@22:12, 12/31/12

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Nothing up at this time.

Earlier:

1

Health

What You Think You Know (but Don't) About Wise Eating

By JANE E. BRODY | Dec 31, 2012

Joe Schwarcz, a scientist at McGill University, sets the record straight on a host of widely circulated nutritional falsehoods.

Diet and Nutrition; Food; Meat; Nuts; Organic Foods and Products; Seafood; Sustainable Living; Trans Fatty Acids; Vitamins;

A good start.  I want more.

2

World

Will Turkey Squander Its Opportunity to Lead?

By DAVID ROHDE | Dec 30, 2012

Turkey should be assuming a place of leadership in the wake of the Arab Awakening, instead the reactionary impulses of Prime Minister Erdogan could mean Turkey retreats rather than leads.

Constitutions; Freedom of the Press; Human Rights and Human Rights Violations;

There is little we can or wish to do in a religious war we are not part of.
There is no liberal faction in Islam.
 

3

Health

U.S. Clears DNA Firm’s Acquisition by Chinese

By ANDREW POLLACK | Dec 31, 2012

The controversial purchase of a Silicon Valley-based DNA sequencing company by a Chinese firm has raised concerns about American competitiveness in a field that is becoming a big business.

Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid); Genetics and Heredity;

The Chinese need to do their own work.  Let them.

4

Business Day

Instantly Yours, for a Fee

By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD and CLAIRE CAIN MILLER | Dec 28, 2012

Fear of Amazon.com has pushed a variety of stores to embrace delivery within hours as a must-have promotion, even though it’s costly and logistically complicated.

Delivery Services; Shopping and Retail; Computers and the Internet; E-Commerce;

Browsing a book store has been one of my pleasures.
I usually don't know what I want beyond the knowledge of what is available.
Plastic money is a problem at the moment.   Another task waiting.

5

World

U.S. Group Raises Funds for Syrian Scholars

By D. D. GUTTENPLAN | Dec 31, 2012

A New York-based organization coordinates efforts to help students and academics left stranded by the conflict.

Education; Colleges and Universities; Financial Aid (Education);

I have no problem with this. 
We should stand clear of their civil war.

6

Opinion

Views of Global Warming in 1992 and Now

By ANDREW C. REVKIN | Dec 31, 2012

A look back at global warming, as described 20 years ago.

Global Warming; Hurricanes and Tropical Storms; Museums;

We do keep learning.  

7

Business Day

William Baer Confirmed as Justice Department Antitrust Chief

By PETER LATTMAN | Dec 30, 2012

William J. Baer is expected to continue what has been widely seen as the agency's reinvigorated enforcement of antitrust laws after a period of lax oversight during the Bush administration.

Antitrust Laws and Competition Issues; Appointments and Executive Changes; Law and Legislation; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; United States Politics and Government;

I hope he is effective.
 

8

Style

12 New Year's Resolutions for Happier Families

By KJ DELL'ANTONIA | Dec 31, 2012

Keep a "to-don't" list. Give warm greetings and farewells. Create more art together. Bribe more creatively.

Families and Family Life; New Year; Parenting; Writing and Writers;

Communication helps.  Do it any way you can. 
Sooner is better.  As soon as you can is best.
  

9

Health

Vegan Pantry Dinners for the New Year

By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN | Dec 31, 2012

Cleaning out your pantry, fridge and freezer to make healthy, hearty meals is a good way to start the New Year.

Veganism; Quinoa; Recipes; Parties (Social); Medicine and Health; Diet and Nutrition;

Why not?
I try to keep things simple.
 I will have to shop soon.  Bread is a staple here and I am out of flour.

10

N.Y. / Region

Woman Posed as Aunt of Newtown Victim to Commit Fraud, the F.B.I. Says

By MARC SANTORA | Dec 28, 2012

The authorities said that Nouel Alba of the Bronx had solicited donations online, falsely claiming that she was related to one of the children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Newtown, Conn, Shooting (2012); Frauds and Swindling; School Shootings;

Always a risk.
 

11

U.S.

9 Are Killed in Bus Crash in Oregon

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Dec 31, 2012

About 20 others were injured in the crash, including the driver of the bus, owned by a Canadian company.

Buses; Traffic Accidents and Safety; Deaths (Fatalities);

No information yet.
 

12

Technology

Ryan Block: Why I'm Quitting Instagram

By RYAN BLOCK | Dec 31, 2012

Ryan Block, the co-founder of Gdgt, explains why he is quitting Instagram.

Privacy; Social Networking (Internet);

Reasonable.

13

Business Day

Questcor Finds Profits, at $28,000 a Vial

By ANDREW POLLACK | Dec 30, 2012

After pricing its once-obscure drug, Acthar, in the stratosphere, Questcor gained many fans on Wall Street. But the company has also drawn some doubters.

Drugs (Pharmaceuticals); Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates); Babies and Infants;

What the traffic  will bear has always been the rule in trade.
I do not like this company but it is doing its job.

14

Business Day

Partial Agreement With Union Averts a Strike at 14 Ports

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE | Dec 29, 2012

Shipping companies and dockworkers reached a deal on their main dispute, and the longshoremen’s union agreed to drop its threat of a strike this Sunday.

Strikes; Organized Labor;

This does not look like an agreement except to keep getting paid for a bit longer.  There are no other details.

15

Opinion

The 2012 Sidney Awards, Part II

By DAVID BROOKS | Dec 28, 2012

What did you think of the first round of winners of the best essays of the year? Well, here are the rest!

Magazines; Schizophrenia; Liberalism (US Politics); 

These seem mostly to be interesting but misleading.

I can distract myself.  I do not need help to be distracted.

16

World

In Germany, Merkel’s Main Rival Appears to Stumble From Gaffe to Gaffe

By NICHOLAS KULISH | Dec 31, 2012

The Social Democrats’ candidate for chancellor, Peer Steinbrück, finds himself facing questions about speaking fees and a comment that Angela Merkel has the advantage of a “women’s bonus.”

Elections; European Sovereign Debt Crisis (2010- ); Politics and Government; 

Ms Merkel will fall.  She will not be displaced by a more powerful politician.

Germany is in an unsustainable economic position.  The howls of pain will build over the next few months.  Where in the Euro the break will come may be unknown.  That there will soon be a break is a certainty.

17

N.Y. / Region

A Portrait of Interfaith Giving

By STEPHEN HARMON | Dec 28, 2012

Metropolitan Diary: A Sikh man in Jackson Heights was thrilled when a stranger who had taken his picture returned with a framed copy for him.

Christmas; Gifts; Jews and Judaism; Sikhs and Sikhism; 

It is very nice when it works.  

Faiths have almost nothing to do with the actions.

18

Opinion

Time to Confront Climate Change

Dec 28, 2012

President Obama has the tools to reduce gas emissions significantly. He should use them.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Coal; Law and Legislation; Air Pollution; Editorials; Series; 

The first step must be to remove corporate money from politics.

We know that and they know that. 

Any move to change the current power structure will cause an existential fight.   

The pain of the present structure must grow unbearable Before there can be real large scale change.  

Individuals can and must act locally starting at their homes.

19

U.S.

Medicaid Waiver Presents Structuring Challenges

By BECCA AARONSON | Dec 30, 2012

A Medicaid transformation waiver could transform aspects of Texas’ health care, if hospitals and providers can figure out how to create a system that will reap the benefits.

Health Insurance and Managed Care; Hospitals; Reform and Reorganization;

Texas is infamous for cheap race prejudice.

I suspect this is another example.

Managed care where it has been tried was found to be a failure at cost reduction.

Doc in the box is a better option.

20

Education

Philadelphia School District Plans to Close Dozens of Schools

By JON HURDLE | Dec 31, 2012

Facing deep financial problems, Philadelphia’s school district proposed an unprecedented downsizing and other changes that would affect 17,000 students.

Education (K-12); Shutdowns (Institutional);

This is the result of an intentionally established viscous cycle.
It did not need to happen.
To reverse it, get rid of charter schools or reincorporate them in the city system.
A voucher system invests public money in private education.







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