Today’s Links: July 5, 2012

OPINION

DAVID THIER: “The Web for the Neighborhood”
“In 2011, ‘I Wish This Was’ made the jump from the storefront to the Internet and became Neighborland. Like the storefronts, it’s a sounding board for a better community, except now it’s moving at broadband speeds. People are still asking for buses and groceries, but people are also asking for computer science degrees at Tulane, recycling programs and zoning ordinances And the right people are listening. The neighborhoods where it has been launched are changing at breakneck speeds, and Neighborland is hoping to give their residents a stronger voice in how that happens.”

A BARTON HINKLE: “Are Teenagers Big Children—or Little Adults?”
“[M]ore and more children are being arrested and charged with criminal offenses for behavior that used to earn them detention – or less. Twelve-year-old Sarah Bustamantes was arrested at Fulmore Middle School in Austin, Texas, a while back because she sprayed perfume on herself after being told, ‘you smell.’ According to a study of the Texas educational system, more than 1,000 pupils have been hauled into court for offenses as minor as ‘making an unreasonable noise.’ In one instance, a pupil was arrested for throwing a paper airplane.”

JONATHAN DuHAMEL: “Climate propaganda – health scares next?”
“Concern over climate change is cooling with the public. What is an alarmist to do? Some researchers have a suggestion. A letter in the journal Climatic Change , titled ‘A public health frame arouses hopeful emotions about climate change,’ suggests promoting global-warming related health scares to engage the public. […] Notice the goal of the paper is to elicit emotions rather than rational thinking. The researchers studied the best way to shape global warming propaganda to produce alarmist concern, in other words, how to best manipulate your thinking.”

NEWS

FIREWORKS – Oregon Town Cancels Fireworks to Spare Sea Birds
“An Oregon town has reportedly canceled its annual fireworks show out of concern the Fourth of July pyrotechnics will scare sea birds roosting nearby. Town officials in Depoe Bay have announced the cancellation of the annual pre-Independence Day fireworks show on July 3 following pressure from federal wildlife managers who said the noise disrupts sea birds in the area, the Oregonian reports.”

IMMIGRATION – In California, immigration bill designed as the ‘anti-Arizona’
“While America’s debate over immigration has been dominated recently by crackdowns in states like Arizona and Alabama, California legislators are trying to turn that tide with a bill to protect illegal immigrants that they dub the ‘anti-Arizona.'”

INTERNET – Malware May Knock Thousands off the Internet Monday
“The warnings about the Internet problem have been splashed across Facebook and Google. Internet service providers have sent notices, and the FBI set up a special website. But tens of thousands of Americans may still lose their Internet service Monday unless they do a quick check of their computers for malware that could have taken over their machines more than a year ago.”