Saturday, February 16, 2013

@16:04, 2/16/13

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1
N.Y. / Region

School Bus Drivers End Strike, in Win for New York Mayor

Union leaders said drivers suffered a toll from weeks of picketing for job protections while losing income, and they would try their luck with Mayor Michael M. Bloomberg’s successor.
Strikes; Buses; Organized Labor; 

The next school bus strike could get violent.
N.Y. had best elect a Democrat.
 
2
U.S.

Governments Look for New Ways to Pay for Roads and Bridges

As revenues from gasoline taxes fail to keep pace with the costs of transportation infrastructure, governments look for new solutions.
Roads and Traffic; Infrastructure (Public Works); Law and Legislation; Gasoline Tax (US); States (US); Sales and Excise Taxes; Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline; 

"Even some business interests normally opposed to higher taxes have called for an increase. In Congressional testimony this week, Thomas J. Donohue, the chief executive of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said: “The money is running out, so we need to phase in a moderate increase in the gas tax over a number of years and index it to inflation. Shippers and truckers are all on board to pay a little more as long as the money goes to where it’s needed.”"
 
3
N.Y. / Region

Teachers’ Pension Fund Divests Gun Holdings

The pension fund’s board voted to get rid of holdings from five gun companies, making the fund the biggest in the country so far to shed such holdings.
Pensions and Retirement Plans; Gun Control; Teachers and School Employees; Education (K-12); School Shootings; 

Fiduciary responsibility is a problem in this.
 
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4
Business Day

Incomes Flat in Recovery, but Not for the 1%

New data show uneven benefits from the economic recovery of 2010-11, with a big rise for the highest earners and little change for others.
Income; Income Inequality; Minimum Wage; United States Economy; Economics (Theory and Philosophy);

I have heard that there is a recovery.  It does not show in most places.

5
U.S.

Legal Clashes at Hearing for Defendants in 9/11 Case

Defense lawyers kept the focus on the legitimacy of the military tribunal process that the government is using instead of a civilian trial.
Military Tribunals; Detainees; 

This GOP effort to escape responsibility should fail.
 
6
Business Day

In New England, a Natural Gas Trap

Electricity prices in New England have been four to eight times higher than normal in recent weeks, as overreliance on natural gas collides with a surge in demand for heating.
Natural Gas; Electric Light and Power; Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates); Heating; 

As far as I know the price of gas is not much higher.
This then is a pipeline problem.
If the price of gas was expected to stay low by the utilities there would be pipelines under construction.  I have not read of such projects.
 
7
N.Y. / Region

Town Sued After Barring Debate on Gas Extraction at Meetings

On Tuesday two environmental groups filed suit against the town of Sanford, N.Y., alleging that it was violating residents’ free speech rights.
Hydraulic Fracturing; Suits and Litigation; Freedom of Speech and Expression; Natural Gas; 

This is just noise.
The fracking ban should not soon be lifted.
 
8
Science

Traces of Anxiety Drug May Affect Behavior in Fish

Researchers in Sweden reported that fish exposed to Oxazepam became less social, more active and ate faster, behaviors they said could have long-term consequences for aquatic ecosystems.
Fish and Other Marine Life; Antidepressants; Water Pollution; Research; Drugs (Pharmaceuticals); Anxiety and Stress; 

This has panicked the pharmaceutical industry.
  
9
World

Anger That a Herod Show Uses West Bank Objects

The Palestinian Authority says the exhibition is a violation of international law because much of its material was taken from the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Jews and Judaism; Palestinians; Museums; Israeli Settlements; Archaeology; Historic Buildings and Sites;

"The Palestinian Authority says the exhibition is a violation of international law because much of its material was taken from near Bethlehem and Jericho, both in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. An Israeli group of archaeologists and activists complains that the museum, however unwittingly, is helping the Jewish settlement movement advance its contention that the West Bank should be part of Israel and not a Palestinian state."

A single state solution.

10
N.Y. / Region

Quinn’s Affordable Housing Plan Revisits Tax Caps Once Rejected by Bloomberg

City Council speaker Christine C. Quinn’s proposal would impose a 30-year cap on real estate taxes for landlords who set aside 20 percent of their apartments for below-market rents.
Affordable Housing; Real Estate and Housing (Residential); Tax Credits, Deductions and Exemptions; State of the City Message (NYC); Property Taxes; Income Tax; 

Christine C. Quinn is playing to the crowd.
Elect another candidate.

11
Opinion

Exonerating the Scottsboro Nine

The Alabama Legislature finally moves to grant posthumous pardons, a confirmation of the travesty 80 years ago.
Law and Legislation; Discrimination; Jury System; Blacks; 

A small victory much delayed.
 
12
U.S.

Election Opponents Team Up on Panel to Fix Voting System

President Obama hopes that bipartisan leadership on a new commission led by two of the nation’s pre-eminent election lawyers — Robert Bauer and Ben Ginsberg — will yield results.
Voting and Voters; Voter Registration and Requirements; United States Politics and Government; 

Just stop fussing about it.
The number who vote twice and the disenfranchised who try to vote will be small.
 
13
Opinion

The Two Julias

The unknown story of Ulysses S. Grant's wife - and her slave.
Civil War (US) (1861-65); Slavery; 

I do not command you and will not attempt it.
 
14
Business Day

One Step Toward Rethinking Taxes

A proposal by Dave Camp of the House Ways and Means Committee would change the way derivatives are taxed and the way capital gains are calculated.
Capital Gains Tax; Derivatives (Financial Instruments); Income Tax; 

Presumptuous bull.
"Tax reform, at least in American politics these days, is generally discussed at only the most abstract level. There is general agreement that it would be nice to lower tax rates while broadening the base by getting rid of loopholes. The latter, of course, are seldom specified in any detail, and are very much in the eye of the beholder." . . .
15
Business Day

Gaming the System

Some college students unanimously boycotted their final exam and all got A's under a grading curve loophole. It's a great example of game theory at work.
Boycotts; Economics (Theory and Philosophy); Tests and Examinations; 

The act shows they mastered the material.
Fix the rule next time.
 
16
Arts

A Grammy-Winning Formula for Paul McCartney: Don't Show Up

Paul McCartney talks about the Grammy Award he won for his album "Kisses on the Bottom," and why, by design, he wasn't at the Grammys ceremony.
Grammy Awards; Rock Music; 

Good enough.
 
17
N.Y. / Region

New York Governor Puts Off Decision on Drilling

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is awaiting a review of the potential health effects of hydraulic fracturing, and will thus miss a February deadline to issue a new environmental impact statement.
Research; Hydraulic Fracturing; Natural Gas; Environment; 

Any excuse to do the right thing.
 
18
World

Furor Over Use of Horse Meat Grows in Britain Despite Testing

Only a small percentage of horse meat was found in products labeled as beef, but only a quarter of those products have been tested.
Meat; Product Tests; Horses; 

It is still about aesthetics.
 
19
Business Day

Total Discloses Origins of a Gas Leak in the North Sea

The natural gas leak at a well in the French oil company’s flagship Elgin-Franklin field resulted from corrosion that produced stress cracks, the company said.
Natural Gas; Accidents and Safety; Wells; 

Money lost. 
 
20
N.Y. / Region

Sexual Harassment Case Against Lopez Sent to Legislature

State regulators who found ethics violations in the sexual harassment case against New York Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez have forwarded the matter to two ethics panels.
Sexual Harassment; Law and Legislation; State Legislatures; Ethics (Institutional); 

I quibble with the language.  
Ethics has no place in law.
The act was improper and probably cause for removal.

I will grab the next list soon.   About 21:00.



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