* News

HOW POKER1 NEWS WORKS:

All story links first appear in the candidates box below. They are chosen because Mike Caro finds them interesting. At first, their “verdict” is listed as undecided.

Later, Mike rules on whether each story will be rejected or approved. If approved, a story will permanently survive in the Poker1 archives as a separate entry along with his comments and an option to add your own.

Recently approved stories, with Mike’s comments, also temporarily appear lower on this page.

Updated 2014-07-06

News

     Poker1

              .com

Mike’s news now

Selected web-wide and analyzed by
Mike Caro.

Includes some poker and gambling.

Choices interest Mike and, possibly, you.

→ GUNS
Poll shows East Coast supports national registry


→ CLASS ACTION
Lawsuit filed after fake-chip poker tournament cancellation

Audio: Mike Caro occasional newscast (coming soon)

Poker1 News candidates

→ Antarctic ice grows to record / Daily Mail
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ NJ casino using unshuffled cards found not liable to winners / Las Vegas Sun
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ IRS reports that it lost two years of emails that may shed light on Tea Party targeting scandal / Daily Mail
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ After 23 years service, liberal academic fired for expressing global warming skepticism / Breitbart
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Groceries stolen after woman dies in car accident / Houston Chronicle
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Proposed California law requires college students to get verbal or written consent from each other before sex / Breitbart
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Ben Affleck barred from blackjack at Las Vegas Casino / TribLive.com
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Obama administration proposes separate legal systems for Hawaii, based on race / Fox News
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Next level political correctness? BBC censors word “girl” from broadcast / Daily Mail
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Legalizing online gambling has different downside than is widely discussed / National Review — Rick Perry
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ EPA fining couple $75,000 each day for properly authorized pond / Fox News
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Feds pressure banks to freeze accounts, cancel services to legal gun shops with good credit ratings / Washington Times
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Politics in science? Five elite scientists see study challenging global warming theory rejected by major science journal / Daily Mail
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Only 1 in 25 Americans think own intelligence is below average / National Journal
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ College indoctrination? Harvard requiring new students to take ‘power and privilege training’ / Campus Reform
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ College considers requiring transgender sensitivity training for athletes / CBS, Cleveland
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Bill introduced to make U.S. senators and representatives fly coach / Washington Times
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ People agree that not liking Mexican food is racist / InfoWars.com
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Condoleeza Rice cancels Rutgers commencement speech after protesters call her “war criminal” / National Review
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Ben Affleck investigated for blackjack card counting / Radar Online
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ IRS continues policy of seizing property from innocent Americans / Washington Post — George Will
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Evidence of New York Times poll bias derived from same poll / Weekly Standard
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Poker superstar Ivey sued by casino for cheating at baccarat / Fox News
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ International scientists challenge United Nations report on threat of global warming / Fox News
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Seventh grader twirling pencil suspended for gun motions / Yahoo
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Yale threatens to kick out healthy female student for not gaining weight / New York Daily News
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ New York police and firefighters in ugly brawl during charity hockey game / New York Post
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Mixed gender basketball league launches / WWOR-TV (Channel 9), New Jersey
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Testimony: IRS didn’t target liberal groups, too, as reported — only conservatives / Daily Caller
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Nine-month old baby charged with attempted murder in Pakistan / Yahoo
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Amazon Dash to deliver groceries in more cities / Yahoo
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Almost unnoticed, Michigan may have become 34th state to call for constitutional convention — meeting two-thirds requirement / Fox News
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Daylight Savings Time may have caused premature explosion of car bomb in Ireland / Breitbart
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Study shows health, live-quality risks for vegetarians / CBS Atlanta
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Supreme Court strikes down limits on number of candidates donors can contribute to / Washington Times
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ U.S. government may force casinos to account for high-rollers’ sources of income / Reuters
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ NLRB ruling that Northwestern University athletes can unionize could change nature of college sports / CBS Sports
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Aborted babies burned to heat hospitals in Britain / The Telegraph
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Over 500 Morsi supporters sentenced to death in Egypt / BBC
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ High School senior and Emergency Medical Technician trainee suspended from high school and jailed 13 days for pocket knife found in kit in car / Fox News
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Digital brain implants could arrive soon to improve memory and more / Wall Street Journal
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ School’s solution to bullying: Ban the lunchbox bullies don’t like / Fox News
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Florida town operating as speed trap could be legislated out of existence due to corruption / Yahoo
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ SpaceX reveals launch rocket that can land on legs / University Herald
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Proposed Montana ballot measure would dictate that legislature be half women / Fox News
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ US government’s NSA may have impersonated Facebook to steal files, record live audio and video in homes / Digital Trends
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Huckabee speaks of “fiery judgment” of God in CPAC speech / The Hill
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ An on-scene travelogue of Cuba today / Fox News, Latino
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Rutgers’ faculty demanding to ban Condoleezza Rice is symptom of liberal hatred / Fox News (Juan Williams)
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Connecticut considering law to limit sound in movie theaters to 85 decibels / Daily Mail
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ A Muslim fatwa that makes sense / Fox News
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Starting in October, regulations required U.S. doctors to choose from 155,000 codes to classify medical conditions / Weekly Standard
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Florida man accused of sex with pit bull / Fox News, New York
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Student, 18, loses lawsuit seeking support from parents / CNN
Verdict: UNDECIDED. — MC


→ Poll shows huge East Coast support for national gun registry / Washington Times
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

Ever since I abandoned my gun-free life in Los Angeles and became a hermit in the Ozarks, I’ve owned firearms. And I’ve come to view the gun phobia common to my circle of friends in California as naive.

I guess the same goes for the East Coast, as this poll suggests, with so many people fearing guns in similar way. But, let’s leave that argument for another day. There’s a real issue here. Wasn’t one of the reasons for the second amendment that ensures private gun ownership a fear that government would someday become oppressive? Wasn’t it to ensure that people would have a fighting chance to remain free, if that sad day ever came? Well, then it doesn’t make sense to me to provide that government with an easy list of where to find guns to confiscate. Think about it.

Of course, in practice, the issue requires compromises. Can we afford to have private armies everywhere with tanks and missiles, ready to fight against our nation’s military? Probably not. So, we need reasonable restrictions, and we need to hope for the best. Some trust of our ability to install rational government is necessary. But, after that, we need to cross our fingers.

So, compromise, yes. But a national gun registry? I think that might be a step too far — but likely one that will eventually be taken. — MC


→ DOJ wins fight to deport German family to Germany / CNN
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

I get it. Granting United States residency on the grounds that Germany forbids home schooling is a stretch. But why would our government spend all this effort and money expelling one good family, when the mood of the Obama administration seems to be leniency toward less educated and less civic-minded illegal immigrants? Well, maybe we know why. This selective deportation bothers me. — MC


→ Biden tries to sign up Canadian woman to Obamacare / The Weekly Standard
Verdict: REJECTED, but worthwhile. — MC


→ Diet: The benefits of eating bugs / The Week
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


→ While nobody was looking, Tesla — maker of long-range and fast electric cars — suddenly has value of over half of GM in stocks / The Daily Beast
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

I love these cars. Go here and pick your own colors and interiors: http://www.teslamotors.com/. They’re semi-expensive. And there’s a long waiting list. — MC


→ Class action lawsuit against Borgata for cancelled tournament after fake chips discovered / Press of Atlantic City
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

This raises important issues. Should a tournament be retroactively cancelled after a cheater is disqualified? Or should only the first-place cheater be disqualified and the other prize-money winners move up in rank? Many other questions. No obvious answers. And the Borgata probably had no choice than to follow the law. Still, a terrible solution. — MC


→ Idaho bill would allow guns on campus / ABC — Associated Press
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Over 100 articles in scientific journals determined to be intentional gibberish / Fox News
Verdict: REJECTED, because everyone knows that. — MC


→ New computer threat as viruses go airborne using WiFi / Daily Caller
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting to some. — MC


→ Egyptian military claims to have discovered cure for AIDS / BBC
Verdict: REJECTED, but worthwhile. — MC


→ Court orders YouTube to remove anti-Muslim film / Yahoo
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

This is evil. If the actress has a grievance, she should seek monetary damages in a civil case. You don’t ban video from the public for reasons like this. Where could this lead? — MC


→ Mexican “walking fish”, thought extinct, reappears / Huffington Post
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


→ Greenpeace co-founder says humans not cause of global warming; left organization because it deserted environment for politics / Fox News
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Injured player allowed to score in girls’ high school basketball game / Channel 5, St. Louis
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

Call me insensitive, but this isn’t my kind of feel-good story. Don’t mess with athletic events. Points are points, and you shouldn’t be giving them up out of sympathy. There are other ways to show concern. Beside, what if I was in the audience and had made a friendly $100,000 bet with a friend? The two points might have made a difference. Just sayin’ — MC


→ Department of Interior sides with bears and birds, refusing to allow remote Alaskan village to build life-saving road to airport / Fox News
Verdict: REJECTED, but worth reading. — MC


→ Rubio speech blasts politicians with positive views of Cuba and Venezuela / Miami Herald
Verdict: REJECTED, but worthwhile. — MC


→ Medical records destroyed by Veterans Administration to show shorter waiting lists / Daily Caller
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Muslims petition to have Katy Perry music video removed from YouTube / Independent Journal Review
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear important right-to-play-poker case / Reuters
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

Actually, I’m not unhappy with this event. It was the wrong case to establish, once and for all, that Americans have a right to play poker. There were too many other things being argued that were clouding the issue. Find a case in which people are arrested for playing poker in a friend’s house. That’s the one that’s likely to permanently establish a constitutional right to play. Keep it simple.— MC


→ Climate change petition tries to silence Krauthammer for saying “Not believer … not denier” / Fox News
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

For godsakes, can you just send these whinny, misguided, global-warming children to their rooms. Stop treating them like adults with grown-up opinions. Being kind to the environment is something I was raised to do. Fine. These folks don’t care about the environment. They care about being on an adventure. And, by pure coincidence, that adventure involves a “climate change” and “global warming” thrill ride.— MC


→ FBI records suggest Clay (Ali) fight against Liston may have been rigged / Washington Times
Verdict: REJECTED because, well, we already knew this. — MC


→ Legislation may be introduced in U.S. Senate to ban all online gambling except poker / Las Vegas Review-Journal
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

Not so fast! It’s human nature to approve things that will help our selfish best interests. We want to play poker online. Fine.

But what about people who are passionate about betting sports online? Or playing blackjack online? We engaged in this battle because we were ethically right. We shouldn’t cheer legislation that enshrines the oppression we were fighting against, just because it exempts us. Think about it. — MC


→ Largest Bitcoin exchange closes suddenly / Yahoo
Verdict: REJECTED, but worthwhile. — MC


→ Two online poker bills introduced in California / Bluff.com
Verdict: REJECTED, but important. — MC


→ Another gold rush as California drought exposes new nuggets / CBS Los Angeles
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Fishing knife found in dad’s car gets student banned from high school graduation / NewsChannel5.com, Nashville
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

Can so-called “zero tolerance” get any crazier. Probably. Stay tuned. — MC


→ Christine O’Donnell writes on IRS involvement in her 2010 senate loss / New York Post
Verdict: REJECTED, but worth reading. — MC


→ Nevada and California joining forces to provide online gambling / Las Vegas Sun
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


→ Ballot initiative to split California into five states jumps hurdle, allowed to gather signatures / Yahoo
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ EPA banning wood-burning heat from rural America / JoeForAmerica.com
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

Damn! I have a deluxe wood-burning stove for back-up heating at my retreat in the Ozarks. I’ve never used it, but this type of low-cost heating is common in the area. I wonder if the benefits of a ban will help the environment as much as switching to conventional energy will hurt. I haven’t done my math on this. Has the government done its math? — MC


→ Legal wagering by cell phone growing trend in New Jersey / My9NJ.com
Verdict: REJECTED, but worth reading. — MC


→ New online gambling coalition forms / Pokerfuse.com
Verdict: REJECTED, but recommended. — MC


→ Gambling online with Bitcoins already happening / Fox News
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

This trend will be fascinating to watch. Already some major retailers are accepting Bitcoin payments — not just online but in physical stores. Yes, government will attempt to regulate or even destroy this alternate currency. But can that be done? — MC


→ College textbook paints Reagan as pessimist, anti-women / Independent Journal Review
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

Strange. Wasn’t Ronald Reagan known as an optimist who appointed many women to high positions? — MC


→ Company may revolutionize Internet by giving free access to everyone on Earth, starting 2015 / Daily Mail
Verdict: REJECTED, but worth reading. — MC


→ Modern warfare: 150 years since Confederate submarine sunk warship / ABC
Verdict: REJECTED, but worthwhile. — MC


→ Poker prize money frozen after champion allegedly pockets 25K chip / Pokernews.com
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

I’ve publicly alerted poker rooms to this type of cheating over 15 years ago. I don’t know the specifics of this case or whether this guy actually did what was alleged or had sinister motives. But I do know that the practice isn’t uncommon. Management needs to make sure chip counts balance at the end of poker tournaments. And they should begin each event with either new chips or ones specifically marked to prevent previous chips from being introduced during competition. — MC


→ Russians remain furious over American referee’s call that cost them Olympic hockey game / Fox News
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Disabled vet attacked by mob on Cleveland bus and nobody helps / Daily Mail
Verdict: REJECTED, but worth reading. — MC


→ Groupon promotion celebrates President Hamilton and lists presidential achievements / Fox News
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

When you’re a major corporation listed on NASDAQ, you might feel the civic obligation to inform an unsophisticated public about history. Maybe you should let them know about United States presidents whose accomplishments have faded from memory. I recommend Millard Fillmore.

Online coupon magnate Groupon decided on a different person, instead. They chose Alexander Hamilton and informed us: “President Hamilton is best known for the fiscal sensibilities that led him to author economic policies…”

Reporting on this same story, USA Today further quotes from the Groupon Presidents’ Day promotion: “The $10 bill, as everyone knows, features President Alexander Hamilton — undeniably one of our greatest presidents and most widely recognized for establishing the country’s financial system.” My only question about him being “undeniably one of our greatest presidents” is did he serve before or after he was assassinated by Arron Burr in that famous duel?

Or was this “undeniably one of the greatest promotions,” anticipating that it would be widely publicized? — MC


→ Kerry says “most fearsome weapon of mass destruction” may be climate change / Huffington Post
Verdict: REJECTED, but worth reading. — MC


→ Pentagon to allow Muslims in military to have beards / Allen West Republic
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Woman admits Craigslist murder, claims to have killed over 20 others / The Independent
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Russia’s Putin visits American Olympic team in Sochi / USA Today
Verdict: REJECTED, but worthwhile. — MC


→ Sad end to career of celebrated Russian skater as he is criticized for withdrawing from Olympic event / Fox News
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


→ Court strikes down California’s tough concealed carry gun restrictions / San Jose Mercury News
Verdict: REJECTED, but worthwhile. — MC


→ EPA gives regulation of Wyoming city of 11,000 to Indian tribe — plus 1 million acres / Washington Times editorial
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

Journalists could help sell millions of papers with factual reporting of the Environmental Protection Agency’s abuses of power. In fact, the only reason the EPA still exists in its present form is because the lefward American media will not report.

This story is just another example. Most people don’t even realize the power that the EPA has to steal, repress, and terrify citizens. What’s to blame? Oddly, I partially blame the radical right Redneck culture for making themselves poster people of anti-regulation to such an extent that they are so despised that city folk can’t think straight. I blame politicians’ failures to confront radical environmentalists who are treated as if they have wrong-headed, but heartfelt beliefs. Well, let me tell you, as one who lived among the hippies: These folks don’t have heartfelt beliefs. They’re just out to stick it to the man and act out their insanity in visible ways. There’s no more to it than that.

Once you understand that great truth, all the rest of the so-called progressive nonsense begins to make sense. You suddenly see the EPA, the radical left, and others for what they are. They’re children who will continually push boundaries against permissive parents, desperately waiting to be told to go to their rooms. — MC


→ Countries challenging U.S. role in controlling Internet / The Guardian
Verdict: REJECTED, but worth reading. — MC


→ Some McDonald’s will offer candlelight dining on Valentine’s Day / Fox News
Verdict: APPROVED shown below with my comments. — MC

You know, this isn’t a bad idea — Valentine’s at McDonald’s. You just need the right soul mate to think it’s campy and memorable. Warning to guys: Don’t surprise your gal with this. It needs to be an idea suggested by her. Even then, add something extra and very special. — MC


→ O.J. Simpson on prison hunger strike to end life / Daily Mail
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Zoo to kill another healthy giraffe — in animal’s best interest / Fox News
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


→ Imaginary villains in National Guard drill are supporters of gun rights / Fox News
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Shirley Temple dies at 85 / Los Angeles Times
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


→ Intelligence gene may have been identified by scientists / The Telegraph
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


→ Supreme Court justice, Thomas, says people too sensitive about race / Yahoo
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


→ NBC report claiming visitors to Sochi immediately had electronics “hacked” may have been bogus / Breitbart
Verdict: REJECTED, but worthwhile. — MC


→ Students face illogical mathematics in standardized questions / Joe for America
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

The near-total intellectual meltdown of American society surrounds us. Don’t be swayed by arguments that claim that older generations always said the same thing about younger ones. That may be true, but it doesn’t refute the obvious fact that U.S. citizens (and perhaps citizens in developed nations worldwide, on average) really are getting stupider.

The poor round-off logic cited in this mathematics test question possibly is a good example. But a more powerful example is the frequent use of claims, even in science articles, similar to “contains five times fewer calories,” “a thousand times less massive,” “earning three times less money,” and so on.

What bothers me so much about that isn’t the clear lack of logic in not understanding that “one times” less money is zero, but that if you visit forums where articles using this language is criticized, you don’t see, “Good point.” Instead, you see arguments about why it’s okay to use that wording. Everyone understand it, they say.

But, actually, if people understand it, there’s something terribly wrong happening. There’s a difference between, “I think I know what you meant,” and “it makes sense to me.” So, you’re doomed if you understand “it,” but you’re okay if you understand what was intended by the mistake. This story, in a small way, helps illustrate the problem. — MC


→ Jewish author interrogated by TSA when she is found in possession of conservative newspaper / Infowars
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Woody Allen writes rebuttal to charges of child sexual abuse / New York Times
Verdict: REJECTED, but worth reading. — MC


→ Teen girl faces child porn charges for tweeting nude photos of herself / CBS Washington DC
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

Whenever society rightly confronts a serious problem it seeks to resolve, common sense often suffers. This has become the case with child sexual abuse.

If you’re like me, you can’t put yourself into the minds of the abuser, because the actions seem so alien. And, yet, this very contempt for what we perceive as horrendously unacceptable behavior can lead us collectively to be unreasonable.

I remember seeing a PBS documentary decades ago about school teachers being charged with conspiring to sexually abuse very young students, even though there was no compelling evidence. The filming was done during the trial. Some of the accused were offered sentencing without jail time if they’d simply plead guilty.

They refused to accept the lenient sentences on ethical grounds. The children had obviously been poisoned into thinking bizarre sexual crimes had involved them, even though it was obvious that the memories had been planted by psychologists. Finally, they were found guilty and sentenced to decades in prison. And one of the jurors stated that he thought the accused were probably innocent, but couldn’t risk that verdict, because the children must be protected.

I’ve tried to find the original video, but it predated the internet and doesn’t appear anywhere that I can discover. But it made a great impression on me. And I’ve ever since been alert to instances where logic surrenders to emotion in regard to sexual crimes alleged against children. I think the story of this young girl (which isn’t unique, by the way) being threatened with child pornography charges is an example of emotions overruling logic. — MC


→ San Diego may become largest U.S. city with Republican mayor / Yahoo
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ NAACP requires protesters marching against North Carolina voter ID requirement to show photo IDs / Daily Caller
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


→ Viewers outraged at NBC Olympic coverage calling murderous communist era a “pivotal experiment” / The Blaze
Verdict: RECECTED, but worthwhile. — MC


→ Unflattering view of Obama from Russia / Pravda
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Russian who lit Olympic flame tweeted racist photo of Obama / CBS Washington DC
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

In an age where the racist label is attached inappropriately to ideas that aren’t liked — whether there’s a logical connection or not — it’s refreshing to see an incident described as racist that really is. If you don’t think so, here’s a link to the actual tweet with the doctored photo from the Russian Olypian woman who lit the flame yesterday: → See tweet with photo. Yes, it’s safe to call this one racist. — MC


→ YWCA partners with white privilege conference / YWCA Madison
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

People are asleep. They don’t realize that the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) was infiltrated long ago by the radical left. Same goes, to some extent, for the Girl Scouts, although many parents are unaware. — MC


→ Washington state commission shuts down nickel-dime poker at senior center / Fox News
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

If you don’t understand how this can happen, please read my explanation: → How government got involved in gambling — MC


→ Furor as U.S. diplomat F-bombs European Union / NBC
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


→ Will Sarah Palin make surprise run for presidency? / Fox News
Verdict: REJECTED, but well worth reading. — MC


→ You may not be getting the flowers you pay for, unless you buy them in person / Today (NBC)
Verdict: REJECTED, but worthwhile. — MC


→ Beatle’s first TV introduction in U.S. not on Ed Sullivan, but on NBC’s Huntley-Brinkley newscast / NBC
Verdict: APPROVED shown below with my comments. — MC

Sadly, the video of this newscast has been lost, but the four-minute audio is preserved and can be heard along with the story. In recent years, I’ve been astonished to learn how many historic television programs — sitcoms, newscasts, variety shows, and more — were recorded, but not saved.

Many were taped over to save cost. Why didn’t people realize the great historic value these would have? — MC


→ Automobile fatalities involving marijuana triple in United States / CBS Seattle
Verdict: REJECTED, but worth reading. — MC


→ Earning $1 extra could cost $20,000 under Obamacare / Weekly Standard
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

So what? This is the mathematical truth behind bureaucratic do-good programs in this category. Try harder and you get punished.

I still remember comforting a couple who worked multiple jobs each, trying to qualify for a townhouse in California. They had excellent credit, but weren’t quite making enough. They sat by and saw the government provide the same townhouse to not-so-upstanding folks who earned less money, but qualified for assistance. Sad story that will always haunt me.

Moral? Don’t put in that extra effort next time. — MC


→ Scientific advances could soon allow humans to regrow lost limbs / Mail Online
Verdict: REJECTED, but fascinating. — MC


→ Journalists finding horror and humor in Sochi Winter Olypics hotels / Washington Post
Verdict: APPROVED and shown below with my comments. — MC

Okay, so what do we have here? Dogs running loose in hotels without floors, open wastebaskets to hold used toilet paper — an adventure you’ll never forget.

The thing is, the entire purpose of Russia bidding for and winning the Winter Olympics was presumably to showcase the country. This might call for a public relations makeover. But, it also makes this one of the most interesting Olympics to watch, because — in addition to the athletic competition — you get the suspense of possible terrorism, overzealous police, skii slopes that are too steep, humorous complaints from visitors, and all kinds of unexpected drama. Who could resist watching this? — MC


→ Will Putin’s girlfriend light Olympic torch in Sochi? / CBS Washington DC
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


→ PETA killed 2,000 animals last year at its shelter / Daily Mail
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Sochi winter Olympics attracting few tourists so far / Associated Press
Verdict: REJECTED, but worthwhile. — MC


→ Leading Democrat candidate for Texas governor supporting open-carry gun law / Fox News
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


→ New York sanitation worker axed for accepting $20 tip / AOL
Verdict: REJECTED. — MC


→ Woman executed in Texas for 1998 murder / Miami Herald
Verdict: REJECTED, but worth reading. — MC


→ Mystery of mass grave in New Mexico unsolved five years later / Fox News
Verdict: REJECTED, but interesting. — MC


“Biased is how truth seems to those who are.” — Mike Caro

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Tuesday → 

March

4

2014

Held over


Poll shows huge East Coast support for national gun registry
Washington Times ↑

Mike Caro says:

Ever since I abandoned my gun-free life in Los Angeles and became a hermit in the Ozarks, I’ve owned firearms. And I’ve come to view the gun phobia common to my circle of friends in California as naive.

I guess the same goes for the East Coast, as this poll suggests, with so many people fearing guns in a similar way. But, let’s leave that argument for another day. There’s a real issue here. Wasn’t one of the reasons for the second amendment that ensures private gun ownership a fear that government would someday become oppressive? Wasn’t it to ensure that people would have a fighting chance to remain free, if that sad day ever came? Well, then it doesn’t make sense to me to provide that government with an easy list of where to find guns to confiscate. Think about it.

Of course, in practice, the issue requires compromises. Can we afford to have private armies everywhere with tanks and missiles, ready to fight against our nation’s military? Probably not. So, we need reasonable restrictions, and we need to hope for the best. Some trust of our ability to install rational government is necessary. But, after that, we need to cross our fingers.

So, compromise, yes. But a national gun registry? I think that might be a step too far — but likely one that will eventually be taken. — MC












Tuesday → 

March

4

2014

Held over


DOJ wins fight to deport German family to Germany
CNN ↑

Mike Caro says:

I get it. Granting United States residency on the grounds that Germany forbids home schooling is a stretch. But why would our government spend all this effort and money expelling one good family, when the mood of the Obama administration seems to be leniency toward less educated and less civic-minded illegal immigrants? Well, maybe we know why. This selective deportation bothers me. — MC












Tuesday → 

March

4

2014

Held over


While nobody was looking, Tesla — maker of long-range and fast electric cars — suddenly has value of over half of GM in stocks
The Daily Beast ↑

Mike Caro says:

I love these cars. Go here and pick your own colors and interiors: http://www.teslamotors.com/. They’re semi-expensive. And there’s a long waiting list. — MC












Tuesday → 

March

4

2014

Held over


Class action lawsuit against Borgata for cancelled tournament after fake chips discovered
Press of Atlantic City ↑

Mike Caro says:

This raises important issues. Should a tournament be retroactively cancelled after a cheater is disqualified? Or should only the first-place cheater be disqualified and the other prize-money winners move up in rank? Many other questions. No obvious answers. And the Borgata probably had no choice than to follow the law. Still, a terrible solution. — MC












Tuesday → 

March

4

2014

Held over


Court orders YouTube to remove anti-Muslim film
Yahoo ↑

Mike Caro says:

This is evil. If the actress has a grievance, she should seek monetary damages in a civil case. You don’t ban video from the public for reasons like this. Where could this lead? — MC












Tuesday → 

March

4

2014

Held over


Injured player allowed to score in girls’ high school basketball game
Channel 5, St. Louis ↑

Mike Caro says:

Call me insensitive, but this isn’t my kind of feel-good story. Don’t mess with athletic events. Points are points, and you shouldn’t be giving them up out of sympathy. There are other ways to show concern. Beside, what if I was in the audience and had made a friendly $100,000 bet with a friend? The two points might have made a difference. Just sayin’— MC












Tuesday → 

February

25

2014

Held over


U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear important right-to-play-poker case
Reuters ↑

Mike Caro says:

Actually, I’m not unhappy with this event. It was the wrong case to establish, once and for all, that Americans have a right to play poker. There were too many other things being argued that were clouding the issue. Find a case in which people are arrested for playing poker in a friend’s house. That’s the one that’s likely to permanently establish a constitutional right to play. Keep it simple. — MC












Tuesday → 

February

25

2014

Held over


Climate change petition tries to silence Krauthammer for saying “Not believer … not denier”
Fox News ↑

Mike Caro says:

For godsakes, can you just send these whinny, misguided, global-warming children to their rooms. Stop treating them like adults with grown-up opinions. Being kind to the environment is something I was raised to do. Fine. These folks don’t care about the environment. They care about being on an adventure. And, by pure coincidence, that adventure involves a “climate change” and “global warming” thrill ride.— MC












Tuesday → 

February

25

2014

Held over


Legislation may be introduced in U.S. Senate to ban all online gambling except poker
Las Vegas Review-Journal ↑

Mike Caro says:

Not so fast! It’s human nature to approve things that will help our selfish best interests. We want to play poker online. Fine.

But what about people who are passionate about betting sports online? Or playing blackjack online? We engaged in this battle because we were ethically right. We shouldn’t cheer legislation that enshrines the oppression we were fighting against, just because it exempts us. Think about it. — MC












Tuesday → 

February

25

2014

Held over


Fishing knife found in dad’s car gets student banned from high school graduation
NewsChannel5.com ↑

Mike Caro says:

Can so-called “zero tolerance” get any crazier. Probably. Stay tuned.












Wednesday → 

February

19

2014

Held over


EPA banning wood-burning heat from rural America
JoeForAmerica.com ↑

Mike Caro says:

Damn! I have a deluxe wood-burning stove for back-up heating at my retreat in the Ozarks. I’ve never used it, but this type of low-cost heating is common in the area. I wonder if the benefits of a ban will help the environment as much as switching to conventional energy will hurt. I haven’t done my math on this. Has the government done its math? — MC












Wednesday → 

February

19

2014

Held over


Gambling online with Bitcoins already happening
Fox News ↑

Mike Caro says:

This trend will be fascinating to watch. Already some major retailers are accepting Bitcoin payments — not just online but in physical stores. Yes, government will attempt to regulate or even destroy this alternate currency. But can that be done? — MC












Wednesday → 

February

19

2014

Held over


College textbook paints Reagan as pessimist, anti-women
Independent Journal Review ↑

Mike Caro says:

Strange. Wasn’t Ronald Reagan known as an optimist who appointed many women to high positions? — MC












Wednesday → 

February

19

2014

Held over


Poker prize money frozen after champion allegedly pockets 25K chip
Pokernews.com ↑

Mike Caro says:

I’ve publicly alerted poker rooms to this type of cheating over 15 years ago. I don’t know the specifics of this case or whether this guy actually did what was alleged or had sinister motives. But I do know that the practice isn’t uncommon. Management needs to make sure chip counts balance at the end of poker tournaments. And they should begin each event with either new chips or ones specifically marked to prevent previous chips from being introduced during competition. — MC












Sunday → 

February

16

2014

Held over


Groupon promotion celebrates President Hamilton and lists presidential achievements
Fox News ↑

Hamilton among greatest presidents, says Groupon
USA Today ↑

Mike Caro says:

When you’re a major corporation listed on NASDAQ, you might feel the civic obligation to inform an unsophisticated public about history. Maybe you should let them know about United States presidents whose accomplishments have faded from memory. I recommend Millard Fillmore.

Online coupon magnate Groupon decided on a different person, instead. They chose Alexander Hamilton and informed us: “President Hamilton is best known for the fiscal sensibilities that led him to author economic policies…”

Reporting on this same story, USA Today further quotes from the Groupon Presidents’ Day promotion: “The $10 bill, as everyone knows, features President Alexander Hamilton — undeniably one of our greatest presidents and most widely recognized for establishing the country’s financial system.” My only question about him being “undeniably one of our greatest presidents” is did he serve before or after he was assassinated by Arron Burr in that famous duel?

Or was this “undeniably one of the greatest promotions,” anticipating that it would be widely publicized? — MC












Thursday → 

February

13

2014

Held over


EPA gives regulation of Wyoming city of 11,000 to Indian tribe — plus 1 million acres
Washington Times editorial ↑

Mike Caro says:

Journalists could help sell millions of papers with factual reporting of the Environmental Protection Agency’s abuses of power. In fact, the only reason the EPA still exists in its present form is because the leftward American media will not report.

This story is just another example. Most people don’t even realize the power that the EPA has to steal, repress, and terrify citizens. What’s to blame? Oddly, I partially blame the radical right Redneck culture for making themselves poster people of anti-regulation to such an extent that they are so despised that city folk can’t think straight. I blame politicians’ failures to confront radical environmentalists who are treated as if they have wrong-headed, but heartfelt beliefs. Well, let me tell you, as one who lived among the hippies: These folks don’t have heartfelt beliefs. They’re just out to stick it to the man and act out their insanity in visible ways. There’s no more to it than that.

Once you understand that great truth, all the rest of the so-called progressive nonsense begins to make sense. You suddenly see the EPA, the radical left, and others for what they are. They’re children who will continually push boundaries against permissive parents, desperately waiting to be told to go to their rooms. — MC












Thursday → 

February

13

2014

Held over


Some McDonald’s will offer candlelight dining on Valentine’s Day
Fox News ↑

Mike Caro says:

You know, this isn’t a bad idea — Valentine’s at McDonald’s. You just need the right soul mate to think it’s campy and memorable. Warning to guys: Don’t surprise your gal with this. It needs to be an idea suggested by her. Even then, add something extra and very special. — MC












Monday → 

February

10

2014

Held over


Students face illogical mathematics in standardized questions
Joe for America ↑

Mike Caro says:

The near-total intellectual meltdown of American society surrounds us. Don’t be swayed by arguments that claim that older generations always said the same thing about younger ones. That may be true, but it doesn’t refute the obvious fact that U.S. citizens (and perhaps citizens in developed nations worldwide, on average) really are getting stupider.

The poor round-off logic cited in this mathematics test question possibly is a good example. But a more powerful example is the frequent use of claims, even in science articles, similar to “contains five times fewer calories,” “a thousand times less massive,” “earning three times less money,” and so on.

What bothers me so much about that isn’t the clear lack of logic in not understanding that “one times” less money is zero, but that if you visit forums where articles using this language is criticized, you don’t see, “Good point.” Instead, you see arguments about why it’s okay to use that wording. Everyone understand it, they say.

But, actually, if people understand it, there’s something terribly wrong happening. There’s a difference between, “I think I know what you meant,” and “it makes sense to me.” So, you’re doomed if you understand “it,” but you’re okay if you understand what was intended by the mistake. This story, in a small way, helps illustrate the problem. — MC












Sunday → 

February

9

2014

Held over


Teen girl faces child porn charges for tweeting nude photos of herself
CBS Washington DC ↑

Mike Caro says:

Whenever society rightly confronts a serious problem it seeks to resolve, common sense often suffers. This has become the case with child sexual abuse.

If you’re like me, you can’t put yourself into the minds of the abuser, because the actions seem so alien. And, yet, this very contempt for what we perceive as horrendously unacceptable behavior can lead us collectively to be unreasonable.

I remember seeing a PBS documentary decades ago about school teachers being charged with conspiring to sexually abuse very young students, even though there was no compelling evidence. The filming was done during the trial. Some of the accused were offered sentencing without jail time if they’d simply plead guilty.

They refused to accept the lenient sentences on ethical grounds. The children had obviously been poisoned into thinking bizarre sexual crimes had involved them, even though it was obvious that the memories had been planted by psychologists. Finally, they were found guilty and sentenced to decades in prison. And one of the jurors stated that he thought the accused were probably innocent, but couldn’t risk that verdict, because the children must be protected.

I’ve tried to find the original video, but it predated the internet and doesn’t appear anywhere that I can discover. But it made a great impression on me. And I’ve ever since been alert to instances where logic surrenders to emotion in regard to sexual crimes alleged against children. I think the story of this young girl (which isn’t unique, by the way) being threatened with child pornography charges is an example of emotions overruling logic. — MC












Saturday → 

February

8

2014

Held over


Russian who lit Olympic flame tweeted racist photo of Obama
CBS Washinton DC ↑

Mike Caro says:

In an age where the racist label is attached inappropriately to ideas that aren’t liked — whether there’s a logical connection or not — it’s refreshing to see an incident described as racist that really is. If you don’t think so, here’s a link to the actual tweet with the doctored photo from the Russian Olypian woman who lit the flame yesterday: → See tweet with photo. Yes, it’s safe to call this one racist. — MC












Saturdayy → 

February

8

2014

Held over


YWCA partners with white privilege conference
YMCA Madison ↑

Mike Caro says:

People are asleep. They don’t realize that the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) was infiltrated long ago by the radical left. Same goes, to some extent, for the Girl Scouts, although many parents are unaware. — MC












Saturday → 

February

8

2014

Held over


Washington state commission shuts down nickel-dime poker at senior center
Fox News ↑

Mike Caro says:

If you don’t understand how this can happen, please read my explanation: → How government got involved in gambling — MC












Friday → 

February

7

2014

Held over


Beatle’s first TV introduction in U.S. not on Ed Sullivan, but on NBC’s Huntley-Brinkley newscast
NBC ↑

Mike Caro says:

Sadly, the video of this newscast has been lost, but the four-minute audio is preserved and can be heard along with the story. In recent years, I’ve been astonished to learn how many historic television programs — sitcoms, newscasts, variety shows, and more — were recorded, but not saved.

Many were taped over to save cost. Why didn’t people realize the great historic value these would have? — MC












Thursday → 

February

6

2014

Held over


Earning $1 extra could cost $20,000 under Obamacare
Weekly Standard ↑

Mike Caro says:

So what? This is the mathematical truth behind bureaucratic do-good programs in this category. Try harder and you get punished.

I still remember comforting a couple who worked multiple jobs each, trying to qualify for a townhouse in California. They had excellent credit, but weren’t quite making enough. They sat by and saw the government provide the same townhouse to not-so-upstanding folks who earned less money, but qualified for assistance. Sad story that will always haunt me.

Moral? Don’t put in that extra effort next time. — MC












Thursday → 

February

6

2014

Held over


Journalists finding horror and humor in Sochi Winter Olypics hotels
Washington Post ↑

Mike Caro says:

Okay, so what do we have here? Dogs running loose in hotels without floors, open wastebaskets to hold used toilet paper — an adventure you’ll never forget.

The thing is, the entire purpose of Russia bidding for and winning the Winter Olympics was presumably to showcase the country. This might call for a public relations makeover. But, it also makes this one of the most interesting Olympics to watch, because — in addition to the athletic competition — you get the suspense of possible terrorism, overzealous police, skii slopes that are too steep, humorous complaints from visitors, and all kinds of unexpected drama. Who could resist watching this? — MC


See “News entries” in Poker1 library for earlier
approved stories with my comments. — MC

→ GO THERE