was defrauded by a partner in a solar development fund.

Solar Energy; Frauds and Swindling; 

Infighting.

Buy Solar Panels from 58¢ Per Watt

www.sunelec.com/solar-panels-c-5.html

Products 1 - 15 of 28 – All sorts of models from Kyocera, Evergreen, Suntech, Bosch, ... Our homepage will always have the latest prices of solar panel and inverter ...

 

Not cheap?   $116 per square meter multiply by thirty $ 3480 powers a house. Ten thousand to run a house.  Not that bad.

About 350 square feet is not even that big.

 

12

World

Asian Cities’ Air Quality Getting Worse, Experts Warn

By BETTINA WASSENER | Dec 6, 2012

Pollution levels in 70 percent of the cities examined were found to exceed even the most lenient of several targets recommended by the World Health Organization.

Air Pollution; 

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

"Clean Air Act

The worst recorded instance was the Great Smog of 1952, when 4,000 additional deaths were reported in the city over a couple of days, leading to the passage of the Clean Air Act 1956 which banned the use of coal for domestic fires in urban areas.^[2] The overall death toll from that incident is now believed to be around 12,000.^[3] "

The Asian cities will not be allowed by their occupants to get so bad.

13

Fashion & Style

A Yoga High With a Little Help

By LAURIE WINER | Dec 6, 2012

Some yoga classes incorporate the use of marijuana, but most yoga teachers say drugs have no place in the practice.

Yoga; Marijuana; 

The pot I ran across never did much for me.

I will let that risk be other people's.

 

14

U.S.

Mississippi: Fourth Guilty Plea in Hate Crime

By ROBBIE BROWN | Dec 6, 2012

A fourth white man pleaded guilty to hate crime charges on Tuesday in the killing of a black man who was robbed, beaten and run over by a pickup in Jackson.

Hate Crimes; 

OK, now for the sentencing.  That could be news.

 

15

Sports

First Women’s Ultimate Fighting Bout Set

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Dec 7, 2012

Ronda Rousey, a former Olympic judo bronze medalist, will fight against Liz Carmouche on Feb. 23 in the first women’s fight in Ultimate Fighting Championship history.

Mixed Martial Arts; 

I do not have to watch.

 

16

N.Y. / Region

Inspector of Day Care Centers Gets 2 ½ Years in Bribetaking Case

By BENJAMIN WEISER | Dec 6, 2012

In return for thousands of dollars, a Fire Department employee who supervised safety inspections overlooked violations that put children at risk.

Bribery and Kickbacks; Day Care Centers; Child Care;

This is not the way misfeasance should come to light.

17

U.S.

State May Oversee Detroit’s Finances

By MONICA DAVEY | Dec 6, 2012

The city, straining to manage its debts and meet its payroll, may be nearing circumstances dire enough to require the state to step in, Michigan officials warned.

Credit Ratings and Credit Rating Agencies; Finances; 

Direct reports are that Detroit is dead.

It is time to pull the plug and call the undertaker.

Deflation does not happen in healthy societies.

 

18

Opinion

The Affordable Housing Crisis

Dec 5, 2012

Too little has been done to help poor renters. Now there is a fresh chance to change course.

Affordable Housing; Public and Subsidized Housing; 

I can't see how this program can be made to work.

The subsidy the poor want and need is a job at decent wages.

This program just encourages rent gouging.

 

19

Times Topics

Tips on Enjoying the Holidays More Simply

By MICHAEL WINERIP | Dec 6, 2012

Ask the Expert this week features Kristin van Ogtrop, who will answer questions about ways to simplify your life this holiday season.

Baby Boomers; Holidays and Special Occasions; Gifts; Anxiety and Stress;

Christmas has become a cooperative project here.

None of us has the time or resources to do the whole potlatch.

Each kicks in as we can.  So far it works.

Planning and project season is upon us.

We keep it simple.  

Thought and fun rather than masses of stuff.

20

Business Day

TV Host Buys Marketing Agency to Expand His Reach

By BRIAN STELTER | Dec 5, 2012

Ryan Seacrest has bought a controlling stake in the Civic Entertainment Group to try to build a diversified media company.

Advertising and Marketing; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Television; 

I am puzzled.

This makes business sense only if the agency works on Seacrest projects for free.  That might happen if chattel slavery were the terms of employment.
There is opportunity cost on top of wage costs and other operating costs.
Ryan Seacrest would do much better to hire the agency on retainer and save himself the personal cost of managing the agency alongside his career in entertainment.
This move is disastrous.
"The small town mayor's brother in law bought a brass cannon and went into business for himself after years of polishing the one in front of City Hall".
It could be he wants to direct.





Chaos in Italy.       Mario Monti resigns.

















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