Morning Media Summary

Tech:

Apple Sued Over Apps Privacy Issues; Google May Be Next:
“Two separate groups of iPhone and iPad users have sued Apple alleging that certain software applications were passing personal user information to third-party advertisers without consent.”

Seventh Circuit: Website operator does not have to obey injunction in defamation case:

“Plaintiffs got an injunction that ordered defendants to remove defamatory content from the web that defendants had posted. When the defendants did not comply with the injunction, plaintiffs asked the court to enforce the injunction against Ripoffreport.com, the website on which some of the defamatory content appeared.”

Amazon in Book Banning Business:
“On December 9, 2010, I was contacted by CreateSpace (Amazon’s Print on Demand service) who publishes my print books. They informed me that my title, Back to the Garden, had been removed for violating their “content guidelines.” When I consulted their guidelines I found them so vague as to be useless—were they saying my content was illegal? Public domain? Stolen? Offensive? (All of these were on the list). When I inquired as to the specifics of the violation, they were not forthcoming, and sent a form letter response stating that Amazon “may, in its sole discretion, at any time, refuse to list or distribute any content that it deems inappropriate.””

Global Warming / Environment / Energy:

Green Scotland Relies on French Nuclear Power During Deep Freeze:
“Scotland’s wind farms froze up in the record freeze this month forcing the government to rely on power from French nuclear plants.”

Texas, EPA fight over regulations grows fierce:
“A longstanding tit-for-tat between Texas and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over how to regulate pollution has grown fierce in recent months, leaving industry frustrated and allowing some plants and refineries to spew more toxic waste into the air, streams and lakes than what is federally acceptable.”

Insurance / Gambling:

Bentley: Attorney general to control task illegal gambling task force:
“Gov.-elect Robert Bentley said Wednesday that he would hand over the Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling to Attorney General-Elect Luther Strange when they both take office on Jan. 17.”

Stumbo says no gambling legislation this session:
“House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Wednesday that the legislature is unlikely to tackle any gambling related legislation this session, which begins next week.”

Health / Safety:

Tales of Socialized Medicine: Man’s Penis Amputated following Misdiagnosis:
“It remains unclear if the man would have been able to keep his penis had the cancer been detected sooner.”

Economics:

Stocks point slightly lower ahead of economic data:
“Stocks are looking ready to start the day slightly lower as traders seem nervous ahead of the year’s last set of economic data.”

Legal:

Feds probe Christine O’Donnell’s Campaign Spending:

“Federal authorities have opened a criminal investigation of Delaware Republican Christine O’Donnell to determine if the former Senate candidate broke the law by using campaign money to pay personal expenses, according to a person with knowledge of the investigation.”

Rig Owner Refuses To Honor Oil Spill Subpoenas:
“The owner of the rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico is refusing to honor subpoenas from a federal board that has challenged the company’s involvement in monitoring the testing of a key piece of equipment that failed to stop the oil spill disaster.”

Ohio Court Rules Tobacco Settlement Funds Fair Game:
“Ohio is calling it a major victory for residents while anti-smoking proponents are burned up over a court ruling that said it was okay for the state to spend tobacco settlement funds however they choose. On Wednesday, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that, according to the Columbus Dispatch, state officials “acted legally when they nearly emptied a fund intended for anti-smoking programs and earmarked the money for unrelated health-care purposes such as expanding Medicaid coverage.””

Labor:

Sampling of Editorials from NY State:
“When Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and the heads of New York State United Teachers, 1199 SEIU and the Civil Service Employees Association come out against a tax cap, you’ve got to consider the possibility that the cap is a good idea.”

Transportation/ Land Use:

Vos upset at Democrats over bumper sticker:
“Robin Vos, a Racine Republican, is taking offense at a Democratic bumper sticker he claims shows a train slamming into Gov.-elect Scott Walker’s head in a bloody crash. He thinks Democrats should stop offering it.”