NEW THINGS: @20:00, 9/30/14

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U.S.

Vatican Investigates Missouri Bishop Who Shielded Pedophile Priest

By MICHAEL PAULSON | Sep 29th 2014

The Roman Catholic Church is investigating Bishop Robert W. Finn, who was convicted in 2012 for failing to report a priest suspected of sexual abuse of children.

Child Abuse and Neglect; Sex Crimes; Priests; Child Pornography

The Roman church would rather look than be looked into.

Opinion

De Blasio’s Green Housing

Sep 30th 2014

Judi Kende of Enterprise Community Partners discusses New York City’s plan to make rent-regulated and public housing more energy efficient.

Affordable Housing; Public and Subsidized Housing; Rent Control and Stabilization; Energy Efficiency

De Blasio makes nice noises.

I am certain his intentions are good.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Technology

Literary Lions Unite in Protest Over Amazon’s E-Book Tactics

By DAVID STREITFELD | Sep 29th 2014

They can protest as they wish.

They should take legal advice if they have not done so.

Opinion

Delayed Justice for the Navajos

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | Sep 29th 2014

A $554 million agreement with the Navajo Nation is the latest and most encouraging development in a reversal by the Obama administration in settling to legitimate tribal claims.

Navajo Indians; Native Americans; Editorials; Land Use Policies; Suits and Litigation (Civil)

The tribes are settling for pennies on the dollar.

The problems are not solved.

U.S.

Spy Agencies Urge Caution on Phone Deal

By ERIC LICHTBLAU | Sep 28th 2014

U.S.

Spy Agencies Urge Caution on Phone Deal

By ERIC LICHTBLAU | Sep 28th 2014

Edward Snowden is a hero.

I do not trust the "spy agencies".

Crosswords/Games

The Counterfeit Bill

By GARY ANTONICK | Sep 29th 2014

The bill was counterfeit. How much did the shopkeeper lose?

Edward Snowden is a hero.

I do not trust the "spy agencies".

Crosswords/Games

The Counterfeit Bill

By GARY ANTONICK | Sep 29th 2014

The bill was counterfeit. How much did the shopkeeper lose?

Creativity; Engineering and Engineers; Mathematics; Puzzles

"How much did the first shopkeeper lose on this entire unfortunate experience?"

Gladys left with $100 in cash and goods. The neighboring shopkeeper recieved $100 for the bad bill.

$200 total

The switch problem is trivial.

-----<===X===X===X . . . X===>----O----

Business Day

U.S. Approves Gas Export Terminal at Chesapeake Bay

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Sep 29th 2014

Dominion Energy received federal approval late

Natural Gas; Energy and Power

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_New_York_City
"February 10, 1973 – 40 workers are killed in an explosion while cleaning an empty LNG tank in Bloomfield, Staten Island March 3, 1973 – ..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomfield,_Staten_Island
"On February 10, 1973, during a cleaning operation, 42 workers were inside one of the TETCo natural gas tanks which had supposedly been completely drained ten months earlier. However, ignition occurred, causing a plume of combusting gas to rise within the tank. Two workers near the top felt the heat and rushed to the safety of scaffolding outside. The other forty workers were not so fortunate. They all died as the concrete cap on the tank rose 20–30 feet in the air and then came crashing back down, crushing them to death.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]"

http://lccn.loc.gov/77-76271
Hintze, Naomi A. (1978). Time Bomb: LNG: The truth about our newest and most dangerous energy source. Garden City, New York: Doubleday. pp. 26–32

Opinion

Some Judicial Opinions Require Only 140 Characters

By JESSE WEGMAN | Sep 29th 2014

In a state where members of the Supreme Court are elected, one justice uses Twitter, and often, to connect to his constituents.

Social Media; Supreme Courts (State); Editorials; Courts and the Judiciary

A judicial joke is costly for some party.

World

Private Bank Fuels Fortunes of Putin’s Inner Circle

By STEVEN LEE MYERS, JO BECKER and JIM YARDLEY | Sep 27th 2014

The rise of Bank Rossiya, controlled by close friends of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, illustrates how he has enriched loyalists whose influence over the economy has helped him maintain his iron grip on power.

Series; Embargoes and Sanctions; Corruption (Institutional)

Their nation, their rules.

World

Opposition in Syria Is Skeptical of U.S. Airstrikes on ISIS

By ANNE BARNARD | Sep 29th 2014

Protests against American airstrikes have broken out across insurgent-held Syria over the past week, including among some of the very insurgents who spent years calling for them.

United States Defense and Military Forces; Demonstrations, Protests and Riots; Civilian Casualties

Bombs bother everyone near their detonation.
Our intelligence in Syria is not that good.

Opinion

Why Drivers Get Away With Murder

By DANA M. LERNER | Sep 29th 2014

We have the laws to cut traffic deaths — but lack the will to enforce them.

Traffic Accidents and Safety; Deaths (Fatalities); Taxicabs and Taxicab Drivers; Law and Legislation; Drunken and Reckless Driving

I cannot fix her pain.

Business Day

Drug Patents Held Overseas Can Pare Makers’ Tax Bills

By ANDREW POLLACK | Sep 29th 2014

While not as advantageous as an inversion, biotech players are saving on taxes by transferring patents to foreign subsidiaries.

Biotechnology; Tax Shelters; Drugs (Pharmaceuticals); Corporate Taxes; Inventions and Patents; Sovaldi (Drug)

They are not wrong to do so.

We could try to change the law.
That would be difficult with this congress.
A change in congress is more easily made.

Health

Celiac Disease, a Common, but Elusive, Diagnosis

By JANE E. BRODY | Sep 30th 2014

"Hygienic extremes may be to blame for the increase: Overzealous cleanliness has been linked to a rise in autoimmune diseases."

Figure it out and fix it.

Travel

Rolling on the (Mekong) River

By SANJAY SURANA | Sep 30th 2014

A new 20-suite riverboat starts sailing between Cambodia and Vietnam.

Cruises; Travel and Vacations

I still do not want to go to Vietnam.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andaman_and_Nicobar_Islands

Location of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (marked in red) in India

?

Business Day

Germany Keeps Its Economic Engine Idling

By PAUL TAYLOR | REUTERS | Sep 29th 2014

Pressure is mounting for Germany to use its healthy
budget position to increase public investment, stimulate demand and encourage growth.

International Trade and World Market

"The answer from Chancellor Angela Merkel so far is an adamant no, which was spelled out firmly to Prime Minister Manuel Valls of France during his visit to Berlin last week."

Germany will not risk inflation by doing economic stimulus.

U.S.

Chicago Flights Are Returning to Normal After Attack on Air Traffic Center

By MATTHEW L. WALD | Sep 29th 2014

The Federal Aviation Administration said it hoped to have the damage to a communications center near Chicago repaired by Oct. 13.

Delays (Transportation); Airports; Fires and Firefighters; Air Traffic Control

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/12/news/12iht-travel_ed3__44.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Air_Route_Traffic_Control_Center#2014_fire
"On September 26, 2014, an arson at the Chicago Center (ZAU) facility caused operations across ZAU-controlled airspace to be suspended, including airport operations at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway International Airports, resulting in canceled flights.^[4] One employee at the facility was treated for smoke inhalation, while remaining employees were evacuated.^[5]
Brian Howard, who had been working for the Federal Aviation Administration as a contract employee of Harris Corporation,^[6]^[7] was charged with one count of "destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities" following the incident.^[8]^[9]"

It looks like noise to me.

N.Y. / Region

De Blasio Plans Revised Code for Discipline in Schools

By ELIZABETH A. HARRIS | Sep 28th 2014

Mayor Bill de Blasio, after a controversial crackdown on unruly institutions by his predecessor, will try to strike a balance between safety and fairness.

School Discipline (Students); Education (K-12)

The object is that the children learn.
The schools should try for no permanent injuries.

The Upshot

Now as Provocateur, Summers Says Treasury Undermined Fed

By BINYAMIN APPELBAUM | Sep 30th 2014

In a paper, Mr. Summers and three co-authors argued that the lack of cooperation had slowed growth and left more Americans jobless.ed growth and left more Americans jobless.

United States Economy; Interest Rates; Inflation (Economics)

Just wrong.

Science

Scientists Trace Extreme Heat in Australia to Climate Change

By JUSTIN GILLIS | Sep 29th 2014

Five groups of researchers analyzing last year’s Australian heat waves came to the same conclusion: They could not have been as severe without human
influence.

Global Warming; Greenhouse Gas Emissions

ok. 45 C.=113F.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/science/earth/climate-change-report.html

Opinion

For a Westminster Revolution

Sep 28th 2014

Let's hope that the Scots may promote the path of revolutionary reform for the whole United Kingdom.

Referendums; Oils and Fats

Living and learning is hard enough.

_________________________________________________________________________

YARDLEY | Sep 27th 2014
The rise of Bank Rossiya, controlled by close friends of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, illustrates how he has enriched loyalists whose influence over the economy has helped him maintain his iron grip on power.

Series; Embargoes and Sanctions; Corruption (Institutional)

Their nation, their rules.