Court Rejects Recess Appointments to Labor Board

WASHINGTON — In a ruling that called into question nearly two centuries of presidential “recess” appointments that bypass the Senate confirmation process, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday that President Obama violated the Constitution when he installed three officials on the National Labor Relations Board a year ago. The ruling was a blow to the administration and a victory for Mr....

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Stock sell-off shows an emotional investment in Apple

A friend of mine, a weatherman for a local TV station, always greets me the same way: "Time to sell my Apple stock?"And I always offer the same response: Do you still like the company?"Yes." Then don't sell it.Investors were wringing their hands Thursday over Apple's prospects, even though the company...

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Architect Designs 3-D Printed, Mobius Strip-Inspired Landscape House

Architects have tossed around the idea of 3-D printing buildings, but Universe Architect’s first one could have a twist.Inspired by the Mobius strip, Janjaap Ruijssenaars’ house design wraps around itself, twisting the interior to the exterior and back. Ruijssenaars and his collaborator, artist and mathematician Rinus Roelofs, call it the Landscape House because landscapes,...

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GLAAD protests Nat Geo’s collaboration with Boy Scouts

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – The advocacy group backed a Change.org petition started by Will Oliver, a 20-year-old gay Eagle Scout, that calls on Nat Geo to air a disclaimer clarifying the network’s views before each episode of its new series, “Are You Tougher than a Boy Scout.” It debuts this spring.“That National Geographic would brush aside countless gay teens suffering at the hands of the BSA,...

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The New Old Age Blog: Grief Over New Depression Diagnosis

When the American Psychiatric Association unveils a proposed new version of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the bible of psychiatric diagnoses, it expects controversy. Illnesses get added or deleted, acquire new definitions or lists of symptoms. Everyone from advocacy groups to insurance companies to litigators — all have an interest in what’s defined as mental illness —...

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DealBook: In Davos, Merkel Presses Leaders to Keep Focus on Economy

DAVOS, Switzerland — Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, on Thursday warned her fellow euro zone leaders not to falter in their efforts to reinvigorate their economies now that they face less pressure from financial markets. She gave voice to widespread concern here that a tentative European recovery could be undercut by political complacency.Measures in recent months by the European Central Bank...

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Number of homes entering foreclosure drops 22.1% to six-year low

California's foreclosure crisis eased considerably during the final quarter of last year, with the number of homes entering...

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Google Tells Cops to Get Warrants for User E-Mail, Cloud Data

Google demands probable-cause, court-issued warrants to divulge the contents of Gmail and other cloud-stored documents to authorities in the United States — a startling revelation Wednesday that runs counter to federal law that does not always demand warrants.The development surfaced as Google publicly announced that more than two-thirds of the user data Google forwards to government agencies...

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Adele to perform Bond theme song “Skyfall” live at Oscars

LONDON (Reuters) – British singer Adele will return to the stage next month after a year absence to perform her Oscar-nominated song “Skyfall” at the 85th Academy Awards, the show’s producers said on Wednesday.The theme tune to the latest James Bond movie was written by Adele and Paul Epworth. It is the first Bond theme to be nominated for the original song award at the Oscars since “For Your Eyes...

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Well: Long Term Effects on Life Expectancy From Smoking

It is often said that smoking takes years off your life, and now a new study shows just how many: Longtime smokers can expect to lose about 10 years of life expectancy.But amid those grim findings was some good news for former smokers. Those who quit before they turn 35 can gain most if not all of that decade back, and even those who wait until middle age to kick the habit can add about five years...

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