The following is a rundown of the day’s news drawn from other media sources with topics curated just for Money and Markets readers: personal security and freedom, technology and business, and the Super Bowl.
Personal security and freedom
Sen. Rand Paul to File NSA Suit Within Days
Paul has been working for months on the lawsuit against the NSA over its surveillance of Americans’ phone and Internet records, which he plans to file as a private citizen. On Tuesday, he asked for the public to back the effort.
Sen. Paul: Hillary Clinton Is a ‘Big Proponent of the Surveillance State’
The Kentucky Republican argued that the GOP could win over young voters and independents by opposing the National Security Agency’s surveillance powers, and took a swipe at possible Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
Facebook Asks to Read Your Text Messages
If Facebook’s requests make you feel uncomfortable, and the benefits of having access to your social network in your pocket don’t outweigh your anxieties (which is fair!), there is always the proverbial delete button.
Alec Baldwin: Traveling in U.S. is a Disgrace
“Flying from Nassau, Bahamas 2 NY. TSA ‘random selects’ my 5 month old daughter 4 a pat down. I am not kidding,” the actor tweeted, adding #travelinginUSisadisgrace in case anybody was unclear of his sentiments.
Free Crack-Pipe Advocates Plan San Francisco Giveaway Despite City Opposition
Supporters of a plan to hand out clean crack pipes to San Francisco drug users say they’re not swayed by city opposition and plan to hand them out anyway. Activists claim that such a program would have same benefits of needle exchanges.
Technology and business
Yahoo’s Revenue Keeps Sliding
Yahoo on Tuesday reported its revenue fell 1.7% in the fourth quarter, minus commissions paid to partners for Web traffic, the fourth straight quarter without growth. The company’s closely watched display-ad revenue fell another 5.6% even as the overall market grows quickly.
‘Wearable’ Book Allows Reader to Feel Emotions of Characters
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created a “wearable” book that allows the reader to experience the protagonist’s emotions. Using a combination of sensors, the book senses which page the reader is on and triggers vibration patterns through a special vest.
Turkish Prime Minister Delivers Speech as a Hologram
The prime minister is currently embroiled in a massive corruption scandal that has already resulted in the resignation of several high-ranking officials. In November 2012, Indian politician Nerendra Modi pioneered the use of political holograms during his election campaign.
Your Smartphone Could Replace Hotel Keys
Got a smartphone? Never lose your hotel key, or even have to stop at the registration desk again. That’s the vision of a hotel chain that plans to send digital keys to guests’ phones via an app instead of making them check in and get the traditional (and famously lose-able) plastic swipe cards.
Google Glass Adds Style, Prescription Lenses
The move is the latest attempt by Google to make the beta version of its connected eyewear more fashionable and consumer friendly before it releases the product to the broader public toward the end of 2014.
Super Bowl kick-off
Super Bowl Preparations Include Air Defense Exercise
The U.S. has conducted exercise flights of this nature since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s ongoing response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
New Jersey Taxes Could Eat up All of Quarterback’s Super Bowl Earnings
If Payton Manning, quarterback for the Denver Broncos, is able to play next season, his New Jersey income tax would be $46,989 on $92,000 for winning the Super Bowl, or 51%. If they lose and he is able to play in 2014, he will pay New Jersey $46,844 on his $46,000, which amounts to a 102% tax, and this does not even consider federal taxes.
‘Homeland Security’ to X-ray All Food and Drinks at Super Bowl
“We are x-raying every piece of equipment, every cargo, every beverage, seat cushion, every piece of merchandise, food … everything that is going in the stadium has to be x-rayed before it goes in,” Kevin McCabe, chief of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, says.
Computer Simulation Predicts Seahawks Over Broncos, 24-21
Prediction Machine’s Predictalator ran a simulation of Sunday’s Super Bowl 50,000 times, and found that the most likely score has the Seahawks beating the Broncos 24-21. Of the 50,000 simulations, the Seahawks won 54.8% of the time, and the Broncos 45.2% of the time.
Bill de Blasio and Chris Christie Look Chummy at Super Bowl Kick-Off Party
At one point, the taller de Blasio put his arm around the rotund governor as they chatted. At another, de Blasio appeared to be joking with the governor, pointing his finger at the governor’s chest.
Best wishes,
The Money and Markets Team
