@18:30 1/16/15

|


1

Science

SpaceX Founder Releases Photos of Rocket’s Crash Landing

By KENNETH CHANG | Jan 16th 2015

Elon Musk posted pictures of a Falcon 9 rocket exploding on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean.

Rocket Science and Propulsion; Private Spaceflight; Space and Astronomy 

Space-X is doing well.

2

false

Christie Speech Points to a Presidential Path

MICHAEL BARBARO | Jan 13th 2015

Gov. Chris Christie’s State of the State speech will provide a framework for a potential presidential race.

Budgets and Budgeting; Elections, Governors; Pensions and Retirement Plans; Property Taxes; State of the State Message (NJ) 

Christie is the wrong person.

3

U.S.

Fascination Persists Over Pets and the Afterlife

By MARK OPPENHEIMER | Jan 16th 2015

A comment attributed incorrectly to Pope Francis has led to renewed interest in a longstanding theological discussion.

Religion and Belief; Pets; Death and Dying; Cemeteries; Jews and Judaism; Christians and Christianity 

I make no distinction among animals.

Cannibalism is unhealthy.  I do not indulge in it.

I would find it difficult to eat my companions and pets.  

I will not deny you what comfort you can find.

4

Science

Thermal Imaging Allows for Picturing the Invisible

By JOHN MARKOFF | Jan 12th 2015

Thermal imaging, once limited to the police and the military, is becoming a mainstream technology.

Sensors; Temperature; Cameras; Surveillance of Citizens by Government; Airport Security 

yes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermography

5

Science

Ocean Life Faces Mass Extinction, Broad Study Says

By CARL ZIMMER | Jan 15th 2015 

6

false

Storm Warnings for Pope's Planned Climate Stop in the Philippines

By ANDREW C. REVKIN | Jan 16th 2015

Pope Francis is using his Philippines visit to kick off a yearlong push for global action on global warming.

Birth Control and Family Planning; Encyclicals; Genetic Engineering; Global Warming; Hurricanes and Tropical Storms; Population; Religion and Belief; Typhoon Haiyan (2013); Typhoons 

We must wait for Pope Francis to speak.

I will not try to guess his mind.

7

N.Y. / Region

Group Urges New York City to End Credit Checks by Employers

By NIKITA STEWART | Jan 15th 2015

Proponents of a City Council bill that would end the practice say it disproportionately harms Hispanic and black people without accurately predicting fraud or poor job performance.

Credit Scores; Hiring and Promotion; Labor and Jobs; Blacks; Hispanic-Americans; Minorities; Credit and Debt 

As a practical matter such a ban could not be implemented.

8

Health

Welcome to (Your Name Here) Medical School

By DANIELLE OFRI, M.D. | Jan 15th 2015

A medical journal explored the implications of more medical schools being renamed after benefactors.

Conflicts of Interest; Doctors; Medical Schools; Names, Organizational 

A medical diploma is not a commodity it is claimed.

The worth of the certification is the repute of the institution.

The name on the diploma should be recognized.

To give the school an arbitrary name is to destroy its value.

9

World

Venezuela: Shortages Prompt Protests

By REUTERS | Jan 12th 2015

Venezuelan authorities on Monday released a dozen demonstrators who had been arrested over the weekend while protesting swelling lines at supermarkets.

Demonstrations, Protests and Riots; Political Prisoners; Shortages 

12/12/14:

"Pres Obama announces plans to approve law imposing sanctions on Venezuelan officials and others involved in human rights violations and violence targeting anti-government protesters demonstrating in Caracas and other cities in February 2014."

10 

Science

Age and the Shingles Vaccine

By C. CLAIBORNE RAY | Jan 12th 2015

Why do many health insurers pay for the vaccine only for those are who 60 and older?

Shingles (Disease); Vaccination and Immunization; Health Insurance and Managed Care; Elderly; Chicken Pox 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booster_dose

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenpox

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenpox#Vaccine

Incomprehensible.

11

Technology

Bigger Settlement Said to Be Reached in Silicon Valley Antitrust Case

By DAVID STREITFELD | Jan 14th 2015

Apple, Google, Intel and Adobe are said to be offering $415 million to settle accusations that they conspired against their own employees.

Antitrust Laws and Competition Issues; Wages and Salaries; Hiring and Promotion; Suits and Litigation (Civil) 

A power balance is developing.

12

World

Turks Are Held in Plot to Help Uighurs Leave China

By EDWARD WONG | Jan 14th 2015

Ten Turkish citizens were among those arrested in Shanghai and accused of providing altered Turkish passports to nine Uighurs trying to flee the country, a state-run newspaper reported.

Uighurs (Chinese Ethnic Group); Terrorism; Passports 

I can't tell if the Uighur insurgency is growing, shrinking or simply existing.

Peking would like to end it.

13

Opinion

Showers on Wheels

By ALLISON ARIEFF | Jan 15th 2015

Design can’t solve homelessness, but a number of projects have emerged aiming to address the sanitation problems that can plague even rich cities.

Bathrooms and Toilets; Waste Materials and Disposal; Homeless Persons 

The Roman Empire knew the importance of baths and sewers.

San Francisco closed its public baths as a public health measure.

Skid Rowe is an urban amenity.

14

U.S.

One Democrat Announces While Others Ponder a Race for the Senate in California

By ADAM NAGOURNEY | Jan 13th 2015

The attorney general, Kamala D. Harris, plans to run for the Senate seat opening up with Barbara Boxer’s retirement. Tom Steyer, the billionaire environmentalist, said he was also considering a run.

Elections, Senate 

I do not know enough to be able to choose one over another.

I see the limits closing in.  Discussion in real time is necessary.

Sooner is better.   As soon as you can is best.

15

Opinion

Keeping a Promise to Afghans

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | Jan 13th 2015

The United States has failed on its promise to resettle Afghan military interpreters in America for putting their lives on the line during the war.

Afghanistan War (2001- ); Translation and Interpreters; Immigration and Emigration; Editorials; United States Defense and Military Forces; United States Politics and Government 

The G.O.P. has a problem paying the bills.

It must help our nation to keep its promises.

I do not want to see a repeat of the bonus army.

16

Sports

Rangers and Knicks Have Same Address, but They’re on Different Planets

By JAY SCHREIBER and NAILA-JEAN MEYERS | Jan 12th 2015

For Madison Square Garden’s roommates, every Rangers success is being met with a corresponding Knicks failure.

Hockey, Ice; Basketball 

I just don't care.

18

Sports

A Sigh of Relief as the Ravens Fade From View

By HARVEY ARATON | Jan 10th 2015

With Baltimore eliminated from the playoffs, Roger Goodell can now look forward to a Super Bowl week without fresh echoes of his botched handling of the Ray Rice case ringing in his ears.

Football; Super Bowl; Domestic Violence 

Domestic violence is always center stage.

19

Business Day

House Passes Legislation to Ease Some Dodd-Frank Financial Rules

By JONATHAN WEISMAN | Jan 14th 2015

Some Democrats joined Republicans in approving legislation to ease banking regulations under the 2010 law.

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (2010); Banking and Financial Institutions; Derivatives (Financial Instruments) 

If it gets to Obama's desk it should be vetoed.

20

U.S.

For G.O.P., Precedent to Cooperate and Shed Its ‘Party of No’ Label

By JOHN HARWOOD | Jan 13th 2015

After midterm elections in 1986 and 2006, the White House and Congress cooperated on bills to expand Medicare and the minimum wage. Now the parties in power are reversed.

United States Politics and Government; Midterm Elections (2014); Law and Legislation 

The Republican agenda is a formula for disaster.

No part of it should pass.

U.S.

Parcel for Sale: Plenty of Space. Very Quiet. Light? Well ...

By RICK ROJAS | Jan 14th 2015

The Roswell, N.M., site had been the home of an Atlas-F missile, 100 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki. The silo is a fixer-upper, to put it mildly.

Real Estate and Housing (Residential); Missiles and Missile Defense Systems 

It is a thought.  

I do not want to deal with the steps.

The lack of light can be dealt with.

I would as soon pass on this unit.