Snapzu Politics: November 2016

Wednesday, 30 November 2016

US Hate Incidents Spike after Donald Trump Elected

Civil rights group tracks nearly 900 cases of assaults, intimidation, and harassment in 10 days after election win.
Read more: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/hate-incidents-spike-donald-trump-elected-161130161203648.html?source=Snapzu

The Long, Politically Fraught History of Seeds in the U.S.

We’ve come a long way from the government giving away free seeds.
Read more: http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-long-politically-fraught-history-of-seeds-in-the-us?source=Snapzu

More Whites Die Than Are Born in One-Third of States

More white people are dying than being born in about one-third of the states, a new peak in a trend that is reshaping the social, political and economic landscape of the U.S. Research released Tuesday by the University of New Hampshire found that the number of states where white deaths outpace births has climbed rapidly over the last decade, rising to 17 in 2014 from just four in 2004.
Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/more-whites-die-than-are-born-in-one-third-of-states-1480433481?source=Snapzu

On Fidel Castro’s Friendships With Literary Giants

Whatever else he may have been, it seems that Castro was an avid reader—“ours is an intellectual friendship,” Gabriel García Márquez once said—and he has been tied to a number of literary figures over the years, with varying degrees of importance, not to mention veracity. Here's a brief history of Castro’s relationships, whether good, bad, or not actually very real, with some of the most famous writers of our time.
Read more: http://lithub.com/on-fidel-castros-friendships-with-literary-giants/?source=Snapzu

Prosecutor clears officer in man's death, says man was armed

A prosecutor on Wednesday cleared a Charlotte police officer in the killing of a black man whose death touched off civil unrest, and he presented detailed evidence to rebut assertions that the slain man was unarmed.
Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/prosecutor-hold-announcement-charlotte-police-shooting-150104597.html?source=Snapzu

At Least Five Dead after Tornadoes Rip through South

At least five people were killed and dozens more were injured after tornadoes tore through Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi overnight and into Wednesday morning, forecasters and local media reported.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tornados-idUSKBN13P0YK?source=Snapzu

The Internet Archive to safeguard its collection in Canada because of Trump

While many have threatened to move to Canada in the wake of the election, the Internet Archive is actually raising money to do it.
Read more: http://mashable.com/2016/11/29/internet-archive-canada/#vMON3HpKq5q6?source=Snapzu

Lib Dems to oppose UK plan to block porn sites without age checks

The Liberal Democrats will oppose proposals to force adult websites to impose strict age regulation and empower a regulator to block websites that show a range of sexual acts, calling it the kind of measure one would expect of China or Russia. The digital economy bill, which will introduce new policies for Britain’s electronic communications infrastructure and services, is due for a report stage vote and third reading in the Commons on Monday afternoon.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/28/lib-dems-to-oppose-uk-plan-to-block-porn-sites-without-age-checks?source=Snapzu

Decades after Chernobyl disaster, engineers slide high-tech shelter over reactor

On Tuesday, officials from all over the world gathered about a football field away from the Chernobyl disaster site in Ukraine. They were there to celebrate the final placement of a massive, high-tech shelter over reactor 4, which exploded in April 1986. The shelter, called the New Safe Confinement (NSC), is a feat of engineering. Because it was too dangerous to assemble the NSC over the original shelter that was built in the weeks after the explosion, the NSC was instead built at a distance and moved...
Read more: http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/11/decades-after-chernobyl-disaster-engineers-slide-high-tech-shelter-over-reactor/#p3?source=Snapzu

Medical marijuana and new hope for Florida family

Rich and Kim Muszynski know when their 5-year-old daughter, Abby, is about to have a grand mal seizure because her pupils enlarge, and she'll seem to fixate at something in the distance that only she can see. Then it starts. Abby's extremities shake. She gasps for air. By the time she turned 3, Abby had tried about eight different anti-seizure medications. None of them worked very well. Panicked to see their daughter getting worse and worse, the Muszynskis drove three hours to Orlando to see Dr. Ngoc Minh Le, a board certified pediatric neurologist and epileptologist.
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/28/health/health-care-refugees-part-2/index.html?source=Snapzu

Inventor of the Big Mac dies, aged 98

The man who invented the McDonald's Big Mac burger has died, aged 98.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/38162497/inventor-of-the-big-mac-dies-aged-98?source=Snapzu

China Warns of Safety Risks as Rally in Coal Price Spurs Mining

Soaring coal prices have spurred a surge in potentially dangerous mining activity in China, prompting a government warning about the risk of increased casualties in a country that is home to some of the world’s deadliest mines.
Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/china-warns-of-safety-risks-as-rally-in-coal-price-spurs-mining-1480504725?source=Snapzu

Libertarian lawyer enters fight against Indiana's civil forfeiture law

Criminal defense attorney Jeff Cardella wears his beliefs on his sleeve, in the form of a pair of large, pastel yellow "Don't Tread On Me" cuff links. In between explanations of his libertarian principles, the 34-year-old Cardella said his clients may not always be the most sympathetic individuals, but they deserve their rights, too.
Read more: http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/11/27/class-action-suit-challenges-constitutionality-civil-forfeiture/93253242/?source=Snapzu

Canada sets in motion microbeads prohibition

Canada this month took steps toward joining the United States in banning the sale of personal-hygiene products that contain tiny plastics known as microbeads in an effort to keep them away from fish and wildlife and address plastic pollution in general. The battle continues against larger plastics such as discarded milk, juice, and soda containers, though.
Read more: http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/11/28/Canada-sets-in-motion-microbeads-prohibition.html?source=Snapzu

3 Dams to Be Removed in American West to Restore Rivers

A new $50 million fund will help communities remove “deadbeat dams,” starting in California, Oregon, and Washington.
Read more: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/11/dam-removal-nelson-dam-matiliha-rogue-river-hewlett-foundation-open-rivers/?source=Snapzu

Louisa May Alcott, Servant

She’s best known as the intrepid author of "Little Women," but Louisa May Alcott was once a domestic servant.
Read more: http://daily.jstor.org/louisa-may-alcott-servant/?source=Snapzu

Schumerland ascends to new heights in Senate

The Entrenched digging in
Read more: http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/307794-schumerland-ascends-to-new-heights-in-senate?source=Snapzu

Erdogan: Turkish forces are in Syria to end Assad's rule

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the Turkish Army entered Syria to end the rule of President Bashar Assad, whom he accused of terrorism and causing the deaths of thousands. “We entered [Syria] to end the rule of the tyrant al-Assad who terrorizes with state terror. [We didn’t enter] for any other reason,” the Turkish president said at the first Inter-Parliamentary Jerusalem Platform Symposium in Istanbul, as quoted by Hurriyet daily.
Read more: https://www.rt.com/news/368601-erdogan-syria-oust-assad/?source=Snapzu

CBC asks for $400M to go ad-free

CBC/Radio Canada has submitted a position paper to the federal government proposing the public broadcaster move to an ad-free model, similar to the one used to pay for the BBC in the United Kingdom, at a cost of about $400 million in additional funding. "We are at a critical juncture in our evolution, continuing to operate under a business model and cultural policy framework that is profoundly broken," says the CBC's document, released on Monday afternoon. "At the same time, other nations are moving their cultural agendas forward successfully — and reaping the benefits of strong, stable, well-funded public broadcasters."
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/cbc-radio-canada-ad-free-proposal-1.3871077?source=Snapzu

Donald Trump Is an Emotional Weakling. Here’s How to Manipulate Him

He’s an emotional weakling, and his recent interviews give us models for dealing with it. By William Saletan.
Read more: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/11/how_to_manipulate_donald_trump.html?source=Snapzu

The Plot to Kill Martin Luther King: Survived Shooting, Was Murdered in Hospital

MLK was murdered in a conspiracy instigated by then FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and that also involved the U.S. military, the Memphis Police and “Dixie Mafia” crime figures in Memphis, Tennessee… By Craig McKee.
Read more: http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-plot-to-kill-martin-luther-king-survived-shooting-was-murdered-in-hospital-an-interview-with-william-pepper/5544005?source=Snapzu

Assad, allies aim to seize all Aleppo before Trump takes power: official

Syria and its allies aim to drive rebels from Aleppo before Donald Trump takes office as U.S. President, a senior official in the pro-Damascus military alliance said, as pro-government forces surged to their biggest victories in the city for years. Rebels face one of their gravest moments of the war after pro-government forces routed fighters over the past few days from more than a third of the territory they controlled in the city. Thousands of civilians have fled for safety.
Read more: http://reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSKBN13O1SU?source=Snapzu

Man who sued deputies for choking him for smiling in mug shot appears in court

A Harris County inmate who claims he was assaulted by deputies for smiling during his booking photo was in court Monday morning. Christopher Johnson's attorney requested more time to prepare before trial, and he said they will be back in court Dec. 12. The trial is regarding the DWI with which Johnson is charged.
Read more: http://www.click2houston.com/news/man-who-sued-deputies-for-choking-him-for-smiling-in-mug-shot-appears-in-court?source=Snapzu

Trump to reveal deal to keep nearly 1,000 Carrier jobs in Indiana

The incoming Trump Administration and UTX have reached an agreement that will keep close to 1,000 jobs at Carrier in Indiana.
Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/29/trump-to-reveal-deal-to-keep-nearly-1000-carrier-corp-jobs-in-indiana-sources.html?source=Snapzu

The Nuclear Bunker Where America Preserves Its Audio-Visual Heritage

The Library of Congress has over 160 million items in its collection, including 23 million books, and more than 1.1 million films, and telev...
Read more: http://www.amusingplanet.com/2016/11/the-nuclear-bunker-where-america.html?source=Snapzu

Great Smoky Mountains fires leave three dead, 'scene of destruction'

Local officials said on Tuesday that "the worst is over" for two small Tennessee resort towns in the Great Smoky Mountains where wildfires killed three people, destroyed or damaged more than 100 homes, forced thousands to flee and threatened country music star Dolly Parton's theme park, Dollywood.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fires-tennessee-idUSKBN13O2E3?source=Snapzu

Tuesday, 29 November 2016

At least 75 killed as plane carrying Brazilian soccer club team crashes in Colombia

A chartered plane carrying the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense crashed in Colombia near the city of Medellín on Tuesday morning.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/colombia-plane-crash-carrying-squad-from-top-brazilian-football-team-chapecoense-survivors-found-2016-11?source=Snapzu

My High School Girlfriend Became America’s Most Wanted Drug Queenpin

I lost my virginity to the baddest goth girl at theater camp. When I tracked her down fifteen years later I discovered just how dangerous Liz Barrer really was. By Jonathan Reiss.
Read more: http://narrative.ly/my-ex-the-drug-queenpin/?source=Snapzu

This Military Base Is Where China Blasts Humans Into Space

Take a look inside.
Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2016-asia-space-race/chinasidebar.html?cmpid=BBD112816_BIZ?source=Snapzu

Gridiron Gangster: How a Pro Gambler Took Down an Alleged Crime Boss

Robert J. Cipriani arrived in Sydney feeling the way he always did on the eve of a gambling trip: giddy, confident, a hustler with pure intentions. It was August, 2011. Under the pseudonym of Robin Hood 702, Cipriani billed himself as an unorthodox philanthropist: the high stakes blackjack player who used his winnings to benefit those in need. It was an act inspired by his own hardscrabble past in blue-collar Philadelphia, and conceived during regular sojourns to Las Vegas (702 is the city's area code).
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/gridiron-gangster-how-a-gambler-took-down-a-kingpin-w451678?source=Snapzu

Lacking Funding and Data, Gun Policy Researchers Soldier On

Researchers are unable to recommend the best course of action for public health officials to take, because they lack critical resources.
Read more: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2016/11/15/lacking-funding-and-data-gun-policy-researcher-soldier-on/?source=Snapzu

Elizabeth Warren blasts medical research bill as ‘extortion’

Sen. Elizabeth Warren delivered a ferocious attack Monday on congressional Republicans and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over a medical research bill, and put fellow Democrats on the spot by pushing them to oppose a measure she said “is corrupt, and it is very, very dangerous.”
Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-elizabeth-warren-medical-research-bill-20161128-story.html?source=Snapzu

The true story of Nintendo's most wanted game

None of this would've happened had Jennifer Thompson not gone thriftin'. This was in April 2013, and she was browsing clothes and $1 DVDs at the Steele Creek Goodwill in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, when she noticed it behind the glass counter. The video game title sparked a memory, a Yahoo article about the rarest games in the world. Jennifer carefully drove her '99 Honda Accord across the street to McDonald's, just to use the restaurant's Wi-Fi to make sure she hadn't been wrong.
Read more: http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/18121761/the-true-story-nintendo-most-coveted-game?source=Snapzu

It will soon be illegal to punish customers who criticize businesses online

Consumer Review Fairness Act bans customer gag clauses, awaits Obama signature.
Read more: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/11/congress-passes-law-protecting-right-to-post-negative-online-reviews/?source=Snapzu

Ivanka Trump’s Terrible Book Helps Explain the Trump-Family Ethos

What can a woman born with a silver spoon in her mouth teach people who use plastic forks to eat salads at their desks?
Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/ivanka-trumps-terrible-book-helps-explain-the-trump-family-ethos?source=Snapzu

NASA study confirms rift in Antarctic ice shelf

Ice loss could be happening much faster than previously thought. By Laurel Kornfeld.
Read more: https://thespacereporter.com/2016/11/nasa-study-confirms-rift-antarctic-ice-shelf/?source=Snapzu

Scientists record biggest ever coral die-off on Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Warm seas around Australia's Great Barrier Reef have killed two-thirds of a 700-km (435 miles) stretch of coral in the past nine months, the worst die-off ever recorded on the World Heritage site, scientists who surveyed the reef said on Tuesday.
Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/scientists-record-biggest-ever-coral-die-off-on-australias-great-barrier-reef/ar-AAkSwe7?ocid=spartanntp?source=Snapzu

Privacy Activists Urge Obama To Trump-Proof the NSA Before Leaving

A chorus of voices beg Obama to do something—anything—to stem potential abuse. By Kevin Collier.
Read more: http://www.vocativ.com/378399/obama-trump-proof-nsa/?source=Snapzu

Michigan plans to sell 100 million gallons of groundwater to Nestle for $200

Nestle, which is arguably the world’s leading advocate of water privatization, is about to acquire 100 million gallons of drinking water in Michigan. By Tom Cahill.
Read more: http://usuncut.com/climate/michigan-sell-off-100-million-gallons-water-nestle-200/?source=Snapzu

GATLINBURG - 9PM UPDATE: Wildfires driven by wind gusts are prompting the evacuations of multiple areas of Gatlinburg including downtown Gatlinburg, fire officials said Monday night.
Read more: http://www.wbir.com/news/local/gatlinburg-neighborhood-voluntarily-evacuating-due-to-fire/357115866?source=Snapzu

On Bullshit and the Oath of Office

The “LOL Nothing Matters” Presidency. By Quinta Jurecic.
Read more: https://www.lawfareblog.com/bullshit-and-oath-office-lol-nothing-matters-presidency?source=Snapzu

Maybe the Internet Isn’t a Fantastic Tool for Democracy After All

Fake news is the easiest of the problems to fix.
Read more: http://nymag.com/selectall/2016/11/maybe-the-internet-isnt-a-tool-for-democracy-after-all.html?mid=twitter_nymag?source=Snapzu

Monday, 28 November 2016

Iraqi forces grind on in east Mosul as political rift opens over Shi’ite militias

Iraq’s sectarian political leaders have plunged back into a dispute over the status of Shi’ite armed groups, undermining efforts to reunite the country as its troops press on with the assault of Mosul, Islamic State’s biggest stronghold. By Michael Georgy, Isabel Coles and John Davison.
Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-iraq-idUKKBN13M0PH?source=Snapzu

Spomenik Database | The Monumental History of Yugoslavia

The Spomenik Database explores the Yugoslavia's historic and enigmatic endeavor into grand-scale post-modern monument building from the 1960-1980s.
Read more: http://www.spomenikdatabase.org/?source=Snapzu

China Asks Muslims To Stand Against Religious Extremism And For Socialism With Chinese Traits

Wang Zuo'an, chief of the State Administration for Religious Affairs in China, asked Muslim citizens to stand against religious extremism. He also said the development of Islam in China should stick to socialism with Chinese characteristics, as per a Xinhua news report. Wang also asked for new mosques to exhibit Chinese features rather than copied foreign architectural styles.
Read more: http://swarajyamag.com/insta/china-asks-muslims-to-stand-against-religious-extremism-and-for-socialism-with-chinese-traits?source=Snapzu

Irish father and daughter survive plane crash after 'complete engine failure'

Pilots John and Isabella Ordway suffered complete engine failure 80 miles from Nairobi. Writing on Facebook Mr Ordway, from Co Cork, described their terrifying ordeal. "We had a complete engine failure 80 miles from Nairobi (the end part for our vintage air rally) and Had to crash land. Both bella and I are thankfully fine. The plane was destroyed but we walked away without a scratch.
Read more: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/irish-father-and-daughter-survive-plane-crash-after-complete-engine-failure-35250035.html?source=Snapzu

Obama Expands War With Al Qaeda to Include Shabab in Somalia

The administration’s move to stretch a 2001 war authorization will strengthen Donald J. Trump’s authority to combat thousands of Somali militants, and has drawn objections from some experts. By Charlie Savage, Eric Schmitt and Mark Mazzettinov.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/27/us/politics/obama-expands-war-with-al-qaeda-to-include-shabab-in-somalia.html?source=Snapzu

Theranos Sued for Alleged Fraud by Robertson Stephens Co-Founder Colman

Robertson Stephens & Co. co-founder Robert Colman accused Theranos Inc. in a lawsuit filed Monday of making false and misleading claims about its operations and technology while soliciting money from investors.
Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/theranos-sued-for-alleged-fraud-by-robertson-stephens-co-founder-colman-1480364852?source=Snapzu