Morning Media Summary

Tech:

Google accuses Microsoft on search data:
“Google has accused arch-rival Microsoft of plagiarising its internet search results in an attempt to narrow the big lead that Google still holds in the highly profitable search business.”

AT&T faces lawsuit over billing:
“AT&T is facing a lawsuit over one Californian’s data bill that could blossom into a costly class-action case, the plaintiff’s attorneys said.”

U.S. Resume Controversial File-Sharing Domain Seizures (Updated):
“Rojadirecta is known as one of the world’s major Internet sports broadcast indexes. The site links to broadcasts of many popular soccer matches plus other sporting events including NBA, MLB, NFL, NPB, IPL.”

Global Warming / Environment / Energy:

An Answer for Bill (By Al Gore):
“Last week on his show Bill O’Reilly asked, “Why has southern New York turned into the tundra?” and then said he had a call into me. I appreciate the question.”

Don’t panic: oil traders adapt to $100 a barrel:
“This, time, though, even as oil moves above $101 a barrel to trade at its highest in more than two years, the message from analysts and traders is “stay calm”. Prices are heading higher, but are unlikely to challenge the record high of July 2008. Nobody is panicking.”

House panel endorses extending wind moratorium:
“A House committee on Tuesday endorsed legislation that would extend a moratorium on the ability of wind farm developers to forcibly take land so they can stretch power lines to their turbines.”

Insurance / Gambling:

US House Oversight Committee Urged To Review UIGEA:
“The government is attempting to address laws that are stopping the growth of businesses and jobs in the country. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is one of those laws that millions of Americans would like to see eliminated.”

Health / Safety:

Tobacco cessation versus the Med School?:
“A House committee is considering a plan to divert money from the tobacco settlement to a project at the University of North Dakota Medical School. The project is designed to increase the number of doctors who go to rural areas — and to beef-up other medical training. It also includes a new building. But some of the money would come from part of the settlement that voters in 2008 decided should be spent specifically on tobacco prevention and cessation programs. And as Prairie Public’s Dave Thompson reports, supporters will need a two-thirds vote of both houses to overturn that initiative.”

Economics:

Three possible Freddie and Fannie reform scenarios:
“On February 9, House Republicans will begin their effort to reform government sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the giant mortgage lenders many blame for the 2008 financial collapse. The firms were both left out of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill that was passed last summer to remedy the causes of the most recent recession.”

Legal:

President Obama snubs Issa on first major document deadline:
“TheDC Exclusive – The Obama administration snubbed top GOP oversight official Rep. Darrell Issa on his first major document deadline as new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, sending a short letter promising to comply in response to a major information request that was due Saturday at noon.”

Labor:

Stop the hate campaign against law-abiding American business:
“The SEIU has been waging open-borders attacks on restaurant chain Chipotle simply because the company complied with federal immigration law and fired employees unable to provide valid documentation that they’re here legally. Less than two weeks ago, the Purple Army dispatched its goons to Minneapolis to disrupt business at a downtown Chipotle. Similar protests were staged at Chipotle locations in CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, IL, NY and VA. Judging from this video, the Big Labor business-bashers are having quite the party making a living by impeding the work of others:”

Top Union Boss Calls for Violence:
“We Have an Agenda Worth Fighting For… Even If We Have to Take to the Streets and Do What Needs to be Done” (Video)
“Recently at the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit, Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers called for violence:”

Transportation/ Land Use:

China to sell bullet train technology:

“China is ready to sell its high-speed bullet train technology to other countries, authorities said.”