Friday, January 31, 2014

@11:50, 1/30/14

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1
N.Y. / Region

New York Wants to Banish a Symbol of Love: Mute Swans

White, long-necked mute swans, the state’s largest birds, hurt water quality and threaten people and jets, environmental officials say.
Swans; Invasive Species; Environment 

Pest control is necessary.
Pigeons too.
2
Arts

Video: Lupita Nyong’o: ‘Impostor’ to Ingénue

This year’s Oscar ingenue is Ms. Nyong’o of “12 Years a Slave.” She says it took encouragement to get over the feeling of being an outsider, a phenomenon she dubs “acute impostor syndrome.”
Academy Awards (Oscars) 

Pretty and skilled.  A winning combination on film.

The video is unviewable on my equipment.  Constant pausing to download the next frames.  I have updated flash.  It is Verizon or the Times that is causing me pain.

3
Business Day

Citing Growth, Fed Again Cuts Monthly Bond Purchases

In a unanimous decision, the Federal Reserve said it would pull back on its stimulus program by another $10 billion, pointing to an improving economy.
Banking and Financial Institutions; Stocks and Bonds 

At least the Federal Reserve can end an ineffective policy.
A higher price for treasury bonds is a lower return. 
Money is going to safety.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/30/istanbearish/?module=BlogPost-Title&version=Blog%20Main&contentCollection=Opinion&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body

"


Istanbearish


There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full.
– Henry Kissinger
OK, did we need this? Turkey? Who was paying attention to Turkey?
Some people were, of course, because that was their job. The IMF released the results of its latest Article IV consultation — regular reports that are supposed to provide a sort of early warning system — just over a month ago. It mentioned some worries. For example:
The most concerning aspect is the widening short FX position of the non-financial corporates. This has jumped from US$78 billion in 2008 to US$165 billion now.
But it went on to suggest that the risks weren’t large, among other things because “the floating exchange regime reduces the probability of a very large and abrupt adjustment in the exchange rate.”
Ahem:
Turkish exchange rate against euro Turkish exchange rate against euro
Qualitatively, this looks like a classic emerging-markets crisis: foreign funds came flooding in, there was a sharp rise in private-sector foreign-currency-denominated debt, and then foreign money turned on its heel and fled. Quantitatively, it shouldn’t be that bad: Turkish external debt is only 40 percent of GDP (or was before the lira plunged), and supposedly Turkish businesses aren’t that leveraged. On the other hand, there’s a political crisis as well as a currency crisis.
Oh, and contagion among emerging markets.Lovely.
All this is happening with recovery in the West still very weak and growing deflation risk. Ambrose Evans-Pritchard goes more purple prose on this than I’m willing to — these economies are either fairly small (Turkey, South Africa) or not that heavily indebted (India). But definitely not what we needed right now.
And not really an accident either. If you take secular stagnation seriously, as you should, then we have a chronic problem of too much saving chasing too few good investment opportunities, which means that you only feel prosperous when money thinks it has found more good places to go than it really has — and soon enough figures that out, with nasty effects.
Lots more on this, probably, as I get up to speed on the Bosphorus."
4
Science

Neanderthals Leave Their Mark on Us

Two studies show how the legacy of Neanderthals endures 30,000 years after their extinction, finding Neanderthal genes in skin and hair that may have helped humans evolve.
Neanderthal Man; Genetics and Heredity; DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid); Archaeology; Evolution (Biology)

These people are trying to hammer new data into an established structure.
If Europeans interbred with the Neanderthal the neanderthal are not extinct. Could these gene fragments be survivals of our common ancestor?
If so why are they not found in the Asiatic branch?  
5
Business Day

Failed EuroVegas Bid Was Still a Boon for Spanish Casinos

A ban on casino gambling in Madrid was lifted in effect when the city started to compete against Barcelona to host the mega-resort project.
Casinos; Gambling; Regulation and Deregulation of Industry

The desperate will gamble.
6
Business Day

U.S. Market Slump Easing; Europe and Asia Still Sliding

Stocks continued to fall in Europe and in emerging Asia-Pacific markets as slowing growth in China and the prospect of less stimulus in the United States raised the specter of capital flight.
Economic Conditions and Trends; Stocks and Bonds

Things are happening.
The causal link is not clear to me.
Lets look again next week.
7
Home & Garden

Sometimes Asparagus Is More Than Asparagus

Helen Yoest wrote a book about natural aphrodisiacs called “Plants With Benefits.”
Sex; Fruit; Flowers and Plants

I am willing to play if you are.
8
Home & Garden

Planters: Best Supporting Actors

When choosing containers, the garden designer Jon Carloftis said, remember that the plants are the “real stars,” and the planter is just the “vessel.”
Gardens and Gardening; Flowers and Plants

Yes, supporting actors.
Most planters are mistakes.
Anything that does not drain is pure error.
Mostly what is needed is not a planter but a bigger plant.

9
U.S.

Ex-Governor of Virginia and Wife Plead Not Guilty to Corruption

Former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, pleaded not guilty in federal court to corruption charges that could send them to prison for more than 20 years if they are convicted.
Ethics (Institutional); Gifts; Corruption (Institutional); Frauds and Swindling

General policy is never plead guilty without a plea bargain.
The prosecutor should have to earn a conviction.
This one looks easy.
10
Business Day

Confronting Old Problem May Require a New Deal


Bad tone.  Reasonable conclusion.

11
Science

It All Started With a 12-Year-Old Cousin

Salman Khan’s first student was a family member. Now his free electronic schoolhouse reaches more than 10 million users around the world.
E-Learning; Mathematics; Computers and the Internet; Video Recordings and Downloads; Tutors and Tutoring; Science and Technology

There is not enough time in the day.
When there is I will exploit the resource.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_academy
Bookmarked. [Things to think on]
12
Automobiles

Ryno: Electric, Urban Transportation on One Wheel

With an electric unicycle occupying a niche between a motor scooter and a Segway, Ryno Motors hopes to change urban transportation.
Motorcycles, Motor Bikes and Motorscooters; Unicycles; Transportation; Urban Areas

Segways are not allowed on the sidewalks of New York.
This will not get that clearance either.
 
13
Movies

Which Vision for Oscar?

Will Alfonso Cuarón’s deep dive into space, David O. Russell’s ’70s nostalgia or Steve McQueen’s history capture the Academy Award?
Movies; Academy Awards (Oscars)

I do not have a ballot.
I may eventually pull them out of a library.
For now there is not enough time in the day.
 
14
U.S.

A Court’s All-Hands Approach Aids Girls Most at Risk

Girls Court, a special tribunal that is part of a network across the country, aims to nurture vulnerable young women — especially those forced into prostitution — instead of treating them as criminals.
Courts and the Judiciary; Women and Girls; Sex Crimes; Juvenile Delinquency; Human Trafficking; Prostitution

Do what it takes to get a fix.
 
15
Opinion

Alone, Yet Not Alone

How does the inner experience of faith differ from popular perceptions of religion?
Religion and Belief; Christians and Christianity

I know that place well.  I have found no god in it.

16
Science

New Lead in Honeybee Deaths and Another Hot Year on Earth

A team of bee investigators say the dying species may be passing around a virus, while two government agencies say 2013 was among the hottest ever recorded.
Bees; Mars (Planet); Global Warming; Space and Astronomy; Viruses

Interesting.
 
17
Business Day

With Better Security Technology, Hotels Shore Up Blind Spots

Hotels are beefing up security with new key cards, smaller cameras and employee training.
Hotels and Travel Lodgings; Computer Security; Video Recordings and Downloads; Frauds and Swindling; Security and Warning Systems

Most of us are under financial pressure.  Some try to escape.
18
Sports

Dashing for Big Yardage, Not for Shot at Medals

Trindon Holliday, the Denver Broncos kick returner, will compete in the Super Bowl on Sunday, but at media day, the coming Winter Games prompted him to reflect on his Olympic aspirations.
Football; Olympic Games; Track and Field; Super Bowl

I have no plan to watch.
 
19
N.Y. / Region

Officials Blame Human Error for the Latest Blow to the Reputation of Metro-North

A day after evening commutes halted across the railroad, transportation officials said technicians had mistakenly taken out a power supply while a backup source was unavailable.
Power Failures and Blackouts; Railroads; Delays (Transportation)

ok.
 
20
Automobiles

Wheelies: The Export Import Edition

Honda becomes Japan’s first net exporter from the United States, and Thai police say Karl Slym argued with his wife before committing suicide.
Automobiles

OK


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

20:30



1
U.S.

Ex-Governor of Virginia and Wife Plead Not Guilty to Corruption

2
Business Day

U.S. Market Slump Easing; Europe and Asia Still Sliding

3
Movies

Which Vision for Oscar?

4
N.Y. / Region

Four Airlines Are Told to Raise Some Wages by $1 an Hour

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey sent a letter to American, Delta, JetBlue and United to raise the pay of workers who made less than $9 an hour.
Wages and Salaries; Labor and Jobs; Demonstrations, Protests, and Riots; Minimum Wage

A sop.
 
5
U.S.

‘Super PAC’ Is Formed in Mississippi to Protect 6-Term Senator in G.O.P. Primary

A group of Mississippi Republicans, moving to counter spending from out-of-state conservative groups, are moving to help Senator Thad Cochran fend off a primary challenge.
Conservatism (US Politics); Political Action Committees; Primaries and Caucuses; Elections, Senate

The question 'does money rule Mississippi now' will be answered.
 
6
N.Y. / Region

An Unassuming Liberal Makes a Rapid Ascent to Power Broker

Brad Lander, a Brooklyn Democrat who is the City Council’s new deputy leader for policy, is being called a “shadow speaker.”
City Councils

We could expect a more welcoming tone.
 
7
U.S.

Detroit Art Museum Offers Plan to Avoid Sale of Art

The plan would relieve the city of any future financial responsibility for the art institute while also shielding the institute from future municipal threats.
Museums; Philanthropy; Bankruptcies

"Once you have paid them the danegeld
 One never gets rid of the Dane."

8
World

After Crisis, Greeks Work to Promote ‘Social’ Economy

Businesses tired of dealing with bureaucrats and failing corporations are relying on volunteer networks to provide cheaper goods and to sell directly to customers.
Nonprofit Organizations; European Sovereign Debt Crisis (2010- ); Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates); Recession and Depression

Intermediated  barter.
The Greeks are building a new economy.
 
9
U.S.

Ex-Governor of Virginia Is Released After Arraignment

Former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife were ordered not to leave the country after being arraigned on charges of accepting gifts in exchange for promoting a political patron’s business.
Ethics (Institutional)

There is no news in this.
 
10
Business Day

Failed EuroVegas Bid Was Still a Boon for Spanish Casinos

11
Science

New Lead in Honeybee Deaths and Another Hot Year on Earth

12
Business Day

Chipotle Blurs Lines With a Satirical Series About Industrial Farming

The fast-food chain’s four-part comedy-advertisement, “Farmed and Dangerous,” will be shown on the TV-streaming service Hulu.
Advertising and Marketing; Fast Food Industry; Agriculture and Farming; Factory Farming; Web-Original Programming

Getting the the idea in peoples heads is the important thing.
I can live with the sponsorship.
 
13
Home & Garden

Sometimes Asparagus Is More Than Asparagus

Helen Yoest wrote a book about natural aphrodisiacs called “Plants With Benefits.”
Sex; Fruit; Flowers and Plants; Books and Literature

Cute.
 
14
Business Day

Confronting Old Problem May Require a New Deal

Just as now, some in the 1930s feared that unemployment would remain stubbornly high, permanently; the response 80 years ago was the New Deal.
Labor and Jobs; United States Economy; Recession and Depression; Infrastructure (Public Works); Unemployment; New Deal (1930's); Great Depression (1930's)

I could hope the idea pleased Mr. Porter more.
 
15
Home & Garden

Planters: Best Supporting Actors


Use a bigger or a woody plant.

16
U.S.

A Court’s All-Hands Approach Aids Girls Most at Risk


This is the best idea so far on the problem.

17
World

U.S. Catholics Hope for 2015 Papal Visit

A spokesman for the archdiocese of Philadelphia said he expects Pope Francis to attend an event there in September 2015, although the Vatican has not given official word.

He will be welcome.

18
Opinion

Revealed: The Actual Fort Lee Traffic Study

What if the George Washington Bridge traffic study were to miraculously come to light?
George Washington Bridge

Chris Cristie will be very lucky to escape a forced resignation.
 
19
Opinion

The Next Accident Awaits

Safety rules over hazardous chemicals must be tightened.
Hazardous and Toxic Substances; Accidents and Safety; Chemicals; Regulation and Deregulation of Industry

Industries scream loudly during a money extraction.
The G.O.P. can't stand the noise.
 
20
World

U.N. Inspectors Visit Uranium Mine in Iran, Media Report

The inspection followed a temporary agreement with world powers to freeze most uranium-enrichment activities in return for loosening sanctions.
Nuclear Weapons; Embargoes and Economic Sanctions; Uranium

It is diplomatic of the U.N. to visit the mines.



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