Trump Promises a Revelation on Hacking by MAGGIE HABERMAN

By MAGGIE HABERMAN Mr. Trump said that he knew “things that other people don’t know” and that the information would be revealed “on Tuesday or Wednesday.” Published: December 30, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2iRJXC5

Rodeo Offers a 90-M.P.H. Glimpse of Texans’ Truck Mania by MANNY FERNANDEZ

By MANNY FERNANDEZ Because no other state has a bigger influence on the American truck world, the title of Truck of Texas can bring an automaker to tears. Published: December 30, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2hFVEjp

Job No. 1 for a New Congress? Undoing Obama’s Health Law by ROBERT PEAR

By ROBERT PEAR Republicans plan to waste no time repealing the Affordable Care Act, a signature part of President Obama’s legacy. Published: December 30, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2hG5nWE

House Republicans Fret About Winning Their Health Care Suit by CARL HULSE

By CARL HULSE The lawsuit, challenging the Obama administration’s spending of billions on subsidies, could have consequences that entangle Republicans and the incoming Trump team. Published: December 30, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2hG45v0

Cub Scouts Kick Out Transgender Boy in New Jersey by DANIEL VICTOR

By DANIEL VICTOR Three years after the Boy Scouts ended its ban on openly gay youths, Joe Maldonado, 8, was ejected from the Cub Scouts because he is transgender. Published: December 29, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2hG9dPF

Kitty Dukakis, a Beneficiary of Electroshock Therapy, Emerges as Its Evangelist by KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE Mrs. Dukakis, a former first lady of Massachusetts, credits the treatment with saving her life, and she and her husband work to promote electroconvulsive therapy. Published: December 30, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2iSs8Hd

Word of the day for January 1, 2017

Janus , proper n : (Roman mythology) The god of doorways, gates and transitions, and of beginnings and endings, having two faces looking in opposite directions. (attributively) Used to indicate things with two faces (such as animals with diprosopus) or aspects; or made of two different materials; or having a two-way action. (chemistry, attributively) Used […]

Madman’s Drum

Madman’s Drum is a 1930 wordless novel by American artist Lynd Ward (1905–1985). Its 118 images tell the story of a slave trader who steals a demon-faced drum from an African he murders, and of the consequences for him and his family. The book was executed in wood engravings. It is the second of Ward’s […]

Picture of the day for January 1, 2017

Picture of the day on January 1, 2017: Sunrise in the Lake Titicaca, near Puno, in the Peruvian Andes, not far from Bolivia. The lake is, by volume of water, the largest in South America and, with a surface elevation of 3,812 metres (12,507 ft), it’s considered the highest navigable lake in the world. The lake […]

NPR Technology News: French Law Giving Workers ‘The Right To Disconnect’ Goes Into Effect

French Law Giving Workers ‘The Right To Disconnect’ Goes Into Effect As of Jan. 1, French companies with more than 50 workers will be obligated to allow their employees to ignore work emails outside of work hours. Read more on NPR

In Trump’s New Year Note, Love and a Jab at ‘Enemies’ by ELI ROSENBERG

By ELI ROSENBERG The president-elect addressed a Twitter post “to all,” including “those who have fought me and lost so badly they just don’t know what to do.” Published: December 30, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2iRBPWA

Obama’s Last Days: Aiding Trump Transition, but Erecting Policy Roadblocks by MICHAEL D. SHEAR

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR With three weeks left in office, the president is using all his powers to cement his legacy and make undoing it that much harder for his successor. Published: December 30, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2ipe8Sn

NPR Technology News: Reading The Game: ‘The Last Of Us’

Reading The Game: ‘The Last Of Us’ Our occasional series on storytelling in video games continues with a look at The Last of Us. Set in a world undone by a fungal apocalypse, it follows a grizzled smuggler and his surrogate daughter. Read more on NPR

Bitcoin Price for December 31, 2016 at 09:59AM

Current price of Bitcoin: $959.22 As of: December 31, 2016 at 09:59AM

NPR Technology News: U.S. Officials Say Russia Hacked A Vermont Utility

U.S. Officials Say Russia Hacked A Vermont Utility Malware associated with the Russian “Grizzly Steppe” operation was found on one Burlington Electric Department laptop that was not connected to the company’s grid. Read more on NPR

‘The Game Will Go On’ as U.S. Expels Russian Diplomats by MARK MAZZETTI and ADAM GOLDMAN

By MARK MAZZETTI and ADAM GOLDMAN President Obama’s decision to expel 35 Russian diplomats was provocative, but gamesmanship on both sides involves familiar calculations, former intelligence officers say. Published: December 29, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2hzpO2B

NPR Technology News: Amazon Echo Murder Case Renews Privacy Questions Prompted By Our Digital Footprints

Amazon Echo Murder Case Renews Privacy Questions Prompted By Our Digital Footprints Smart devices like the Amazon Echo record snippets of conversation when they’re being used. NPR’s Scott Simon asks Scott Stein of CNET to explain what happens to the data that is collected. Read more on NPR

8 P.M.? Time for Children to Ring in the New Year With Fake Countdowns by CHRISTOPHER MELE

Netflix is offering 10 short videos with popular cartoon and real-life characters who, on demand, ring in the new year — regardless of what time it truly is. By CHRISTOPHER MELE from NYT Technology

North Carolina Judge Delays Law Overhauling Elections Panel by ALAN BLINDER

By ALAN BLINDER The decision by a Wake County Superior Court judge came after weeks of partisan bickering about the law, which would curb the power of the Democratic governor-elect. Published: December 29, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2ihUwBA

Daily Report: Russia Is Punished for Hacking, but for How Long? by PUI-WING TAM

After much deliberation, President Obama is punishing Russia for its cyberattacks against the United States. But his successor may seek to mend fences. By PUI-WING TAM from NYT Technology

‘Church Militant’ Theology Is Put to New, and Politicized, Use by SAMUEL G. FREEDMAN

By SAMUEL G. FREEDMAN Its use by a right-wing website and others has gone well beyond its longstanding meaning in the Catholic Church, one of spiritual warfare. Published: December 29, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2ihFxaI

The Russian Hacking in 200 Words by By

By By President Obama announced sanctions against Russia for trying to influence the 2016 election through cyberattacks. Here’s what led to the sanctions. Published: December 28, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2ihHvaY

ESPN Breaking News: Miami Heat

NBA: Heat signed coach Erik Spoelstra to contract extension in offseason; owns 409-264 record in 9 seasons with team (ESPN) http://ift.tt/YKX1hq December 30, 2016 at 07:40PM

Picture of the day for December 31, 2016

Picture of the day on December 31, 2016: Besides New Year’s Eve fireworks are often used to celebrate many important events.

Word of the day for December 31, 2016

fireworks , n : […] (plural only) An event or a display where fireworks are set off. (plural only, figuratively) A boisterous or violent event or situation. Happy New Year’s Eve from all of us at the Wiktionary!

Eisenhower dollar

The Eisenhower dollar is a one-dollar coin issued from 1971 to 1978 by the United States Mint. Authorized by law on December 31, 1970, it was the first US dollar coin minted since 1935, the last year of the Peace dollar. Designed by Frank Gasparro, the coin’s obverse depicts President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who died […]

A Universe of Bubbles in Every Champagne Bottle by JOANNA KLEIN

By JOANNA KLEIN Researchers studied bubbles from the grapevine to the glass, learning more about their properties and how that effervescence affects flavor. Published: December 29, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT Science http://nyti.ms/2hDb2Nt

ESPN Breaking News: Miami Heat

Heat: G Goran Dragic (back) will not play Friday vs. Celtics; 18.8 PPG, 6.7 APG this season (ESPN) http://ift.tt/YKX1hq December 30, 2016 at 06:07PM

NPR Technology News: U.S. Cyberwarfare: Its Powerful Tools, Its Unseen Tactics

U.S. Cyberwarfare: Its Powerful Tools, Its Unseen Tactics NPR’s Ari Shapiro talks to cybersecurity expert Robert Knake on what tools the U.S. has to retaliate against Russia in cyberspace. Read more on NPR

Trump Gets an Opening from Russia, but the Path Is Risky by DAVID E. SANGER, ERIC SCHMITT and MICHAEL R. GORDON

By DAVID E. SANGER, ERIC SCHMITT and MICHAEL R. GORDON Moscow’s announcement that there will be no tit for tat over the expulsion of Russian diplomats gives the president-elect a chance at a new chapter. Published: December 29, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2iqAdCt

An Alaskan Volcano Erupts, Largely Out of View by HENRY FOUNTAIN

By HENRY FOUNTAIN Scientists rely on remote sensing instruments, including satellites, to know when Bogoslof volcano is pouring gas and ash into the sky. Published: December 29, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT Science http://nyti.ms/2iytEuA

Alaska, Reliant on Air Transit, Faces Pilot Shortage. Are Drones an Answer? by KIRK JOHNSON

By KIRK JOHNSON A wave of baby boomer retirements and the growth of aviation in Asia have led to a void that is rippling across the state with gale force. Published: December 28, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2igzWRR

Pan Pan, Father to a Generation of Pandas, Dies in China by ERIN McCANN

By ERIN McCANN At 31, he was among the world’s oldest pandas, and his descendants are said to account for nearly 25 percent of all captive pandas worldwide. Published: December 29, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT Science http://nyti.ms/2igs2rE

Back Up Your iTunes Collection — or Your Whole Computer by J. D. BIERSDORFER

Saving a copy of your iTunes library can be as easy as dragging a folder to an external drive, but there are other ways to make sure you’re backed up. By J. D. BIERSDORFER from NYT Technology

NPR Technology News: U.S. Ethics Chief Was Behind Those Tweets About Trump, Records Show

U.S. Ethics Chief Was Behind Those Tweets About Trump, Records Show Trump-style tweets from the Office of Government Ethics urging divestitures made many suspect a hack of this typically staid agency. New records shared with NPR show the author was the agency chief. Read more on NPR

Cheetahs in Danger of Extinction, Researchers Say by JAMES GORMAN

By JAMES GORMAN A drop in their numbers has prompted an international team to call for changing the animal’s status from vulnerable to endangered. Published: December 29, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT Science http://nyti.ms/2iqbXAb

Small Satellite Deployed From the Space Station

A satellite is ejected from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Small Satellite Orbital Deployer on the International Space Station on Dec. 19, 2016. The satellite is actually two small satellites that, once at a safe distance from the station, separated from each other, but were still connected by a 100-meter-long Kevlar tether. via NASA […]

Fish Seek Cooler Waters, Leaving Some Fishermen’s Nets Empty by ERICA GOODE

By ERICA GOODE Catch limits for fishermen are often based on where fish have been most abundant in the past. But they have failed to keep up with geographical changes. Published: December 29, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT Science http://nyti.ms/2iMGWD1

NPR Technology News: QUIZ: Test Your Knowledge Of NPR’s Tech Stories From 2016

QUIZ: Test Your Knowledge Of NPR’s Tech Stories From 2016 A bar owner who wants patrons to put away their phones, Internet users tracking down a vandal, a project to analyze hundreds of Rembrandt paintings — can you remember (or guess) what happened? Read more on NPR

Bitcoin Price for December 30, 2016 at 10:00AM

Current price of Bitcoin: $949.06 As of: December 30, 2016 at 10:00AM

Join Our Board: Companies Hotly Pursue New Wave of Women in Tech by PUI-WING TAM

Even in Silicon Valley, where talent wars are legion, courting female executives to join tech company boards is particularly cutthroat. By PUI-WING TAM from NYT Technology

American Jews Divided Over Strain in U.S.-Israel Relations by ADAM NAGOURNEY and SHARON OTTERMAN

By ADAM NAGOURNEY and SHARON OTTERMAN While some Jewish groups have applauded the administration’s efforts in regard to Israel, others have seen the steps taken by a departing president as a mistake. Published: December 28, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2ikMgyu

Two Russian Compounds, Caught Up in History’s Echoes by MARK MAZZETTI and MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT

By MARK MAZZETTI and MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT East Coast retreats for diplomats were seen by the Obama administration as beachside spy nests, and all Russians were ordered out. Published: December 28, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2io4PUZ

California Today: With New Laws, What Will Change in 2017? by MIKE McPHATE

By MIKE McPHATE Thursday: A roundup of new California laws, the death of Debbie Reynolds, and a lightsaber tribute to Carrie Fisher. Published: December 28, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2io55DL

Trump Weighs Letting Veterans Opt Out of V.A. Medical Care by MICHAEL D. SHEAR

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR The president-elect, who as a candidate repeatedly seized on reports of long waits for doctor visits, met with several executives of private hospital systems. Published: December 27, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2io4Ect

Video Blogger Who Tested Singapore’s Limits Seeks U.S. Asylum by CAITLIN DICKERSON

By CAITLIN DICKERSON Amos Yee, 18, who is now being held in Illinois, was jailed twice in Singapore for videos critical of Islam and Christianity. Published: December 27, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2ijM0A2

Edwin Goldwasser, Physicist Who Co-Founded Fermilab, Dies at 97 by NICHOLAS ST. FLEUR

By NICHOLAS ST. FLEUR Dr. Goldwasser helped build one of the world’s most powerful particle accelerators and make Fermilab a leader in scientific advancements and collaborations. Published: December 27, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT Science http://nyti.ms/2io4YrP

Daily Report: Tech Resolutions for 2017 by PUI-WING TAM

A Times reporter recommends five ways to simplify your tech life by creating better habits with devices, improving password management and more. By PUI-WING TAM from NYT Technology

Searching for the Human Factor in Deadly Avalanches by STEPH YIN

By STEPH YIN Dozens of people die in avalanches each year, mostly while skiing and snowmobiling. Researchers set out to understand what separates risky from safe behavior. Published: December 28, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT Science http://nyti.ms/2inyii4

Report on Russian Hacking by Unknown Author

By Unknown Author The F.B.I. and Department of Homeland Security released a report on Thursday detailing the ways that Russia acted to influence the American election through cyberespionage. Published: December 28, 2016 at 07:00PM from NYT U.S. http://nyti.ms/2ijdhTj