Luke Skywalker
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Out of the loop today? We've got what you missed.(Photo: AP)
The commissioner is OK with the mayor, even if many officers are not
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton is OK with NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, saying publicly Monday that the mayor has sufficiently supported the force. De Blasio has faced criticism from some members of the police department, most recently after Ismaaiyl Brinsely fatally shot two officers as they sat in their patrol car Saturday. Many on the force were already unhappy with they mayor's response after a grand jury didn't indict in the death of Eric Garner. There's no evidence that Brinsley was involved with groups protesting police violence, but he did vow to retaliate for black deaths. Now the protestors must isolate their cause from an act of violence they neither planned nor sanctioned. The mayor asked New Yorkers to "put aside protests" and focus on the families of the fallen patrolmen. Meanwhile, a group of state legislators want a surplus in the budget to fund police cruiser upgrades, including installing bullet-proof glass.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday while speaking to police during a luncheon that now is the time to be with the families of the slain officers, not the time to protest. VPC
North Korea knocked offline, and Sony may release 'The Interview'
Nevermind what Sony said last week. Sony only delayed the release of The Interview and is still trying to figure out how to distribute it, the company's attorney said. Last week, the U.S. government said North Korea was behind a massive cyber attack against Sony. The group responsible for the hack threatened deadly attacks if The Interview was shown in theaters because the comedy is about an assassination attempt on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. President Obama said the U.S. will retaliate appropriately, but officials declined to say Monday if the United States was responsible for North Korea's Internet outage. The country's four official Internet networks began failing on Sunday and were completely offline Monday.
The plot thickens as Sony's lawyer says the film will be distributed and North Korea goes on the defensive on Sony hack accusations. (USA NOW, USA TODAY)
One of rock's greatest died today
Joe Cocker, known for his raspy voice and huge stage presence, died Monday of lung cancer at age 70. The last note of You Are So Beautiful, where Cocker's voice cracks on the final emotional note, helped make the ballad a hit in 1975. His Sunday afternoon set at Woodstock in 1969, highlighted by a cover of The Beatles' With A Little Help From My Friends, became a career-igniting performance. Cocker's version of the song later regained popularity as the theme for the TV show The Wonder Years. Here's a timeline of his career.
Pope Francis dislikes status climbers and red tape
And a merry Christmas to you, too. Whew. Pope Francis laid it out there today, using his traditional Christmas greeting to the church's administrators to put forth a laundry list of what the pontiff called the "ailments of the Curia." (See: Roman Curia on Wikipedia) Francis launched a blistering attack on the Vatican bureaucracy, outlining 15 areas in which he wanted to see change – a "catalog of illnesses," he called it. His list reflected the take-no-prisoners approach he promised when he was elected nearly two years ago as an outsider with little direct experience in Rome. The pope's address reportedly startled assembled members of the Curia, who were expecting warm wishes. Few were smiling as Francis ticked off his diagnosis, complete with footnotes and biblical references.
Pope Francis arrives in the Paul VI hall on Monday for an audience with the Holy See's employees at the Vatican.(Photo: Alessandra Tarantino, AP)
Let's talk about the Hyperloop because it really is a cool idea
Remember the Hyperloop? It's that shoot-for-the-stars plan by Tesla founder Elon Musk to zip folks from one city to another using a high-powered tube, kind of like at a bank drive-through. We haven't heard much about it lately, but enthusiasts — a group called Hyperloop Transportation Technologies — have produced a report outlining some of the key issues around the project. They looked at connecting San Francisco with Los Angeles, but noted that there are many city pairs around the world that would be candidates. The 400-plus-mile trip would take less than an hour, compared to more than six hours of driving. Other notable details from the report: Passengers would travel in aerodynamic pods the size of vans inside the tube, and the system would cost an estimated $20 million to $45 million a mile, compared to upwards of $200 million per mile for conventional mass transit, according to the group. One major unanswered question? The delicate issue of using the restroom. All the ideas are still in infancy stages, and HTT is inviting further discussion.
This handout photo released by Tesla Motors on August 12, 2013 shows the concept drawing of the Hyperloop, a fast transport design unveiled August 12, 2013 by Elon Musk. A design for a super-fast transport system(Photo: HANDOUT AFP/Getty Images)
Extra Bites
Day in Pictures: Our favorite photo from today's gallery.
A piece built from 21,682 Lego blocks titled "Blue Guy Sitting" by artist Nathan Sawaya is displayed at The Art of the Brick exhibition at the Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa.(Photo: Nic Bothma, European Pressphoto Agency)
You've got to hear what Kourtney Kardashian named her baby.
Last night wasn't actually the Earth's longest. Here's why.
These are the 10 best video games of 2014.
Can we say "adorbs"? Because it feels appropriate.
Watch these lion cubs snuggle and play with each other at The Cincinnati Zoo. VPC
Short on time? Listen to today's news:
Today in Christmas: Awkward, or awesome? Family photos every year, for 60 years.
The Wilson Family took their first photo with Santa Claus in 1955. Sixty years later, they continue the tradition as adults...spouses and all! VPC
Stories you're clicking on today:
Rainstorm to bring wet Christmas to Eastern USA
No charges for Milwaukee officer who shot man 14 times
Nerdy? Google unveils new self-driving car prototype
Add YOXMAS on the YO app for a daily Christmas treat, as excitement builds leading up to Dec. 25. For a daily bit of afternoon fluff, add DISTRACTME on the YO app. We promise you'll have fun.
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This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.
Contributing: John Bacon, Elizabeth Weise, Brian Mansfied, Jerry Shriver, Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY; Josephine McKenna , Religion News Service
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