Morning Media Summary

Tech:

AOL at 57 cents on Dollar Gets Last, Best Hope in Private Equity: Real M&A:
“For a private equity firm that’s looking for the cheapest way to get online, AOL Inc. (AOL) is trading for 57 cents on the dollar.”

IBM ‘Synapse’ Chips Mimic Human Brain:
“Computers, like humans, can learn. But when Google tries to fill in your search box based only on a few keystrokes, or your iPhone predicts words as you type a text message, it’s only a narrow mimicry of what the human brain is capable.”

Global Warming / Environment / Energy:

Rick Perry: Climate Change a ‘Scientific Theory’:
“Texas governor questions whether U.S. should spend money to curb climate change.”

Insurance / Gambling:

Cash-starved states may run into trouble with Internet gambling:
“It’s an idea gaining currency around the country: virtual gambling as part of the antidote to local budget woes. The District of Columbia is the first to legalize it, while Iowa is studying it, and bills are pending in places like California and Massachusetts.”

Health / Safety:

Have cigarette tax increases fallen out of fashion?:
“With states looking for ways to meet budget shortfalls and the government pushing to deter Americans from consuming tobacco products, one might expect to see cigarette taxes increase.”

Economics:

Researchers: World Population to Reach 7 Billion This Year:
“The world population will reach seven billion later this year, with increases in the number of people in Africa off-setting birth rate drops elsewhere, according to a new French study published Thursday.”

Venezuela to Nationalise gold industry:
“President Hugo Chávez said on Wednesday that he will nationalise Venezuela’s gold industry in a bid to stamp out illegal mining and boost international reserves.

Legal:

Judge bounces Google’s complaint over Android code viewing:
“A U.S. trade judge has rejected Google’s move to block the testimony of a Microsoft expert witness in the latter’s 10-month dispute with Motorola over patents allegedly used by Android.”

Labor:

Allstate agents group OKs link with AFL-CIO union:
“An association of Allstate Corp. agents that long has criticized the giant insurer for treating its salesforce poorly has voted overwhelmingly to affiliate with a national union.”

Transportation/ Land Use:

Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown backs high-speed rail plan:
“Gov. Jerry Brown said Wednesday that California should press forward with its troubled high-speed rail project, despite growing criticism about the project’s management and cost.”