Independence Day Weekend

Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

Starting off with the news for America: 
If you are well versed in the Hobby Lobby decision, skip this paragraph.  I'm assuming you know (but maybe not?) that all the women judges plus one mail voted against this-- here we have the best lines from Ginsburg's dissent (and a link to the whole thing if you are so inclined).    Here is an opinion piece that helps explain the fear that this decision could have lasting impact, even though the claim is that it will not set precedent for other religious based medical coverage.  Watch out- might this really happen?

A bunch of you are homeowners-- is it good news for you, then, that Brooklyn is now the number 2 most expensive place to live?
Not good news for me!

Speaking of Brooklyn, NY lost the first fire fighter in two years yesterday. :(

More Detroit news-- water companies are cutting off water on customers who are more than 60 days late with their bill, turning an economic problem into a public health crisis. 

And thanks to Catherine for submitting this week- a much more compelling piece on immigration than the Sarah Palin bit the other week, focusing on especially children fleeing Central America.  It says Obama will be taking action "before the end of the summer," so hopefully we'll have follow up soon.

Here is just one of those pieces where I thought-- oh, so true, and I've never thought about this before-- as I read.  Anyone else ever notice that cartoon moms are always killed off?  I may watch more cartoons than you!  (Plus, I had to leave the theater during Bambi at that scene when I was little.)

This will probably only interest you if you, like me, listen to This American Life.  And it sounds like if all goes well even I won't notice a difference- fingers crossed. 

Some specific to Christina public interest regarding sugar and whether labels will have to include added sugar.  I've been wondering about trying the whole sugar free idea just to see, but I love cookies and ice cream so much!

And maybe of the most interest to me these days, given the circumstances, but doesn't it seem like Finland really does a lot of things well?  Have you heard about the "baby boxes" they give out to all women? Kind of awesome, right?

You may have seen this, but if not, it is worth seeing-- the "perfect Aryan baby" of Nazi Germany was actually Jewish.

Have you heard about the self-driving google car?  I don't understand it.  Are kids really going to be driven around by their cars?

And I'm curious about your thoughts on this one-- a friend of mine's brother was one of the writers-- a study suggests that people do NOT want to be left alone with their thoughts.  You?