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2

U.S.

Snake-Handling Pastor Dies After Bite

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Feb 16th 2014

Jamie Coots, who appeared on the National Geographic reality television show “Snake Salvation,” has died after being bitten by a snake.

Snakes; Reality Television; Deaths (Fatalities) 

4

Sports

The Week’s Men’s College Basketball Games to Watch

By CHRISTOPH FUHRMANS | Feb 17th 2014

8

Opinion

Real Discipline in School

By ROBERT K. ROSS and KENNETH H. ZIMMERMAN | Feb 16th 2014

9

World

Lebanon Forms a Cabinet After 11 Months of Deadlock

By HWAIDA SAAD and BEN HUBBARD | Feb 15th 2014

The cabinet’s 24 members span the political spectrum, including Hezbollah, the militant Shiite organization, and its Western-backed foes.

Middle East and North Africa Unrest (2010- ) 

"“This cabinet is made of shattered glass,” said Hilal Khashan, a professor of political science at the American University of Beirut. “Forming a cabinet was a deep necessity to make sure that the country would not slip any further into chaos and insecurity, but I would not read too much into it.”"

13

T:Style

Business of Style | Hotel California

By MATT TYRNAUER | Feb 10th 2014

With their latest outpost, the owners of Ace Hotel and the design firm Commune are bringing their hipster formula to one of the most fabled buildings in downtown Los Angeles.

Architecture; Buildings (Structures); Historic Buildings and Sites; Hotels and Travel Lodgings; Restoration and Renovation 

Visit the resort.  Live at home. 

Hotel life has few charms for me.

I would need to be hungry to do this design.

 

14

Opinion

The All-or-Nothing Marriage

By ELI J. FINKEL | Feb 14th 2014

Couples can be happier now than ever before. But it’s rare.

Marriages; Divorce, Separations and Annulments; Social Conditions and Trends; Sociology 

I am unsure of his generalizations.

 

15

Technology

Sorting iPad Apps by Name

By J. D. BIERSDORFER | Feb 10th 2014

16

Opinion

Mercy in the Justice System

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | Feb 9th 2014

17

Science

Giant Laser Complex Makes Fusion Advance, Finally

By KENNETH CHANG and WILLIAM J. BROAD | Feb 12th 2014

Two experiments in which hydrogen fusion generated more energy than had been put in to the hydrogen succeeded, an advance that revives optimism in thermonuclear fusion.

Hydrogen; Nuclear Energy; Science and Technology; Energy and Power; Laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) 

We keep trying.  The progress is slow and unpredictable.

 

18

N.Y. / Region

Truck Thief’s Getaway Try Ends in a Bus Driver’s Death

By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ and MARC SANTORA | Feb 12th 2014

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World

Islamic Extremists Slaughter 15 Soldiers in Northern Iraqi City

By DURAID ADNAN | Feb 11th 2014

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Business Day

Union Drive Doesn’t Bother Management, but G.O.P. Fumes

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE | Feb 11th 2014

 

 

Lost opportunity.

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@19:39

2

Technology

Wireless Charging: Still Plenty of Kinks in the Cord

By MOLLY WOOD | Feb 17th 2014

Wireless charging is promising and has been promised for several years. But it is a mess of competing standards and technologies. Will this tangle of cords ever get unraveled?

Cellular Telephones; New Models, Design and Products; Smartphones; Tablet Computers; Wearable Computing; Wireless Communications 

There will be no wireless standardization soon for the same reason there is no standardization now in charging plugs.

5

Health

Treating Tuberculosis and AIDS Together Saves Lives

By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. | Feb 17th 2014

Those with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis and AIDS are more likely to live if they get simultaneous treatment for both diseases, a new study has found.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Tuberculosis; Medicine and Health 

The treatment protocol has changed.

 

6

Business Day

Rival Industries Sweet-Talk the Public

By ERIC LIPTON | Feb 11th 2014

Court documents show that the corn refinery and sugar industries spent millions to enlist academics and lobbying groups to support a secret public relations war over the market for sweeteners.

Suits and Litigation (Civil); Lobbying and Lobbyists; Advertising and Marketing; Corn; Sugar; Political Advertising; Corn Syrup and Sweeteners; Public Relations and Publicity 

Sugar whether from corn cane or beet is the same diesacharide.

They are almost equally toxic.

Glucose is not toxic but is fattening.

7

World

Xi Touts Communist Party as Defender of Confucius's Virtues

By CHRIS BUCKLEY | Feb 12th 2014

President Xi Jinping of China said the government’s successful expansion of Confucius Institutes showed that Westerners also hunger for deeper lessons from his country’s economic growth.

Capitalism (Theory and Philosophy); Confucianism; Cultural Revolution 

The Peoples Republic of China is troubled.

 

9

World

Chinese Officials Widen Campaign Against Vices

By EDWARD WONG | Feb 17th 2014

       "

10

Sports

Texas Cruises to Win

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Feb 11th 2014

16

N.Y. / Region

With His First Budget, de Blasio Hews to Familiar Campaign Themes

By NIKITA STEWART and KATE TAYLOR | Feb 12th 2014

17

Business Day

Train Carrying Crude Oil Derails in Pennsylvania

By REUTERS | Feb 13th 2014

The accident is the latest in a string of crude oil train derailments that has prompted calls for stricter rules regulating crude shipments by rail.

Railroad Accidents and Safety; Railroads; Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline 

Fix the rails first.

18

Health

Beware of a Cat's Bite

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR | Feb 13th 2014

Although cat bites only account for 10 to 15 percent of animal bites treated in emergency rooms, they pose special infection risks.

Bacteria; Cats; Emergency Medical Treatment; Wounds 

No risk at this time.

 

19

World

Britain: Thames Flooding Causes Cameron to Skip Middle East Visit

By KATRIN BENNHOLD | Feb 11th 2014

20

Job Market

Where the Fish Swims, Ideas Fly

By PAUL BENNETT | Feb 15th 2014

I would talk to them if it is easy.

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4

Automobiles

Wheelies: The Next McLaren Supercar Edition

By BENJAMIN PRESTON | Feb 18th 2014

McLaren announces its new 650S, another twin-turbo V8 supercar; pickup manufacturers agree to standardize towing capability testing.

Automobiles 

The McLaren is a small V8 center engine.  

Cute car.

I do not want to tow with my truck.

5

N.Y. / Region

Former Aides to Christie Again Reject a Subpoena

By KATE ZERNIKE | Feb 18th 2014

Two former aides to the New Jersey governor have again refused to provide material sought by a legislative panel investigating the lane closings leading to the George Washington Bridge.

George Washington Bridge; Subpoenas 

 Dead political career talking.

7

Opinion

Europe Flirts With Deflation

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | Feb 17th 2014

Policy makers can avoid falling prices by stimulating the economy with lower interest rates.

Deflation (Economics); Banking and Financial Institutions; Interest Rates; Inflation (Economics); Government Bonds; Editorials 

Unfortunately lower interest rates are not available at the zero lower bound.  Injecting consumer cash is the fix that works.  

Lord Keynes found it so it will not happen if the Germans can stop it.

 

9

U.S.

California: Shark Fins Seized

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Feb 18th 2014

More than a ton of illegal shark fins were seized from a vendor in San Francisco.

Sharks 

I have no sympathy for the sharks 

but they are beautiful and important to the ecosystem.

 

10

U.S.

Ice Tops 88 Percent of Great Lakes

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Feb 14th 2014

It has been so bitterly cold for so long that the Great Lakes are almost completely covered with ice for the first time in 20 years.

Weather; Lakes 

Probably a good thing.

11

Opinion

Preparing for Disaster by Betting Against It

By GEORGIA LEVENSON KEOHANE | Feb 12th 2014

Catastrophe bonds are an increasingly popular type of storm insurance — and public finance innovation.

Disasters and Emergencies; Hurricane Katrina (2005); Hurricane Sandy (2012); Insurance 

It will work some.  Self insurance is a better way but the funds are viewed as surplus by the faithful.

Such funds are never there when needed.

 

12

Opinion

A Grizzly Answer for Obesity

By KEVIN CORBIT | Feb 11th 2014

Hibernating bears go diabetic. Unlike humans, they can reverse it without harm.

Bears; Obesity; Hibernation; Insulin; Animals; Research; Diabetes

The bears can do the trick.  We should be able to learn how it is done.

 

14

Business Day

Chinese Firm and France to Buy Stakes in Peugeot

By DAVID JOLLY | Feb 18th 2014

The board of the struggling automaker has approved a plan to raise 3 billion euros in fresh capital.

Automobiles

A sad tale.  I hope the company survives.

 

15

World

South Sudan’s Forces Clash With Rebels Near U.N. Base

By NICHOLAS KULISH | Feb 18th 2014

A battle in an oil-rich part of South Sudan was the most significant violation of the nearly month-old cease-fire.

Defense and Military Forces; Deaths (Fatalities)

Attempted dictatorship from at least two factions.

17

U.S.

Violent Crimes Declined in First Half of 2013, F.B.I. Says

By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT | Feb 18th 2014

According to figures from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, violent crimes, including murders, fell by 5.4 percent in the first six months of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012.

Crime and Criminals; Robberies and Thefts

The command is "Look good".

I am surprised.

20

Dining & Wine

Stew Season Gets a New Star

By MARK BITTMAN | Feb 18th 2014

Beef, chicken or fish become a treat, not a main feature.

Cooking and Cookbooks; Vegetables; Meat; Seafood 

It is the season for stews.  Mark Bittman does them well.

I am still learning my way among the vegetables.  

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