The State of California Vs. JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Thursday, California’s attorney general, Kamala Harris, sued JPMorgan Chase & Co. for unlawful debt collection practices. The bank used illegal tactics to collect debts from credit card holders. Between 2008 and 2011, the company’s in-house lawyers filed 100 lawsuits per day; the outside counsel filed over 20,000 lawsuits. Harris is accusing the company of cutting corners in order to speed up trials and cut costs. Apparently, the company did not review files and bank statements related to the lawsuits, it did not review documents in filing debt-collection lawsuits, it did a poor job of drafting legal filings, and it failed to properly notify its customers of the lawsuits. Harris seeks a permanent ban on the alleged illegal practices and damages for borrowers who were harmed during the trials.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/09/california-jpmorgan-debt-collection_n_3248328.html#slide=1513788

The Rubber Duck of Hong Kong

In Hong Kong Thursday, a giant, inflatable rubber duck floated into Victoria Harbor. As the duck drew up to Ocean Terminal, thousands lined the harbor front, cameras flashed, and brass bands blared their melodic tunes. 

The fifty four foot tall piece of art is aptly titled the “Rubber Duck Project.” The artist behind the monstrous toy is Florentijn Hofman, a thirty six year old Dutchman. The duck has spent time in Osaka, Sydney, Sao Paolo, and Amsterdam. 

Hofman says, “I see it as an adult thing. It makes you feel young again. It refers to your childhood when there is no stress or economic pressure, no worry about having to pay the rent.” The exhibit will remain in Hong Kong until June 9^th. The next stop is the Unites States, but where exactly is remaining secret.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/02/travel/hong-kong-giant-duck/index.html

Possible Alien Link Determined Human

Recently, DNA test results of Ata, the “6 inch alien,” have been revealed. The tiny skeleton was discovered in Chile’s Atacama Desert ten years ago in the ghost town La Noria. A local man, Oscar Munoz, looking for items of historical value, discovered a white cloth that contained the strange skeleton. The remains have gone through numerous hands; its current owner is Barcelona entrepreneur Ramon Navia-Osorio. Since its discovery in 2003, extra-terrestrial enthusiasts have hoped that the skeleton, nicknamed Ata, would fill in the missing link, proving that aliens exist. However, the director of stem cell biology at Stanford University’s School of Medicine in California, Garry Nolan, concluded that the little humanoid is human. Nolan performed the DNA tests and computational techniques himself in order to make a precise determination. Nolan states that the human lived to around six to eight years old and its mother was an indigenous Indian from the Chilean area. Most likely, it died in the last century.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/23/sirius-documentary-dna-re_n_3135628.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular#slide=2369045

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/tiny-chile-alien-backgrou_n_3071767.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news

Chemical Warfare Allegations in Syria

This week, both Britain and France have written to the United Nations, stating that Syria’s government has used chemical weapons in the civil war. Syria has still not given a United Nations forensics team permission to enter the country. President Obama is quoted as saying that the use of chemical weapons in the war could create a “game changer” that may lead to American involvement. Israeli officials also agree that there is evidence that Syrian forces have used chemical weapons; apparently, the government of President Bashar al-Assad has stockpiled these weapons. The United Nations investigative team is ready to deploy as quickly as the Syrian government consents. But every allegation made about Syria’s warfare tactics must be fully investigated; this means that a speedy solution is nowhere in sight.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/19/world/middleeast/Syria.html?_r=0

Gay Marriage Legalized in Uruguay

Friday, Uruguay legalized gay marriage. Lawmakers in the Lower House and Senate approved the legislation, and President José Mujica is expected to sign the bill in the coming weeks. This will make Uruguay the third country in the Americas to legalize gay marriage after Canada and Argentina. In addition, Uruguay will be the 12^th country in the world to make same-sex marriage legal nationwide. Under the new law, gay couples will be able to marry for the first time, with the same legal rights and responsibilities as other married couples. This bill also raises the minimum age for marriage to sixteen years for all Uruguayans, from the previous age of twelve for girls and fourteen for boys. Uruguay has always been progressive in its legislation; last year the country legalized abortion and the Mujica administration has sponsored a bill that would legalize marijuana. The same sex marriage bill is another step in the progressive direction.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323741004578416581331444320.html

The Notebook No More: Preventing Alzheimer's Disease

BBC News reported that US scientists have discovered genetic markers that could help to predict who is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Previously, scientists simply knew that the build up of tau proteins in the brain increased the chance of having the disease, but a new study done with gene variants demonstrated that these are linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline. The team conducting the study used genetic information from 1,200 people and analyzed it. This study can help scientists to better understand the way the brain changes when dementia develops. But lifestyle factors can also play a role in the disease- a balanced diet, regular exercise, not smoking, and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels low can help to reduce a person’s risk also.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22025100

Art the Great to Redeem Her Name?

Monday morning, Art the Great announced the development of a new art exhibit. The details of the exhibit are not being released to the public at this time. Art has been an artist that has awed the world time and time again, but her last project left much to be desired. “Indoor Playground” was met with much distaste; the exhibit consisted of sheets and swings hung from rafters in a large, airy room. Renowned art critic Kylie Straub says, “It’s not art. I’m not sure what it is. I feel like there should be pigeons pecking around and the sound of children at play.” Over the past seventeen years, Art’s work has revolutionized the art scene. Let’s hope that Art’s new, secretive project will redeem her reputation after such a major flop.