Morning Media Summary
Tech:
Why Microsoft paid $8.5 billion for skype, which is mostly free:
“But in the business world, it’s an unusual business model. Only about 9 million of Skype’s 145 million users pay for use. So why did Microsoft pony up $8.5 billion for a service that’s almost free – and what can Microsoft do to improve that bottom line?”
Global Warming / Environment / Energy:
Senate Dems split with Obama on transferring tax credit revenue from oil companies to alternative energy:
“Democrats agree that it’s time to end tax credits and write-offs for the most profitable oil companies, but when it comes to spending the billions that would be added to government coffers if the bill passes, Congress is ignoring President Obama’s call to use the extra money to subsidize alternative energy.”
Insurance / Gambling:
Interstate betting troubles WA government:
“West Australian Sports, Racing and Gaming Minister Terry Waldron is concerned the integrity of sport is being put at risk by a lack of regulation both in other states and internationally.”
Health / Safety:
Ill. Lawmaker says raising obese kids should cost parents at tax time:
“An Illinois lawmaker says parents who have obese children should lose their state tax deduction.”
Economics:
Irish Bombshell: Government Raids Private Pensions To Pay For Spending:
“The Irish government plans to institute a tax on private pensions to drive jobs growth, according to its jobs program strategy, delivered today. ”
Forbes Predicts U.S. Gold Standard Within 5 Years:
“A return to the gold standard by the United States within the next five years now seems likely, because that move would help the nation solve a variety of economic, fiscal, and monetary ills, Steve Forbes predicted during an exclusive interview this week with HUMAN EVENTS.”
Legal:
TSA gets flack for baby’s KC airport patdown:
“Twitter user Jacob Jester, who describes himself as an “evangelist, founder of reaching innovations, son of god, husband to kristin, father to jude and cruz, pastor of @theremixlife”, posted the photo over the weekend, with the description: “Just saw #tsa agents patting down a little baby at @KCIAirport Pretty sure that’s extreme. Check the pic.””
Labor:
NUHW Defeats SEIU at CPMC, Boosting Community Struggle Over Proposed S.F. Hospital:
“In a victory that reshapes the community struggle around CPMC’s proposed new Cathedral Hill facility, NUHW defeated SEIU-UHW 284-237 and now represents 755 employees at Davies, Pacific and California hospitals. Whereas SEIU-UHW strongly backed Sutter Health (the parent of CPMC)’s development plans, NUHW has strongly and publicly backed the coalition’s demands that CPMC adequately address health access, housing and transit issues. The SEIU-Sutter alliance around the proposed new Cathedral Hill development was so strong that NUHW’s John Borsos believes that workers saw SEIU as the “bosses union,” and voted for new union representation. NUHW’s victory helps unite organized labor behind the community position, bolstering the coalition as CPMC’s Cathedral Hill project faces Board of Supervisors approval later this year.”
Transportation/ Land Use:
Beijing-Shanghai high speed railway: key facts:
“The Beijing-Shanghai high speed train will run at speeds between 155mph – 185mph and provide three services: “non-stop” (which actually will stop in the old imperial capital of Nanjing), a medium-fast service stopping in provincial capitals and a “full service” stopping in 24 stations along the line.”
Ground-Effect Robot Could Be Key To Future High-Speed Trains:
“High speed trains are huge in Asia, but barring a catastrophe, most of them are designed to stay firmly on the ground, running on rails. There are plenty of good reasons not to run on rails, though, one of which is that you can go much faster without all that friction. This is the idea behind maglev trains, but there’s still a lot of wind drag that crops up between the bottom of a maglev train and its track that makes them less efficient (which combined with other problems make maglevs very costly).”