@19:00, 9/25/14

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1

Automobiles

Wheelies: The Police Wagon Edition

By BENJAMIN PRESTON | Sep 25th 2014

Ford unveils a police concept version of its Transit van; North American Car and Truck of the Year semifinalists are announced.

Automobiles; Trucks and Trucking 

I understand Mazda.  I do not sympathize.

Upper management is mistaken. 

Another day with the road.

2

Opinion

Don’t Execute Those We Tortured

By JONATHAN HAFETZ | Sep 24th 2014

The United States must be held accountable, too, for breaking the law.

Capital Punishment; Torture; September 11 (2001); Detainees; Human Rights and Human Rights Violations; Sentences (Criminal); Military Tribunals; Terrorism 

There is no redress for hypocrisy. 

3

World

Palestinian Factions Agree to Resolve Differences, Leaders Say

By JODI RUDOREN | Sep 25th 2014

Government news media reported that the leaders of Hamas and Fatah had made progress on the sticking points of their five-month-old reconciliation pact.

Palestinians 

If true or not, this is not a good thing.

4

N.Y. / Region

Portal Bridge Presents Northeast Rail Commuters With a 104-Year-Old Problem

By PATRICK McGEEHAN | Sep 25th 2014

The structure causes significant delays to the nation’s busiest rail corridor with increasing frequency. Federal officials are seeking nearly $1 billion to replace it.

Infrastructure (Public Works); Bridges and Tunnels; Railroad Accidents and Safety; Transit Systems; Transportation 

This is an artificial problem.

A suite of replacements could be assembled.

The Republican interests have starved the rail operators and the Port Authority.

Blame Governor Christie. 

5

N.Y. / Region

2 Governors Announce Extra Security at Transportation Centers

By MATT FLEGENHEIMER | Sep 24th 2014

Citing the persistent threat of terrorism, Govs. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York and Chris Christie of New Jersey pledged additional police visibility at airports, bridges and tunnels.

Terrorism; Security and Warning Systems; Airport Security 

More Theater.

We have given up electronic privacy for comfort in these situations.

6

false

Making Infrastructure Sexy

By ERIKA ALLEN | Sep 25th 2014

The people behind the Living City videos talked about their adventures in filming.

Bridges and Tunnels; Building (Construction); Hurricane Sandy (2012); Infrastructure (Public Works); Subways; Waste Materials and Disposal; Water 

I do not wish to sign up for discussion of production.

http://www.nytimes.com/video/living-city/

In this context sexy means interesting to the general public.

7

Opinion

Long Lines at Minority Polling Places

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | Sep 24th 2014

It may not be a coincidence that some of the longest lines on Election Day occur in black and Hispanic neighborhoods.

Voter Registration and Requirements; Discrimination; Minorities; Editorials; Voting Rights Act (1965); United States Politics and Government 

Yes, the lines and other problems are intentional.

8

U.S.

Jeb Bush Returns to Fray and Finds Going Rough

By JONATHAN MARTIN | Sep 24th 2014

Thom Tillis, the North Carolina House speaker and Republican Senate candidate, distanced himself from the former governor of Florida as he outlined his views on immigration policy and education standards.

Conservatism (US Politics); Midterm Elections (2014); Presidential Election of 2016; Education; Illegal Immigration 

Still poisonous.

9

Business Day

Comcast Lashes Out at Rivals Opposed to Merger Plan

By EMILY STEEL | Sep 24th 2014

In a filing with regulators, the company said opponents of the deal with Time Warner Cable first sought “various self-interested requests,” which were denied.

Cable Television; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures 

Net neutrality through common carrier regulation.

Comcast can be a regulated monopoly.

10

U.S.

Judge Denies BP’s Request to Recoup Overpayments to Oil Spill Victims

By JOHN SCHWARTZ | Sep 24th 2014

At a hearing in Federal District Court in New Orleans, Judge Carl J. Barbier rejected BP’s request that it be allowed to claw back the extra money paid out under an old accounting method.

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill (2010); Reparations; Suits and Litigation (Civil) 

BP is not needed.

They are contractually bound.

11

U.S.

Marathon Bombings Trial Will Remain in Boston

By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE | Sep 24th 2014

A federal judge ruled that the trial for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, accused in the bombings, would not be moved but would be delayed two months and is to start in January.

Boston Marathon Bombings (2013); Jury System 

Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. of Federal District Court is probably in error.  

It will not matter to the guilty verdict.

Tsarnaev will be executed for his brother.

We should be better.

12

Science

White House Issues New Regulations for Dangerous Biological Research

By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. | Sep 24th 2014

The Obama administration on Wednesday issued new guidelines intended to strengthen oversight of federally funded research that could inadvertently produce biological weapons.

Research; Biological and Chemical Warfare; Biology and Biochemistry

The work should go on.

These rules will allow it to do so.

Ignorance is never good.

13

Technology

Exposing Hidden Bias at Google

By FARHAD MANJOO | Sep 24th 2014

The tech giant is undertaking a long-term effort to make its employees aware of how unconscious biases can affect hiring and promotion decisions.

Women and Girls; Hispanic-Americans; Blacks; Labor and Jobs; Discrimination; Hiring and Promotion; Minorities 

Ignorance is never good.

Prejudice should be a conscious decision.

We can fight conscious acts.

14

U.S.

Protection for Wolves Is Restored in Wyoming

By MICHAEL WINES | Sep 23rd 2014

A federal judge ruled that the federal Fish and Wildlife Service accepted a state commitment to maintain the wolf population without requiring adequate safeguards.

Wolves; Endangered and Extinct Species; Environment; Decisions and Verdicts 

"A federal judge restored Endangered Species Act protection for wolves in Wyoming"

We do what we can.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is opposed to wolves.

We need a top predator on the high plains.

15

The Upshot

Marriage Rates Keep Falling, as Money Concerns Rise

By CLAIRE CAIN MILLER | Sep 24th 2014

Many young Americans see financial stability as a prerequisite for a wedding.

Marriages; Social Conditions and Trends; Polls and Public Opinion; Dating and Relationships; Youth 

The children are practical.

The behavior is traditional.

16

Arts

Javier Marías: Spain’s Elegant Master Novelist

By STEPHEN HEYMAN | Sep 25th 2014

Long considered something of a niche author among English-speaking readers, the popularity of the Spanish novelist Javier Marías is on the rise.

Books and Literature; Writing and Writers; Book Trade and Publishing; Translation and Interpreters 

I like the man and his mind.

He should not overwork his prose.

Kipling said he reworked his prose with brush loaded with black ink.

Clear sentences are the goal.

17

U.S.

Holder Backs Suit in New York Faulting Legal Service for Poor

By MATT APUZZO | Sep 25th 2014

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. is supporting a class-action lawsuit that accuses Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the State of New York of perpetuating a system that violates the rights of people who cannot afford to hire lawyers.

Public Defenders and Court-Appointed Lawyers (Criminal); Legal Aid for the Poor (Civil); Suits and Litigation (Civil); Budgets and Budgeting 

I approve.

18

Opinion

Sale of Library’s Land

Sep 24th 2014

A reader cautions the Brooklyn Public Library about its deal with a developer.

Libraries and Librarians; Land Use Policies 

Let us all remember that promises are easy and uncertain.

I would like to fulfill my promises. 

19

Travel

Tourists Urged to Avoid Ebola Zone in West Africa

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR | Sep 25th 2014

As the world grapples with the outbreak, guidance for travelers.

Ebola Virus; Travel and Vacations; Epidemics

Yes.

I note that sexually transmitted diseases have no nonhuman vectors.

Ebola Virus does not require sex to spread.

http://www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/ebola/en/

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/guinea/index.html

Case Counts*

*Case counts updated in conjunction with the World Health Organization updates and are based on information reported by the Ministries of Health.

Total Cases

As of September 21, 2014
(Updated September 25, 2014)

• Total Case Count: 6263
• Total Deaths: 2917
• Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 3487

Cases by Country

Guinea

• Total Case Count: 1022
• Total Deaths: 635
• Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 832

Liberia

• Total Case Count: 3280
• Total Deaths: 1677
• Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 890

Nigeria

• Total Case Count: 20
• Total Case Deaths: 8
• Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 19

Senegal

• Total Case Count: 1
• Total Case Deaths: 0
• Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 1

Sierra Leone

• Total Case Count: 1940
• Total Case Deaths: 597
• Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 1745

20

Business Day

Harvard Names Investment Chief as Yale Reports 20% Return

By GERALDINE FABRIKANT | Sep 24th 2014

Harvard reported a gain of 15.4 percent for the fiscal year, continuing to lag rivals like Yale.

Endowments; Colleges and Universities; Private Equity

Learn if you can from their example.

Harvard and other universities have found there is an upper limit to entering class size.
Their primary problem is how to select among the applicant pool. 
High fees are a tool to limit legacy entrants.

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