The Slow Death of ‘Do Not Track’

Four years ago, the Federal Trade Commission announced, with fanfare, a plan to let American consumers decide whether to let companies track their online browsing and buying habits. The plan would let users opt out of the collection of data about their habits through a setting in their web browsers, without having to decide on a site-by-site basis.

Read more: http://snapzu.com/hiihii/the-slow-death-of-do-not-track

Visa and MasterCard quit Crimea over US sanctions

Visa and MasterCard said they can no longer support their payment cards being used in Crimea. The move by the world’s biggest payment card companies follows the latest round of US sanctions imposed earlier this month over Russia’s annexation of the peninsula in March. The United States has prohibited US-registered companies from investing in Crimea...

Read more: http://snapzu.com/junglman/visa-and-mastercard-quit-crimea-over-us-sanctions

Chicago gave hundreds of high-risk kids a summer job. Violent crime arrests plummeted.

In a year full of distressing stories — especially about race, crime and violence in urban neighborhoods — this one points to some hope. Earlier this December, we covered a summer jobs program in Chicago that appeared to lead to fewer teenage arrests for violent crime. Our original story, republished below, also reminds us that policy solutions are possible — and possibly even inexpensive.

Read more: http://snapzu.com/rhingo/chicago-gave-hundreds-of-high-risk-kids-a-summer-job-violent-crime-arrests-plummeted

Japan Approves $29 Billion Spending Package to Boost Economy

Japan’s government approved a 3.5 trillion yen ($29 billion) fiscal stimulus package to boost the economy after April’s sales tax hike caused consumption to slump.

Read more: http://snapzu.com/wildcat/japan-approves-29-billion-spending-package-to-boost-economy

Cops turn backs on de Blasio at executed officer's funeral

Mayor de Blasio tried to make peace with the NYPD Saturday, but again collided with the Blue Wall of Resentment. As he took the podium Saturday at the funeral of slain Officer Rafael Ramos, thousands of cops outside the church turned their backs to the video monitors showing the mayor giving his eulogy inside.

Read more: http://snapzu.com/roxxy/cops-turn-backs-on-de-blasio-at-executed-officers-funeral

Colo. couple arrested for stealing Christmas decorations

They're not the brightest of bulbs. A Colorado Springs couple was arrested after getting caught with $2,000 worth of stolen Christmas decorations in their front yard, police said. Carrie Carley, 42, and her 18-year-old husband, Jeremy Lewallen, were charged with stealing from 13 neighbors Dec. 19.

Read more: http://snapzu.com/geoleo/colo-couple-arrested-for-stealing-christmas-decorations

Russia says to supply coal, electricity to Ukraine

Russia has agreed on a new deal to supply coal and electricity to Ukraine, which is struggling with a lack of raw fuel for power plants due to a separatist conflict in the industrial east, Russian officials said on Saturday. The move comes a day after Kiev said it would suspend train and bus services to Crimea, effectively creating a transportation blockade to and from the region annexed by Moscow in March this year. Kiev has briefly cut off electricity to Crimea before.

Read more: http://snapzu.com/wildcard/russia-says-to-supply-coal-electricity-to-ukraine