MB Civic

Eyebrow-Raising Stories of the Week:

The USPS is also collecting your data!:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/us/monitoring-of-snail-mail.html

As Francois Hollande issues “some of the harshest language yet from a European leader” re U.S. spying on allies…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/world/europe/france-and-germany-piqued-over-spying-scandal.html?pagewanted=all

…it turns out that France also has a huge (secret) data collection program!:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/05/world/europe/france-too-is-collecting-data-newspaper-reveals.html

Has Canada become a rogue petrostate? (A must-read article):

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/06/24/oh_canada

No surprise as some states rush to enact voting laws in wake of SCOTUS decision:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/us/politics/after-Supreme-Court-ruling-states-rush-to-enact-voting-laws.html?pagewanted=all

So now it was not just Tea Party, Occupy and other political groups, but IRS “scrutiny” was based on a “lookout list”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/05/us/politics/irs-scrutiny-went-beyond-the-political.html?pagewanted=all

“War on the Unemployed”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/opinion/krugman-the-war-on-the-unemployed.html

Situation in Egypt:

Morsi goverment falls in “military coup”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/world/middleeast/egypt.html?pagewanted=all

Military installs interim leader, cracks down on Morsi supporters:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/05/world/middleeast/egypt.html?pagewanted=all

Morsi supporters fight back:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/world/middleeast/egypt.html?pagewanted=all

ElBaradei named PM, but will it hold?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/world/middleeast/egypt.html?pagewanted=all

Are new leaders cracking down on free speech and press?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/world/middleeast/egypts-new-leaders-press-media-to-muzzle-dissent.html?pagewanted=all

A “demotion of democracy?”…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/05/opinion/demoting-democracy-in-egypt.html

…or something to be defended?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/05/opinion/brooks-defending-the-coup.html

NSA/Surveillance/Privacy:

FISA/NSA situation is even worse than Snowden suggested:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/us/in-secret-court-vastly-broadens-powers-of-nsa.html

Did NSA shut down program on its own, or only after complaints from Congress?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/us/lawmakers-question-white-house-account-of-an-internet-surveillance-program.html

Is it possible to regulate data mining by NSA et al?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/03/opinion/data-mining-without-big-brother.html

Why is the U.S. Border Agency lending out its drones?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/business/us-border-agency-is-a-frequent-lender-of-its-drones.html?src=busln

Snowden:

As Ecuador puts Snowden’s “fate” in Russia’s hands…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/world/americas/snowdens-fate-is-up-to-russia-ecuador-says.html

…Snowden says U.S. is “blocking” asylum attempts:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/world/europe/snowden-speaks-out-in-moscow-for-first-time.html

And as rumor of Snowden’s presence on Bolivian president’s jet leads to international incident…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/world/snowden.html?pagewanted=all

…Venezuela offers him asylum:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/world/snowden.html?ref=us

Environment:

Is hotter, drier West the “new normal?”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/us/experts-see-a-hotter-drier-west-with-more-huge-fires.html?pagewanted=all

Are Obama’s most recent remarks re Keystone good news for environmentalists?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/us/obamas-remarks-offer-hope-to-opponents-of-oil-pipeline.html?pagewanted=all

“Let’s Not Braise the Planet”:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/lets-not-braise-the-planet/

GOP plans to use Obama’s newfound environmentalism against the Dems in midterm elections:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/us/politics/gop-sees-opportunity-for-election-gains-in-obamas-climate-change-policy.html

Portland, OR company uses “green” package delivery system:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/business/in-cargo-delivery-the-three-wheelers-that-could.html

Economics:

“Steady” job growth shows 195,000 new jobs:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/business/economy-adds-195000-jobs-as-unemployment-rate-remains-at-7-6.html?_r=0

NC makes drastic cuts to unemployment:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/us/north-carolinas-deep-cut-to-jobless-benefits-takes-effect-amid-protests.html

In NYC, gentrification is leading to homelessness:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/nyregion/gentrifying-into-the-shelters.html

Workers paid through “paycards” are being hurt by fees:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/business/as-pay-cards-replace-paychecks-bank-fees-hurt-workers.html

No surprise here, as biggest companies end up paying fraction of actual corporate tax rate:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/business/big-companies-paid-a-fraction-of-corporate-tax-rate.html

Average apartment price in Manhattan rises to $1.5 million:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/nyregion/manhattan-apartment-sales-increase-despite-reduced-inventory.html

Legal/Law Enforcement:

“The C.I.A. and the N.Y.P.D.”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/opinion/the-cia-and-the-nypd.html

Audit of NYPD crime stats finds “mistakes” by police:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/03/nyregion/audit-of-crime-statistics-finds-mistakes-by-police.html

“Cash-starved” municipalities lead to decrease in law enforcement, this to higher crime, and thus to an increase in “citizen patrols”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/us/In-Cash-Starved-Oregon-County-Citizens-Take-Up-Patrols.html?pagewanted=all

War/Military:

Should the U.S. unilaterally decommission its nukes?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/opinion/sunday/letting-go-of-our-nukes.html

Health:

It’s not just driving – distracted walking has become an increasing danger:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/28/dangers-of-distracted-walking/

Hot-Button Issues:

Is ultra-conservative Wyoming moving toward same-sex marriage?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/us/in-conservative-wyoming-signs-of-a-thaw-on-same-sex-marriage.html

NC Senate approves strictest-ever limits on abortion:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/us/abortion-limits-advance-in-north-carolina.html

SCOTUS decision on same-sex marriage leads to green cards for gay men in FL:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/us/gay-married-man-in-florida-is-approved-for-green-card.html

In response to religious monuments in public spaces, American Atheists unveils one of its own:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/05/us/to-fight-religious-monuments-atheists-plan-their-own-symbols.html

America, security, foreign policy and guns:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/opinion/kristof-how-could-we-blow-this-one.html

A very interesting video on the issue of “printed guns”: i.e., creating working guns using a 3D printer:

Miscellaneous:

Agglomeration of publishing industry continues as Penguin and Random House merge:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/business/media/merger-of-penguin-and-random-house-is-completed.html

Foreign Affairs:

Europeans outraged over U.S. spying on allies:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/world/europe/europeans-voice-anger-over-reports-of-spying-by-us-on-its-allies.html?pagewanted=all

In Mexico, election violence is “worst in years,” with six candidates killed since February:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/world/americas/mexicos-election-violence-is-said-to-be-worst-in-years.html

Unemployment rate in eurozone reaches highest level yet:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/business/global/euro-zone-joblessness-rises.html

Is Okinawa serious about seceding from Japan?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/world/asia/in-okinawa-talk-of-break-from-japan-turns-serious.html

After failed attempt, European parliament approves carbon trading system:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/business/global/european-parliament-acts-to-support-emissions-trading-system.html

Croatia becomes 28th member of European Union:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/world/europe/croatia-joins-european-union.html

In Japan, lifting of ban on social media in politics leads to livelier campaigns:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/05/world/asia/ban-lifted-japans-politicians-race-online.html?pagewanted=all