Left Side of the Aisle #39

Topics this week:

- It shows what shape the economy is in when 8.5% unemployment is good news
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/06/jobs-december-2011-bls_n_1189058.html
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/03/business/for-2012-signs-point-to-retreat-in-consumer-spending.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/13/chuck-e-cheese-child-labor_n_1145891.html
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/12/fact-4-job-seekers-per-opening-in-u-s/
http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2011/0909_jobs_winship.aspx
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57343397/census-data-half-of-u.s-poor-or-low-income/?tag=strip
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/12/less-than-a-quarter-of-companies-to-hire-in-2012-careerbuilder.html
http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/anth484/minwage.html
http://www.epi.org/publication/minimum-wage-workers/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/10/us-usa-markets-stocks-idUSTRE7B904720111210

- Outrage of the Week: tasers
http://whoviating.blogspot.com/2004/03/shocking-developments.html
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/277047/20120105/jamie-gonzalez-8th-grader-shot-killed-texas.htm
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-01-01/news/ct-met-taser-use-increases-20120101_1_tasers-electroshock-weapons-doubts-surface

- January 11 was the 10th anniversary of the opening of Gitmo
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/07pdf/06-1195.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagram_torture_and_prisoner_abuse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpus
http://www.lectlaw.com/def/h001.htm
http://ccrjustice.org/learn-more/faqs/faqs%3A-what-habeas-corpus
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2037444.stm
http://www.salon.com/2012/01/08/the_evils_of_indefinite_detention_and_those_wanting_to_de_prioritze_them/singleton/
http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2012/01/10/hunger-striking-is-the-only-hope-guantanamo-prisoners-have-for-release/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/09/guantanamo-bay-figures_n_1195068.html

And Another Thing...: Why is January 1 the first day of the year?
http://wilstar.com/holidays/newyear.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/newyearhistory.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/111336
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_1