MB Civic

Research finds causal relationship between human activity and weather extremes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/science/earth/research-cites-role-of-warming-in-extremes.html

Technology can broaden our vistas – or narrow them seriously:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/opinion/bruni-traveling-without-seeing.html

Three Miami-area mayors are arrested on corruption charges:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/us/arrests-of-3-mayors-reinforce-floridas-notoriety-as-a-hothouse-for-corruption.html?pagewanted=all

As the fight over food stamps heats up, some stories of real people in need:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/us/as-debate-reopens-food-stamp-recipients-continue-to-squeeze.html?pagewanted=all

DEA has an even larger trove of phone data than the NSA!:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/us/drug-agents-use-vast-phone-trove-eclipsing-nsas.html?pagewanted=all

As NSA admits it is able to – and does – foil basic privacy and encryption safeguards on the Web…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/us/nsa-foils-much-internet-encryption.html?pagewanted=all

…A House representative seeks legislation to bar it from doing so:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/07/us/politics/legislation-seeks-to-bar-nsa-tactic-in-encryption.html?pagewanted=all

Have you considered the invasion of privacy – and potential actual danger – if your Webcam or Skype camera is hacked?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/technology/ftc-says-webcams-flaw-put-users-lives-on-display.html

Are white supremacists attempting to “buy” an entire town?:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/07/us/north-dakota-white-only-town/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

In Australia, as expected, Abbott defeats Rudd*:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/world/asia/australia-votes-as-labor-government-struggles-to-survive.html

In Russia, Navalny may have enough votes to force runoff:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/09/world/europe/in-close-vote-putin-critic-claims-runoff-in-moscow.html?hp

Russia issues remarkable travel advisory to some citizens abroad – avoid countries with extradition treaties with U.S.:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/world/europe/russia-issues-travel-warning-about-united-states.html

*  Re the Austrlian election, I won’t do the “heavy lifting” here, but for anyone who has any interest in it, I recommend that they familiarize themselves with a woman named Gina Rinehart.  She is Australia’s wealthiest and most powerful person (even moreso than Rupert Murdoch).  Not only does she own almost all of the mining concerns in the country, she also owns a controlling share in Fairfax media.  With respect to the Australian elections, the primary issue was the carbon tax that Kevin Rudd had instituted, and Tony Abbott had made the election a referendum on that issue – because Ms. Rinehart is his patroness.  In this regard, this is a case where a single person (Rinehart) was able to completely control an election.  Because the carbon tax was damaging to Ms. Rinehart’s business, she was vehemently against it. So, in addition to pouring millions into Abbott’s campaign, she used the power of Fairfax media (all of its publications endorsed Abbott) to sway the election in favor of Abbott.  If you think the Koch Brothers are powerful vis-a-vis U.S. elections, they are pikers compared with Rinehart!

Environment:

Is there a relationship between environmental change and resource scarcity/abundance?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/opinion/sunday/betting-on-the-apocalypse.html

Fukushima just keeps on giving…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/04/world/asia/errors-cast-doubt-on-japans-cleanup-of-nuclear-accident-site.html?pagewanted=all

Bad-old normal pollution from chemical plant killed thousands of fish in China:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/world/asia/thousands-of-fish-killed-by-waste-from-chinese-plant.html

EU makes concessions to U.S. re airline emissions:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/business/global/europe-offers-compromise-to-us-on-airline-emissions.html

Solar firm looks toward investor profit:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/business/energy-environment/a-firm-that-aims-to-match-environmental-values-with-financial-value.html?pagewanted=all

Health/Food/Safety:

Rise in e-cig use by students causes alarm:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/health/e-cigarette-use-doubles-among-students-survey-shows.html

All schools should carry EpiPens for use in emergencies:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/opinion/sunday/epipens-for-all.html

Ironically, proliferation of bike lanes in NYC has led to increase in car speeds:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/nyregion/in-bloombergs-city-of-bike-lanes-data-show-cabs-gain-a-little-speed.html

Multi-day music festival in NYC is cut short as two die and others fall ill from MDMA:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/nyregion/electric-zoo-music-festival-is-canceled-after-2-deaths.html?pagewanted=all

Politics/Elections/Voting:

Bachmann still under investigation re presidential campaign:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/us/new-inquiry-for-bachmann-on-her-presidential-race.html

As many suspected, Quinn’s reversal on term limits, allowing third term for Bloomberg, is coming back to haunt her:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/nyregion/in-quinn-reversal-on-term-limits-complex-motives-and-lasting-effects.html

Despite some good words for Bloomberg, all Democratic mayoral candidates are keeping him at arms length:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/nyregion/seeking-to-succeed-bloomberg-while-keeping-him-at-a-distance.html?pagewanted=all

Although all NYC Democratic mayoral candidates “attack” real estate industry, they all take its cash to varying degrees…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/nyregion/in-mayoral-race-attacking-real-estate-industry-but-taking-its-cash.html?pagewanted=all

…As shown by the fact that a real estate industry-led PAC has poured over $7 million into the race:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/nyregion/group-financed-by-business-leaders-has-put-nearly-7-million-into-council-races.html

Other outside groups have added another $3 million or more, with Thompson leading the pack…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/nyregion/outside-groups-have-spent-3-million-on-mayors-race.html

…While a David Koch-led PAC promises pays for ads for Lhota:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/04/nyregion/pac-backed-by-billionaire-to-broadcast-ads-for-lhota.html

In NYC mayoral race, an interesting fact emerges – union members are mostly minorities and women:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/04/nyregion/new-york-citys-unionized-workers-are-mostly-minorities-a-study-shows.html

Economics:

As VW and plant workers talk about a union…

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/07/business/vw-and-auto-workers-explore-union-at-tennessee-plant.html

…AFL-CIO talks about adding non-union members:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/07/business/afl-cio-has-plan-to-add-millions-of-nonunion-members.html?pagewanted=all

Paul Krugman laments “Years of Tragic Waste” and “Love for Labor Lost”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/opinion/krugman-years-of-tragic-waste.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/opinion/krugman-love-for-labor-lost.html

Legal/Law Enforcement:

Judge’s decision in NYC SQF lawsuit opens door to class-action suit over SQF in public housing:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/opinion/stop-and-frisk-in-public-housing.html

How a detective with questionable methods and prosecutors who turned a blind eye led to a “toxic mix” that sullied dozens of cases:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/nyregion/as-doubts-over-detective-grew-prosecutors-also-made-missteps.html?pagewanted=all

Woman in Roman Polanski rape case cannot forget, but forgives – and asks all (including prosecutors) to do the same:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/books/in-the-girl-samantha-geimer-revisits-the-polanski-case.html?pagewanted=all

Privacy/Surveillance:

Coalition of six privacy groups asks FTC to block Facebook changes that would make for easier data-mining:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/04/privacy-groups-ask-f-t-c-to-block-facebook-policy-changes/

With Brazil issuing stinging rebuke to U.S. over NSA spying, Obama tries to calm both Brazil and Mexico:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/07/world/americas/obama-tries-to-soothe-brazil-and-mexico-over-spying-reports.html

Scientists create better “burglar alarm” to detect digital “snooping”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/technology/researchers-develop-digital-eavesdropping-alarm.html

Not everyone is thrilled by imminent use of commercial drones…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/business/preflight-turbulence-for-commercial-drones.html?pagewanted=all

…Particularly as a NYC man is killed by a similar item:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/nyregion/remote-controlled-copter-fatally-strikes-pilot-at-park.html

War/Military:

As Arab League (mostly) reverses its position on Syria strike…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-syria-military-action.html

…House leaders express support for it…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/04/us/politics/obama-administration-presses-case-on-syria.html

…McCain offers his backing…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/world/middleeast/syria.html?pagewanted=all

…And Senate panel, though split, also approves…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/world/middleeast/divided-senate-panel-approves-resolution-on-syria-strike.html?pagewanted=all

…Obama still does not have wide support of int’l community, and hopes for full Congressional approval:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/07/world/middleeast/obama-syria-strike.html?hpw

Hot-Button Issues:

As Colorado recall vote approaches, gun debate is front and center:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/us/national-debate-on-gun-control-hits-home-in-colorado-recall.html?pagewanted=all

Issuance of same-sex marriage licenses in NM leads to debate many don’t want:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/us/in-new-mexico-a-rush-to-the-altar.html?pagewanted=all

In San Antonio, passage of a wide-reaching anti-discrimination law leads to debate all too many are itching to have:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/us/san-antonio-passes-far-reaching-antidiscrimination-measure.html

A “surprising friend” of gay rights…Justice Anthony Kennedy:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/us/surprising-friend-of-gay-rights-in-a-high-place.html?pagewanted=all

Miscellaneous:

In fifth attempt, Nyad successfully swims from Cuba to Florida:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/sports/nyad-completes-cuba-to-florida-swim.html

CBS programming returns to TWC:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/business/media/cbs-and-time-warner-cable-end-contract-dispute.html

Foreign Affairs:

In Germany, Merkel and Steinbruck debate to a tie:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/world/europe/no-clear-winner-in-debate-between-merkel-and-challenger.html

With its leaders on trial, Kenya becomes first country to withdraw from ICC:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/world/africa/kenyan-lawmakers-vote-to-leave-international-court.html

As Egypt’s chief prosecutor puts Morsi and others on trail for inciting murder…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/world/middleeast/morsi-and-muslim-brotherhood-leaders-charged-with-inciting-murder.html

…Egypt’s interior minister narrowly escapes assassination attempt:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/world/middleeast/egypts-interior-minister-survives-attack.html