Morning Media Summary

Tech:

House bill would give DHS authority over private sector networks:
“A new bill unveiled Wednesday by House Homeland Security chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) would give the Department of Homeland Security the authority to enforce federal cybersecurity standards on private sector companies deemed critical to national security.”

Sources: FCC chief to move on net neutrality proposal:
“Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski is putting together a net neutrality proposal and plans to take action on the controversial issue as early as next month, according to several sources with knowledge of the situation.”

Web Censorship Bill Sails Through Senate Committee:
“On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill that would give the Attorney General the right to shut down websites with a court order if copyright infringement is deemed “central to the activity” of the site — regardless if the website has actually committed a crime. The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA) is among the most draconian laws ever considered to combat digital piracy, and contains what some have called the “nuclear option,” which would essentially allow the Attorney General to turn suspected websites “off.””

Hacker arrested after cracking Federal Reserve:
“A federal grand jury has indicted a Malaysian citizen for allegedly hacking into a computer network at the Federal Reserve Bank and stealing more than 400,000 credit and debit card numbers. Federal prosecutors also allege Lin Mun Poo, 32, made a career of compromising systems at financial institutions, major corporations and defense contractors. They say he sold or traded the information he found. Also according to the Justice Department, “in approximately August 2010, he hacked into the computer system of a Department of Defense contractor that provides systems management for military transport and other military operations, potentially compromising highly sensitive military logistics information.” Poo was arrested when he traveled to the U.S. in October. If convicted of the most serious charges, he faces up to 10 years in prison.”

Global Warming / Environment / Energy:

Get Ready For the UN “Climate Debt” Scam:
“Our friends at the UN just won’t let “climate change” go. They can’t. There’s too much money in it. Of course, it’s the perfect vehicle for those who believe passionately in wealth redistribution. It can’t be definitively proved nor disproved. So many rich nations to pluck and even more poor, underdeveloped nations clamoring for the pluckings.”

Insurance / Gambling:

Campbell council considering Internet gaming cafes:
“Mayor George Krinos told council at its caucus meeting Wednesday that he got three calls from people who would like to open Internet cafes, which let customers buy Internet time to go on websites and play games. Krinos said the city could make money off the cafes in permit fees.”

Health / Safety:

Is Four Loko dangerous? The FDA doesn’t say:
“Since Americans have been mixing rum with caffeinated cola beverages for over a century, and in recent years, voraciously downing Red Bull vodkas, you’d think the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in breathlessly moving to ban Four Loko and other alcoholic energy drinks this week, would have distinguished the two.”

Four Loko ban fuels buying binge:
“While federal officials announced plans this week to outlaw alcoholic energy drinks like Four Loko, five 20-somethings living in a Columbia Heights group house hatched a plan of their own: Anytime someone sees Four Loko for sale, buy as much as possible.”

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans had mental illness in 2009:
“More than 45 million Americans, or 20 percent of U.S. adults, had some form of mental illness last year, and 11 million had a serious illness, U.S. government researchers reported on Thursday.”

Economics:

‘Refudiation’ of $600 Billion Printed Out of Thin Air:
“While on a United Airlines flight from New York City to Los Angeles this week, a fellow passenger handed me a copy of the The Wall Street Journal Nov. 15 op-ed by Alan Blinder—”In Defense of Ben Bernanke”—and suggested that I write a letter to the editor if I disagreed with the Princeton University professor’s claims. Having read the piece, I told the passenger over my shoulder, “You bet I will.””

Legal:

California Students Beat Cop With His Own Baton During Tuition Hike Riots (Video):
“Student protesters in California beat a cop with his own baton during rioting yesterday.”

Don’t touch my junk:
“Ah, the airport, where modern folk heroes are made. The airport, where that inspired flight attendant did what everyone who’s ever been in the spam-in-a-can crush of a flying aluminum tube – where we collectively pretend that a clutch of peanuts is a meal and a seat cushion is a “flotation device” – has always dreamed of doing: pull the lever, blow the door, explode the chute, grab a beer, slide to the tarmac and walk through the gates to the sanity that lies beyond. Not since Rick and Louis disappeared into the Casablanca fog headed for the Free French garrison in Brazzaville has a stroll on the tarmac thrilled so many.”

Tom Friedman Was Unavailable for Comment: Chinese woman gets sent to labor camp for using Twitter:
“In case you’d forgotten, the communist regime in China is a bunch of oppressive monsters:”

Another TSA Outrage:
“First, everyone was forced to get off the plane–even though the plane wasn’t refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine. It’s probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren’t loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.”

House GOP: No U.S. Funds for NPR:
“House Republicans voted unanimously on Thursday to deny federal funds for the radio broadcaster. The measure, however, was defeated, 239-171 as Democrats opposed it.”

Woman says her Lambert security screening was sexual assault:
“More Americans are growing angrier, over what the Transportation Security Administration, admits are more intrusive security put downs at airports.”

Ex-China nuclear power boss given life sentence:
“The former head of China’s nuclear power program was sentenced Friday to life in prison on charges of corruption, in an apparent effort to sweep away graft in a key area of the economy that is undergoing massive expansion.”

Ohio’s tobacco settlement money won’t be spent on prevention:
“Though Ohio will collect $1.2 billion this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and annual taxes on tobacco products, none of that money will go to fund smoking prevention programs.”

Labor:

Hospital, union to return to talks:
“Both McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center and the union representing more than 200 service workers who held a one-day strike at the Springfield hospital on Wednesday said they held their ground.”

Transportation/ Land Use:

Larsen Seeks Additional Funding for High-Speed Rail:
“Congressman Rick Larsen says he wants the northwest region of Washington to get more federal money for high-speed rail.”