@1:30, 2/22/15

|

1

N.Y. / Region

Driver Faces Life Sentence in Crash That Killed Expectant Brooklyn Couple

By BENJAMIN MUELLER | Feb 19th 2015

In Brooklyn.

2

U.S.

Duke Energy Is Charged in Huge Coal Ash Leak

By JONATHAN M. KATZ | Feb 20th 2015

In Court.

3

Sports

Princeton Tops Harvard To Reach 25-0

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Feb 21st 2015

Uconn has lost one game.

4

World

Iran Judge Blocks Effort to Hire Lawyer for Reporter

By RICK GLADSTONE | Feb 18th 2015

It does not look good . . .

5

false

A Look Behind the Headlines on China’s Coal Trends

By ANDREW C. REVKIN | Feb 18th 2015

The future of coal is bright.

6

Sports

Cavaliers Take Off Behind Soaring Offense

By BECKLEY MASON | Feb 21st 2015

After a blistering run in the month leading up to the All-Star break, the Cavaliers appear to have hit their stride and are gaining quickly on the rest of the Eastern Conference.

Basketball

Skillful.

7

U.S.

Obama Proposes Single Overseer for Food Safety

By RON NIXON | Feb 20th 2015

In his budget proposal, the president asks that the number of agencies dealing with food safety be reduced from 15, but many say that a single agency would be unwieldy.

Food; Food Contamination and Poisoning; United States Politics and Government; Federal Budget (US) 

food safety is not a matter of opinion.

8

N.Y. / Region

Even as Many Eyes Watch, Brutality at Rikers Island Persists

By MICHAEL WINERIP and MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ | Feb 21st 2015

A review of official documents revealed 62 cases in which inmates were seriously injured by correction officers between last August and January, a period of increased attention on conditions at the jail complex.

Police Brutality, Misconduct and Shootings; Guards

"Ultimately, the biggest challenge may be altering the mind-set of the 9,000 correction officers who work on the island.

“Changing the culture of violence on Rikers Island will not be easy or quick,” said Dr. Robert Cohen, a member of the Board of Correction, the city agency that serves as a watchdog over the jails. “It will not occur without constant external pressure, and consistent leadership within the Department of Correction. The demonization of detainees is embedded in everyday practice.”"

9

N.Y. / Region

Group Seeks New Tolls in Manhattan to Pay for Region’s Transportation Needs

By EMMA G. FITZSIMMONS | Feb 17th 2015

The group, Move NY, recommends fees at the East River bridges and on Manhattan roads crossing 60th Street. Its plan could raise $1.5 billion in annual revenue.

Tolls; Bridges and Tunnels; Transit Systems; Roads and Traffic; Commuting

Congestion pricing is a good idea that will not happen.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congestion_pricing

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

"After ten years since its implementation in 2013, TfL reported that the congestion charging scheme resulted in a 10% reduction in traffic volumes from baseline conditions, and an overall reduction of 11% in vehicle kilometres in London between 2000 and 2012. Despite these gains, traffic speeds have also been getting progressively slower over the past decade, particularly in central London. TfF explains that the historic decline in traffic speeds is most likely due to interventions that have reduced the effective capacity of the road network in order to improve the urban environment, increase road safety and prioritise public transport, pedestrian and cycle traffic, as well as an increase in road works by utilities and general development activity since 2006. TfL concludes that while levels of congestion in central London are close to pre-charging levels, the effectiveness of the congestion charge in reducing traffic volumes means that conditions would be worse without the Congestion Charging scheme.^[2]"

The financial burden is not steep enough to be fully effective.

10

World

Malaria in Widening Area Resists Drug, Study Finds

By THOMAS FULLER | Feb 19th 2015

If resistance to the drug, artemisinin, were to spread, it could hamper treatment of a disease that kills hundreds of thousands a year, mostly in Africa.

Malaria

The research program can be increased.
Until a new treatment is found the disease will win.

11

false

Flexible Work: Nice, if You Can Get It

By ANNA NORTH | Feb 17th 2015

Flexible work arrangements have helped Op-Talk readers care for their families and themselves. But some say their schedules have no flexibility at all.

Anxiety and Stress; Children and Childhood; Labor and Jobs; Paid Time Off; Productivity; Telecommuting; Work-Life Balance; Working Hours

Business management is not concerned with family life.
Labor is in surplus so "the race to the bottom" is their policy.

12

U.S.

Former First Lady of Virginia Is Sentenced to Prison for Graft

By JENNIFER STEINHAUER | Feb 20th 2015

Maureen McDonnell, who was convicted last year along with her husband, former Gov. Bob McDonnell, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

Sentences (Criminal); Corruption (Institutional); Bribery and Kickbacks

A sentence of a year and a day will remove her right to vote and hold public office. 

13

World

Inspectors Say Iran Is Evading Questions as Nuclear Talks Enter a Crucial Stage

By DAVID E. SANGER and WILLIAM J. BROAD | Feb 19th 2015

The United Nations nuclear agency’s report raises the issue of whether an accord would compel Iran to detail past work on designing weapons.

Nuclear Weapons; Nuclear Energy

Iran wants the best deal it can get as does the U.S.
Netanyahu wants an end to support for the Palestinians.

14 

U.S.

At Heart of U.S.-South African Trade Dispute, a Serious Game of International Chicken

By JENNIFER STEINHAUER | Feb 17th 2015

South Africa has long been placing tariffs on American chickens, frustrating farmers, trade officials and members of Congress from the Chicken Caucus.

Chickens; International Trade and World Market; Customs (Tariff); United States Politics and Government

The broiler producers have no special right to profits.
The South African tariff looks like good policy to me.  

15

World

On Terror, Gentle Hand or Iron Fist

By PETER BAKER and JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS | Feb 19th 2015

President Obama argued that human rights, tolerance and dialogue could combat terrorism, but his audience included representatives from some of the world’s least democratic countries.

Human Rights and Human Rights Violations; Terrorism; United States International Relations

"Republican critics said the conference missed the point, dismissing it as a feel-good exercise when the president should be stepping up his military campaign against the Islamic State."

Let Obama get on with the problem.
Crusading is not an answer.

16

Business Day

U.S. Agency Sets Fines for Maker of Airbags

By HIROKO TABUCHI and DANIELLE IVORY | Feb 20th 2015

The safety agency said the Japanese manufacturer had failed to respond “fully or truthfully” to demands for documents related to the defect.

Automobile Safety Features and Defects; Fines (Penalties)

Fighting the N.H.T.S.A. is a really bad idea.
There seems to be no way to fix the ammonium nitrate inflater.

17

World

Suicide Bomber Kills Up to 8 in Xinjiang, Radio Free Asia Reports

By MICHAEL FORSYTHE | Feb 17th 2015

At least seven people were said to have been injured in an attack by a young Uighur, which could not be independently confirmed and was not reported by the Chinese news media.

Bombs and Explosives; Uighurs (Chinese Ethnic Group); Terrorism; Railroad Accidents and Safety

The revolt in Xinjiang continues to simmer.
Direct action by the Uighur will not succeed this year.

18

World

Video: Three Friends, One Jihadi

Mona El-Naggar and Ben Laffin | Feb 18th 2015

As his dreams crashed into Egypt’s social and political turmoil, Islam Yaken left his friends, family and a life of guilty pleasures for religious extremism, jihad and the Islamic State.

Muslims and Islam; Terrorism

Consider Salafi Islam as a millennial cult.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salafi_movement 

19

World

Iraqi Assault to Retake Mosul From Islamic State Is Planned for Spring

By MICHAEL R. GORDON | Feb 19th 2015

The assault, expected to begin in April or May, will require 20,000 to 25,000 Iraqi and Kurdish troops, an official from the United States Central Command said.

Kurds; United States Defense and Military Forces; Assaults

Early days.

The U.S. is no longer denying the presence of Iran in Iraq.

20

World

In Online Videos, Israeli Candidates Pursue ‘Likes’ and Votes

By ISABEL KERSHNER | Feb 19th 2015

With a month to go before Israel’s elections, the parties have uploaded a series of cheeky videos in the hope of reshaping their images.

Video Recordings, Downloads and Streaming; Social Media; Elections; Computers and the Internet

Israel will have to give the Palestinians justice.
Then when the Palestinians revolt they can be ceremoniously executed.