MB Civic

[This week’s categories: Eyebrow-Raising Stories, Environment, Health/Food, Economics, Politics/Elections/Voting, Privacy/Surveillance, War/Military, Hot-Button Issues, Foreign Affairs.  Thanks to MB-Civic for the article re the General Dynamics employee, and the two non-NYT articles re the Trayvon Martin case.]

Eyebrow-Raising Stories of the Week:

An attack on hungry Americans:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/opinion/krugman-hunger-games-usa.html

How large stores are tracking your movements via the Wi-Fi signal to your cellphone:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/business/attention-shopper-stores-are-tracking-your-cell.html?pagewanted=all

As grandfather of al-Awlaki’s son speaks out…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/18/opinion/the-drone-that-killed-my-grandson.html

…a federal judge is challenging Obama administration’s power re targeted drone killings of Americans overseas:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/20/us/politics/judge-challenges-white-house-claims-on-authority-in-drone-killings.html

General Dynamics employee quits very publicly:

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/304-justice/18435-focus-general-dynamics-employee-qi-hereby-resign-in-protestq?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=\

NYS health plan costs may fall as much as 50%:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/health/health-plan-cost-for-new-yorkers-set-to-fall-50.html?pagewanted=all

Environment:

Protecting Antarctica:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/opinion/further-protection-for-antarctica.html

New battery may cut heat-related losses:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/business/energy-environment/battery-seen-as-way-to-cut-heat-related-power-losses.html

BMW’s new i3 electric car:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/business/with-i3-electric-car-bmw-tries-to-ease-range-anxiety.html

“Losing Our Way in the World”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/opinion/sunday/losing-our-way-in-the-world.html?pagewanted=all

Health/Food:

Perhaps counter-intuitively, NYC leads country in increase in life expectancy over past 20 years:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/nyregion/prosper-and-live-long-health-minded-manhattan-leads-in-increased-lifespan.html

As dementia rate shows signs of falling…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/health/study-finds-dip-in-dementia-rates.html

…can its signs be seen earlier than previously suggested?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/18/health/looking-for-early-signs-of-dementia.html?pagewanted=all

Under pressure from FDA, company voluntarily destroys “risky” health product:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/business/supplements-called-risky-are-destroyed.html

Economics:

“Being legal doesn’t end poverty”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/sunday-review/being-legal-doesnt-end-poverty.html?pagewanted=all

As Detroit becomes largest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/us/detroit-files-for-bankruptcy.html?pagewanted=all

…a Michigan judge says, “Not so fast”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/20/us/breadth-of-bankruptcy-fight-detroit-faces-becoming-clear.html

New jobless claims drop, but likely for seasonal reasons (i.e., summer jobs):

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/business/economy/new-jobless-claims-drop-partly-for-seasonal-reasons.html

As D.C. pushes for higher minimum wage at large chain stores, Walmart balks:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/us/washington-push-on-wages-has-walmart-balking.html

Politics/Elections/Voting:

As Senate Dems cave and give GOP a “deal” re filibusters…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/us/politics/senators-near-agreement-to-avert-fight-over-filibuster.html?pagewanted=all

…GOP holds up its end of the bargain by holding its collective nose and confirming Obama appointments:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/us/politics/senate-confirms-labor-secretary-nominee.html

PA Voter ID law is back in court:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/us/pennsylvania-defends-law-on-id-for-voters.html

Upsetting GOP apple cart, Liz Cheney will challenge Wyoming senator:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/us/politics/liz-cheney-to-challenge-senator-michael-enzi-of-wyoming.html

What do NYers want in a new mayor?  Apparently, whatever the former mayor didn’t offer…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/18/nyregion/voters-approve-of-citys-progress-poll-finds-but-seek-empathetic-mayor.html?pagewanted=all

Slowed by scandal, many politicians can still win the race:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/18/us/politics/politicians-are-slowed-by-scandal-but-many-still-win-the-race.html?pagewanted=all

Almost an “endangered species,” California Republicans see hope in local race:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/20/us/politics/california-republicans-all-but-endangered-see-hope-in-local-race.html?pagewanted=all

Privacy/Surveillance:

Trying to avoid another “Snowden,” NSA creates “new rules”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/us/military-to-deploy-units-devoted-to-cyber-operations.html

As bipartisan backlash grows re domestic surveillance…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/18/us/politics/bipartisan-backlash-grows-against-domestic-surveillance.html?pagewanted=all

…CIA is accused of misleading Congress and White House re detention and interrogation programs:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/20/us/politics/senate-and-cia-spar-over-secret-report-on-interrogation-program.html?pagewanted=all

NJ court restricts police searches of phone data without warrant:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/nyregion/new-jersey-supreme-court-restricts-police-searches-of-phone-data.html?pagewanted=all

Internet “Do Not Track” rules should do exactly that:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/technology/do-not-track-rules-for-advertising-to-web-users-come-a-step-closer-to-an-agreement.html

War/Military:

15 Guantanamo detainees quit participating in hunger strike:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/us/more-guantanamo-detainees-quit-hunger-strike.html

Legal/Law Enforcement:

As protests and anger continue nationwide over Trayvon Martin verdict…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/us/debate-on-race-and-justice-is-renewed.html?pagewanted=all

…lobbying ramps up for Justice Dept. to investigate case as a hate crime…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/us/justice-department-to-restart-hate-crime-investigation-in-trayvon-martins-death.html

…and another trial with similar aspects begins in Milwaukee:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/18/us/echoes-of-florida-case-in-a-milwaukee-trial.html

What was Trayvon supposed to do?:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/closeread/2013/07/what-should-trayvon-martin-have-done.html

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2013/07/trayvon-martin-and-george-zimmerman/print

Judge in Manning case refuses to drop charge of “aiding the enemy”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/us/judge-in-manning-case-allows-charge-of-aiding-the-enemy.html

Federal court tells NYT reporter he must testify in case of leaked CIA data:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/20/us/in-major-ruling-court-orders-times-reporter-to-testify.html?pagewanted=all

“Fired for Being Beautiful”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/opinion/fired-for-being-beautiful.html?_r=0

Hot-Button Issues:

In TX, Perry signs super-strict abortion law:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/us/perry-signs-texas-abortion-restrictions-into-law.html

“Marijuana-infused faith” gets no religious exception for pot use:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/20/us/marijuana-infused-faith-challenges-the-definition-of-religion.html?pagewanted=all

Foreign Affairs:

As Egypt’s liberals “embrace” turn-around…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/world/middleeast/egypt-morsi.html?pagewanted=all

…Muslim Brotherhood finds itself excluded…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/world/middleeast/egypt.html

..and its assets frozen:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/world/middleeast/egypts-leaders-raising-pressure-freeze-assets-of-morsi-backers.html

In Syria, a “shift in momentum” toward Assad:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/18/world/middleeast/momentum-shifts-in-syria-bolstering-assads-position.html

As Putin accuses U.S. of “trapping” Snowden in Russian…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/world/putin-snowden-russia.html

…Putin nevertheless uses NSA leaks as excuse to revive push to control Internet:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/business/global/nsa-leaks-stir-plans-in-russia-to-control-net.html?pagewanted=all

As Mexican drug kingpin is caught, government breathes sigh of relief, but says it will continue anticrime efforts:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/world/americas/drug-kingpin-is-captured-in-mexico-near-border.html

In Iran, “taps” in legislator’s office lead to full-blown inquiry:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/world/middleeast/iran-legislators-wiretapped-office-prompts-call-for-inquiry.html

In Germany, Merkel calls for greater Internet privacy:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/world/europe/merkel-urges-europe-to-tighten-internet-safeguards.html

Greece approves yet another set of austerity measures:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/18/world/europe/greece-approves-new-austerity-measures.html