by Jennifer A. Kingson
New York Times
WHEN it comes to their homes, there are few things New Yorkers prize as much as a little outdoor space — a terrace, perhaps, or a small deck in the backyard. Catio Showcase
Casual reading for the intellectually curious.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The Breeders' Cup
Social science may suggest that kids drain their parents' happiness, but there's evidence that good parenting is less work and more fun than people think. Bryan Caplan makes the case for having more children.
Amid the Father's Day festivities, many of us are privately asking a Scroogely question: "Having kids—what's in it for me?" An economic perspective on happiness, nature and nurture provides an answer: Parents' sacrifice is much smaller than it looks, and much larger than it has to be.
Social science may suggest that kids drain their parents' happiness, but there's evidence that good parenting is less work and more fun than people think. Bryan Caplan makes the case for having more children.
By Bryan Caplan
Wall Street Journal
Amid the Father's Day festivities, many of us are privately asking a Scroogely question: "Having kids—what's in it for me?" An economic perspective on happiness, nature and nurture provides an answer: Parents' sacrifice is much smaller than it looks, and much larger than it has to be.
Where Gulf Spill Might Place on the Roll of Disasters
by Justin Gillis
New York Times
From the Oval Office the other night, President Obama called the oilleak in the Gulf of Mexico “the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced.” Senior people in the government have echoed that language.
From the Oval Office the other night, President Obama called the oilleak in the Gulf of Mexico “the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced.” Senior people in the government have echoed that language.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Driving Under the Influence: Huge Taxpayer Investment in Ethanol Yields Paltry Payoff
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
WASHINGTON – June 15, 2010. Between 2005 and 2009, U.S. taxpayers spent a whopping $17 billion to subsidize corn ethanol blends in gasoline. What did they get in return? A reduction in overall oil consumption equal to an unimpressive 1.1 mile-per-gallon increase in fleet-wide fuel economy. Worse, ethanol’s much ballyhooed contribution to reducing America’s dependence on imported oil looks even smaller – the equivalent to a measly six tenths of a mile per gallon fleet-wide.
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
WASHINGTON – June 15, 2010. Between 2005 and 2009, U.S. taxpayers spent a whopping $17 billion to subsidize corn ethanol blends in gasoline. What did they get in return? A reduction in overall oil consumption equal to an unimpressive 1.1 mile-per-gallon increase in fleet-wide fuel economy. Worse, ethanol’s much ballyhooed contribution to reducing America’s dependence on imported oil looks even smaller – the equivalent to a measly six tenths of a mile per gallon fleet-wide.
Botox May Temporarily Paralyze Emotions, Too
Facial expressions provide sensory feedback to the brain that influences feelings, research shows.
THURSDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- For Botox users concerned that the muscle-paralyzing injections will rob their face of its ability to show emotion, a new study suggests that people injected with the toxin might end up with less strong emotion to display in the first place.
Facial expressions provide sensory feedback to the brain that influences feelings, research shows.
THURSDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- For Botox users concerned that the muscle-paralyzing injections will rob their face of its ability to show emotion, a new study suggests that people injected with the toxin might end up with less strong emotion to display in the first place.
Shared Opinions Light Up Brain's 'Reward Center'
Finding your thoughts validated by others brings mental satisfaction, study finds.
Finding your thoughts validated by others brings mental satisfaction, study finds.
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
THURSDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Finding common ground with others often leads to a sense of satisfaction, and a new study suggests that the reason why is because the "reward" area of the brain is activated when people agree with our opinions.
THURSDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Finding common ground with others often leads to a sense of satisfaction, and a new study suggests that the reason why is because the "reward" area of the brain is activated when people agree with our opinions.
How Much of the World's Electricity Supply is Generated from Wind and Who are the Leading Generators?
U.S. Energy Information Administration
Department of Energy
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Putting a Private Detective in Your Laptop
Baruch Sienna figured his teenage son’s laptop was gone forever. During a party in Israel, a thief had taken his MacBook, and there were no witnesses.
By Eric A. Taub
New York Times
Baruch Sienna figured his teenage son’s laptop was gone forever. During a party in Israel, a thief had taken his MacBook, and there were no witnesses.
Paternal Bonds, Special and Strange
By Natalie Angier
New York Times
Not long ago, Julia Fischer of the German Primate Center in Göttingen was amused to witness two of her distinguished male colleagues preening about a topic very different from the standard academic peacock points — papers published, grants secured, competitors made to look foolish.
Not long ago, Julia Fischer of the German Primate Center in Göttingen was amused to witness two of her distinguished male colleagues preening about a topic very different from the standard academic peacock points — papers published, grants secured, competitors made to look foolish.
When in Doubt, Insure
By David A Kelly
New York Times
IT’S only June, and already what a year it’s been for travelers: volcanic ash clouds shutting down dozens of European airports; unrest in Thailand, Jamaica and Greece; an oil spill undermining the plans of vacationers bound for the Gulf of Mexico coast. The summer — with its risk of hurricanes and the threat of airline strikes — promises little respite.
IT’S only June, and already what a year it’s been for travelers: volcanic ash clouds shutting down dozens of European airports; unrest in Thailand, Jamaica and Greece; an oil spill undermining the plans of vacationers bound for the Gulf of Mexico coast. The summer — with its risk of hurricanes and the threat of airline strikes — promises little respite.
Ad for a Dish Detergent Becomes Part of a Story
by Leslie Kaufman
New York Times
In mid-April, the makers of Dawn liquid dish detergent started running TV commercials that played up its reputation as the soap of choice among nonprofit groups that clean birds and marine mammals harmed by oil spills.
In mid-April, the makers of Dawn liquid dish detergent started running TV commercials that played up its reputation as the soap of choice among nonprofit groups that clean birds and marine mammals harmed by oil spills.
Playtime with Parents May Shape Gender Roles
Fathers more assertive, moms more helpful when playing with tots, study shows.
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
WEDNESDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- The different ways mothers and fathers play with their child helps shape a toddler's view of what is masculine and what is feminine, new research suggests.
Fathers more assertive, moms more helpful when playing with tots, study shows.
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
WEDNESDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- The different ways mothers and fathers play with their child helps shape a toddler's view of what is masculine and what is feminine, new research suggests.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
What You Need To Know: New Credit Card Rules Aug. 22
Federal Reserve Board (FRB)
More new rules from the Federal Reserve mean more new credit card protections for you. Here are some key changes you should expect from your credit card company beginning on August 22, 2010:
Study Says Math Deficiencies Increase Foreclosure Risk
IF you can’t divide 300 by 2, should you qualify for a loan?
by Bob Tedeschi
New York Times
IF you can’t divide 300 by 2, should you qualify for a loan?
Afghanistan and the natural resource curse
by Donald Marron
Countries often experience withering productivity growth and growing corruption after newly discovered resources are tapped.
by Donald Marron
Christian Science Monitor
Countries often experience withering productivity growth and growing corruption after newly discovered resources are tapped.
Health Tip: Buy a Bike That Suits Your Child
Make sure it's a good fit
(HealthDay News) -- As with any exercise equipment or sporting gear, a bicycle should fit a rider properly, especially if the user is a child.
Make sure it's a good fit
(HealthDay News) -- As with any exercise equipment or sporting gear, a bicycle should fit a rider properly, especially if the user is a child.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Health Tip: Packing Prescriptions for Travel
If you're taking prescription drugs aboard a plane
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
(HealthDay News) -- If you're planning to pack prescription drugs when traveling by air, there are steps you can take to avoid trouble taking them on board.
If you're taking prescription drugs aboard a plane
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
(HealthDay News) -- If you're planning to pack prescription drugs when traveling by air, there are steps you can take to avoid trouble taking them on board.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
U.S. Identifies Vast Riches of Minerals in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON — The United States has discovered nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, far beyond any previously known reserves and enough to fundamentally alter the Afghan economy and perhaps the Afghan war itself, according to senior American government officials.
by James Risen
New York Time
WASHINGTON — The United States has discovered nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, far beyond any previously known reserves and enough to fundamentally alter the Afghan economy and perhaps the Afghan war itself, according to senior American government officials.
The Oil Disaster Is About Human, Not System, Failure
Terry Barr, President
Samson Oil and Gas
Terry Barr, President
Samson Oil and Gas
Wall Street Journal
Lakewood, Colo.In response to Tony Hayward's June 4 op-ed "What BP Is Doing about the Gulf Gusher": It is time that the publicity spin that BP is putting on this disaster is put into perspective. What is alarming about the content of the article is not so much what it says, but what it does not say.
Lakewood, Colo.In response to Tony Hayward's June 4 op-ed "What BP Is Doing about the Gulf Gusher": It is time that the publicity spin that BP is putting on this disaster is put into perspective. What is alarming about the content of the article is not so much what it says, but what it does not say.
Secret Service museum strictly classified: Only official guests get in
By Ralph Vartabedian
Seattle Times (Los Angeles Times)
The six-story tan brick building on H Street houses one of the most secret museums in Washington. It is not listed in visitor guides, and if any camera-toting tourists in shorts and sneakers should show up, they wouldn't get past the front door or the reception desk behind the bulletproof glass.
Seattle Times (Los Angeles Times)
The six-story tan brick building on H Street houses one of the most secret museums in Washington. It is not listed in visitor guides, and if any camera-toting tourists in shorts and sneakers should show up, they wouldn't get past the front door or the reception desk behind the bulletproof glass.
This Time Is Different
My friend, Mark Mykleby, who works in the Pentagon, shared with me this personal letter to the editor he got published last week in his hometown paper, The Beaufort Gazette in South Carolina. It is the best reaction I’ve seen to the BP oil spill — and also the best advice to President Obama on exactly whom to kick you know where.
by Thomas L. Friedman
New York Times
My friend, Mark Mykleby, who works in the Pentagon, shared with me this personal letter to the editor he got published last week in his hometown paper, The Beaufort Gazette in South Carolina. It is the best reaction I’ve seen to the BP oil spill — and also the best advice to President Obama on exactly whom to kick you know where.
Two Men and Two Paths
When Wes Moore won a Rhodes scholarship in 2000, The Baltimore Sun published an article about his triumph. He was the first student at Johns Hopkins to win a Rhodes in 13 years, and the first black student there ever to win the award.
by Nicholas D. Kristof
New York Times
When Wes Moore won a Rhodes scholarship in 2000, The Baltimore Sun published an article about his triumph. He was the first student at Johns Hopkins to win a Rhodes in 13 years, and the first black student there ever to win the award.
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