December 17, 2014

Sony pulls release of 'The Interview'

Source: CNN

Sony on Wednesday said it would cancel next week's planned release of "The Interview," after most of the country's largest theater chains had decided not to show it.

The decision by Sony (SNE) follows a threat on Tuesday from anonymous hackers that people should avoid going to theaters where "The Interview" is playing.

"In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film "The Interview," we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release," Sony said in its first statement on the matter.

"Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against our employees, our customers, and our business. ... We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie. ... We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome."

Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/17/media/the-interview-sony-theater-owners/index.html?hpt=hp_t2&hpt=hp_c2

November 5, 2014

Scott Brown -- Making History!

First major party senate candidate ever to lose twice to women

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2014/08/01/scott-brown-shot-history-senate-candidate-has-ever-lost-twice-women/BEJJDY5HpxQlqt5miNlzCM/story.html

June 30, 2014

Supreme Court strikes blow to public sector unions

Source: MSNBC

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court limited the ability of unions to automatically collect dues from its members. The ruling will not apply to full-fledged public employees, but is still a blow to the power of unions. The four liberal justices dissented from the majority opinion.

Public sector workers are a bulwark of organized labor’s fading power, and a top target for the conservative movement.

In 2003, Illinois passed a law that substantially strengthened the unions by recognizing home health care workers providing rehabilitation services as public employees and allowing them to be represented by the Service Employees International Union. The workers are paid through the federally funded Medicaid program.

The workers weren’t compelled to join the union, but even if they didn’t money was deducted out of their paycheck to pay union dues, because the union ultimately represents them in negotiations with management over pay and working conditions – the money cannot be used for the union’s political activities.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/supreme-court-public-sector-unions

June 26, 2014

Supreme Court strikes down abortion clinic buffer zone

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON -- Abortion remains an issue that divides the Supreme Court, but the justices had little disagreement Thursday in defending the free speech rights of abortion opponents.

The court ruled unanimously that Massachusetts went too far -- literally -- when it created 35-foot buffer zones around abortion clinics to keep demonstrators away from patients.

The decision united Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's four liberals. The other conservatives would have issued a more sweeping ban on laws that restrict abortion protests.

Although the court had upheld an eight-foot buffer zone in Colorado in 2000, the Massachusetts law passed in 2007 went 27 feet farther. During oral arguments in January, that had even the court's liberal, female justices wondering if the Bay State had gone too far. "That's a lot of space," Justice Elena Kagan said.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/06/26/supreme-court-abortion-clinic-buffer-zones/6698787/

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I agree with this decision. Harassment and assault are already illegal and if any of these protesters do that, they can and will be arrested and charged. But a blanket restriction on the location of all protests reeks too much of the "free speech zones" I think we all despise.

June 15, 2014

Legendary radio personality Casey Kasem dies at 82

Source: CNN

Casey Kasem, who entertained radio listeners for almost four decades as the host of countdown shows such as "American Top 40" and "Casey's Top 40," died early Sunday, according to a Facebook post from his daughter Kerri Kasem.

Casey Kasem was 82 and had been hospitalized in Washington state for two weeks.

"Even though we know he is in a better place and no longer suffering, we are heartbroken," Kerri Kasem wrote. "Thank you for all your love, support and prayers. The world will miss Casey Kasem, an incredible talent and humanitarian; we will miss our Dad."

Kerri Kasem said friends and family were by her father's side when he died.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/15/showbiz/casey-kasem-obit/index.html?hpt=hp_t2