Recent news round-up, Part 1

Good News

• California toughens sex assault laws after Stanford case
• U.S. to Bar Arbitration Clauses in Nursing Home Contracts Compulsory arbitration, especially between economic unequal parties, should be illegal.
• Court Overturns New Hampshire Ban on Selfies (and Snapchat) in Voting Booths
• Alabama Chief Justice suspended over gay marriage stance He was suspended without pay for the remainder of his term. I'd say he was fired.
• Van Gogh paintings stolen from Amsterdam found in Italy

Bad News

• This terrible editorial is a monument to Silicon Valley’s sexism

Semi-random thoughts

• There should be background checks for people who want to buy pressure cookers.
• I got a new computer monitor, because my old one died after about 11 years. HP uses HDMI connectors for digital input. HP includes a nice HDMI to HDMI cable with the monitor. But my two year old computer doesn't have an HDMI output--it only has a DVI digital output. Guess who made my computer.
• I hate it when I update an app on my phone and it wipes out my settings.

Plat du jour--it's ba-a-ak

I have replaced my phone with the broken camera.

I didn't realize Norse gods drove cars.

Today's news round-up

Good News   

• ACLU praises new Illinois limits on cellphone surveillance
• Rulings may make voter ID laws presidential race nonfactors
• PGA threatens to move future events from North Carolina because of HB2

Bad News

• Effort to abolish superdelegates fails at DNC rules meeting I hope some sort of compromise can be reached. 700+ superdelegates is ridiculous. I'd like to see the number limited to 5-10% of the total delegates. 
• Turkish lawmakers give leader Erdogan sweeping new powers, Defiant Turkey extends police powers, shutters schools after coup  Turkey is not a democracy.
• Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul attack, 80 dead

Recent news round-up, Part 2

Good News

• Governor Baker signs transgender bill into law I'm very glad that Massachusetts finally has this. When they added gender identity to their non-discrimination law a few years ago, public accommodations was left out, because there weren't enough votes. Businesses could be required to employ trans people, but didn't have to serve them.  
• Private prison company CCA to face trial in violence lawsuit Private prisons should be outlawed.
• Overland Park cop fired for Facebook threat that seemed to reference Black Lives Matter

Bad News

• A Man Was Allegedly Denied AirBnB Booking Because He Is Gay
• Putin signs controversial anti-terror measures into law Russia is not a democracy.
• Suicide bomber kills six in mosque in northeast Nigeria -army

Today's news round-up, Part 1

Good News

• Boston traffic reporter comes out as a woman
• Minnesota college system bars team travel to North Carolina
• ECB scraps 500 euro note
• U.S., allies target Islamic State in Mosul with 10 strikes: statement

Bad News

• Apple loses China trademark case for 'iPhone' on leather goods
• Big data breaches found at major email services : expert

Today's news round-up, Part 1

Good News

• Cirque du Soleil will snub North Carolina after state law
• U.S. Army approves first 22 female officers for ground combat: USA Today
• AMC Theatres To Enforce Strict ‘No Texting’ Policy
• Arizona probes into inmate suicides leads to 13 firings
• Afghan air strike against Islamic State kills 40: official

Today's news round-up, Part 1

Good News

• Springsteen cancels show because of North Carolina law
• Conventions pulling out of Charlotte, citing House Bill 2
• State backs off plan to single-out doctor who successfully sued to help sick kids

Bad News

• Facebook provides a home for illegal arms sales in Libya
• Gay slur aimed at hairdresser 'not homophobic' - French ruling I get the feeling the tribunal was homophobic.
• U.S. judge in Boston ordered Apple to help law enforcement examine iPhone

Animal headline of the day

Runaway goat grins in selfie with animal control officer

Recent new round-up, Part 2

Good News

• Tennessee anti-trans “bathroom bill” will not move forward
• Ohio museum apologizes after woman is told not to breastfeed
• A Top ISIS Leader Is Killed in an Airstrike, the Pentagon Says

Bad News

• Officer Harasses Woman For Wearing Hijab At Shaw Library, Eyewitnesses Say
• Controversial new handgun design looks exactly like a smartphone
• IS claims suicide bombing on stadium in Iraq that killed 29
• Boko Haram kidnaps 16 women in NE Nigeria: police
• Suicide bombers kill three soldiers in attack on Iraq base

Yesterday's news round-up

Good News

• Americans increasingly approve of gay and lesbian adults adopting kids
• 'Indiana Jones' to return with Ford and Spielberg Even if it isn't close to the early ones, it still should be fun.

Bad News

• Apple fight could escalate with demand for 'source code'

Yesterday's news round-up

Good News

• Big tech companies are joining Apple in its encryption fight
• Family members sentenced to life in prison in U.S. cyberstalking case
• Iraqi tribesmen battle IS inside Fallujah for second day

Bad News

• How Southern states are now challenging gay marriage, Kentucky Bill Would Give Same-Sex Couples Different Marriage Licenses Many, if not all, of these laws will be held unconstitutional.

Recent news round-up, Part 1

Good News

• Amid Celebration, Anxiety Remains For Transgender Reform Jews
• Lawyer: California woman weighing options after embryo loss I totally agree with the judge.
• Charges dropped against student arrested while taping police
• FAA task force to recommend drone registry

Bad News  

• Homicides of transgender women in US reach alarming high
• New superbug resistant to last-line of antibiotics: study

Recent news round-up, Part 2

Good News

• New Rules Make Companies Do More to Police Imported Food
• How to get tickets to ‘The Lion King’ for $30
• Victims of Debt Collection Scheme in New York Win $59 Million in Settlement
• Restaurant fires patron who berated autistic delivery driver
• US confident 'Jihadi John' killed in drone strike

Bad News

• Old laws collide with digital reality in teen sexting cases

Today's news round-up

Good News

• U.S. charges three in huge cyberfraud targeting JPMorgan, others
• Egypt army releases journalist after 'false news' accusation
• New York governor raising minimum wage for state employees
• Universal health care to appear on Colorado ballot in 2016
• French air strikes target Islamic State oil infrastructure

Bad News

• T-Mobile is writing the manual on how to fuck up the internet
• Kenyan newspaper editor questioned, released over source
• Suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers kill three Nigerian refugees in Cameroon

Recent news round-up, Part 1

Good News

• Judge says drone was invading the privacy of the man who shot it
• Officer fired for throwing student in South Carolina classroom arrest, FBI, Justice Department probe violent US school arrest Video seems to be the best antidote to police brutality.
• Broadway’s ‘Hamilton’ Will Be Field Trip For 20K Students At $10 A Pop
• Nigerian troops rescue over 330 women, children held by Boko Haram

Bad News

• Telemarketers may be big winner in Obama’s budget deal with Congress

Recent news round-up, Part 1

Good News

• ‘I Am Cait’ Renewed For Season 2 By E!
• New Mexico secretary of state resigns, enters guilty plea Another Republican in trouble.
• New Jersey Senate Overrides Christie’s Veto of Gun Control Bill
• FCC caps "egregious rates" charged on inmate phone calls
• Verizon follows AT&T, asks FCC to let it enable Wi-Fi calling This would be great for me. The cellular reception in the rear of my apartment where my office (and wi-fi) is is pretty weak.
• New York Philharmonic Discusses Temporary Home at Hunter College This also would be great for me. It's an easy trip from where I live.

Yesterday's news round-up, Part 1

Good News

• All drones to require federal registration
• Apple ordered to pay $234 million to university for infringing patent
• Treasure trove of late Triassic fossils discovered in Utah
• Canada's Girl Guides say all transgender girls are welcome
• US to conduct counter-Boko Haram ops in Nigeria
• U.S. judge rules Maryland can ditch Confederate flag license plates

Bad News

• New IS branch claims Saudi shooting that killed 5
• 2 bombs explode by Nigerian mosque, killing at least 30
• IS pays recruiters $10,000 per person: UN

Recent news round-up, Part 2

Good News

• Netflix Execs Say They Plan To Offer News And Are Negotiating For ‘Star Wars’
• The end of restaurant tipping?
• “‘Homeland’ Is Racist” Graffiti Airs On Showtime Series; Showrunner Alex Gansa Admires Act Of “Artistic Sabotage”
• Yahoo aims to phase out passwords with new service
• New York Police Officer Is Convicted of Lying About Photographer’s Arrest
• Obama deploys military to Cameroon for Boko Haram mission
• Nigeria, Cameroon welcome US troops in Boko Haram fight

Recent news round-up, Part 1

Good News

• Village Voice Sold to Peter Barbey, Owner of a Pennsylvania Newspaper It would be great if the Voice regained its, er, voice. Reading it every week was one of the things that made me want to live in New York City.
• New York Times offers daily digital access with newsstand copies
• Apple loses patent lawsuit to University of Wisconsin, faces hefty damages
• Prominent astronomer resigns over student sexual harassment
• U.S. report calls for end to 'conversion therapy' for LGBT youth
• Virginia governor tightens gun control rules, creates task force

Bad News

• Medicare Premiums May Soar as Social Security Payments Stay Flat