Monday, December 31, 2012

In the news, Friday, December 28, 2012


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THU 27      INDEX      SAT 29
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Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.


Some sources may require subscription.

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from Quackwatch

Stay Away from "Holistic" and "Biological" Dentists
A significant number of dentists have gone overboard in espousing pseudoscientific theories, particularly in the area of nutrition. Dentists who identify themselves as "holistic" or "biological" typically claim that disease can be prevented by maintaining "optimum" overall health or "wellness." In their offices, this typically involves inappropriate diagnostic tests, recommendations for expensive dietary supplements and/or homeopathic products; a plastic bite appliance; unnecessary replacement of amalgam fillings; and/or removal of root-canal-treated teeth.

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from The Spokesman-Review

Schwarzkopf, Gulf War commander, dies at 78

Drop in Mississippi River threatens barge traffic again

Fire that destroyed longhouse confirmed to be electrical

Ignition interlock devices to include camera starting Jan. 1

Strike likely averted at East Coast ports

Still an oracle
Bernard Daines remains Spokane’s go-to guy for tech wisdom

Putin vows to bar adoptions by U.S.
Law’s proponents say system is rife with abuse, profit-making

Obama, Congress’ leaders to meet
Boehner summons GOP; Senate to stay weekend

Consumers get nervous
Partisan divide on budget unsettling

Egypt’s opposition under investigation
Treason probe targets ElBaradei, Morsi’s two top opponents

U.S. shuts embassy in Africa
Rebels continue to advance in Central African Republic

Hospital accreditation at risk
Medical Lake facility for mentally ill could be shut down

CdA Tribe elder kept stories alive
SiJohn, 67, helped guard tribal heritage, customs

‘Sharing economy’ irks competition
Regulators take closer look at nontraditional endeavors

Longshoremen work despite impasse
Grain terminal operators implement ‘final’ offer
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In brief:  From Wire Reports:

Diplomat urges talks as Syria rebels gain

BEIRUT – Peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi made a new push Thursday to draw Syrian officials and rebels into negotiations, aiming to revive a plan for a transitional government and elections that faltered because of disagreements over the future of President Bashar Assad.

The effort by the Algerian diplomat came after weeks in which both sides in Syria have been focused more on fighting. Rebels appear to be making gains, seizing military bases and fighting for control of suburbs around the capital, Damascus.

In a boost for Brahimi, Russia’s foreign minister said after meeting with a senior Syrian official that his country endorsed the peace plan originally crafted in summer, and that Syrians on both sides of the 21-month conflict needed to enter a dialogue.


Retailers will recall 150,000 baby recliners

WASHINGTON – Four national retailers agreed to recall more than 150,000 Nap Nanny baby recliners after at least five infant deaths and dozens of reports of children nearly falling out of the recliners, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday.

The recall covers Nap Nanny Generations One and Two, and the Chill model infant recliners. All were sold between 2009 and 2012.

The four retailers – Amazon.com, Buy Buy Baby, Diapers.com and Toys R Us/Babies R Us – agreed to voluntarily participate in the recall of the Nap Nanny because its manufacturer is unable or unwilling to participate, the government agency said in a statement.

The manufacturer, Baby Matters LLC of Berwyn, Pa., said it had gone out of business.


Ships to be rerouted to protect whales


LOS ANGELES – Ship traffic off the California coast will be rerouted under new rules designed to protect slow-moving endangered whales from ship collisions.

The International Maritime Organization has approved vessel lane changes on approaches to San Francisco Bay and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and in the Santa Barbara Channel. The changes take effect next year after the Coast Guard goes through the rulemaking process.

Migrating blue, fin and humpback whales are prone to ship strikes since they are often lured to the California shoreline by plentiful krill. All three species are endangered.


Apple likely to pay to use iPhone in Brazil

SAO PAULO – Apple Inc. likely will have to pay a Brazilian company for the right to use the iPhone brand in Latin America’s biggest country, a Brazilian telecommunications analyst said Thursday.

Brazil’s Gradiente SA started selling Android smartphones with the iPhone brand last week after winning the legal right to use the name in Brazil.

“The most likely scenario” is that the two companies will reach an agreement whereby Apple will pay Gradiente for the use of the brand, said Eduardo Tude, president of Brazilian telecommunications consultancy Teleco.

He said Apple will probably agree because it “doesn’t want to stop selling its product in Brazil.”


Unilever to phase out use of plastic beads

AMSTERDAM – Unilever, the maker of Vaseline, Axe deodorants and Dove soaps, among other cosmetic and hygiene products, said Thursday it will phase out the use of microplastics by 2015.

Many soaps, skin scrubs and shower gels contain microplastics, which are tiny polyethelene beads. Scientists and environmental groups are concerned that they contribute to polluting oceans.


Another man killed by subway shove

NEW YORK – A mumbling woman pushed a man to his death in front of a subway train on Thursday night, the second time this month someone has been killed in such nightmarish fashion, police said.

The man, who wasn’t immediately identified, was standing on the elevated platform of a 7 train in Queens at about 8 p.m. when he was shoved by the woman, who witnesses said had been following him closely and mumbling to herself, New York Police Department chief spokesman Paul Browne said.

The woman fled, and police were searching for her.

It was unclear if the man and the woman knew each other or if anyone tried to help the man up before he was struck by the train and killed.


Woman sleeping on bench set ablaze

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles police have identified a man arrested for allegedly setting a 67-year-old woman on fire as she was sleeping on a bus bench.

Dennis Petillo was arrested early Thursday and booked for investigation of attempted murder. The 24-year-old is being held on $500,000 bail.

Police say the attack occurred shortly after 1 a.m. outside a drug store.

The woman was taken to a hospital and listed in critical condition.

Last week, a 55-year-old man was set on fire as he slept outside a doughnut shop in southern Los Angeles County. No one has been arrested.


Attorney: Hobby Lobby to defy law

WASHINGTON – An attorney for Hobby Lobby Stores said Thursday that the arts and crafts chain plans to defy a federal mandate requiring it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morning-after pill, despite risking potential fines of up to $1.3 million per day.

Hobby Lobby and religious bookseller Mardel Inc., which are owned by the same conservative Christian family, are suing to block part of the federal health care law that requires employee health care plans to provide insurance coverage for the morning-after pill and similar emergency contraception pills.

The companies claim the mandate violates the owners’ religious beliefs.


L.A. gun buyback nets 2,037 firearms

LOS ANGELES – A one-day gun buyback program in Los Angeles brought in 2,037 firearms.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office says the weapons collected Wednesday included 901 handguns, 698 rifles, 363 shotguns and 75 assault weapons.

Long lines of cars and people showed up at two locations to exchange their weapons for supermarket gift cards.
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The following do not necessarily reflect the views of Cousin Sam.

Shawn Vestal: Mass murderers’ other commonality: AR-15

Amy Goodman: U.S. shapes global gun trade

Pangos hits seven 3s, scores 31 to lead GU past Baylor
Sophomore shoots 70 percent from 3 to lift Gonzaga

Blanchette: GU’s Pangos has worked way back

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from The Weekly Standard

Obama Orders Pay Raise for Biden, Members of Congress, Federal Workers

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from The Wenatchee World

Buried treasure or hidden threat
Nation’s largest uranium deposit could be worth $10 billion, but is it worth the cost?

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