Monday's Daily Brief: HuffPost and Freakonomics, George Zimmerman Released, Walmart Probe

Monday, April 23, 2012 Arianna Huffington: HuffPost and Freakonomics: The Hidden Side of Everything Arianna Huffington: Our culture has a way of collectively falling into the groove of conventional wisdom, whether that means seeing everything through the outdated prism of left vs. right or willfully blinding ourselves to unpleasant or inconvenient facts. So, I'm delighted that today HuffPost Business is presenting a video collaboration (freakoration?) with Stephen Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics and Super Freakonomics. Dubner brings his trademark humor, willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, and passion for starting conversations to three very different topics, and in doing so, reinforces two very important truths. First, that the forces influencing our economic life manifest themselves in many unexpected and surprising ways. And second, that conventional wisdom is often dead wrong. BLACK VOICES George Zimmerman Released From Florida Jail POLITICS Huntsman Slams GOP: 'Is This The Best We Could Do?' WORLD China Seizes 77 Million Capsules In Crackdown Of Tainted Pills POLITICS ALEC Hit With Serious Accusation BUSINESS Mexican Vexation BLOG POSTS Marlo Thomas: What You Don't Know About Cancer -- Hope on the Horizon So this being Cancer Awareness Month, I thought it might make us all sleep a little better to ask some of the top cancer scientists in the country to tell us some things (or even one thing) that makes them optimistic about the ongoing battle with cancer. Anne Sinclair: The Beginning of the End The next two weeks will be violent. Nicolas Sarkozy likes a good brawl. And he'll surely enter the ring now that he has nothing to lose. Francois Hollande prefers to avoid conflict, but he'll have to put up a fight, especially against those who say that the chips are down. Leo W. Gerard: End the Delays Deadly to Workers Saturday is Workers' Memorial Day, a time devoted to commemorating those killed on the job. No one volunteers to sacrifice their life for corporate profit, yet every day in workplaces across this country, the lives of 12 workers are taken, not given. Michael Sandel: What Money Can't Buy: The Skyboxification of American Life At a time of rising inequality, the marketization of everything means that people of affluence and people of modest means lead increasingly separate lives. You might call it the skyboxification of American life. It's not good for democracy, nor is it a satisfying way to live. Edward Norton: Earth Day 2012: This Isn't About Tree-Hugging Anymore, It's About The Way We Live My parents' generation sacrificed care-free youth to carry the torch of civil rights and social equality. And now, I feel confident saying that my generation has accepted the environmental movement as our cause and that we are ready to rise to the challenge.

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Walmart Hid Mexican Bribery Scandal

HOME POLITICS NATIONAL NEWS WORLD ECONOMY SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT Joe Conason Carl Hiaasen Connie Schultz E.J. Dionne Gene Lyons Jonathan Alter April 23, 2012 THE BIG STORY Sarkozy, Socialist Challenger Headed To French Presidential Runoff Francois Hollande, a mild-mannered French Socialist, is heading toward a presidential runoff election against conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in a vote that could alter Europe's political and economic landscape. Hollande heads into the May 6 second round with the upper hand after narrowly edging Sarkozy in the first round of France's voting Sunday, according to near-complete official results. Nearly one in five voters chose far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, handing her a solid third place with her anti-immigration platform that targets France's millions of Muslims. READ MORE FEATURED COLUMN: E.J. DIONNE How To Beat Citizens United We are about to have the worst presidential campaign money can buy. The Supreme Court's dreadful Citizens United decision and a somnolent Federal Election Commission will allow hundreds of millions of dollars from a small number of very wealthy people to inundate our airwaves with often vicious advertisements for which no candidate will be accountable. One would like to think that the court will eventually admit the folly of its 2010 ruling and reverse it. But we can't wait that long. READ MORE ANOTHER NEW LOW Report: Walmart Concealed Massive Bribery Scandal In Mexico Government officials declined on Sunday to comment on the allegations contained in a New York Times report, which said Wal-Mart Stores Inc. failed to notify law enforcement after its own investigators found evidence that company officials paid millions of dollars in bribes to spur the company's rapid expansion in Mexico. READ MORE FEATURED COLUMN: LEONARD PITTS JR. Snow White is Sooo Yesterday Sometimes, it seems as if every tabloid and magazine has a headline about some actress or personality and her crusade to find -- or keep -- a man. Either she has been dumped or he has cheated, or she is thinking of taking him back, or she is lonely without him, or she is struggling to conceive, or the wedding is off, or the wedding is back on, or she has found new love after the divorce, yadda, yadda and yadda. It is life as soap opera story arc or country music lyric. And here is the thing: you will almost never see a male celebrity as the object of one of those headlines. READ MORE TODAY IN STUPID Arizona Sheriff Joe Played Probe For Laughs An audio recording has surfaced of Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio playing his refusal to cooperate in a federal investigation for laughs. Taped at a fundraiser for an anti-illegal immigration group in Texas, Arpaio ridicules politicians who sought the probe and displays contempt toward federal authorities who are still investigating him on two fronts. READ MORE LAW AND ORDER George Zimmerman Released On Bail In an unusually low-key turn to a high-profile case, George Zimmerman was released without incident around midnight Sunday from a Florida county jail on $150,000 bail as he awaits his second-degree murder trial for fatally shooting Trayvon Martin. READ MORE CARTOON OF THE DAY   (c) 2012 Eastern Harbor Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 28 West 27th Street, Suite 502 New York, NY 10001

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Friday, April 20, 2012

Kim and Khloe Kardashian at Schaumburg mall | VIDEO Hundreds of people braved the rain and cold Friday morning, camping out to be among the first to see Kim and Khloe Kardashian make a promotional appearance at Schaumburg's Woodfield Mall. Cops: 2 drunken drivers in fatal head-on crash | VIDEO One woman died and two other women were critically injured when a Pontiac Grand Am crossed over the center lane of traffic and struck their car early Friday in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side, police said. Ogden School parents want better recess space | VIDEO Some Chicago parents will meet school officials over concerns about where their children spend recess. CFD pulls man from Chicago River near Loop The Chicago Fire Department rescued a man from the Chicago River near Clark Street Friday morning. NW Side school reports hazmat situation Ambulances rushed to a Northwest Side elementary school Friday morning after a report of a hazardous material situation. Man hit with brick in River North robbery Police say a man was hit in the head with a brick in an attack and robbery in the River North neighborhood. MORE STORIES Strange News NASA releases space shuttle ringtones | VIDEO Survey says most of Chicago snores 420 rally up against fertilizer in Boulder Reporter attempts to describe taste of hemp vodka ND gov bridles at Minn lawmaker's Capitol insult Consumer Making Family Travel Fun | VIDEO Starbucks to stop using 'crushed bug' dye Rare penny sells for $1.15M in Schaumburg IKEA to sell high-tech furniture Study: Flight transfers may lead to lost bags Healthbeat Survey says most of Chicago snores New guidelines for monitoring diabetes 1 in 4 working-age Americans without health coverage in 2011 More than 200 measles cases reported in 2011 Allergies early because of warm temps MOST POPULAR Cops: 2 drunken drivers in fatal head-on crash Women spend $25K on stolen credit card numbers, police say Dixon comptroller released, ordered not to sell horses Dean accused of inappropriate texts to student resigns Police say Evanston HS sex assault not random All Most Popular

Advertisement TODAY'S WEATHER OUTLOOK 49°F 36°F Rain and drizzle this morning; otherwise, breezy and cooler with considerable clouds Hour-by-Hour | 7 Day Forecast | Radar & Satellite TONIGHT ON ABC Lottery Results Your Daily Horoscope George Zimmerman's bail set at $150K A judge says George Zimmerman can be released on $150,000 bail as he awaits trial for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. CTA Weekend Closures: Elevated Loop trains rerouted The CTA's Orange and Pink line trains will be rerouted Friday night through early Monday morning as crews repair elevated tracks in Chicago's Loop.

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George Zimmerman Apologizes to Martin's Family, Bond Set at 150K | Fox News Latino

George Zimmerman Apologizes to Martin's Family, Bond Set at 150K | Fox News Latino:

This is outrageous. If a Black man had murdered or was accused of murdering a white "boy", there would be no bond; and if there was a bond, it would in the millions. Are you tired of this nonsense? When is enough, enough. What is the message here? Kill a Black person and you can get a bond. Well, get ready for bloody streets, mayhem, and random attacks on your person.

Friday's Daily Brief: GOP Super PACs vs. Tea Party, 420 History, Egypt Protest

Friday, April 20, 2012 GOP Establishment Using Super PACs To Restrain Tea Party POLITICS Mitt Romney's Vice Presidential Pick: Signs Point To Risk Avoidance POLITICS 420: How 'Weed Day' Got Its Name DC PBS Host Hit By Conservative Website For Emceeing LGBT Clinic Gala WORLD Thousands Protest Against Military Rule In Egypt TECHNOLOGY First State OK's Facebook Password Protection Bill BLOG POSTS Mohamed A. El-Erian: How European Politics Could Impact Markets Fed up with how all the news out of Europe have been contributing to equity market volatility? Well, not only will this continue but, now, we must also get ready for something new over the next few weeks: the impact of elections. Here's what you should look for. Dr. Peggy Drexler: Five Ways How NOT to Raise Bullies and Mean Girls It's possible -- very possible -- to raise exceptional, morally-grounded children no matter what your family looks like. The development of your child's moral character depends less on whether there is a male or female figure or two parents. These values come from one place: you. Jeremy Rifkin: Deepening the Conversation on The Third Industrial Revolution With both presidential campaigns now turning their attention to the question of how to re-industrialize the economy and jump start growth, the time has arrived for a much needed national conversation on how to transition into a Third Industrial Revolution. Richard Simmons: Support the Fit Kids Bill For more than six years now I've been working hard in my efforts to make P.E. once again part of the core curriculum in America's public schools. Robert L. Borosage: The Zombie Rises: The Return of Simpson-Bowles With interest rates near zero, a decrepit infrastructure that must be rebuilt and a construction industry flat on its back, anyone with a whit of business sense would finance a massive Rebuild America program over the next few years, put people back to work, and build the sinews vital for a more competitive economy. Right now, the focus should be on putting people back to work and getting the economy moving. Until that happens, austerity -- as Europe is now experiencing -- is a contagion, not a cure.

MOST POPULAR ON HUFFINGTONPOST.COM PHOTOS: YouTube Girl Transforms Herself Into Celebrities With Makeup PHOTOS: Katy Perry's Dress Is Falling Off FIRST PHOTOS: Alleged Secret Service Escort Pictures ON TWITTER 'The Simpsons' Open Show With Ke$ha Lip-Dub (VIDEO) WATCH: Alaska's Alleged Sea Serpent Caught On Film PHOTO: Can You Spot The Photoshop Flub? ON FACEBOOK 420: How 'Weed Day' Got Its Name FIRST PHOTOS: Alleged Secret Service Escort Pictures Government Worker Gets Compensation For Sex Injury

Is Romney Using Women To Woo Men?

HOME POLITICS NATIONAL NEWS WORLD ECONOMY SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT Joe Conason Carl Hiaasen Connie Schultz E.J. Dionne Gene Lyons Jonathan Alter April 20, 2012 THE BIG STORY, BY CONNIE SCHULTZ Romney Strategy: Use Women To Woo A Certain Kind Of Man Before we move on from the dust-up over Hilary Rosen's comments about Ann Romney, let's be clear on what's really going on here. Neither Ann Romney nor stay-at-home moms were ever the point. What is increasingly apparent is Mitt Romney's strategy to rally his base of narrow-minded men who couldn't care less about women or, worse, blame us for all that is wrong with their lives. Rosen unwittingly gave him a perfect opportunity. READ MORE MONEY Read The Tax Returns From Karl Rove's 'Dark Money' Group One of the election season's most talked-about "dark money" groups released its tax returns yesterday, showing it raised almost $77 million from fewer than 100 donors over 19 months. Most of the money spent in its first year went directly to political ads or grants to other groups. Still, Crossroads GPS, also known as Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, retained plenty of mystery -- namely, the donors' identities. On the returns there are no donor names, no clues as to whether they are individuals, companies or trade groups, and no hint as to whether there are repeat donors from year to year. READ MORE WAR AND PEACE Clinton Wants Tougher U.N. Move On Syria U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called Thursday for the U.N. Security Council to adopt a global arms embargo and other tough measures against Syria to reinforce existing Western embargoes if the country fails to abide by a cease-fire designed to end 13 months of bloodshed. Clinton stopped short of calling for outside military intervention in Syria -- for which there is little or no foreign appetite -- but said it is time to impose more consequential measures on Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime. READ MORE SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU Benefits For Little Ones Cause Big Stink A few weeks ago, I wrote a column in which I answered a question from a retiree about the benefits due to his wife and children. Many readers were shocked, and some irritated, to learn that a retiree's children and his younger wife could qualify for monthly Social Security checks on his account. READ MORE Just 3 Days Until Earth Day EPA's New Fracking Rules: Limited And Delayed The Environmental Protection Agency issued the first-ever national air pollution regulations for fracking on Wednesday. First proposed in July 2011, the final rules have been welcomed by environmental groups as a much-needed initial move in reducing pollution and protecting public health from the toxic chemicals involved in the oil and natural gas drilling process. But many cautioned this was just a first step. "It sets a floor for what the industry needs to do," said attorney Erik Schlenker-Goodrich of the Western Environmental Law Center. "The reality is we can do far better." READ MORE ANOTHER NEW LOW Ted Nugent Clings To Guns, Religion, And... The Secret Service '70s rocker and conservative activist Ted Nugent, who made headlines when he told NRA members "I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year" if Barack Obama is re-elected president, met with the Secret Service Thursday to explain himself. But he didn't break a sweat, telling a radio talk-show host that "the Secret Service are my buddies" (and that he hangs out with former agents at NRA rallies anyway). READ MORE CARTOON OF THE DAY   (c) 2012 Eastern Harbor Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 28 West 27th Street, Suite 502 New York, NY 10001