@9:20, 10/16/14

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1

Opinion

Something Happening Here

By LINDA GREENHOUSE | Oct 15th 2014

In the space of eight days, the Supreme Court managed to touch on many of American society’s hottest of hot-button issues without actually issuing an opinion.

Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships; Abortion

Yes, something has changed.  

What it is will become clear in time.

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U.S.

C.I.A. Study of Covert Aid Fueled Skepticism About Helping Syrian Rebels

By MARK MAZZETTI | Oct 14th 2014

A classified review concluded that many past attempts by the agency to arm foreign forces covertly had a minimal impact on the long-term outcome of a conflict.

Foreign Aid; United States Defense and Military Forces; Espionage and Intelligence Services

"Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead" 

There is no one who cannot be turned.

3

U.S.

Late Surge of Money Buoys Republicans in Races That Will Decide Control of Senate

By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE | Oct 15th 2014

Republican candidates and “super PACs” are now splurging on expensive last-minute advertising, at a time when polling shows Republicans increasingly more likely to gain control of the Senate.

Midterm Elections (2014); Campaign Finance; Elections, Senate 

The surge in advertising could better be a surge in doubt.

4

Sports

Nascar Fines Drivers Over Fracas in Charlotte

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Oct 15th 2014

Nascar fined Brad Keselowski $50,000 and Tony Stewart $25,000 and placed both drivers on probation. Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin were not penalized for their roles.

Automobile Racing 

Road rage has no place on the track.

5

U.S.

U.S. Files More Charges in Benghazi Attack

By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT | Oct 14th 2014

The Justice Department filed 17 additional charges against the Libyan man suspected of being the ringleader in the 2012 attack that killed four Americans.

Benghazi Attack (2012); Diplomatic Service, Embassies and Consulates; Terrorism 

A fair trial will be difficult.  

His capture looks like a kidnapping.

6

U.S.

Ex-Prosecutors Urge Voters Not to Bring a Felon Back as Providence’s Mayor

By JESS BIDGOOD and KATHARINE Q. SEELYE | Oct 14th 2014

The three former prosecutors, one of them a senator, said Vincent A. Cianci Jr., the disgraced former mayor of Providence, R.I., had shown no remorse for his crimes.

Ethics and Official Misconduct; Midterm Elections (2014); Elections, Mayors

Providence needs a skilled politician.

It does not need a felon.

7

World

Activist on Trial for Tearing Photo of Bahrain’s King Repeats Act in Court

By ROBERT MACKEY | Oct 15th 2014

Bahrain once again jailed Zainab al-Khawaja, a prominent opposition activist, for tearing up a photograph of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa.

Political Prisoners; Freedom of Speech and Expression; Middle East and North Africa Unrest (2010- )

It does not matter that I do not consider her act a crime in any nation state.
Bahrain is sovereign.

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World

Ebola Fight in Africa Is Hurt by Limits on Ways to Get Out

By ANDREW HIGGINS | Oct 14th 2014

The lack of a reliable evacuation system makes aid missions to West Africa much more dangerous for volunteers, who are thus less likely to go there.

Ebola Virus; Evacuations and Evacuees; Airlines and Airplanes; Humanitarian Aid

M.S.F. must treat its people locally.
When effective treatments are available transport will be easier.

9

World

Competition Is Tough for Most Coveted Seat at the United Nations

By SOMINI SENGUPTA | Oct 15th 2014

Nations throw parties, give gifts and make deals years in advance to try to get other nations to vote their envoys to seats on the United Nations Security Council.

Diplomatic Service, Embassies and Consulates; International Relations

I favor Spain.
The Turks dream of the Caliphate.
We might want to try to get action against militant Islam.  We will see what the Russians think now.

10

U.S.

Arkansas Supreme Court Strikes Down Voter ID Law, Saying It Exceeds State Constitution

By EMMA G. FITZSIMMONS | Oct 15th 2014

The ruling came less than three weeks before an election in a state where there are several close contests this year, including for governor and the United States Senate.

Midterm Elections (2014); Voter Registration and Requirements; Law and Legislation

Arkansas has at least one honest judge.

11

Opinion

Ending This Fee for All

By DEVIN FERGUS | Oct 15th 2014

Regulators must get tougher on the hidden charges that assail consumers.

Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates); Consumer Protection; Personal Finances; Regulation and Deregulation of Industry; Cellular Telephones; Automobile Insurance and Liability; Banking and Financial Institutions

Corporations have been legal persons since stockholder liability was limited.
Hidden fees if they are not fraud border on fraud.

12

Business Day

The Risks of Cheap Water

By EDUARDO PORTER | Oct 14th 2014

Higher prices are essential to induce conservation and investment in water-saving technology and to steer water to where it is valued most.

Water; Conservation of Resources; Agriculture and Farming; Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates); Drought

All value is not reflected in price. 
Water is heavily subsidized.
The price of water ultimately is its replacement cost.
In so far as it has a tax subsidized fixed price the tax rate must reflect the long term replacement cost.

13

Opinion

Resurrecting Smallpox? Easier Than You Think

By LEONARD ADLEMAN | Oct 15th 2014

The virus’s genome is already online. You just need the right lab.

Smallpox; DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid); Laboratories and Scientific Equipment; Computers and the Internet; Science and Technology; Vaccination and Immunization; Biotechnology

Possibly cowpox could be substituted to comfort such fear mongers.

We have not seen bio-weapons used in anger since plague victims were catapulted over city walls.

14

U.S.

 

Philadelphia Teachers Hit by Latest Cuts  

By MOTOKO RICH | Oct 14th 2014

The state-appointed board that oversees the city’s school district canceled the teachers’ union contract and required them to contribute to health care premiums.

Education (K-12); Teachers and School Employees; Health Insurance and Managed Care; Organized Labor; Budgets and Budgeting

The Republicans in Harrisburg are racists and greedy.

15

Health

Ask Well: Can Pets Get Ebola?

By DONALD G. MCNEIL JR. | Oct 15th 2014

Ebola is found in many animals, including dogs, though cats may be immune.

Animals; Bats; Cats; Dogs; Ebola Virus; Nursing and Nurses; Pets

The simple answer is yes.
Killing dogs seems excessive caution bordering on panic.
We can test for the disease,  test for the virus and offer a choice to recovered victims.

16

U.S.

In South, Clinton Tries to Pull Democrats Back Into the Fold

By AMY CHOZICK | Oct 15th 2014

The demand in Kentucky for appearances by Hillary Rodham Clinton underscores the racial and class divisions she would need to bridge if she runs for president again in 2016.

Midterm Elections (2014); Elections, Senate

The Democratic party is a coalition and always has been one.
It has family quarrels but unites on election day. 

17

Fashion & Style

This Emperor Needs New Clothes

By VANESSA FRIEDMAN | Oct 15th 2014

The way for Tim Cook, the Apple chief, to woo the fashion industry is to take its priorities seriously.

Fashion and Apparel

The fashion business runs on uniforms.
The shows set the variations of the season.
Tim Cook erred in the introduction of the watch.
He should have shown it to the nerd world at CES.  
Then when it showed up at the Apple store it would be taken up by the accessorizing consumers as the latest neat gadget.

18

U.S.

Missouri: Police Link Dead Teenager to Gunfire

By JULIE BOSMAN | Oct 14th 2014

St. Louis police officials said on Tuesday that Vonderrit D. Myers Jr., the black teenager who was fatally shot by a white off-duty police officer on Oct. 8, had gunshot residue on his hands, jeans and T-shirt, supporting the officer’s assertion that Mr. Myers had shot at him.

Police Brutality, Misconduct and Shootings

To make this story convincing there would have to be a gun in the area with his fingerprints on it.
Most handguns kick out a lot of residue in the direction they are pointed.
Another question is how far was the kid from the gun.

19

Automobiles

Wheelies: The Driverless Speed-Demon Edition

By BENJAMIN PRESTON | Oct 15th 2014

Audi tests a driverless RS7 at speeds of up to 190 m.p.h.; Michigan’s governor considers anti-Tesla legislation.

Automobile Safety Features and Defects; Automobiles; Los Angeles Auto Show

"BYD Motors unveiled this week what it said was the first electric articulated bus in the United States at the American Public Transportation Association Expo in Houston. The California-based company said that the bus – which features a hinged midpoint connected by flexible, accordion-shaped material – has a 170-mile range and could carry 120 passengers." 

Batteries are getting better.   Buses are more weight tolerant than cars.  0 to 60 is not advertised for buses.

20

World

‘Substantial Work’ Said to Remain in Iran Nuclear Talks

By MICHAEL R. GORDON | Oct 15th 2014

Negotiators face a Nov. 24 deadline for an accord to trade significant constraints on Iran’s nuclear activities in return for a lifting of onerous economic sanctions.

Nuclear Weapons; United States International Relations; Embargoes and Sanctions

An extension of the freeze and the partial sanctions relief is as good as we are going to do at this time.  Let them take it down to the wire. If the G.O.P. takes the senate Iran will regret it. The G.O.P. will settle for nothing less than total victory.

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