Morning Media Summary
Tech:
New, more effective optical fibers have semiconductive core:
“Fiber optic cables can transmit over a terabyte of information per second – but that doesn’t mean there still isn’t room for improvement. One of those improvements, which was officially announced today, involves replacing the silica glass core of fiber optic strands with semiconductive zinc selenide. This new class of fiber optics, invented and created at Penn State University, is said to “allow for a more effective and liberal manipulation of light.” The technology could have applications in the fields of medicine, defense, and environmental monitoring.”
How to protect your privacy and make money doing it:
“Sounds like an infomercial doesn’t it? You too can enhance your privacy and make money from the comfort of your own home. No, you don’t have to stuff envelopes, sell Amway products, or become a money mule for Eastern European scam artists.”
Google goes off-road: Now it straps Street View cameras to Tricycles to look around parks and footpaths:
“Google is extending its Street View website with photographs of off-road destinations that have previously not appeared online – by using specially-adapted tricycles.”
Global Warming / Environment / Energy:
Global warming means more snowstorms: scientists:
“Climate change is not only making the planet warmer, it is also making snowstorms stronger and more frequent, US scientists said on Tuesday.”
Insurance / Gambling:
States Make Play for Web Gambling:
“Efforts to legalize online gambling in the U.S. are moving to the states as lawmakers roll the dice on bills that aim to steer around federal laws effectively prohibiting Internet wagering.”
Health / Safety:
Will Smoking Cuts Add to Health Care Costs?:
“Finding ways to cut health care costs is all the rage under the Pink Dome — and curbing smoking is a proven way to do it. But both the House and Senate budget proposals slash tobacco cessation programs by more than 80 percent, or $20 million over the biennium.”
US health officials on alert over measles infection:
“US health officials are warning air travelers about possible exposure to measles, after a woman infected with the highly communicable disease traveled in Britain and several US states.”
Economics:
Oil, gold gain on Middle East tension:
“Copper gave up three days of gains to end lower on those same fears and as rising oil prices ignited inflation concerns.”
Legal:
Sands China shares hit by SEC probe of parent:
“Shares of Sands China fell sharply in Hong Kong on news that Las Vegas Sands, the casino operator that is its main shareholder, was being investigated by the US regulator over its compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits bribing foreign officials.”
Blago juror names under wrap until day after trial:
“A federal judge says the names of jurors in the retrial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich won’t be released until the day after the proceedings end.”
Labor:
Opinion: Whitewashing Wisconsin’s Protests:
“For the past two weeks, the news media have been swarming over Madison, Wis., covering every detail of the public-sector union protests against Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget cuts, as well as other similar protests”
Do American’s Really Understand Union Controversy?:
“John Stossel hits the streets to find out.”
Transportation/ Land Use:
Gov. Scott Unswayed By Secret High-Speed Rail Meeting With Lakeland’s Mayor, Others:
“Mayor Gow Fields met with Gov. Rick Scott on Monday night in a secret meeting in Orlando. Fields and mayors from Tampa and Orlando united to try to press Scott into accepting $2.4 billion in federal high-speed rail money.”