memeorandum: California receives U.S. funding for earthquake early-warning system (Rong-Gong Lin II/Los Angeles Times)

Nicholas McCallum / 9news.com.au:

LIVE STREAM: Hostages held up by armed gunman in Sydney cafe — Talkback radio host Ray Hadley says he has had a conversation off-air with a hostage inside the Lindt cafe in Sydney. — There are a number of hostages, believed to be anywhere between 13 and 50 people, being held inside …

Discussion: New York Times, Outside the Beltway and “The Lid”

Matt Siegel / Reuters:

Hostages held in Sydney cafe, Islamic flag seen in window: local TV — (Reuters) - Hostages were being held inside a central Sydney cafe where a black flag with white Arabic writing could be seen in the window, local television showed on Monday, raising fears of an attack linked to Islamic militants.

Discussion: Zero Hedge, Hot Air and Vox Popoli

BBC:

Sydney siege: Gunman takes hostages in Lindt cafe — At least one gunman has taken several people hostage at a cafe in the Australian city of Sydney. — Pictures on Australian television show at least three people with their hands up against a window, and a black flag with Arabic writing.

Discussion: Guardian, New York Magazine, Associated Press, Gawker, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and FOX News Radio

Daily Mail:
Terror in Sydney as gunman takes at least 13 hostages at Lindt cafe, forces crying women …

Discussion: Associated Press, Betsy's Page and The Gateway Pundit

CNN:
Sydney on alert as hostages held at cafe in heart of city

Discussion: American Spectator

Dana Ford / CNN:
Possible hostage situation unfolds in Sydney

Discussion: National Post and National Review

Peter Schroeder / The Hill:

What does Warren want? — She has a spot in Democratic leadership, a swelling alliance of liberals in Congress and a rabid following in the Democratic Party. — The question is: What does Elizabeth Warren want to do with all that power? — Groups on the left are trying to draft …

Zachary A. Goldfarb / Washington Post:

Elizabeth Warren was told to stay quiet, but she didn't - and it's paying off — Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), right, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, express their outrage to reporters …

Discussion: PoliticusUSA, naked capitalism, FOX News Radio and Prairie Weather

David / Latest from Crooks and Liars:

Rove: CIA's Waterboarding Not Torture Like Japanese War Crimes Because We Raised Detainee's Legs — Republican strategist and former senior advisor to President George W. Bush argued on Sunday that the CIA's use of waterboarding on detainees could not be considered torture because it was “designed” to let the victim live.

Discussion: FOX News Radio

David / Latest from Crooks and Liars:

Texas Cop Tasers 76-year-old Driver Over Expired Inspection: ‘Goddamned Nazi Stormtrooper’ — A Texas police officer was placed on administrative leave on Friday after he reportedly used a Taser on a 76-year-old man after the suspect had already been forced to the ground.

Discussion: FOX News Radio

William Kristol / Weekly Standard:

2014 Answer of the Year — I hereby nominate Dick Cheney's answer to Chuck Todd's question about a United Nations official who's called for the criminal prosecution of U.S. interrogators, as the 2014 Sunday Show Answer of the Year: … Short and sweet.

Discussion: Power Line

Juan Williams / The Hill:

Democrats must fight or lose young voters — The passionate stand by Americans across the country in protesting the failure of grand juries to indict policemen for killing two unarmed people - both poor, black men - is revving up the demand for a political response from Democrats in Washington.

Aaron Sorkin / New York Times:

Journalists Shouldn't Help the Sony Hackers — “Jolie a ‘Spoiled Brat’ From ‘Crazyland,’ ” says The New York Post. — “Shocking New Reveals From Sony Hack,” says The Daily Beast. — “Sony's Hacked Emails Highlight Hollywood's Problems With Diversity,” says The Huffington Post.

Discussion: Deadline, The Daily Beast, Mashable, Guardian and Screen Rant, more at Mediagazer »

Jane Mayer / New Yorker:

Torture and the Truth — It's hard to describe it as a positive development when a branch of the federal government releases a four-hundred-and-ninety-nine- page report that explains, in meticulous detail, how unthinkable cruelty became official U.S. policy.

Discussion: Wall Street Journal

Discussion: Political Wire, The Moderate Voice, New Yorker, Washington Free Beacon and The Hill

Elana Schor / Politico:

Will cheap oil kill Keystone? — Greens who want President Barack Obama to kill the Keystone XL pipeline are adding a new weapon to their arsenal of protests and lawsuits — the world's glut of cheap oil. — The same collapse in oil prices that is pumping dollars into motorists' wallets …

P. J. O'Rourke / The Daily Beast:

Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham — P.J. O'Rourke stares into Brooklyn's heart of darkness. — My editor called and said, “Do a column on this Lena Dunham flap!” — And I said... Actually, back up. What I did NOT say was, “Who the hell is Lena Dumbwhat?”

Heather Alexander / Houston Chronicle:

Police: Man shot during traffic stop in southwest Houston — Two police officers opened fire on an apparently unarmed man during a traffic stop in southwest Houston Friday night, allegedly shooting him three times for not following commands. — HPD officers pulled over the car the man …

Discussion: The Free Thought Project

Discussion: Hinterland Gazette and Raw Story