@13:25, 4/9/15

 

 1

U.S.

More Protections Possible for Spotted Owl

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Apr 8th 2015

Federal biologists will consider increasing Endangered Species Act protections for the northern spotted owl, reflecting the bird’s continued slide toward extinction despite steep logging cutbacks in the Northwest.

Endangered and Extinct Species; Owls 

Old growth forests deserve protection for themselves.

2

The Upshot

A New Prize, to Push Back Against Higher Education’s Incentives

By DAVID LEONHARDT | Apr 7th 2015

Colleges have many reasons not to enroll low-income students. A new $1 million prize, won by Vassar, is trying to nudge them in the other direction.

Colleges and Universities; Financial Aid (Education); Philanthropy; Awards, Decorations and Honors 

The "Land Grant" schools need to remember their mission.

Educated as opposed to trained people are necessary for democracy.

3

Health

Shorter Stature May Pose Higher Risk of Heart Disease

By GINA KOLATA | Apr 8th 2015

After gathering genetic data from nearly 200,000 people worldwide, researchers found that each extra 2.5 inches of height brings a 13.5 percent reduction in heart disease risk.

Height (Stature); Genetics and Heredity; Heart; Women's Health Initiative 

Genetic databases have excuses.  

They will destroy the risk pools of insurance companies.

Medical insurance has become assigned risk.

The sooner we get the corporations out of the medical insurance business the better.

4

Business Day

Pesticides Linked to Honeybee Deaths Pose More Risks, European Group Says

By DAVID JOLLY | Apr 8th 2015

The finding could have repercussions on both sides of the Atlantic for the companies that produce the chemicals, which are already banned in Europe.

Pesticides; Bees; Agriculture and Farming 

The neonicotinoids  are relatively new.  

We could do without them until the data is in and the studies published.

5

Business Day

I.S.M. Services Index Shows Slightly Slower Growth in March

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Apr 6th 2015

The Institute for Supply Management said a measure of sales fell in March, but hiring and orders rose, suggesting future growth.

Service Industries; United States Economy 

Read past the headline and see that the economy has been shrinking.

6

Science

For Blackpoll Warbler, a Lot of Flying for a Lightweight

By DOUGLAS QUENQUA | Apr 6th 2015

For the first time, the songbirds’ 1,500-mile journey has been documented.

Birds 

I do not know the species.  

7

U.S.

Judge Refuses to Allow Obama’s Immigration Actions to Proceed

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR | Apr 8th 2015

A federal judge in Texas refused to halt an injunction he had placed on the president’s immigration actions, saying they would be harmful.

Immigration and Emigration; Illegal Immigration; Executive Orders and Memorandums; Suits and Litigation (Civil); United States Politics and Government 

Texas judges are not noted for their rationality.

8

Health

Swedish Company Asks F.D.A. to Remove Warnings From Smokeless Tobacco Product

By SABRINA TAVERNISE | Apr 8th 2015

Swedish Match will try to persuade the agency and its experts that traditional smoking warnings are too harsh to describe its product, snus.

Smoking and Tobacco; Labeling and Labels (Product); Regulation and Deregulation of Industry 

The Swedish tobacco sellers are still tobacco sellers.

Drug pushers are a known group.

9

Business Day

Report Shows Job Openings Are Up, but Hiring Slows

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Apr 7th 2015

The statistics from the Labor Department suggest that the jobs market is steadily improving, even if some business owners remain cautious.

Labor and Jobs; Unemployment; United States Economy; Layoffs and Job Reductions

There are not enough skilled workers able to work for the offered wages.

 Even recent graduates must pay their debts.

10

Business Day

Fed Policy Makers Seem Cool to Rate Increase in June

By BINYAMIN APPELBAUM | Apr 8th 2015

Minutes of last month’s policy meeting, and recent comments by Federal Reserve officials, reflect concern that job and inflation goals are unmet.

United States Economy; Interest Rates 

There will be no rate increase from the Federal Reserve Bank until there is significant inflation in the price index.

11

Opinion

A Shortage of Funds for Food Safety

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | Apr 9th 2015

Congress needs to find the resources to enforce the regulations that protect the public from contaminated foods.

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

Agreed.  

Congress passed the law,  congress must find the money either as fees, taxes or debt.

Some combination would be satisfactory.

12

Sports

Progress Is Seen in Detecting C.T.E. in Living Patients

By KEN BELSON | Apr 6th 2015

A limitation of studying chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or C.T.E., has been that researchers have been able to detect it only in tissue obtained posthumously.

Concussions; Football; Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy 

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

The N.F.L. settlement must compensate all league players who have developed or will develop C.T.E.  If they did not play in the league their compensation is others responsibility.  

The N.F.L. insurers would be foolish to allow the league to continue.

13

Travel

Restaurant Report: Museum of Spirits in Stockholm

By JAY CHESHES | Apr 8th 2015

The Swedish chef Petter Nilsson comes home from Paris with a playful attitude toward traditional fare.

Restaurants; Travel and Vacations; Local Food 

I can learn to do that. 

It sounds very familiar.

14

U.S.

Laurence Tribe Fights Climate Case Against Star Pupil From Harvard, President Obama

By CORAL DAVENPORT | Apr 6th 2015

The liberal legal scholar Laurence H. Tribe, who taught Barack Obama at Harvard, represents the coal company Peabody Energy in its challenge to E.P.A. rules.

Coal; Global Warming 

A lawyer is a mercenary. 

They act in the client's interest.

Peabody Energy pays.

"It is business."   Mario Puzo

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

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

15

Travel

Hotel Review: Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier

By INGRID K. WILLIAMS | Apr 8th 2015

The hotel offers a little Zen amid Osaka’s hubbub, weaving Western comforts with Japanese elements.­

Travel and Vacations; Hotels and Travel Lodgings

Enjoy.  

I don't have time to learn Japanese and Japanese culture while dealing with Japan.

I will take a course and read a few books.

I want more than a packaged tour and different from immersion.

Probably I want to study Frank Lloyd Wright design processes.

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

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

16

Your Money

Simple Financial Solutions Often Beat the Complex Ones

By CARL RICHARDS | Apr 6th 2015

Seekers of money advice overlook simple answers because when they hear simple, they make the leap to easy. But sticking with good decisions isn’t easy.

Personal Finances 

Good advice.  

It has worked well for me.

17

Business Day

Statement From Writer of Rolling Stone Rape Article, Sabrina Erdely

Apr 5th 2015

Sabrina Rubin Erdely, the author of a discredited Rolling Stone article about a rape at a University of Virginia fraternity, issued an apology. The university president issued a statement, as well.

News Sources, Confidential Status of 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawana_Brawley_rape_allegations

The problem is rape happens.

18

World

Pakistani Court Orders Ex-C.I.A. Officials Charged Over 2009 Drone Strike

By SALMAN MASOOD | Apr 7th 2015

A judge ruled in a case involving a former C.I.A. station chief and a former C.I.A. lawyer and their roles in directing drone attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal regions.

Drones (Pilotless Planes); Civilian Casualties 

Pakistan is a sovereign nation.

It was not at war with the U.S.

19

U.S.

Massachusetts: Boston Marathon Bombing Jury Continues Talks

By JESS BIDGOOD | Apr 7th 2015

The jurors deliberated all day Tuesday and passed two notes with questions to the court; deliberations are set to resume on Wednesday.

Boston Marathon Bombings (2013) 

Guilty on all counts.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/opinion/in-the-boston-marathon-bombing-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-verdict-but-few-answers.html

Transition to sentencing.

20

Business Day

U.S. Weighs Whether to Act or Wait on Insider Trading

By PETER J. HENNING | Apr 6th 2015

Prosecutors and the S.E.C. will most likely take a wait-and-see approach on the new limitations to the law against insider trading.

Insider Trading; Decisions and Verdicts 

"The first two options might be tempting because they provide the potential for a quick fix. But the more likely course for prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission will be to deal with the limitations that the Newman opinion imposes by making sure future cases do not stray too far from the core of the prohibition on insider trading."

Congress and the court will not act soon.

Let the S.E.C. do its job.

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