Morning Media Summary

Tech:

People have “right to be forgotten” online, says EU:
“The European Commission wants to strengthen data protection rules to give more power to consumers – including the right to be forgotten online.”

Lack of Flash Gives MacBook Air Two Extra Hours of Battery Life:
“We sometimes sneer at cellphones equipped with Adobe’s Flash browser plug-in: On tiny, energy-efficient mobile processors, the plug-in spikes CPU-usage, causing a big drain on battery life and often making the poor host browser so stuttery and unresponsive that it is rendered useless. But what of full-sized computers? They can handle it, right?”

Apple To Release The iPhone 5 On June, 6 2011 At Moscone Center?:

“Trying to guesstimate the iPhone 5 release date is not as difficult as one might think given Apple’s propensity to stick to cycles and its tendency to launch iPhones on a Monday.”

Global Warming / Environment / Energy:

Could you give up washing?: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/nov/02/give-up-washing-showering
“In a bid to reduce his carbon footprint to the absolute minimum, environmentalist Donnachadh McCarthy, 51, limits his showers to about twice a week.”

Fremont solar panel makes Solyndra scales back expansion plans:

“Solyndra Inc., the high-flying solar panel maker once touted by President Barack Obama as a model for a green energy future, said Wednesday it has scuttled its factory expansion in Fremont, a move that will stop the company’s plans to hire 1,000 workers.”

Insurance / Gambling:

Arbib urges more cohesion in fight against gambling-driven corruption:
“THE states and territories must work together and with federal crime-fighting bodies against match fixing, according to the federal Minister for Sport, Mark Arbib.”

Health / Safety:

Privacy advocates fear massive fed health database:
“Several privacy groups have raised alarms over plans by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to build a database that would contain information about the healthcare claims of millions of Americans.”

Citing health overhaul, AARP hikes employee costs:
“AARP’s endorsement helped secure passage of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. Now the seniors’ lobby is telling its employees their insurance costs will rise partly as a result of the law.”

Economics:

U.S. Joblessness Likely Held Near 10%, Highlighting Fed Worry:
“Unemployment probably held near 10 percent in October, evidence of what the Federal Reserve called the “disappointingly slow” U.S. recovery, economists said before a report today.”

AIG posts massive loss on sale, goodwill charges:
“Bailed-out insurer American International Group (AIG.N) lost more than $2 billion in the third quarter as charges for the discount sale of its consumer finance unit offset growth in its general insurance business.”
Obama: “Leadership Isn’t Just Legislation”:
“After a suffering a “shellacking” in the midterm elections, President Obama acknowledges what many have seen as his chief weakness – failing to sell the importance of several legislative milestones to the American people.”

Brazil ready to retaliate for US move in ‘currency war’:
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Don’t Do It Yourself: 8 Jobs You Should Leave to the Pros (TAXES MAKE THE LIST):
“Yes, there are software programs out there that make doing your taxes as simple as plugging in numbers, but these tools have their limits. Even if you have a fairly simple tax status and don’t make mistakes with the software, you could be missing out on money that’s legitimately yours if you don’t claim it. “Sometimes there are deductions and credits a software program might not point out,” says Michael Eixon, director for planning and wealth management at Carl Domino Inc. in Palm Beach, Fla.”

Legal:

Consumers’ right to file class actions is in danger (GOOD!!!):
“It hasn’t gotten a lot of press, but a case involving AT&T that goes before the U.S. Supreme Court next week has sweeping ramifications for potentially millions of consumers.”

Labor:

Delta flight attendants reject union:
“Delta Air Lines says its flight attendants have voted to forego union representation.”

Transportation/ Land Use:

Mica: Private sector must kick in money for high-speed rail:
“The Republican leader expected to chair the powerful House transportation committee in January said Thursday he remains supportive of the Tampa to Orlando segment of Florida’s proposed high-speed rail project.”