Sunday, February 7, 2016

@0:15, @9:17, 2/8/16

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1
World

Rescue Efforts Continue After Earthquake in Taiwan

At least 11 people were killed in the quake in Tainan, officials said, mainly in a 17-story apartment building that collapsed, but most of the city seemed to be unscathed.

Early reports.

2
N.Y. / Region

Crane Collapse in Lower Manhattan Kills One Person

Workers were trying to secure the crane amid high winds when it toppled onto Worth Street in TriBeCa shortly before 8:30 a.m. Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

Dramatic.  No further deaths.

3
World

Brazil Finds Zika Virus in Human Urine and Saliva, but Risk Is Unclear

Scientists warned that the virus might have the potential to spread through kissing and urine, a possibility that clouded the opening of Carnival.

Yes.

4
U.S.

As Flint Fought to Be Heard, Virginia Tech Team Sounded Alarm

Young scientists and their professor helped force Michigan officials to acknowledge the elevated levels of lead in drinking water, and now the government has requested the team’s assistance.

"They were explaining to students, members of the faculty and guests how they were at first laughed off by government regulators about 550 miles northwest of here in Flint, Mich., when they detected alarming amounts of lead coming from residents’ taps."

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/15/us/flint-lead-water-michigan.html

"The Flint water system may have to replace lead service lines under its control where lead levels are above 15 parts per billion"

"After the high levels of lead were found in children, the city switched back to Detroit’s water system, which is supplied by Lake Huron, in October 2015. But the damage to the pipes had been done. Mayor Karen Weaver said the shift back to Detroit’s water could not undo the corrosion damage, and the pipes continued to leach lead." 

Cost cutting by the state of Michigan broke the Flint public water system.
Responsible Michigan employees attempted to ignore the damage.
Many residents of Flint have high blood levels of lead as a result.

5
Business Day

Lawyers Suing G.M. Over Defect Are Now Fighting Each Other

The lawyer who exposed the ignition problem urged a judge to remove the three plaintiffs’ lawyers leading the litigation, accusing them of bungling a trial.

The lawyers defending G.M. are pleased.

6
Business Day

Traffic Deaths Rise as More Travelers Take to Road

Traffic deaths in the United States rose 9.3 percent in the first nine months of 2015 compared with a year earlier as low gasoline prices increased road travel.

It would be interesting to know how the 26,000 met their ends. 
A statistical breakdown would satisfy.

7
N.Y. / Region

Homeless Young People of New York, Overlooked and Underserved

As the city prepares for an annual census of the homeless population, some groups are trying to make sure young people are not missed.

There is no age qualification for homeless.

8
N.Y. / Region

Review: Raga Indian Cuisine in Croton-on-Hudson

The restaurant, which opened in Croton-on-Hudson in October, offers a variety of offerings from the Indian subcontinent.

Give it a miss unless you desire the food from that specific kitchen.

9
U.S.

Record Number of False Convictions Overturned in 2015

A total of 149 defendants were cleared last year, 10 more than in 2014, according to a review by the National Registry of Exonerations.

Lawyers are gaining skills at appeal.

10
World

Surge of Zika Virus Has Brazilians Re-examining Strict Abortion Laws

Abortion rights activists are seizing on the crisis to push back against conservative lawmakers who want to toughen already stringent limits.

Abortion should not require regulation beyond the health and safety of the mother.

11
Business Day

Federal Judge Orders Abortion Foes Not to Release Secretly Filmed Videos

The ruling marked the second major setback in recent weeks for the anti-abortion group, the Center for Medical Progress.

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

12
Science

In a Slovenian Cave, Hoping for a Batch of Baby ‘Dragons’

To see the olms in Postojna Cave, you’ll need to take an underground train. But you might be rewarded with a glimpse of their crystal clear eggs.

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

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

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Slovenia/@46.1436594,13.8621555,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x476524e75e968361:0xe740451e25e2d465

http://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:00000.1.14015

13
U.S.

Washington: Brothers Charged in Murders at a Homeless Camp

Three brothers, ages 13, 16 and 17, were charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the killings last month of two people at a homeless encampment in Seattle.

They are all juveniles and monsters.
That should be a problem for the prosecution.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_%28United_States_law%29#Degrees

They should be charged with second degree murder.
Let the parole board figure it out.

14
World

Australia’s Top Court Rejects Challenge to Migrant Detention System

The ruling, which upheld the legality of transferring asylum seekers to an offshore detention center, drew a sharp rebuke from United Nations human rights officials.

Australia should have another general election soon.

15
U.S.

Emails Reveal Early Suspicions of a Flint Link to Legionnaires’ Disease

Emails indicate that county health officials were concerned last March about a wave of Legionnaires’ cases, and were at the time raising the possibility of a link to the Flint River.

Cooling towers are the known problem in legionnaires disease.  Blaming the river is a stretch.

16
N.Y. / Region

Review: At Wölffer Kitchen in Sag Harbor, a Winemaker Puts Food First

A restaurant from the owners of Wölffer Estate Vineyard pairs Mediterranean flavors with fresh ingredients from the East End.

Can you have just one glass?

17
World

Taiwan Mobilizes Army to Search Rubble After Earthquake

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan, leveling at least one residential building and trapping dozens of people.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/08/world/asia/-tainan-taiwan-earthquake.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35517965

There is no count of the dead and injured yet.

18
Business Day

Dodges Recalled Because of Risks in Changing Tires

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling almost 505,000 2011-16 Dodge Chargers.

Fiat Chrysler has another minor problem.

19
Books

‘Beasts and Children,’ by Amy Parker

Animals provide metaphors in these linked stories.

"Talk helps"

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

20
Sports

Lindsey Vonn Adds to Her Record for Downhill Wins

Vonn finished well ahead of her competitors while recording the 38th downhill victory of her career at a World Cup event in Germany.

http://www.wunderground.com/q/locid:GMXX0248;loctype:1

http://www.wunderground.com/severe/europe.asp


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@9:17



Business Day

Cover Crops, a Farming Revolution With Deep Roots in the Past

The practice of seeding fields between harvests with noncash crops, which had fallen out of favor at modern farms, is making a steady comeback as farmers who have embraced it report higher yields.

Cover crops are a good idea.
 
2
N.Y. / Region

Homeless Young People of New York, Overlooked and Underserved


They are counted.

3
N.Y. / Region

Review: Raga Indian Cuisine in Croton-on-Hudson


4
N.Y. / Region

Review: At Wölffer Kitchen in Sag Harbor, a Winemaker Puts Food First


5
Opinion

America Is Flint

The lead poisoning in Flint, Mich., is a tragedy. But it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Lead has been everywhere in civilization.
Lead awareness needs to be everywhere.
Lead testing should be part of health checks life long.
Mercury should be included.

6
Business Day

Lawyers Suing G.M. Over Defect Are Now Fighting Each Other


Only G.M. will win.

7
N.Y. / Region

Officer Liang’s Partner Testifies He Got Little CPR Training


"A tragic accident"

The shot was not aimed.

8
Opinion

What You Get When You Mix Chickens, China and Climate Change

The pathogens that frighten me most are novel strains of avian influenza.

A scare story.
Viruses are delicate.
They will not stand drying out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avian_influenza
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avian_influenza#Spread

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/avianflu/

9
N.Y. / Region

Shootings in Public Housing Project Highlight Risks of Stairwell Patrols

The shooting of two officers in a stairwell on Thursday served as a blunt counterpoint to the killing of an unarmed man by an officer in a stairwell in 2014

Give the police combat pay.
Arm them with truncheons only.

10
Magazine

The Privilege of Wild Food

Cooking cod cakes, and giving thanks for line-caught fish.

http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017976-cod-cakes

Yes.

11
U.S.

Prison Official in Washington State Resigns Over Early-Release Error

The official, Dan Pacholke, resigned amid a political dispute over a computer coding error that allowed an estimated 3,000 inmates to be released early over 13 years.

The contracting authority is responsible for the acceptability of services purchased.
Dan Pacholke properly resigned.
He should have fired his I.T. manager first.

12
Business Day

Traffic Deaths Rise as More Travelers Take to Road


There is no breakdown of the total deaths.

13
Opinion

A Streetcar Ride to New York’s Future

The mayor’s enticing proposal must show itself to be worth the cost and not merely serve as a convenience for the affluent.

I have no objection to the streetcar line proposed.
It should be part of the M.T.A. and share the single fare.

14
Magazine

When Your Baby Won’t Eat

Our daughter started life on a feeding tube. Then we tried to wean her off it — and began to understand the complexity of how children relate to food.

Some do get better.

15
Opinion

Everyone Loses if Britain Exits the E.U.

A British exit would deal a serious blow to a European Union already battered by an economic crisis and an immigration crisis.

The present union is not functioning.
It must be reconstituted.
If a breakup is required to do it right, let there be a breakup.
The present structure is destructive.

16
World

Australia’s Top Court Rejects Challenge to Migrant Detention System

The ruling, which upheld the legality of transferring asylum seekers to an offshore detention center, drew a sharp rebuke from United Nations human rights officials.

Australia is a sovereign nation.

There should be a general election soon.

17
U.S.

North Carolina: Ex-Colonel’s Expulsion Approved

A judge cleared the way for a former Salvadoran colonel to face charges in Spain that he helped plan the 1989 killings of six priests during El Salvador’s civil war.

Extradition is formal.  
Rights are protected.

18
U.S.

Pentagon to Offer Plan to Store Eggs and Sperm to Retain Young Troops

As part of an initiative to make military service more family friendly, Ashton B. Carter has created a pilot program that will pay for troops to have their reproductive cells preserved.

The price of a mercinary army is high.


19
World

U.S. Judge Approves Extradition of Former Salvadoran Colonel

The ex-colonel, accused in the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests, a housekeeper and her teenage daughter in El Salvador, was ordered deported.

We are told the requirements of extradition are met.

20
U.S.

Alabama: Tornado Damages Women’s Prison

A women’s prison was running partly on backup power Wednesday a day after storms unleashed tornadoes and flooding in the South and dumped heavy snow in the Midwest.

None hurt.

No escapes.

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