Undernews: November 14, 2012

Parents as well as students in deep debt over school loans
NY Times - There are record numbers of student borrowers in financial distress, according to federal data. But millions of parents who have taken out loans to pay for their children’s college education make up a less visible generation in debt.

What could possibly go wrong here?
Penn Live - By the end of January the state is hoping to have a contract signed, sealed and delivered that will take management of the state’s lottery system and place it in private hands. On Friday the Commonwealth announced it had developed a framework for the agreement…

When fantasy becomes reality
Sam Smith Watching the new James Bond movie, it dawned on me one reason why life has become so strange. Years ago people like Walt Disney took reality and turned it into a cartoon fantasy. Now everyone with any influence can take fantasies and turn them into pseudo-authentic realities...

Classical musicians living with a lock out
Kristen Tillotson, Star Tribune, MN - On reality television, the riskiest professions are ironworker, firefighter, lumberjack and the like. These days, you can add "orchestra musician" to the list. Being a classical player employed near the pinnacle of your profession used to be a pretty stable…

Recovered history: spies and high level sex
It's interesting, given the speculation about General Petraeus, to recall that he's not the first high level official whose top secret status was endangered by extra curricular sex Progressive Review 1999 - Neal Travis of the New York Post reports that, according to a new book on the Mossad, Israel…

Entropy update
TMZ - Kevin Clash -- the man known as the voice of Elmo -- has taken a leave of absence from Sesame Street in the wake of allegations he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy, TMZ has learned ... allegations Clash adamantly denies. We've learned ... Sesame Workshop lawyers recently…

Puerto Rico statehood vote more complicated that it appears
Ben Fox & Danica Coto, Huffington Post - A majority of Puerto Ricans have opted for the first time to become the 51st U.S. state in what jubilant members of the pro-statehood party call a resounding sign that the island territory is on the road to losing its second-class status. But Tuesday's…

Monday Morning Line
Sam Smith - Here are how our presidential election projections have worked out over the past 12 years: 2000: 1% error 2004: 3% error 2008: 0.8% error 2012: 1.14% error So far as I have been able to determine, we were the first to use aggregated moving averages - a trick I picked up from stock analysis...

The Hillary file: International law
Since the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign shows signs of having begun, we thought we would offer some facts her supporters and the media have chosen to ignore: Stephen Zunes, Foreign Policy in Focus, 2007: Perhaps the most terrible legacy of the administration of President George W. Bush has...

Things to do now: Go populist and revive the Rainbow Coalition
Sam Smith - The greatest shift in liberal thinking since the days of the New Deal and Great Society has been a growing disinterest in the economic issues that could bridge the gap between, say, a Manhattan liberal and an Iowa farmer. As liberals have become more of a demographic and far less of a...

Word: Jerry Brown on marijuana laws
Huffington Post - California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) said the federal government should respect states' rights to decide how to regulate marijuana use, in light of votes Tuesday to approve legal use of the drug in Colorado and Washington. "It's time for the Justice Department to recognize the sovereignty…

Alternative news update
Activism Chicago teachers leader revives social movement unionism Occupy to Buy Up and Relieve People's Debt? The Port Huron Statement Sandy FEMA sending trailers to victims World How America Is Turning into a 3rd World Nation in 4 Easy Steps Meanwhile, Back in the Middle East…

Meanwhile, furthermore & on the other hand
Furthermore. . . Since Roosevelt, no GOP presidential campaign has won without a Bush or a Nixon on the ticket. And if Jeb Bush wins next time, it will be our fifth president in a row with ties to the CIA.

Internet sighting in Washington state

Furthermore...

The Brussels Philharmonic has become the world’s first orchestra to abandon paper scores and play from a digital screen. The musicians have all been issued with a Samsung tablet that can hold up to 1,000 orchestral works.

Sandy
Bitter cold inside a disaster shelter

Activism
Socialist gets 27,000 votes in race of Washington state legislature

Petraeus case
Why did FBI agent leak Petreaus story to House Republican

Health
Assisted death narrowly loses in Massachusetts

World
How America Is Turning into a 3rd World Nation in 4 Easy Steps
Meanwhile, Back in the Middle East

Immigration
Immigration Reform May Be Big Winner in US Elections

Civil liberties
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Voting Rights Act Case

Energy
Oil and Gas Industry Loses Latest Round in Battle with SEC

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