Morning Media Summary

Tech:

The Cloud Darkens:
“The Internet is getting scary. In recent weeks, hackers known as Lulz Security attacked the Web sites of Sony, the United States Senate, the C.I.A., PBS, among others. They stole names, e-mail addresses and passwords of millions of users and published them online. Then, last weekend, they regrouped under a new name.”

Amazon: associates program in California to be terminated (Update: Gov. signs tax law:
“Amazon announced today that its Associates program is to be terminated in California, in response to a new sales tax bill there. The move appears to be pre-emptive hardball to try and avert the bill being signed into law.”

Global Warming / Environment / Energy:

Why The Global Warming Agenda Is Wrong:
“Dr. Roy W. Spencer, former NASA climatologist and global warming expert, reveals why Obama’s global warming agenda is misguided and wrong.”

Insurance / Gambling:

D.C.’s internet gambling plans legal, attorney general says:
“The D.C. Attorney General says plans to create hot spots in city restaurants and hotels for Internet gambling comply with federal laws.”

Health / Safety:

Long Island Officials Warn Of Rapidly Spreading Whooping Cough Virus:
“A cluster of whooping cough is growing on Long Island, with dozens of people infected by the virus.”

Economics:

Inside the Fed’s Vault: $1 Billion Worth of Unused Coins:
“In the basement of a Baltimore vault the size of a soccer field, 1 billion dollar coins are just sitting there. Thanks, Congress.”

Legal:

Microsoft admits Patriot Act can access EU-based cloud data:

“At the Office 365 launch, Gordon Frazer, managing director of Microsoft UK, gave the first admission that cloud data — regardless of where it is in the world — is not protected against the USA PATRIOT Act.”

Labor:

Inner city parents protest NAACP, teachers’ union:

“Minority parents in New York have a message for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT): you are hurting our children.”

Public sector strike hits services and schools:
“Picket lines have been set up as three teaching unions join Public and Commercial Services union members such as jobcentre and border control staff to protest at planned pension changes.”

Transportation/ Land Use:

Confucius Town Gets Makeover From Bullet-Train Philosophy:
“China’s newest high-speed railway is transforming the rural town where the philosopher Confucius was born more than 2,500 years ago.”