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1

Science

Death and Dying, the Animal Way

By CLAUDIA DREIFUS | Jan 15, 2013

Bernd Heinrich, an emeritus biology professor at the University of Vermont, has been studying how animals die.

Animals; Forests and Forestry; Death and Dying; Books and Literature; 

Sky burial looks to me to be a good idea.

I would rather not be on view in the process.

2

Sunday Review

Our Economic Pickle

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE | Jan 13, 2013

The debt-ceiling debate is unlikely to alter one major factor contributing to income inequality: stagnant wages.

Wages and Salaries; Labor and Jobs; United States Economy; Income Inequality; Minimum Wage; Productivity; 

The wealthy love deflation.  wage earners do not. 

As long as wages stay stationary there is no wage inflation.

When wages fall, there is deflation.  

3

Opinion

Deafness at Doomsday

By LAWRENCE M. KRAUSS | Jan 16, 2013

Policy makers should not ignore the advice of scientists on issues like climate change and nuclear proliferation.

Science and Technology; United States Defense and Military Forces; Manhattan Project; Nuclear Weapons; Global Warming; Politics and Government; 

"It is hard for a person to understand something if his income depends on not understanding it".
Nuclear weapons are not much of a worry.
Party positions are well entrenched.  There is small purpose in further debate. 
Change will come when it can.

4

Opinion

Sunday Dialogue: Is a Bigger House Better?

Jan 13, 2013

Readers debate how to make Congress less dysfunctional.

United States Politics and Government; Constitution (US); Elections, House of Representatives; Term Limits (Political Office); Redistricting and Reapportionment; 

Power in congress depends on three factors.

Majority: which party has more members.

Seniority: Length of service.

Personal relationships: knowing other members and their sins and agendas.

A possible fix for gerrymandering would be to take the states representatives number and divide the population of the state among them geographically.  Start at one corner and count assuming equal separation between voters. The arbitrary districts would have equal numbers of votes and be roughly circular.

Funds should come from the federal income tax, equally to each qualified candidate.

5

Technology

A Data Crusader, a Defendant and Now, a Cause

By NOAM COHEN | Jan 14, 2013

In his death, Aaron Swartz has come to symbolize a debate over cases against those who believe in “freeing” information.

Computers and the Internet; Crime and Criminals; Computer Security; Cyberattacks and Hackers; 

Civil disobedience depends on a willingness to take the consequences of ones action.

Aaron Swartz was, finally, unwilling.  I like his cause.  I might have liked him.  He is not a hero or a martyr.

6

World

A Church Diverted by Issues of Sexuality and Gender

By ALAN COWELL | Jan 15, 2013

Leaders of the Church of England in recent weeks have become embroiled in doctrinal contortions over gender and sexuality, prompting mockery, outrage and division.

Anglican Churches; Religion and Belief; Gender; Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships; 

From the outside this looks silly.  Religion has been sex obsessed from the start.

7

Fashion & Style

A Debate, to and Fro

By PHILIP GALANES | Jan 13, 2013

Addressing matters of curly hair, job insecurity, expanded guest lists and making dreams come true.

Jews and Judaism; Parties (Social); Customs, Etiquette and Manners; 

I will welcome your daughter.  Hair is a feature like others.  Curls are good. 

8

Business Day

German Economy Shrank in Fourth Quarter

By JACK EWING and NICHOLAS KULISH | Jan 16, 2013

The decline was largely the result of sagging investment by German managers worried about the future of the euro zone.

Euro (Currency); Gross Domestic Product; European Sovereign Debt Crisis (2010- ); Economic Conditions and Trends; European Sovereign Debt Crisis (2010- ); Economic Conditions and Trends; Gross Domestic Product;

Deflation means no willingness to lend.

9

Technology

After Rocky Year for Start-Ups, Investors Are Pickier

By NICOLE PERLROTH | Jan 14, 2013

The celebrated shift to smartphones, once welcomed with an outpouring of investments, is now making some investors nervous as monetization proves harder for mobile devices.

Venture Capital; Computers and the Internet; Start-ups; Entrepreneurship;

yes

10

Business Day

In Ads, Coke Confronts Soda’s Link to Obesity

By STEPHANIE STROM | Jan 15, 2013

One ad promotes steps Coke has taken, like prominently showing calorie counts and increasing the number of its brands sold in smaller cans, to help consumers make healthier choices.

Soft Drinks; Obesity; Advertising and Marketing;

Hopeless.

11

Sports

Forging Path to Starting Line for Younger Disabled Athletes

By MARY PILON | Jan 16, 2013

Sports organizations are encountering more questions regarding inclusion of athletes with disabilities, but what is reasonable accommodation under the law has been debated.

Education (K-12); Disabilities; Interscholastic Athletics;

Finally it is a competition.  Symmetrically, allow doping.

12

Business Day

Paying the Price, but Often Deducting It

By GRETCHEN MORGENSON | Jan 13, 2013

In many cases when the government reaches a financial settlement with a corporation, the companies later deduct the payments on their taxes.

Banking and Financial Institutions; Tax Credits, Deductions and Exemptions; Corporate Taxes; Mortgages; Foreclosures;

Yes.  So?

13

U.S.

Energy Industry Awaits U.S. Ruling on Prairie Chicken

By KATE GALBRAITH | Jan 13, 2013

A Fish and Wildlife Service decision to classify the lesser prairie chicken as threatened could have repercussions for wind farms, as well as oil and gas drilling operations.

Endangered and Extinct Species; Birds; Wind Power; Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline;

I like the idea.

14

Business Day

Good Economy or Bad, Hurdles for Junk Bonds

By NORM ALSTER | Jan 13, 2013

Last year was stellar for high-yield debt, also known as junk bonds. But strategists see various risks for the category in 2013.

Junk Bonds; Mutual Funds; Credit Ratings and Credit Rating Agencies; Interest Rates;

I have generally disliked the high risk profile of junk bond funds.
The high premium is a risk premium.
The errors the rating agencies make are generally to undervalue risk.
They set the risk of default lower than they should. 
A fund will spread the risk among many bonds.  You might find one an advantage for a few years.
Get an accountant to go over the rules with you.  There are tax problems to solve.
I  expect the economy to get worse for years.

15

Science

Equation of Time Solves Mystery of Gray Mornings

By JOHN O’NEIL | Jan 15, 2013

The Equation of Time accounts for the difference between clock time and solar time, and why after the winter solstice the sunrise keeps getting later even as days start to get longer.

Seasons and Months; Sun; Daylight Saving Time; Earth; Time;

No mystery.  Pay attention in high school.

16

Opinion

Darwin Was Wrong About Dating

By DAN SLATER | Jan 13, 2013

What do women want? Pretty much what men want.

Women and Girls; Men and Boys; Psychology and Psychologists; Evolution; Research; Sex;

OK,
Why fuss?
I am not an evolutionary scholar. 
Culture  is very dominant in behavior.

17

Opinion

An Incomplete Fix

Jan 14, 2013

The fiscal cliff agreement did not fully reform the alternative minimum tax.

Tax Credits, Deductions and Exemptions; Income Tax; Alternative Minimum Tax; Federal Budget (US); Editorials;

We know it.
Must close here.  Will continue if I can.  Continuing.
The tax code needs fixing.  Powerful interests like things as they are.

18

U.S.

Rubio Pushes His Party on Immigration Changes

By JULIA PRESTON | Jan 15, 2013

Senator Marco Rubio of Florida is asserting his leadership among Republicans on immigration, previewing a proposal that includes measures to give legal status to millions of illegal immigrants.

Illegal Immigrants; Citizenship and Naturalization; United States Politics and Government; Immigration and Emigration;

This is not a good deal.  A dish of warm shit is still a dish of shit.

19

World

Despite Taliban Threat, Afghanistan Manages to Entice Some Tourists

By ROD NORDLAND | Jan 13, 2013

Few tourist destinations are as exotic and unsafe as Afghanistan, where people still visit in dwindling numbers.

Travel and Vacations; Hotels and Travel Lodgings; Hostages; Afghanistan War (2001- ); Kidnapping; United States International Relations; United States Defense and Military Forces;

I feel no need to visit a religious war zone as an enemy to all sides.
 

20

World

New Delhi Only Seems Far Away

By AMELIA GENTLEMAN | Jan 16, 2013

Blithely criticizing failings in attitudes toward women far away is easy. Focusing on why it is that so few women come forward to report sex crimes in England and Wales has proved harder.

Sex Crimes; Police Brutality and Misconduct; Women and Girls; Women's Rights;

I will not comment on this class of story beyond it deserves publication.