Un enfant prend le pistolet dans le sac de sa mère et la tue accidentellement | Dernière minute | Nice-Matin

We simply have too many guns in America.

Aleksei Navalny and Russia’s Protesters Face a Tough Battle - NYTimes.com

I don't understand Russia at all.

NYTimes: Dipping Into a French Melting Pot http://nyti.ms/1BcR4rK

NYTimes: The Scoreboards Where You Can’t See Your Score http://nyti.ms/1JVfqg0

NYTimes: Human Rights Groups in Egypt Brace for Crackdown Under New Law http://nyti.ms/1zGY9DU

Bilingual Nationhood, Canadian-Style - NYTimes.com

Good stuff.

French jobless total at new record http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30597756

French jobless total at new record http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30597756

Prosecute Torturers and Their Bosses - NYTimes.com

Yes, yes!!!!

Los Angeles, as a Pedestrian - NYTimes.com

We should see all places this way!

Journey to Reconciliation Visited Worlds of Presidents, Popes and Spies - NYTimes.com

Bravo to all involved!

Amb. Samantha Power’s father died of broken heart after she left for US - IrishCentral.com

All is not roses.

La torture est justifiée pour 51% des Américains, selon un sondage - rts.ch - info

This is no longer my country.

The Speech That Could Make Elizabeth Warren the Next President of the United States | Miles Mogulescu

I agree.

Storytelling Your Way to a Better Job or a Stronger Start-Up - NYTimes.com

I'd like to help!

"Reconnaissance de la Palestine: le Sénat vote la résolution" - Nice-Matin

I am very glad to see this advance.

C.I.A. First Planned Jails Abiding by U.S. Standards - NYTimes.com

Exactly what I said at the time.

Americans Involved in Torture Can Be Prosecuted Abroad, Analysts Say - NYTimes.com

Indeed.

NPR Search : NPR

Sure does bring back lots of memories.

Could it be?

The BBC reported today that not one of the major English or Urdhu language newspapers in Pakistan carried a story today of the Nobel Peace Prize award to Malala in Stockholm or Oslo. Amazing. Even if they do not like her, this is big Pakistani news, I think.

Brazil panel delivers report on regime brutality

It was a very sad day, first with the Senate Intelligence Committee report on torture, then this report from Brazil and finally the interview with Angeline JOLIE on NBC about the movie she has made of the man who was a prisoner for years in a Japanese camp during World War II. So much pain inflicted on other human beings. It is too much for one day.

In Seven States, Atheists Push to End Largely Forgotten Ban - NYTimes.com

It is troubling to see NC on the list.

IASC: The Hedgehog Review - Volume 16, No. 3 (Fall 2014) - Falling -

I saw him on CNN today, or perhaps it was MSNBC. It's easy to identify with this sad story. We would do ourselves a service by realizing that more often. Here is more of his story; I think I met him when he was at the Washington Post.

Why Save a Language? - NYTimes.com

Interesting.

Delta

Judge for yourself.

--

Hello Terry,

RE: Case Number 14294593

Thanks for your response sharing your dissatisfaction with the response you received. I apologize that you are still not happy.

I’m really sorry you needed to write again in reference to this matter. I wanted to be very sure I understood your email. Please know we provide safety information via the safety packet in the pocket in the seat in front of you and our flight attendants will advise the passengers also during their safety presentation onboard each aircraft if you have any additional questions.

Your patronage is appreciated and we look forward to your future travel in December. 

Regards,

LaShawn Adams

You Share, We Care

Original Message Follows: ------------------------

I believe you are WRONG on this.

Look at the airplane for this flight –

EPARTSWed Dec 17 | 8:15pm 
from New York-Kennedy, NY(JFK)

ARRIVESWed Dec 17 | 10:04pm 
at Raleigh/Durham, NC(RDU)

FLIGHTDL 2920 | 1h 49m

PLANECRJ 900 - View Seats

and you will find this…

“Life preservers are installed for flight crew, flight attendants and observer. Passengers are provided with flotation seat cushions.”

….here http://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/fsb/crj%20fsb%20r%205.htm

Please explain your answer and if I am right about it being wrong, give me the correct response that I requested.

From: Contact Delta [mailto:ContactUs.Delta@delta.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2014 4:53 PM
To: Terry MAGUIRE
Subject: RE: OCSD-General Feedback-Other (KMM40069605V44818L0KM)

Hi Terry,

RE: Case Number 14294593

I'm sorry you feel the process for contacting us is difficult. This isn't on purpose. However, there are some auto-generated emails that are sent for informational purposes only and state do not reply. We're also working through a backlog of emails and as a result aren't able to reply to emails as fast as we'd like to. Unfortunately, we're not able to retrieve your original comments to the auto-generated email in question.

Yes, life preservers are located at every seat underneath the front of the seat on every plane we fly. So, in an emergency with instructions to dawn the life preserver you would simply reached down retrieve the life preserver and secure it as instructed.

We hope to see you again on Delta soon.

Regards,

Allen Warner

You Share, We Care

Original Message Follows:

------------------------

I noted my concerns in the form that you require us to complete.

You sure do make it bureaucratic and complicated, and I forget now if there was something more that I wanted to raise. It took you a week to reply!

Oh, I do remember one thing – where, specifically, are life preservers stored on the airplane that I took from JFK back to RDU? I was distressed to read that the only life saving device at our seats on that aircraft are the seats themselves. I do not recall any instruction or information about where the actual life preservers are stored. Are there enough on board for all passengers? A flight leaving JFK for RDU spends some time over a lot of very cold ocean, especially right after takeoff.

From: Contact Delta [mailto:ContactUs.Delta@delta.com]

Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 8:36 AM

To: Terry MAGUIRE

Subject: Re: OCSD-General Feedback-Other (KMM39900840V93743L0KM)

Hello Terry,

RE: Case Number 14294593

I’m really sorry as you were unable to respond to us. I’d like to review your concerns in detail. Please reply to this email and refer to case 15160495, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. If you want to send me the info by postal mail, please use this address:

Delta Air Lines

Corporate Customer Care

Department 980

PO Box 20980

Atlanta GA 30320-2980

We value your business and will look forward to serving you for a long time to come.

Regards,

Karen M. Gomes

You Share, We Care

Original Message Follows: ------------------------

Delta Air Lines Customer Care Form

Title: Mr

First Name: Terry

Middle Name: Terry

Last Name: MAGUIRE

Suffix:

Reply-To Email Address: tmaguire@newspaper.com

Airline Program:

Frequent Flyer Number:

Address: 143 GRAYLYN DR

Address Line 2:

City: CHAPEL HILL

State/Province: NC

Postal Code/Zip: 275164456

Country: US

Telephone Country Code: |

Phone Number:

Flight Date:

Flight Number:

Origin City:

Destination City:

Confirmation Number:

Ticket Number:

Class of Travel:

Response Required: yes

Message: If you are going to send out an e-mail, set it up so someone can reply. This is really dumb! From: Auto-Reply Delta Air Lines - Prospects [mailto:support-b9asxcybfpayqkau3866bqc7gr0pu5-ar@e.delta.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2014 2:15 PM To: tmaguire@newspaper.com Subject: You've Reached an Unmonitored Account delta.com | Profile | Mileage Balance | Add to Address Book Wait, we want to hear from you, but replies to this email address are not delivered to us. Please use our online form at delta.com to contact us, and we'll get back to you. Sincerely, Delta

Submitted: Wed Nov 19 2014 14:18:44 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time)

  

Four Decades of Solitary in Louisiana - NYTimes.com

I hope we have nothing like this in NC.

Researching Your Future Neighbors - NYTimes.com

I find this whole subject fascinating ranging from what the law permits and/or requires (which continues to befuddle me) and what people want to know and can know.

Gray Hair and Silver Linings - NYTimes.com

Nice piece.

Great Vacation? Don't Brag to Your Friends - NYTimes.com

Narcissism.

Take a Walk - Chapelboro.com

Bravo!

The internet: Too much of a good thing | The Economist

Worth good reflection.

A Writer Whose Pen Never Rests, Even Facing Death - NYTimes.com

Quite a story.

Opposing Gun Measures in Washington State Draw Cash and Sow Confusion - NYTimes.com

There are too many guns in America.

Le deuxième cigarettier américain interdit de fumer à ses salariés

I see. Save their employees and visitors; kill all the customers.

Ben Bradlee, Editor Who Directed Watergate Coverage, Dies at 93 - NYTimes.com

I want to sort through my own memories of the man.

Growing Town Asks Where Guns Fit In - NYTimes.com

There must be a medical explanation for this weird behavior. These people need help.

McCrory to France, Ireland: Leave cigarette packaging alone | CharlotteObserver.com

This is nothing sort of outrageous. I intend to press the matter with the Governor's office, and get more publicity for just how much damage NC tobacco causes to people in the world. It really is unconscionable.

Getting Some 'Me' Time: Why Millennials Are So Individualistic : NPR

Pretty discouraging on many levels.

Better Ways to Learn - NYTimes.com

Good advice it would seem!

"So a student with a foreign language test should go to bed early to get the most retention from sleep, and then review in the morning."

Talking to your car can be dangerous, studies say - San Jose Mercury News

Sure seems right to me.

Reining In Egypt’s Military Aid - NYTimes.com

Ditto for the Israelis.

Who Are ‘We the People’? - NYTimes.com

Well argued.

N.C.A.A. Fan Map: How the Country Roots for College Football - NYTimes.com

Too weird for words.

A New Culture-Focused Tour of Haiti - NYTimes.com

I'd love to be involved in organizing trips like this one.

Curiosity In a Person's Brain Creates Desire to Learn and Improves Retention, Study Suggests : Science : University Herald

That's encouraging!

2 New Limits on Voting in North Carolina Are Rejected by U.S. Court - NYTimes.com

Let's hope this is the beginning of the end of the current management.

Open Payments - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

This looks valuable but clearly requires a serious effort to get into it.

LinkedIn University Rankings — Best schools for Media Professionals | LinkedIn

Good for Brown!

The top 300 Irish family names explained - Part II - IrishCentral.com

MAGUIRE does not seem to be in the top 300!

JibJab is back with a personalized GIF maker

Happy Narcissism!

Digital Medical Records Become Common, but Sharing Remains Challenging - NYTimes.com

Opportunities here on all level are being squandered.

Barrier Islands Feeling the Effects of Climate Change - NYTimes.com

Destabilizing for so many.

Kicking the Facebook Habit - NYTimes.com

So far, I have failed to get addicted, by a long shot!

The Quickening Pace of Gun Sprees - NYTimes.com

There are too many guns in America.

The Great-Power Summit Most Americans Don't Know About | Wilson Center

Agreed.

North Carolina: Autopsy Shows Inmate Died of Severe Dehydration - NYTimes.com

I think all of us in NC bear responsibility.

Harvard’s Endowment Is Bigger Than Half the World’s Economies - Business news - Boston.com

A definite WOW!

Brown’s ‘Rape List,’ Revisited - NYTimes.com

Embarrassing and inexcusable.

Wrong Turn on Syria: Helping Assad? - NYTimes.com

If we do not figure out where we want to go, we'll never know if we get "there".

Wrong Turn on Syria: No Convincing Plan - NYTimes.com

He has not convinced me so I am supporting the President on faith.

Arctic ice cap in a ‘death spiral’ | The Australian

Astounding. No Arctic ice for 4 months of the year within 5 years????

After Surgery, Surprise $117,000 Medical Bill From Doctor He Didn’t Know - NYTimes.com

I think the biggest problem is that we the patients have dropped out of the deal for our health care. We are not given an estimate up front, progress billing and a comprehensive statement at the end. It is the private affair of insurers and health care providers. That has always struck me as very dumb. We should be involved, advocating for ourselves and for benefits we might earn from insurers if successful in reducing costs.

A 50th High School Reunion, and a Generation to Follow - NYTimes.com

I can identify with this pretty soon!

The Odor Of Political Attraction : NPR

That explains a lot!

A Man Who Knew The Value Of The Human Voice : NPR

Great piece with applications nearly everywhere!

Entre États-Unis et Chine, quelle est la puissance préférée des autres pays?

This will become so much more pressing a question.

Multinational Companies Court Lower-Income Consumers - NYTimes.com

A very long time in coming.

Multinational Companies Court Lower-Income Consumers - NYTimes.com

A very long time in coming.

Is The NFL Too Big To Fail? : NPR

I agree.

terry maguire photo - Google Search

Fascinating search results!

Much at Stake as Xi Jinping, Chinese Leader, Visits India - NYTimes.com

I don't think any of us can really get our arms around how important for the world is this relationship bringing together well more than 2,000,000,000 people!

The Assault Weapon Myth - NYTimes.com

Too many guns in America.

The Great Unraveling - NYTimes.com

It makes one think.

Ray Rice and His Rage - NYTimes.com

While we deservedly chastise the NFL events and people, we need to celebrate the decline in these crimes as displayed on the chart. No cause for satisfaction as zero must remain the goal!

The Lighthouse Keepers - NYTimes.com

Love those lighthouses!

Peter Thiel In 'Zero To One': How To Develop The Developed World : NPR

Makes a lot of sense. As he says, what great business idea is no one pursuing?

Looking Another Culture in the Eye - NYTimes.com

Interesting.

Conyers seeks to get rid of NFL's antitrust exemption - On Congress - POLITICO.com

I don't believe the NFL should have any exemption from any law, especially now.

Legal Authority for Fighting ISIS - NYTimes.com

The Times editorial is right, alas.

The Daily Tar Heel :: Get to know four UNC startups for Sept. 9, 2014

I hope the Freedom Code initiative succeeds.

Nouvelle concentration record des gaz à effet de serre - 7SUR7.be

Disheartening.

An excerpt of "The Happiness of Pursuit" | MSNBC

Interesting tale.

Statement 1

Home Depot seems to be stepping up to the plate on this isssue. They deserve some credit for doing so, but measured alongside of the failure to protect our records.

As Two Men Go Free, a Dogged Ex-Prosecutor Digs In - NYTimes.com

I hope something good can come out of this coverage.

Just 13, and Working Risky 12-Hour Shifts in the Tobacco Fields - NYTimes.com

This is a terrible blemish on North Carolina - first, because we grow tobacco at all, and second, because of the way the workers are treated. Will we see a statewide politician say that we need to eliminate tobacco growing in the state? That will come just after one of them promises to reduce the number of guns in NC. We have too many of them and too much tobacco. None of either is a goal worth pursuing!

Foreign Powers Buy Influence at Think Tanks - NYTimes.com

I don't get the difference between a country and a corporation (US or foreign-based) and individuals with an agenda and money to fund it.

Cruising Attitude: 'Recliner Rebellion' Building In The Sky : NPR

I think the airlines have reached a wall of passenger resentment.

Preserving the Lighthouse, Not Just the Light - NYTimes.com

I'm one of those who loves lighthouses! (And that's a former United Coast Guard officer speaking!)

NC Men Freed After 30 Years Will Seek Pardons - ABC News

I don't understand the need for pardons and I think we the people of NC should at least double the 750,000 that each may be entitled to receive. What is the full cost of prosecution, appeals, incarceration to the State of NC and who bears responsibility, both legal and financial for this amount? Someone should.

Avoir un hobby rend plus productif au travail

Good item on which to reflect!

The Innocent on Death Row - NYTimes.com

Well said.

Interview: Bob Shacochis, Author Of "The Woman Who Lost Her Soul" : NPR

"I consider myself a writer who writes about American expatriates. And if I have any overt cause as a writer besides writing the best prose I can, it's to try to make Americans have a more visceral feeling about how America impacts everybody in the world."

NPR Search : NPR

Project Xpat.

Global School In Rural Edgecombe Is 'Recipe For Success’ | WUNC

Seems pretty neat to me. I wish I had been a student there!

CVS' decision to stop selling tobacco deserves even more praise!

I hope customers and the market thank them for this.

Two California Judges Censured for Sex in Chambers - NYTimes.com

They ought to go to jail for abuse of public office.

DNA Clears Two Convicted In ’83 Murder - NYTimes.com

North Carolina has so much room for improvement starting with lavish compensation to these three men.

Girl's family say they're "devastated" by Uzi instructor's death - CBS News

It's too late to be smart. Putting that gun in their daughter's hands is totally inexcusable; they should be prosecuted for reckless endangerment of a minor.

Delta Airlines flight from Queens diverted over reclining seat argument - NY Daily News

Before someone gets hurt, the airlines must reconsider sardine flying. They crossed the line and need to retreat.

The Dubious Sources of Some Supreme Court ‘Facts’ - NYTimes.com

A big challenge.

Carmen Fariña: An Old-School Abuela - NYTimes.com

What a stark contrast with at least one of her predecessors! Buena!

A Child’s Visit to the Gun Range - NYTimes.com

Too many guns in America. Period.

Landrieu claims parents’ home as her own, raising questions of Louisiana residency - The Washington Post

The definition of "home" remains an amazing work in progress.

Guns in America | Facts and statistics about firearms in the USA

I think Time magazine reports this week that there are over 300,000,000 guns in America. That's 300,000,000 too many!

Gun tourism feeds hunger to shoot high-powered weapons

In a word - disgusting.

Girl, 9, accidentally kills Uzi instructor. Too young for guns? - CSMonitor.com

Guns are bad for everyone. We have too many firearms in America.

2 Are Held in Death of Mary E. Whitaker, New York Violinist - NYTimes.com

Far too many guns in America.

Tom Hanks' New App an Homage to Manual Typewriters - NYTimes.com

My kind of app!

Judge strikes down California's 10-day wait period for gun owners - SFGate

Neanderthals is the first thought that comes to mind.

Innovation Within Reach - NYTimes.com

Nice.

TV Habits? Medical History? Tests for Jury Duty Get Personal - NYTimes.com

Peers are peers.

Holder and Obama Differ in Approach to Underlying Issues of Missouri Unrest - NYTimes.com

Is there any hope of getting the President to emulate more of HOLDER? I fear not.

Alone Again, Naturally - NYTimes.com

Sadly, I agree completely...



"The Constitution was premised on a system full of factions and polarization. If you’re a fastidious pol who deigns to heal and deal only in a holistic, romantic, unified utopia, the Oval Office is the wrong job for you. The sad part is that this is an ugly, confusing and frightening time at home and abroad, and the country needs its president to illuminate and lead, not sink into some petulant expression of his aloofness, where he regards himself as a party of his own and a victim of petty, needy, bickering egomaniacs."

ISIS Video Purports to Show Beheading of James Foley - NYTimes.com

This horrible story reminds us of many things. First, extreme sadness over the death of anyone. Quickly, tho, moving to questions of what is happening to the news media, how much this is a function of the freelance world v. established media, and if so, where do we go from here? Or is it more a reflection of ISIS? Those are very tough issues.

But there is one that deserves more mention. Why do reporters do what they do in dangerous circumstances? What comes to mind for me is what I learned before embarking on a career in the newspaper and media world. As an officer candidate in the Coast Guard, I learned something that I have always felt became my purpose for being. We Coast Guards have an obligation to do one overriding thing - our duty is "go out" to try to save someone in peril; we do not have an obligation to return.

I think a great many reporters have adopted the same mandate - they have a duty to "go out" to cover these stories; they do not have an obligation to return.

Nicholas Felton: A Quantified Life - Video - NYTimes.com

Is a better man as a result?

Obama Is Seen as Frustrating His Own Party - NYTimes.com

I am so disappointed by our President.

Failure, Writing’s Constant Companion - NYTimes.com

Indeed.

Passing of Dr. Walter R. Roberts, Public Diplomat | Take Five

Very sad. One of my favorite professors at Brown in the 60s.

Gov. McCrory addresses Duke Energy stock controversy | www.wsoctv.com

This is outrageous. He should be penalized to the full extent of the law.

Cuomo Arrives in Israel, as Politicians Scramble to Book Visits of Solidarity - NYTimes.com

This is pathetic.

Palestinian Invitation to Cuomo Is Declined - NYTimes.com

A bad Jewish-support-knee-jerk decision.

Israel Can't Afford to Lose Jews Like Me | David Schanzer

Israel, quite simply, is not worth most of the attention that it receives. Too much wasted time on the part of far too many people here in the US - either those who are Jewish or those who want Jewish votes.

Exploring a Riviera Gem, From Seaside to Hilltop - NYTimes.com

One of our favorite places.

Maryland assault weapons ban upheld in federal court - The Washington Post

Sanity at work.

OECD Better Life Index

Interesting.... My response:

"Personal fulfillment that helps other people in a comfortable people-focused environment."

Lyft Hopes to Coax Commuters to Leave Their Cars - NYTimes.com

Let's hope so!

An End to Free Rides Through Speedier PreCheck Security - NYTimes.com

It's all such a waste.

Okapi Helps Africa Reap the Benefits of Fashion - NYTimes.com

Let's hope it does.

Customer Dissatisfaction: The Fine Art Of The Funny Complaint : NPR

My kind of guy!

No Time to Think - NYTimes.com

Ahem, worth some reflection.

Judge Overturns D.C. Ban on Guns in Public - NYTimes.com

The judge may have ruled correctly on the law, but the policy behind it stinks.

Christian Estrosi martèle son "soutien" (controversé) à Israël | Nice | Nice-Matin

I surely side with the critics. The mayor is out of control.

Tobacco

Is it really a 90 billion USD business in the US?

Drones on a Different Mission - NYTimes.com

I think we are about to see them everywhere!

Downing of Malaysia Jet Is a Call to End Ukraine Conflict - NYTimes.com

Yes!

Chikungunya Is Coming: Part I - Chapelboro.com

See my comment.

Alabama Ruling Hobbles Ban on Guns in the Open at Polls - NYTimes.com

This is not my country.

États-Unis. Au Texas, une fusillade fait six morts, dont quatre enfants

We have too many guns in the US.

Border crisis: Obama’s request to Congress can’t be dismissed - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Whatever the law is, we have to enforce it until or unless the law is changed.

Google CEO: Fight Unemployment With Job Sharing - InformationWeek

This sure makes a lot of sense to me.

Writing Alone, Together - NYTimes.com

Interesting.

How Birth Year Influences Political Views - NYTimes.com

This sure is intriguing.

Hillary Clinton defends $200G speaking fee for colleges: it goes to charity - NY Daily News

As much as I like her, I don't buy this at all. Try again.

The Garage That Bloomed - NYTimes.com

So much potential.

Her Father Becomes a Citizen - NYTimes.com

Interesting.

Fear of Packing - NYTimes.com

I sure agree with this!

Gifts of $300 to Homeless Are Reduced to a Lunch - NYTimes.com

Such a story!

In a U.S. Court, Iraqis Accuse Blackwater of Killings in 2007 - NYTimes.com

I hope they prevail.

A Thin Rationale for Drone Killings - NYTimes.com

I continue to have a really big problem with this.

Traveller's Guide: French Riviera - Europe - Travel - The Independent

Bravo!

Nombre de déplacés record depuis la Seconde Guerre mondiale

Pretty astounding.

La Libye dénonce la capture par les USA d'un suspect de Benghazi - Challenges

We cannot roam about the world grabbing people here and there just because there is political pressure to do so, or because they are accused of doing something awful. I'm sorry, that's not the country I signed up to support!

A Helicopter of One’s Own - NYTimes.com

As I made my way around Nice yesterday, by foot and bus, I was thinking about the people closest to me on the bus, and watching people and vehicles I passed on the street, and thinking about the shiny new rails for the second line of our tram system here. That, combined with this story and another a couple of days ago about the first school program showing how drones work got me thinking about whether we are headed in Nice toward a point where for the second time in 75 years, we'll abandon rails and opt for wheels. In Nice, we have thousands of rent-by-the-day-or-hour bicycles and dozens of electric cars and trucks available on the same basis. We have ferries that go from here to Corsica with cars, trucks, bikes, people and more.

Might we be headed toward a point where we all strap on a vehicle in the way that I strap on a backpack today. On some occasions, we and our vehicle might move by ferry, we might be assembled like an autotrain car and pulled by something on some sort of mechanism, perhaps more electromagnetic than hard iron rail. And as we move around town, perhaps we will all have to behave like we did as kids at a bumper car ride where we make our way, propelled, and getting everywhere more efficiently. I could imagine doing what I did yesterday outside my home - attending a lecture, buying the newspaper and working out at the gym - all in such a manner, and have been able to spend more time at the gym in the course of all that!

Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn dead at 54 - NY Daily News

I don't know how anyone can sleep soundly in North Carolina knowing the millions of people around the world whose lives are ending far too soon because of the tobacco grown today in NC.

SCOTUS: You can’t buy a gun for someone else and lie about it to the gun dealer | Death and Taxes

Anything that makes it tougher to buy a gun is a good thing.

Bergdahl Critics Didn’t Howl When Bush Freed Prisoners - NYTimes.com

Republicans generally are becoming thoroughly unlikable and loathesome people. I wish them no ill-will, but I would prefer that they take their hatred to some other place - perhaps some other country.

2,000 Americans wait to discover truth of their Irish adoptions - IrishCentral.com

I sure agree with the final sentence.

The Trucking Industry Wants to Weaken Safety Rules - NYTimes.com

We each have a huge personal responsibility not to be behind the wheel if we are tired or just feeling like we might nod-off.

Prime Minister Maliki Panics as Insurgents Gain - NYTimes.com

What a terrible situation.

Security and Enthusiasm Clash in Theater of the Absurd - NYTimes.com

Surely, smart people can correct this awful judgment on the part of the Shubert Organization.

In Ireland, 10 Years of Fresh Air - NYTimes.com

What a change.

Oregon Shooting Draws Obama’s Outrage on Gun Laws - NYTimes.com

Once again, the frustration and outrage ought to be directed at reducing the number of guns in America. It is inconceivable to me that if we got rid of 50% of the guns in the US that lives would not be saved. For me, no matter how many it is - or even if I am wrong - it's a chance worth taking.

Why not?

Imagine if the Israelis and the Palestinians agreed that religion would not drive their move toward peace. There could be one country of Palreal or RealPal (nice name, no?) in which all religions would be protected and rights honored. There would be no arbitrary lines for settlements, no walls, and no division, just one country, democratic, governed by those elected freely and fairly. Is anyone pushing this solution?

China Flattens Hundreds of Mountains for New Cities : Discovery News

How do the rest of us ever really come to grips with the magnitude of this?

Top doctor and midwife reported dreadful conditions in homes - IrishCentral.com

Shame.

Haiti Elections in Doubt as Ex-Presidents Stir Pot - NYTimes.com

I wonder if a similar picture of laundry being delivered to a home in Scarsdale or Larchmont, NY, would label the area a "rich enclave" instead of a "slum". Why use "slum"? Many people there, as elsewhere are very proud of where they live; most aspire to something more, but why not degrade the "filthy rich" as much as the "poor" if some word other than "community" is needed?

The Rush to Demonize Sgt. Bergdahl - NYTimes.com

I would have added something about presumption of innocence, even in the military.

Cancer de la peau : 5 coups de soleil suffisent à augmenter les risques - Sciences - MYTF1News

Bad news for people like me.

Irlande. 800 bébés enterrés dans une fosse - Monde - Le Télégramme

I hold the bishop in very high regard ans as for those responsible for these apparent atrocities, may God have mercy on their souls.

Senators Show Frustration After Briefing on Ex-P.O.W. - NYTimes.com

This whole matter shows our worst side(s) on two fronts. First, it reinforces what I believe is the wholly anti-American view that as long as we do it on an island, it's ok to hold people in preventive detention permanently. Second, it demonstrates that few choose to wait for a legal process and perhaps a court of law to determine guilt or innocence; most want to jump the gun, so to speak, and render judgment. The two together undermine the very foundation of our system of justice.

N.R.A. Backs Away From Article Criticizing Advocates of Carrying Guns in Public - NYTimes.com

God forbid there be some rational discussions within the NRA! Why am I not surprised to see them stepping back from this article?

East Northport, L.I.: Good Schools, Good Neighbors - NYTimes.com

Near home.

Smoke in the Water - NYTimes.com

Such a bad situation.

BRUMBACK

It's too bad no one has kept this going....

After Deadly Rampage, Sheriff’s Office Faces Concerns About Conduct - NYTimes.com

There are simply too many guns.

A Past Not Past - NYTimes.com

DOWD writes as though the island was a united Ireland. We are all left to wonder what that might have been.

House Approves $19.5 million for Gun Buyers' Background Checks

What a pittance. We need to do so much more to reduce the number of guns in the US.

Chicago Mayor Proposes Restrictions on Gun Sales - NYTimes.com

Do it!

Take Photos To Remember Your Experiences? Think Again : NPR

Thought provoking.

Is sitting the new smoking? - Videos - CBS News

Looks like it is worth considering!

Note to Olympic Sailors: Don’t Fall in Rio’s Water - NYTimes.com

Same warning when I was sailing for Brown; the difference was that the warning applied to the Charles River in Boston!

The United States of Metrics - NYTimes.com

What an important commentary on today.

Ireland’s Troubled Peace - NYTimes.com

It takes generations.

988474_10203370751806955_5569446654211627525_n.jpg (720×480)

I remember this day at the Brown commencement in 1969. One of those backs was mine. On stage was Henry KISSINGER.

The Joys of Trimming - NYTimes.com

More is indeed less.

PRI's The World | Public Radio International

The woman they had on today from UNC talking about the school girls in Nigeria has been in academia too long.

Walk!

I sure like this approach!

Three Walls in Search of a Ball - NYTimes.com

Interesting.

Charters, Public Schools and a Chasm Between - NYTimes.com

I remain very uneasy over the whole charter school idea.

Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, and Lately, Coding - NYTimes.com

Do we all need to go back to school on this one?

T Names for Boys - Baby Names of Ireland

"Terry

Meaning of the name Terry. Listen and learn how to pronounce Terry so you can get the correct pronunciation for this boy name.

MEANING: From an Irish name meaning “”one who aids or assists.”” It is usually translated as Terence and Terry, two names that have become strongly associated with Ireland. Turlough O’Carolan was a 17th century blind harpist and composer who wrote one of the most haunting pieces of Irish music, “”O’Carolan’s Concerto.””
GENDER: Boy | Male
IRISH NAME: Terry Turlough Turlach
PRONUNCIATION: “tur + la”
ENGLISH: Terry
AUDIO: (Listen to the late author Frank McCourt pronounce Terry and read along with the meaning)
Play Audio for Terry:
Play Audio for Terry"

T Names for Boys - Baby Names of Ireland

First time I have run across this. It's wonderful to have Frank McCOURT pronouncing the name Terry in Irish!

A Boy Shot, and Regret on Montana ‘Castle’ Law - NYTimes.com

I am fully with Germany on this atrocity.

Your Digital Trail Follows You to the Border - NYTimes.com

And no doubt beyond.

There Are No Mainstream Republicans Left in North Carolina - NYTimes.com

That sure squares with my impression.

Eye-for-an-Eye Incivility - NYTimes.com

Sound analysis.

Supreme Court Upholds Public Prayer at Town Board Meetings - WSJ.com

My initial reaction is that this is not a good decision, but I look forward to reading the opinion.

America the Shrunken - NYTimes.com

We all need to talk, energetically, about this.

President Obama and the World - NYTimes.com

Balanced, too.

Why People Don’t Donate Their Kidneys - NYTimes.com

I cannot imagine getting myself comfortable with doing this. It's just the way it is.

Why aren't smart guns catching on in the U.S.? | www.ajc.com

Missed opportunity.

State-Sponsored Horror in Oklahoma - NYTimes.com

I hope the rest of us - outside Oklahoma - are so much better than the people, apparently, inside. I wonder.

In Victory for Obama, Court Backs Rules for Coal Pollution - NYTimes.com

My response is "good, now keep going!".

Kerry Expresses Regret After Apartheid Remark - NYTimes.com

I certainly would not apologize and I would drop the U.S. commitment to preserve a religious state in the form of Israel. We support democracy first, and if the choice is religious rule, then everyone must be treated as equals. Nothing about Israel makes me believe that they share this view.

US severe storm pattern over 30 years

Fascinating map.
More here.

Getting Into the Ivies - NYTimes.com

As a Brown alumni interviewer, this understates the challenge for student applicants.

‘Smart’ Firearm Draws Wrath of the Gun Lobby - NYTimes.com

Where is common sense? We have too many guns! Any move to restrict access to the trigger is a real plus in my book.

Why the Democrats’ Turnout Problem Is Worst in North Carolina - NYTimes.com

We should be focusing publicly on getting a 100% turnout at the polls in November for everyone under 35 in North Carolina. You don't get many votes in life to determine your future; the only important one you get this year is in Nov. Use it!!!

Walking may spark creative thinking | Fox News

I surely agree!

Mitch Albom on life, charity and God - CBS News

The interview blew me away.

Hello, Stranger - NYTimes.com

Lots to consider here.

Brown University lets rapist who choked his victim reenroll after a semester-long suspension - Salon.com

This is outrageous.

Writing in a Nonstop World - NYTimes.com - NYTimes.com

I sure identify with this.

Finding stuff online

Last night, I spent a couple of hours researching a fine point on Flexible Spending Accounts, that provision of the IRS Code that allows some of us to put aside some untaxed money to pay for medical expenses. It's a great crap shoot in that you really have to predict the unpredictable - your health - in order to get it right. That's another story.
What struck me in my search for the facts was how much the web forest has overgrown the truth. In my case, I was looking for reasonably reliable information on a proposed IRS rule and on the management of FSA plans by employers. I never did find the latter, although I may have found a couple of places that - with proper payment - might have let me look at what they offer, but I am not their target; employers are.
For the former, the proposed IRS rule, I wound up being bounced by the IRS to Cornell and could not track down what happened to a proposed 2007 regulation. While I am a lawyer, I do not consider myself to be a tax lawyer and have not researched in that arena for a long time. Finally, it popped up almost inadvertently.
In the end, it would have been more fun to go to a well-equipped local library and look it up there in some real books.

Elections

Are we too the point where the election is about ideas and selecting the least-damaged people?

When Parents Are The Ones Too Distracted By Devices : All Tech Considered : NPR

Great story of idiocy.

Amid Politics, Obama Drifted Away From Kin - NYTimes.com

I don't fully understand this, but it is the President's business, not mine.

Android Central - Google+ - Google Street View kicked things up a bit today, now adding…

Really fascinating to think about "history" beginning in 2007!

Dan River Coal Ash Spill Timeline | North Carolina Health News

This is good.

Running Out of Time - NYTimes.com

I don't think government is the answer. Each of us needs to wage and win this war.

50 Years Into the War on Poverty, Hardship Hits Back - NYTimes.com

What are the education and advancement opportunities that might flow through the two satellite dishes on the roof of this house? Are we focused enough on this?

‘The Tyranny of Experts,’ by William Easterly - NYTimes.com

This seems like it may be a very important book.

Heartbleed Highlights a Contradiction in the Web - NYTimes.com

This may prove to be  major turning point in the history of the internet.

How to Run on Health Reform - NYTimes.com

With all of the money pouring into NC for November's Senate race between incumbent Kay HAGAN and likely Republican opponent, Thom TILLIS, I increasingly think we need to find a way to take a lot of ill-informed rhetoric and set it both straight and personal. If I can find the time, I want to take an issue like the health care law, for which Sen. HAGAN voted and which Mr. TILLIS opposes, and look at it from a North Carolina perspective. I hope to outline what a vote for either candidate might mean, as specifically and personally relevant as one can make it. My thought is to do this in an interactive fashion so that it would be fun for someone to work her/his way through it. Here is an example:

"A vote for Sen. HAGAN likely would mean that she would vote for the federal health care law would to continue as is, subject to some fine-tuning. This would mean that X people in North Carolina would have access to insurance that they likely otherwise would not. If you are one of them, you are a direct beneficiary. If you are not, you are an indirect beneficiary. A vote for Mr. TILLIS would mean a new vote in the Senate to repeal or more dramatically reduce the health care program. If you are directly affected by the law, you might find that any insurance available to you would come only from independent insurance companies, perhaps with less requirements as to coverage than are now a part of the federal program.

On this issue, would this mean that you are more likely to vote for

0 - HAGAN

0 - TILLIS"

The interactive feature would allow respondents to indicate the importance of the issue to them using a 0-10 scale.The totals for each candidate would then provide the voter with a better guide on this critical choice - taking into account their personal preferences and the importance of those preferences to the individual.

Covert Inquiry by F.B.I. Rattles 9/11 Tribunals - NYTimes.com

Such a mockery of US justice.

Fifty Years After the New York World’s Fair, Recalling a Vision of the Future - NYTimes.com

I remember most my parents, especially my father, remembering how much better the 1939 fair had been. He bought 50 tickets for us, and I think we used less than 10.

Words and Deeds From the Pope - NYTimes.com

The NYT once again hits the nail on its head.

Uber Taxi Ban in Brussels Is ‘Crazy,’ EU Commissioner Kroes Says - Businessweek

She is right.

Michael Bloomberg plans $50M gun effort - Lucy McCalmont - POLITICO.com

It takes a village and we don't have one on this issue, alas. Money won't do it, nor will national pressure.

Home | Learn the Address

Fabulous project!

The Tobacco Ties That Bind - NYTimes.com

This sure makes my blood boil.

The New Age: Leaving Behind Everything, Or Nothing At All : All Tech Considered : NPR

I can sure identify with this!

Rounding Up Suspects, Pakistan Charges a Baby - NYTimes.com

This story squarely insults the soul; what kind of barbarians wind up arresting a less than one year old baby?

The Case of Who v. Whom - NYTimes.com

Whoever came up with this for whomever is doing a great service!

The Found Art of Thank-You Notes - NYTimes.com

I find this quite reaffirming!

It's Still Bad for the Long-Term Unemployed - NYTimes.com

Such a problem.

Bad Move on Jonathan Pollard - NYTimes.com

Agreed that it would be a terrible move.

U.S. and Israel Said to Be Near Agreement on Release of Spy - NYTimes.com

The President and the Secretary of State will lose a lot of the remaining esteem I have for them if they go forward with this. POLLARD will become a hero in Israel, even moreso than he is today, but more important, we will have traded justice for nothing.

Our Story - "Pencils of Promise"

Seems like quite an accomplishment. Led by a Brown alum, too.

U.S., Israel Discussing Pollard Release - WSJ.com

What an outrageous idea - "paying" the Israelis to do the right thing in talking with the Palestinians. We should, instead, say that all military assistance to Israel will stop in 6 months unless serious negotiations - as judged by us - are underway.

Bill Maher exposes Democrats over Paul Ryan’s “racist” remarks - IrishCentral.com

I think Bill MAHER deserves a lot of credit for this, and others ought to consider this point much more carefully. Get your knees out of your minds and think.

This fault could bring an earthquake worse than 'The Big One' - latimes.com

Wow.

A Whitewash for Gov. Christie - NYTimes.com

I am glad we can now focus on the cost of this work.

Obama’s Anemic Speech in Europe - NYTimes.com

Another point of view on President OBAMA's speech; I disagree.

Remarks by the President in Address to European Youth | The White House

One of the President's very best speeches!

Girl Shaves Head for Pal, Breaks School Dress Code - ABC News

I am still not convinced that charter schools in general are good things, and moves like this make them an even tougher sell.

Bookshelf | 'Wordbirds,' a Fine-Feathered Compendium of Modern-Day Neologisms

Hmmm.

Amid Wave of Pro-Gun Legislation, Georgia Proposes Sweeping Law - NYTimes.com

Why can't we make this happen in NC?

Map: 'How Much Snow It Typically Takes to Cancel School in the U.S.' - Eleanor Barkhorn - The Atlantic

Seems like a huge waste in every respect.

The Lost Art of the Unsent Angry Letter - NYTimes.com

A very good practice.

A Ship Being Built in Iran Looks Awfully Familiar to the U.S. - NYTimes.com

Amazingly bizarre.

Cold Man in the Kremlin - NYTimes.com

This is at least as important in shaping my opinion.

If we have to pick a side over Crimea, let it be Russia - World News | Latest International News Headlines | The Irish Times - Thu, Mar 20, 2014

This is well-reasoned and persuasive. I will pay a lot closer attention to what follows and reformulate my views.

Obama has “too much golf, not enough work” - IrishCentral.com

A lot of the criticism of the President is, alas, well-merited.

E.U. Fights to Get Everyone Speaking Same Language on Education - NYTimes.com

We need to be reminded how we are doing in the US - this combined with Nicholas KRISTOFF piece yesterday talking about the importance of study overseas.

The Huffington Post UK - Google+ - Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: Vanishing Planes…

Fascinating graphic.

Weekend Gun Report: March 14-16, 2014 - NYTimes.com

We need to solve this problem.

Erin Go Drinking - NYTimes.com

Bravo! I don't have to wear crazy garb or engage in various excesses to celebrate, within me, my Irishness. That's - thank God - not something I can buy at Walmart.

Paul Ryan’s Irish Amnesia - NYTimes.com

It makes me proud to be an Irishman whose family somehow survived the famine, and it makes me so sad that so many seem to support RYAN. Those supporters, alas, are the last ones likely to want to learn themselves by reading EGAN's excellent essay.

Like So Many Others, Leaving Ireland For A Better Life : NPR

I can surely identify with what she says.

Interview: Brigid Schulte, Author Of 'Overwhelmed' : NPR

Surely an issue deserving of being addressed, when we get the time.....

The Samaritans - Comedy TV Series

Will be interesting to see where this goes!

'Unproductive Anxiety' And The Solo Act Of Essay Writing : NPR

Bravo!

With Move to Limit Gun Sales, Facebook Is Caught in Debate - NYTimes.com

Facebook should prohibit anything to do with guns.

AA flights between RDU and LHR

On my last flight - 30 Jan 2014 - I was struck, as is usual, by the incredible rush to make you eat the very repetitive meal they serve in coach during a 9 hour flight, the awful pizza they serve toward the end of the return flight to the US, and by the awful films shown.

Ash Spill Shows How Watchdog Was Defanged - NYTimes.com

We have to find a way to dump this Governor and return environmental leadership to the office.

Court says it's legal to look at map on phone while driving - latimes.com

Unfortunate decision.

Rand Paul: Obama's surgeon general pick will use post to attack 2nd Amendment - Washington Times

Sounds like a great nominee!

AFP holds Hagan accountable on Obamacare - YouTube

How do we find out who this actress is? Aren't we entitled to know?

Researchers: 35M Gallons of Coal Ash Spilled in NC - ABC News

Someone was either very corrupt or very much asleep at the switch with regard to all of this. Either way, figurative heads ought to roll. Are they?

Bill Flanagan of the grammar police on "I and me" - CBS News

Bravo!

Accommodating Divisiveness - NYTimes.com

I agree, and the answer lies in the actions of the rest of us. We are responsible in some way for this guy.

Navy Supercarrier Arrives at Scrapyard - NYTimes.com

Quite a sign of the times.

Medicines Made in India Set Off Safety Worries - NYTimes.com

I don't want worries; I want FDA action!

A Taxidermist Is a Keeper of a Quiet Zoo - NYTimes.com

For part of his life, my father was a taxidermist.

Why CVS Is Ready to Lose Billions and Stop Selling Cigarettes - NationalJournal.com

We should work to get more stores, of all kinds, to do the same, and for guns, too. I saw ads for Dick's Sporting Goods promoting guns this weekend and refuse to shop there. Today, I noticed a Food Lion ad for cigarettes. If I shop there, I will first speak to the manager and tell her/him that I will only buy sale items at Food Lion as a result. They don't want a checkout line filled with baskets of only sale items. It's a way to save money and make an important statement.

After Private Speech on Israel, de Blasio Is Pressed on Openness Pledge - NYTimes.com

I find it repulsive that this mayor would not insist on speaking to a partisan group in public. What was so secret about this appearance? What did he say?

Revoir en replay et en streaming "Télématin" - Télématin - France 2

Interesting piece today with US public service messages about life - saluting those from MLK to James DEAN who have done so much during their years. Check back.

Les 85 plus riches du monde possèdent autant que les 3,5 milliards les plus pauvres

I cannot figure out how to react to this.

Cultivating Hudson: Enter the Tastemakers - NYTimes.com

Love to see new uses for old buildings!

30-50 ft waves on the NC coast?

What if the same waves that have struck the French coast this week were to hit NC? Is anyone preparing for that?

What Makes Lagos a Model City - NYTimes.com

Yes!

A Makeover for Maps - NYTimes.com

This is great!

A Makeover for Maps - NYTimes.com

This is great!

Faulty Websites Confront Needy in Search of Aid - NYTimes.com

Why do we have to accept so much failing technology?

Ireland Stirs Homegrown Flavor Into Tech Scene - NYTimes.com

Hope is important.

Banished for Questioning the Gospel of Guns - NYTimes.com

It's a sick religion.

Un tiers des Américains ne croient pas à la théorie de l'évolution - RTBF Societe

That's pretty unsettling.