Robots have always been prominent in filmed science fiction; from Maria in Fritz Lang’s 1926 silent, “Metropolis,” to Robbie, (the Robot) in “Forbidden Planet” to Hal in Kubrick’s “2001, A Space Odyssey” to the gun slinging robot in Michael Crichton’s “Westworld.” And now, as artificial intelligence expands to include robots with the ability to outwit their human creators, comes the inspired and witty “Ex Machina.”
Patriot Act Faces Revisions Backed by Both Parties
NEW YORK TIMES: After more than a decade of wrenching national debate over the intrusiveness of government intelligence agencies, a bipartisan wave of support has gathered to sharply limit the federal government’s sweeps of phone and Internet records. On Thursday, a bill that would overhaul the Patriot Act and curtail the so-called metadata surveillance exposed […]
Wolf begins posting online expenses claimed by top officials
PENN LIVE / AP: Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration has begun posting details of the expenses claimed for reimbursement by his top staff and Cabinet officials . The new interactive website on Thursday showed a total of just over $37,700 in expenses claimed by 23 top administration officials beginning in January and running through March. Press […]
Prosecutor accuses AG Kane’s chief of staff of sexually harassing her
Michele Kluk, 34, a Harrisburg-based prosecutor, said the incident occurred in February 2014 in a Hazleton restaurant/bar. She accused Jonathan Duecker of reaching his hand up the back of her blouse and later putting his hand on her thigh…
White House memos show Obama’s caution on pardons
USA TODAY: …Both Bush and Obama gave instructions to the Justice Department said they would look unfavorably on pardon applications for certain categories of serious crimes: terrorism and national security cases; violent crimes; crimes against children; gun crimes and public corruption cases. Obama softened Bush’s stance against drug crimes. Whereas Bush was reluctant to issue […]
FDA seeks more data on safety of hospital hand cleaners
DENVER POST / AP: To fight infections, hospital workers can hit the hand sanitizer a hundred times or more a day. Now, the government wants more study of whether that is safe and how well it actually fights the spread of germs. The Food and Drug Administration is asking manufacturers to submit additional data about […]
Chicago to Be Chosen as Site for Obama’s Library
NEW YORK TIMES: …Mr. Obama’s library will be in his adopted home, Chicago’s South Side, according to two people who were briefed about the decision. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak before the official announcement. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who was Mr. Obama’s chief of staff and led […]
The Most Honest 15 Minutes Of Obama’s Presidency
He went on, “And we’ll go through the same cycles of periodic conflicts between the police and communities and the occasional riots in the streets. And everybody will feign concern until it goes away and then we go about our business as usual.”…
Gov. Wolf at 100 days
PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS COLUMN: …”I ran because Pennsylvania couldn’t keep doing what it’s doing,” Wolf says, “I’m not here to mark time, tread water or use this as a stepping stone to anything else . . . I think I can make it better.”… His budget calls for reduced property taxes, more sales taxes, cutting […]
Slower US economy sets the stage for Fed
FINANCIAL TIMES: The US’s economic expansion faltered badly in the first quarter with gross domestic product rising by a sluggish 0.2 per cent annual pace, which could influence policy makers’ decision on when to lift interest rates. The growth figure was a fraction of the 1 per cent rate of expansion predicted by economists, and […]
Kane’s ability to lead AG’s office questioned
SCRANTON TIMES-TRIBUNE: Sam Stretton, a West Chester attorney and constitutional law expert, said the presentment is further evidence that Ms. Kane’s tenure has been a “disaster” and she should resign immediately… John Burkhoff, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, agrees Ms. Kane’s ability to run the office has been compromised, but […]
An Eroding Syrian Army Points to Strain
NEW YORK TIMES: The Syrian Army has suffered a string of defeats from re-energized insurgents and is struggling to replenish its ranks as even pro-government families increasingly refuse to send sons to poorly defended units on the front lines. These developments raise newly urgent questions about the durability of President Bashar al-Assad’s rule. “The trend […]
Should Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane resign? Or is Kane a butterfly on the torture wheel?
The potential upside is, should Kane tough it out and win, we have an attorney general who deeply understands just how inherently unfair and bad our politicized court system has become, and how it needs to be changed to protect all Pennsylvanians.
2016 Candidates Are United in Call to Alter Justice System
NEW YORK TIMES: …Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Rand Paul want to ease mandatory minimum sentences. Gov. Chris Christie wants to release nonviolent offenders pending trial without bail. Gov. Scott Walker, former Gov. Rick Perry and former Senator James Webb want to expand drug treatment as an alternative […]