Morning Media Summary

Tech:

Opps: No copied Java code or weapons of mass destruction found in Android:
?Sometimes the sheer wrongness of what is posted on the web leaves us speechless. Especially when it?s picked up and repeated as gospel by otherwise reputable sites like Engadget. ?Google copied Oracle?s Java code, pasted in a new license, and shipped it,? they reported this morning.?

Exclusive: Brown asks Scotland Yard to investigate if he was hacked:
?Gordon Brown has asked the police to investigate whether he was the victim of phone hacking, The Independent on Sunday has learnt. Mr Brown has written at least one letter to the Metropolitan Police over concerns that his phone was targeted when he was Chancellor, during the latter stages of Andy Coulson’s reign as editor of the News of the World. Mr Brown’s aides last night declined to comment. It is understood that Scotland Yard sought clarification from the former prime minister after his request.?

Amazon targets grocery sector with free delivery:
?Amazon, the online retailer, is developing a free weekly home delivery service in the US that could support its drive to increase online sales of low-priced goods, such as health and beauty, babycare and groceries.?

Global Warming / Environment / Energy:

New record cold temperatures Minnesota:
?From NWS Duluth, MN, an old record beaten by five degrees:?

With climate bill dead, Obama faces pressure from greens on address:
“President Obama will face a markedly different ? and more constrained ? political environment when he delivers his second State of the Union speech Tuesday.?

Climate change: Dogs of law are off the leash:
“From being a marginal and even mocked issue, climate-change litigation is fast emerging as a new frontier of law where some believe hundreds of billions of dollars are at stake.”

Insurance / Gambling:

Virgin, Electronic Arts bring bets to video games:
?Gambling has come to the video-game console in your living room.?

Health / Safety:

Dick Durbin Admits Senate May Face Health Care Repeal Vote (Video):
?Even though the “Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act” has no chance of passing the Senate and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has repeatedly said he won’t be bringing it to the floor for a vote, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) admitted on Sunday that Republicans may be able to force a vote on full repeal. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also vowed that Republicans will continue try to dismantle the law “piece by piece.”?

Economics:

GOP budget cuts hit Democratic campaign cash sources hard:
?There are at least two ways of looking at the fact the $2.5 trillion in spending cuts proposed last week by leaders of the House Republican Study Committee will hurt one of the biggest sources of Democratic campaign cash.?

Obama to Push for Massive Spending Cuts in State of the Union Speech:
?Sorry, did I say cuts? I meant increases, but you probably already figured that out:?

America’s Economy: The Ninth-Freest:
?America has slipped one spot since last year ? from earth?s eighth-freest economy in 2010, according to the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom. This 17th annual report, jointly published by the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal, sifts through the wreckage caused by government?s turbocharged acceleration during the Bush-Obama years. America?s slump in the rankings (we?re down from No. 5 in 2008) confirms the urgent need for Washington to revitalize free markets and restrain government intervention.?

The World from the Hill: U.N. funding an early target for House Republican:
?A key House Republican is quickly pressing forward with her goals to scale back U.S. funding for the United Nations. ?

Legal:

Domestic use of aerial drones by law enforcement likely to prompt privacy debate:
?The suspect’s house, just west of this city, sat on a hilltop at the end of a steep, exposed driveway. Agents with the Texas Department of Public Safety believed the man inside had a large stash of drugs and a cache of weapons, including high-caliber rifles.?

Labor:

Alta Bates Summit workers remain with union:
?Nearly 1,100 workers at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland and Berkeley have decided to remain with Service Employees International Union instead of switching to a rival group.?

Transportation/ Land Use:

Deadline pressure threatens high-speed rail:
?California’s high-speed rail project has a tight schedule to keep: It must meet a series of deadlines to keep $2.5 billion in federal money. But some experts say the program already is running late.?