 | |||
|
| TOP STORIES |
|
| ||||||||||
| Chris Christie losing home-state donors as Jeb Bush makes inroads |
| New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is rapidly losing support among some of his most prominent home-state donors and power brokers, who are either hesitant to back him or shifting allegiance to former Florida governor Jeb Bush. Read full article » |
| Turning a moment into a movement after the deaths of unarmed black men |
| In the months following the shooting death of Michael Brown, Tony Rice quit his job to lead nightly protests in Ferguson, Mo. But after a grand jury decided in November not to indict the officer who shot Brown, Rice said, “we just woke up one morning and no one was out there protesting.” Read full article » |
| Polar vortex promises more historic cold in eastern U.S. on Friday |
| The cold snap is taking aim at long-standing records from Boston to Miami. Read full article » |
| Race for Chicago mayor splitting Democrats apart over economic issues |
| CHICAGO — The crowd at the Irish American Heritage Center was subdued, some quietly sipping beers. The moderator reminded mayoral hopeful Jesus “Chuy” Garcia that the incumbent, Rahm Emanuel, had a much bigger campaign war chest. Read full article » |
| ‘Two and a Half Men’ finally gets revenge on Charlie Sheen with insult-filled series finale |
| Apparently, “Two and a Half Men” creator Chuck Lorre is a little bitter about Charlie Sheen.At least, that’s the takeaway from the series finale of “Two and a Half Men” — one of the most popular shows on TV for the last decade — which was basically an hour-long slap at its former star. Can you blame the writers? The erratic actor certainly put them through a lot. But Lorre and the writers got the last laugh, literally, as they heaved insult after insult at Sheen, certainly as payback for his infamous 2011 meltdown that temporarily halted production. Read full article » |
| Getting a gun legally in Europe may be hard, but terrorists have little trouble |
| COPENHAGEN — Europe, a continent long known for the rarity of gun violence, is confronting twin challenges that give the issue sudden urgency: a growing population of radicalized young men determined to strike targets close to home, and a black market awash in high-powered weapons. Read full article » |
| How 25 years of Photoshop changed the way we see reality |
| There could be no better commemoration of Photoshop’s 25th anniversary than the trove of unretouched Beyoncé photos that leaked online yesterday.The photos appeared on a fan site called Beyoncé World on Wednesday morning. Within an hour, Beyoncé World had pulled them down, apparently alarmed at fans’ genuine outrage. These fans were angry not that Beyoncé had been Photoshopped so dramatically — as is often the case with these things — but that someone had dared expose her for who she actually is. Laugh lines. Blemishes. Bits of friz. All the makings of a real, human person. Read full article » |
| Metro failed to notify fire officials that radio alarms weren’t working |
| Metro knew for years that a federally funded alarm system that warns of outages in its emergency response radio network didn’t work properly in subway tunnels, but the agency never told the fire officials who depend on the equipment, senior emergency responders said. Read full article » |
| D.C.-area weather delays and closings for Feb. 20 |
| The following is a list of weather-related closings and delays for Friday:Schools Read full article » |
 |
| POLITICS |
| How Rudy Giuliani marginalized himself |
| Here's Rudy Giuliani Wednesday night on President Obama, according to a report in Politico:“I do not believe — and I know this is a horrible thing to say — but I do not believe that the president loves America. He doesn’t love you. And he doesn’t love me. He wasn’t brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up through love of this country.” Read full article » |
| Here is your tiny sliver of evidence that Hillary Clinton could lose a primary |
| Almost everyone who covers politics thinks Hillary Clinton is a cinch to win the Democratic nomination in 2016. Or if not a cinch, a heavy favorite.Which leaves all of us to feverishly search for a vulnerability -- any vulnerability -- that could make this an actual contest. This most often leads to hypotheticals about someone (mostly Elizabeth Warren) running to Clinton's left and exposing lingering liberal unhappiness with the Wall Street-friendly former first family. Read full article » |
| This documentary about the VA’s crisis hotline is among Sunday’s Oscar nominees |
| “American Sniper” may be one of the favorites to win best picture at Sunday’s Academy Awards, but it’s not the only Oscar-nominated film to shed light on the emotional impacts of war fighting.Among this year’s other nominees is “Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1,” an HBO documentary about the Department of Veterans Affairs’ 24-hour call center for troubled veterans and service members, as well as concerned family and friends. The film is a candidate for best short-subject documentary. Read full article » |
| Lawmaker bungles immigration facts at town hall meeting |
| “It was learned the household income deferred tax credit applied retroactively for three years. So each illegal alien will get $24,000 in compensation.” [The crowd expresses some surprise at this fact, with one person saying “wow.”] “Yep, absolutely. You start looking at the process where the GDP [gross domestic product] of Mexico, the second largest input to that, is our system of Social Security and benefits.” Read full article » |
| OPINIONS |
| A Supreme Court decision against Obamacare could cost states billions and billions of dollars |
| If you want a sense of just how far-reaching the impact of a Supreme Court decision gutting Obamacare subsidies could prove, new data on health care signups released this week provide a fresh way to game out such a ruling’s consequences. Read full article » |
| Why Netanyahu broke publicly with Obama over Iran |
| TEL AVIVThe public rift between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Iranian nuclear issue is often described as a personality dispute. But a senior Israeli official argued this week that the break has been building for more than two years and reflects a deep disagreement about how best to limit the threat of a rising Iran. Read full article » |
| The limits of the ‘Islamic’ label |
| President Obama stands accused of political correctness for his unwillingness to accuse groups such as the Islamic State of “Islamic extremism,” choosing a more generic term, “violent extremism.” His critics say that you cannot fight an enemy you will not name. Even his supporters feel that his approach is too “professorial.” Read full article » |
| The bizarre war against AP U.S. history courses |
| It seems strange to organize an educational system around what can’t be taught to children. But for large chunks of the country, that is exactly how public educational standards seem to be set: by demarcating and preserving blind spots rather than promoting enlightenment. Read full article » |
| |||||||
| LOCAL |
| Polar Vortex transforms Mid-Atlantic to Mid-Antarctic |
| We all have our thermometers to bear. Now that the polar vortex is back and it’s more Mid-Antarctic than Mid-Atlantic around here, Washingtonians — not a Nordic people — are being tested. Some — the hatless walkers, the bike commuters — embrace the chill. It’s “bracing.” You feel “alive.” Others — the bundled scurriers — avoid it at all costs. It “hurts.” You feel “frozen to death.” Read full article » |
| Metro warns of delays on Orange and Silver lines |
| Updated at 6:12 a.m.Metro is warning riders of delays Friday morning as they deal with two cracked rails impacting the Orange and Silver lines.In a series of Twitter messages over about 20 minutes, Metro warned of major delays at one point, saying riders should find alternate routes. It then said it was sending buses to replace rail service from stations west of Ballston stop. Read full article » |
| D.C. area forecast: Frigid end to the work week; Snow to mix to rain event begins Saturday |
| Brutal air temperatures continue. A warmer weekend, but with a wintry mix. Read full article » |
| Va. House effectively kills bill moving Herndon elections from spring to fall |
| RICHMOND — A bill that supporters say would have increased participation in local elections was effectively killed on the House floor this week, upsetting Democrats who blamed Republicans for orchestrating the political maneuver. Read full article » |
| SPORTS |
| Backstrom scores twice as Capitals hammer penalty-prone Jets, 5-1 |
| The running joke along the Washington Capitals’ bench holds that, at least once each game, center Nicklas Backstrom will make everyone laugh. Perhaps he dangled around two defensemen, a disappearing act only missing the puff of smoke. Maybe he threaded another pass through a pinhole window and surprised his target when the puck reached the other side. Or maybe, like in their 5-1 rout of the Winnipeg Jets, he launched a shot from beyond the faceoff circle hoping for a whistle and instead scored a goal. Read full article » |
| Marcus Mariota confident he can make quick transition into NFL passing offense |
| INDIANAPOLIS — Marcus Mariota, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Oregon, confirmed here Thursday that he will participate in passing drills Saturday at the NFL scouting combine, and said he expects to be able to make a smooth transition to the pro game. Read full article » |
| Cricket World Cup 2015: New Zealand defeats England |
| New Zealand smashed England by eight wickets in a Cricket World Cup Group A match in Wellington, New Zealand, on Thursday night. One-day international (ODI) matches can last nearly eight hours. This one was done in less than six. And that includes a 30-minute lunch break. Read full article » |
| Blazers’ Steve Blake will change uniform number in honor of the late Jerome Kersey |
| The death Wednesday of Jerome Kersey rocked the world of the Trail Blazers, as the former fan favorite passed away unexpectedly at the age of 52. On Thursday, Portland point guard Steve Blake announced that he would honor the late forward’s memory by changing his uniform number from 25, which had belonged to Kersey, to 5. Read full article » |
| FEDERAL GOVERNMENT |
|
|
| Union enters talks with star power to expand, not cut postal services |
| Contract talks began Thursday between the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and a reenergized union that seeks to broaden the field of play well beyond the negotiating room.Leaders from the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) met their USPS counterparts at the Hyatt Regency after a rousing pep rally the night before at the AFL-CIO headquarters. It featured an array of pumped-up speakers, a Danny Glover video and the star himself. Read full article » |
| With State’s Jen Psaki leaving for White House, who will Russian media have to kick around? |
| State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki’s move to the White House will leave a huge void in Russian late-night comedy. And Russian online trolling generally.Psaki — who in her current role is a public face of U.S. foreign policy — has become a punchline for Russian media. So much so that a national broadcast channel launched a nightly show called “Psaki at Night” last month that bashes the West. Read full article » |
| NATIONAL |
| I’m a therapist. Movies are the best tool I have to help my patients. |
| When a shy client named Angie came in needing help, I recommended an unusual course of treatment: a movie screening.Angie (whose name has been changed to protect her identity) grew up in an isolated, rural area with few friends and little exposure to life outside her family’s farm. She was a gifted computer programmer but was uninterested in her physical appearance. Her hair and clothing often looked unwashed; she wore the same denim jacket week after week. Angie had never had a boyfriend, and longed for a romantic connection. Read full article » |
| Please address me as Mister. I insist. |
| We were all gathered in the lunchroom of my Catholic grade school. I was in seventh grade, about to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. The archbishop wandered in to give us a little pre-Mass pep talk. His excellency told us to call him “Archbishop Jim.” His intention was surely to make us feel more comfortable around him, but I was shocked. He was a direct successor to the Apostles. He had the power of transubstantiation in his hands. He could forgive sins in the name of God. At a minimum, he was a lot older than me, and my parents told me to call adults “Mr. Maese,” not “Brook.” Read full article » |
| 5 things that are worse than Boston’s weather |
| You may have heard about the snow in Boston this year. It is terrible! So far, we have gotten 95.7 inches of snow, and it’s been so cold that none of it melts. It’s piling up around us and threatening to destroy us all, one by one. I think we are one storm away from it becoming self-aware. Read full article » |
| WORLD |
| Pakistani, Afghan officials: Taliban is willing to enter into peace talks |
| KABUL — Pakistani, Afghan and Western officials said Thursday that Afghanistan’s Taliban movement is ready to engage in peace talks with the Afghan government, which could open the door to a diplomatic solution to end the Islamist insurgency that has gripped the nation for more than 13 years. Read full article » |
| Map: Whatever you do, don’t get sick in these countries |
| The island nation of Madagascar and the landlocked Himalayan nation of Bhutan might seem like charming tourist attractions. Travelers might want to think twice before visiting them, though. A recent Health Risk index by SOS International urges caution for visitors to those two countries, among other places. Read full article » |
| Is Vladimir Putin hiding a $200 billion fortune? (And if so, does it matter?) |
| In much of the West, the public perception of Vladimir Putin is that of a Bond villain. With his tailor-made suits, thick accent and KGB past, he seems right out of the Pierce Brosnan era.Of course, like all the best Bond villains, Putin needs a mysterious fortune for funding his misdeeds and building elaborate lairs. And so, you find the West fascinated by murky tales of Putin's opulent wealth. Read full article » |
| Afghanistan’s first lady, in U.S. visit, walks line between reform and caution |
| With her soft French accent, self-deprecating laugh and modest Western attire, Afghanistan’s first lady easily charmed a Washington audience Wednesday evening at her first public appearance here in the nearly five tumultuous months since her husband, Ashraf Ghani, was inaugurated as president in September. Read full article » |
 |
| BUSINESS |
| Defense companies brought back the ‘megadeal’ in 2014 |
| 2014 marked the return of “megadeals” in the aerospace and defense sector, according to a quarterly report released by PriceWaterhouse Coopers this week.There were six mergers worth more than $1 billion last year, double the number in 2013. They included the $5 billion union of Orbital Sciences and Alliant Techsystems, which was completed this month, as well as Engility’s $1.1 billion purchase of TASC. Read full article » |
| The profit motive behind Wal-Mart’s minimum wage hike |
| This morning, Wal-Mart announced it's raising its lowest wage to $9 an hour, affecting 500,000 workers. According to America’s retail lobby, that’s just proof that the private sector can boost incomes on its own — no government interference required. Read full article » |
| Lindsey Graham is in Iowa Thursday |
| GOP Senator Lindsey Graham is heading to Iowa Thursday to test a campaign message focused heavily on national security, marking his first visit to the important caucus state since he launched a presidential exploratory committee last month. Read full article » |
| TECHNOLOGY |
| After leaving LivingSocial, a fresh crop of entrepreneurs sprout up in Washington |
| It’s a Monday morning and Alan Clifford is cutting parsnips. The root vegetable will find its way into a beef bourguignon recipe before the French stew is packaged and delivered to kitchen tables across the District. Read full article » |
| Mark Zuckerberg is obsessed with making China his Facebook friend |
| Attention China, Mark Zuckerberg just lobbed another friend request across the Pacific Ocean.Zuckerberg’s latest attempt to woo the nation came in a 31-second video in which the Facebook chief executive wished everyone a happy Chinese New Year. He mentioned that the social network would be having a big party to celebrate, complete with a lion dance performance! Read full article » |
| Goodbye potato chips, hello jicama chips? These six start-ups want to change how you eat. |
| If you want a sneak peak at what might be the next big thing in food, AccelFoods is a good place to start. The early-stage investors identify and fund start-ups with an eye for the future.AccelFoods looks for growing markets and popular trends among millennials, such as healthy desserts, super foods, unique proteins and ethnic snacks. They’ve bet on everything from cricket protein bars to mushroom teas. AccelFoods has just invested in six more start-ups, its third class since launching a year ago. Here they are: Read full article » |
| The Switchboard: Google blasts the FBI’s plan to grow its hacking powers |
| Published every weekday, the Switchboard is your morning helping of hand-picked stories from the Switch team.Google calls FBI's plan to expand hacking power a 'monumental' constitutional threat. National Journal reports: "The search giant submitted public comments earlier this week opposing a Justice Department proposal that would grant judges more leeway in how they can approve search warrants for electronic data." Read full article » |
| LIFESTYLE |
| Fifty years after his death, Malcolm X speaks to the current moment |
| After a life filled with transformation, Malcolm X found himself in February 1965 in the throes of yet another.He had been a fringe figure, known mostly to a small circle of black Muslims and big-city sophisticates, but now he was branching out — seeking allies at home and abroad to help him become a part of the Southern civil rights movement. He had plans to take the cause to the United Nations, charging the U.S. government with failure to protect its black citizens from racist white terrorism. Read full article » |
| Colts owner Jim Irsay spends $335,500 to buy controversial Les Paul guitar |
| Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay swooped in tonight to purchase the controversial Les Paul guitar, saying he paid $335,500 to add the instrument to a collection that includes the guitar Bob Dylan played when he went electric at the Newport Folk Festival and Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia’s “Tiger.” Read full article » |
| Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly calls Mother Jones report ‘a lie’ |
| Mother Jones dropped this afternoon a long story alleging that Fox News host Bill O’Reilly has his own Brian Williams problem in exaggerating his coverage of conflicts around the globe in a decades-long and peripatetic career. A key line in the story by David Corn and Daniel Schulman reads like this: “>Fox News and O’Reilly did not respond to multiple requests for comment.” Read full article » |
| Carolyn Hax: Root for nephew’s nuptials now, or repent later |
| Hi, Carolyn:My sister and I have a close relationship and talk often. Her son (who was born just after her 19th birthday) turned 18 last summer and graduated from high school a semester early to join the military. He will likely be posted overseas after his training is complete. Read full article » |
댓글 없음:
댓글 쓰기