By Lion Calandra
Christian Science Monitor
Today, more than the Fourth of July, honors America’s independence.
Today, more than the Fourth of July, honors America’s independence.
Casual reading for the intellectually curious.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Why do Americans get the Constitution so wrong?
There’s no excuse for misquoting and misunderstanding the US Constitution. But public figures ranging from Nancy Pelosi to Rush Limbaugh do it all the time.
By Lion Calandra
By Lion Calandra
Message to Muslims: I’m Sorry
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
New York Times
Many Americans have suggested that more moderate Muslims should stand up to extremists, speak out for tolerance, and apologize for sins committed by their brethren.
Many Americans have suggested that more moderate Muslims should stand up to extremists, speak out for tolerance, and apologize for sins committed by their brethren.
Fibbing With Numbers
By STEVEN STROGATZ
Charles Seife is steaming mad about all the ways that numbers are being twisted to erode our democracy. We’re used to being lied to with words (“I am not a crook”; “I did not have sexual relations with that woman”). But numbers? They’re supposed to be cold, hard and objective. Numbers don’t lie, and they brook no argument. They’re the best kind of facts we have.
New York Times.
Charles Seife is steaming mad about all the ways that numbers are being twisted to erode our democracy. We’re used to being lied to with words (“I am not a crook”; “I did not have sexual relations with that woman”). But numbers? They’re supposed to be cold, hard and objective. Numbers don’t lie, and they brook no argument. They’re the best kind of facts we have.
Just Manic Enough: Seeking Perfect Entrepreneurs
By DAVID SEGAL
New York Times
IMAGINE you are a venture capitalist. One day a man comes to you and says, “I want to build the game layer on top of the world.”
IMAGINE you are a venture capitalist. One day a man comes to you and says, “I want to build the game layer on top of the world.”
Saturday, September 18, 2010
On the Web, Children Face Intensive Tracking
By STEVE STECKLOW
Wall Street Journal
A Wall Street Journal investigation into online privacy has found that popular children's websites install more tracking technologies on personal computers than do the top websites aimed at adults.
A Wall Street Journal investigation into online privacy has found that popular children's websites install more tracking technologies on personal computers than do the top websites aimed at adults.
What They Know - Kids
[Interactive Graphic]
Wall Street Journal
Unfreezing Arctic Assets
A bloc of countries above the 45th parallel is poised to dominate the next century. Welcome to the New North.
By LAURENCE C. SMITH
Wall Street Journal
Imagine the Arctic in 2050 as a frigid version of Nevada—an empty landscape dotted with gleaming boom towns. Gas pipelines fan across the tundra, fueling fast-growing cities to the south like Calgary and Moscow, the coveted destinations for millions of global immigrants. It's a busy web for global commerce, as the world's ships advance each summer as the seasonal sea ice retreats, or even briefly disappears.
By LAURENCE C. SMITH
Wall Street Journal
Imagine the Arctic in 2050 as a frigid version of Nevada—an empty landscape dotted with gleaming boom towns. Gas pipelines fan across the tundra, fueling fast-growing cities to the south like Calgary and Moscow, the coveted destinations for millions of global immigrants. It's a busy web for global commerce, as the world's ships advance each summer as the seasonal sea ice retreats, or even briefly disappears.
The Jeans Care Secret: Rarely Wash Them
By CHERYL LU-LIEN TAN
Wall Street Journal
Carl Chiara, director of brand concepts and special projects for Levi Strauss & Co., is among the growing number of jeans enthusiasts who believe in washing them as little as possible.
Carl Chiara, director of brand concepts and special projects for Levi Strauss & Co., is among the growing number of jeans enthusiasts who believe in washing them as little as possible.
A caveat on that drop in credit card debt
By Michelle Singletary
I keep wondering if consumers will learn their lesson from this recession - to rely less on credit cards and more on the cash they have.
Washington Post
I keep wondering if consumers will learn their lesson from this recession - to rely less on credit cards and more on the cash they have.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Would You Like Flies With That? Bug Eaters Try to Get Some Buzz
Foodies Sample Insect Fare, But It's a Slow Crawl; Waxworm Potato FrittersBy SUMATHI REDDY
Wall Street Journal
Marc Dennis digs bugs.
He's making "chocolate chirp cookies"—with crickets inside—for a coming art festival. He puts crickets in his tacos when he watches football. And his freezer is full of bags of various insects, including dry-roasted crickets from Thailand, wax- and silkworms, and domestic crickets he raised at home, fattened up on oatmeal and orange rinds.
Wall Street Journal
Marc Dennis digs bugs.
He's making "chocolate chirp cookies"—with crickets inside—for a coming art festival. He puts crickets in his tacos when he watches football. And his freezer is full of bags of various insects, including dry-roasted crickets from Thailand, wax- and silkworms, and domestic crickets he raised at home, fattened up on oatmeal and orange rinds.
A mother's education has a huge effect on a child's health
By David Brown
That's because a mother's education level has a huge, if indirect, effect on the health of her children. That relationship, observed in many small studies in rich countries, turns out to be true everywhere on the globe, according to a new study.
Washington Post
It turns out that pencils and books for mothers may be as important as vaccines and drugs for babies in reducing child mortality in the developing world.
It turns out that pencils and books for mothers may be as important as vaccines and drugs for babies in reducing child mortality in the developing world.
That's because a mother's education level has a huge, if indirect, effect on the health of her children. That relationship, observed in many small studies in rich countries, turns out to be true everywhere on the globe, according to a new study.
Democrats and Republicans Can Be Differentiated from Their Faces
Nicholas O. Rule, Nalini Ambady
Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America
Background
Individuals' faces communicate a great deal of information about them. Although some of this information tends to be perceptually obvious (such as race and sex), much of it is perceptually ambiguous, without clear or obvious visual cues.
Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America
Background
Individuals' faces communicate a great deal of information about them. Although some of this information tends to be perceptually obvious (such as race and sex), much of it is perceptually ambiguous, without clear or obvious visual cues.
New saddle-like airline seats would pack cabins more
An Italian company is about to take the wraps off a space-saving seat for commercial aircraft that promises a flying experience similar to riding a horse.
By Christopher Hinton
(MarketWatch)
By Christopher Hinton
(MarketWatch)
Seattle Times
NEW YORK — An Italian company is about to take the wraps off a space-saving seat for commercial aircraft that promises
NEW YORK — An Italian company is about to take the wraps off a space-saving seat for commercial aircraft that promises
Phys Ed: Can Exercise Make Kids Smarter?
By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS
New York Times
In an experiment published last month, researchers recruited schoolchildren, ages 9 and 10, who lived near the Champaign-Urbana campus of the University of Illinois and asked them to run on a treadmill. The researchers were hoping to learn more about how fitness affects the immature human brain. Animal studies had already established that, when given access to running wheels, baby rodents bulked up their brains, enlarging certain areas and subsequently outperforming sedentary pups on rodent intelligence tests. But studies of the effect of exercise on the actual shape and function of children’s brains had not yet been tried.
In an experiment published last month, researchers recruited schoolchildren, ages 9 and 10, who lived near the Champaign-Urbana campus of the University of Illinois and asked them to run on a treadmill. The researchers were hoping to learn more about how fitness affects the immature human brain. Animal studies had already established that, when given access to running wheels, baby rodents bulked up their brains, enlarging certain areas and subsequently outperforming sedentary pups on rodent intelligence tests. But studies of the effect of exercise on the actual shape and function of children’s brains had not yet been tried.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Obstacle to Deficit Cutting: A Nation on Entitlements
By SARA MURRAY
Wall Street Journal
Efforts to tame America's ballooning budget deficit could soon confront a daunting reality: Nearly half of all Americans live in a household in which someone receives government benefits, more than at any time in history. [Interactive Graphic]
Efforts to tame America's ballooning budget deficit could soon confront a daunting reality: Nearly half of all Americans live in a household in which someone receives government benefits, more than at any time in history. [Interactive Graphic]
A Rare Atlantic Hurricane Triple Header
By ANDREW C. REVKIN
New York Times
Brian McNoldy, a meteorologist tracking Atlantic Ocean hurricanes at Colorado State University, just distributed this note from Phil Klotzbach, a colleague, about the unusual storminess in the Atlantic and Caribbean at the moment:
Brian McNoldy, a meteorologist tracking Atlantic Ocean hurricanes at Colorado State University, just distributed this note from Phil Klotzbach, a colleague, about the unusual storminess in the Atlantic and Caribbean at the moment:
With Karl becoming a hurricane, we have three hurricanes at the same time. This is a pretty rare occurrence. The only other years that this has occurred are 1893, 1926, 1950, 1961, 1967, 1980, 1995, and 1998. 1998 even had four hurricanes at the same time!
A Professor’s Review of Online Cheat Sheets
A Professor’s Review of Online Cheat Sheets
By ROY FURCHGOTT
At this time of year, students are buying textbooks and looking for ways to avoid reading them.
By ROY FURCHGOTT
At this time of year, students are buying textbooks and looking for ways to avoid reading them.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Computer Vision Syndrome
By American Optometric Association
Computer Vision Syndrome describes a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer use. Many individuals experience eye discomfort and vision problems when viewing a computer screen for extended periods. The level of discomfort appears to increase with the amount of computer use.
Computer Vision Syndrome describes a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer use. Many individuals experience eye discomfort and vision problems when viewing a computer screen for extended periods. The level of discomfort appears to increase with the amount of computer use.
Macular Degeneration Simulator
by eyecareAmerica
The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
[Interactive Graphic]
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Miniature nuclear reactors might be a safe, efficient source of power
By Brian Palmer
Washington Post
Take a mental stroll through the streets of Anytown, U.S.A. City hall is on your left, the movie theater on your right. Smell the delights from the bakery. And in the distance, there's the gentle steam plume billowing from the cooling tower of the miniature nuclear reactor that powers the quaint little burg.
Take a mental stroll through the streets of Anytown, U.S.A. City hall is on your left, the movie theater on your right. Smell the delights from the bakery. And in the distance, there's the gentle steam plume billowing from the cooling tower of the miniature nuclear reactor that powers the quaint little burg.
The Claim: Paper Towels Thwart More Germs Than Air Dryers Do
By ANAHAD O’CONNOR
THE FACTS The key to clean hands is simple: Wash thoroughly with soap and water. But once the faucet is off, do you reach for the paper towel or the air dryer?
New York Times
THE FACTS The key to clean hands is simple: Wash thoroughly with soap and water. But once the faucet is off, do you reach for the paper towel or the air dryer?
Child Passenger Safety: A Parent's Primer
By National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
When you’re an expectant mother, it’s important to always wear your seat belt to protect you and your unborn child. Wear the lap belt across your hips and below your belly with the shoulder belt across your chest (between your breasts). Once your baby is born, follow these important safety steps.
When you’re an expectant mother, it’s important to always wear your seat belt to protect you and your unborn child. Wear the lap belt across your hips and below your belly with the shoulder belt across your chest (between your breasts). Once your baby is born, follow these important safety steps.
Child Passenger Safety: Ease-of-Use Ratings
By National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Parents - Not Sure Which Car Seat to Use?
Are you looking for a new car seat for your infant, toddler or 4-8 year old child but overwhelmed by the choices and worried about how to properly install your car seat? Click HERE to see how car seat features differ among various models.
Parents - Not Sure Which Car Seat to Use?
Are you looking for a new car seat for your infant, toddler or 4-8 year old child but overwhelmed by the choices and worried about how to properly install your car seat? Click HERE to see how car seat features differ among various models.
Child Safety Seat Inspection Locator
By National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Use this locator to find a child safety seat inspection station nearest you. Certified technicians will inspect your child safety seat and show you how to correctly install and use it. [Child Passenger Safety Week is September 19-25.)
Use this locator to find a child safety seat inspection station nearest you. Certified technicians will inspect your child safety seat and show you how to correctly install and use it. [Child Passenger Safety Week is September 19-25.)
Searching for free stuff online can be costly
by Elinor Mills
CNET News
It's common knowledge that you can catch computer viruses on porn Web sites. But did you know it's also risky to surf the Web searching for free movies or music?
CNET News
It's common knowledge that you can catch computer viruses on porn Web sites. But did you know it's also risky to surf the Web searching for free movies or music?
Monday, September 13, 2010
A Dictionary of the Near Future
By DOUGLAS COUPLAND
The thing about the future is that it never feels the way we thought it would. New sensations require new terms; below are a few such terms to encapsulate our present moment.
New York Times
The thing about the future is that it never feels the way we thought it would. New sensations require new terms; below are a few such terms to encapsulate our present moment.
The Size of Government and the Choice This Fall
In polls, Americans overwhelmingly prefer small government and low taxes to the alternative. Yet they've been given big government, one program at a time.
By ARTHUR C. BROOKS AND PAUL RYAN
By ARTHUR C. BROOKS AND PAUL RYAN
Wall Street Journal
As we move into this election season, Americans are being asked to choose between candidates and political parties. But the true decision we will be making—now and in the years to come—is this: Do we still want our traditional American free enterprise system, or do we prefer a European-style social democracy? This is a choice between free markets and managed capitalism; between limited government and an ever-expanding state; between rewarding entrepreneurs and equalizing economic rewards.
As we move into this election season, Americans are being asked to choose between candidates and political parties. But the true decision we will be making—now and in the years to come—is this: Do we still want our traditional American free enterprise system, or do we prefer a European-style social democracy? This is a choice between free markets and managed capitalism; between limited government and an ever-expanding state; between rewarding entrepreneurs and equalizing economic rewards.
Employers Prefer Hiring From State Schools - WSJ.com
By JENNIFER MERRITT
Wall Street Journal
U.S. companies largely favor graduates of big state universities over Ivy League and other elite liberal-arts schools when hiring to fill entry-level jobs, a Wall Street Journal study found.
U.S. companies largely favor graduates of big state universities over Ivy League and other elite liberal-arts schools when hiring to fill entry-level jobs, a Wall Street Journal study found.
The Top 25 Recruiter Picks
Below are the Top 25 schools whose graduates were the top-rated by recruiters.
Under each school you'll see any individual majors where companies also ranked the school, along with other general information about the school's location, application deadlines and student body. Click on each school name to go to the university's website.
Under each school you'll see any individual majors where companies also ranked the school, along with other general information about the school's location, application deadlines and student body. Click on each school name to go to the university's website.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Engineering Terror
By DAVID BERREBY
New York Times
They say they believe in freedom and share our values. They say a few bad apples shouldn’t bring down judgment on their entire kind. Don’t be fooled. Though they walk among us with impunity, they are, in the words of Henry Farrell, a political scientist at George Washington University, “a group that is notoriously associated with terrorist violence and fundamentalist political beliefs.”
They are engineers.
New York Times
They say they believe in freedom and share our values. They say a few bad apples shouldn’t bring down judgment on their entire kind. Don’t be fooled. Though they walk among us with impunity, they are, in the words of Henry Farrell, a political scientist at George Washington University, “a group that is notoriously associated with terrorist violence and fundamentalist political beliefs.”
They are engineers.
Scientists can scan brains for maturity, potentially gauging child development
By Rob Stein
Washington Post
Scientists have developed a scan that can measure the maturity of the brain, an advance that someday might be useful for testing whether children are maturing normally and for gauging whether teenagers are grown-up enough to be treated as adults.
Scientists have developed a scan that can measure the maturity of the brain, an advance that someday might be useful for testing whether children are maturing normally and for gauging whether teenagers are grown-up enough to be treated as adults.
Artificial "skin" materials can sense pressure
By Julie Steenhuysen
Reuters
(Reuters) - New artificial "skin" fashioned out of flexible semiconductor materials can sense touch, making it possible to create robots with a grip delicate enough to hold an egg, yet strong enough to grasp the frying pan, U.S. researchers said on Sunday.
(Reuters) - New artificial "skin" fashioned out of flexible semiconductor materials can sense touch, making it possible to create robots with a grip delicate enough to hold an egg, yet strong enough to grasp the frying pan, U.S. researchers said on Sunday.
Finding Banks That Don’t Charge A.T.M. Fees
By JENNIFER SARANOW SCHULTZ
New York Times
I’ve written before on Bucks, in “A New Push to Lower A.T.M. Fees,” about a planned Federal Reserve review of the rise in A.T.M. fees that banks impose on customers. In the post, I outlined some methods to save on A.T.M. fees, including looking for banks that don’t charge their own customers for using other banks’ A.T.M.’s. and banks that reimburse the fees the other banks may charge.
I’ve written before on Bucks, in “A New Push to Lower A.T.M. Fees,” about a planned Federal Reserve review of the rise in A.T.M. fees that banks impose on customers. In the post, I outlined some methods to save on A.T.M. fees, including looking for banks that don’t charge their own customers for using other banks’ A.T.M.’s. and banks that reimburse the fees the other banks may charge.
Resale Fees That Only Developers Could Love
By JANET MORRISSEY
REBECCA AND TRENT DUPAIX of Eagle Mountain, Utah, spent a year searching for their dream home. The couple, who have five children, considered 15 to 20 houses before finding “the one.”
New York Times
REBECCA AND TRENT DUPAIX of Eagle Mountain, Utah, spent a year searching for their dream home. The couple, who have five children, considered 15 to 20 houses before finding “the one.”
Saturday, September 11, 2010
We Don't Mind the Gap: The Fashionable Flash a New Smile
By RACHEL DODES
Wall Street Journal
Struggling with a sense of alienation following the death of his father in 2008, fashion designer David Delfin asked an orthodontist to insert a bracket to open a space between his two front teeth.
Struggling with a sense of alienation following the death of his father in 2008, fashion designer David Delfin asked an orthodontist to insert a bracket to open a space between his two front teeth.
The 3,000-Mile Oil Change Is Pretty Much History
By ALINA TUGEND
New York Times
I STILL remember learning from my father how to carefully remove a dipstick to check the oil level in our cars. It was drilled into me — along with turning off the lights when you left a room and clearing the plates off the table after dinner — that oil needs to be changed every 3,000 miles or so.
I STILL remember learning from my father how to carefully remove a dipstick to check the oil level in our cars. It was drilled into me — along with turning off the lights when you left a room and clearing the plates off the table after dinner — that oil needs to be changed every 3,000 miles or so.
Jiminy! Cricket farms in US face crisis
Virus that wiped out cricket farms in Europe has American cricket-keepers worried. Zoos, theme parks, and reptile owners rely on the industry.
By Richard Luscombe
As a boy, Jack Armstrong watched his grandfather turn a love of fishing into America's first commercial cricket farm, growing and selling the insects as live bait.
By Richard Luscombe
Christian Science Monitor
As a boy, Jack Armstrong watched his grandfather turn a love of fishing into America's first commercial cricket farm, growing and selling the insects as live bait.
Some say bypassing a higher education is smarter than paying for a degree
By Sarah Kaufman
Washington Post
Across the region and around the country, parents are kissing their college-bound kids -- and potentially up to $200,000 in tuition, room and board -- goodbye.
Especially in the supremely well-educated Washington area, this is expected. It's a rite of passage, part of an orderly progression toward success.
Or is it . . . herd mentality?
Hear this, high achievers: If you crunch the numbers, some experts say, college is a bad investment.
Across the region and around the country, parents are kissing their college-bound kids -- and potentially up to $200,000 in tuition, room and board -- goodbye.
Especially in the supremely well-educated Washington area, this is expected. It's a rite of passage, part of an orderly progression toward success.
Or is it . . . herd mentality?
Hear this, high achievers: If you crunch the numbers, some experts say, college is a bad investment.
Racked by drug violence, Mexico wary of Calif. vote on legalizing marijuana
By Nick Miroff and William Booth
TIJUANA, MEXICO - To embattled authorities here, where heavily armed soldiers patrol the streets and more than 500 people have been killed this year, marijuana is a poisonous weed that enriches death-dealing cartel bosses who earn huge profits smuggling the product north. "Marijuana arrives in the United States soaked with the blood of Tijuana residents," said Mayor Jorge Ramos, whose police department has lost 45 officers to drug violence in the past three years.
Washington Post
TIJUANA, MEXICO - To embattled authorities here, where heavily armed soldiers patrol the streets and more than 500 people have been killed this year, marijuana is a poisonous weed that enriches death-dealing cartel bosses who earn huge profits smuggling the product north. "Marijuana arrives in the United States soaked with the blood of Tijuana residents," said Mayor Jorge Ramos, whose police department has lost 45 officers to drug violence in the past three years.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Google: Family Safety Center
Google
We know how important it is to protect and educate young people on using the Internet and want to provide all of our users with a safe experience.
When it comes to family safety, we aim to:
-Provide parents and teachers with tools to help them choose what content their children see online
-Offer tips and advice to families about how to stay safe online
We know how important it is to protect and educate young people on using the Internet and want to provide all of our users with a safe experience.
When it comes to family safety, we aim to:
-Provide parents and teachers with tools to help them choose what content their children see online
-Offer tips and advice to families about how to stay safe online
-Work closely with organizations such as charities, others in our industry and government bodies dedicated to protecting young people
In Season 9, iPods Still Get High Ratings
By David Pogue
New York Times
CUPERTINO, Calif. — At a special press event today, Steven P. Jobs,Apple’s chief executive, unveiled a new lineup of iPod models, just in time for the holiday season. The diminutive iPod Shuffle still has no screen and is still made of brushed aluminum, but it now has _____ and comes in _____ colors. Apple tinkered with the proportions of the iPod Nano, too, adding _____ and redesigning the _____. The popular iPod Touch also received a makeover; it’s thinner now, and gains new features like a _____ and a _____. All models now offer better battery life and greater storage capacity.
Bed Bug Reports
This site and a site posted previously (Bed Bug Registry) are the main go-to sites to check and report bed bugs.
New Study Shows that the Alcohol Use Rate Among American Indian or Alaska Native Adults is Well Below the National Average
But Native American or Alaska Native adults have a higher rate of binge drinking than the national average
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
A new national study reveals that the rate of past month alcohol use (i.e., at least one drink in the past 30 days) among American Indian or Alaska Native adults is significantly lower than the national average for adults (43.9 percent versus 55.2 percent). The study, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that American Indian or Native Alaska adults have a rate of past month binge alcohol drinking (i.e., five or more drinks on the same occasion - on at least one day in the past 30 days) well above the national average (30.6 percent versus 24.5 percent). The level of past month illicit drug use was also found to be higher among American Indian or Alaska Native adults than the overall adult population (11.2 percent versus 7.9 percent).
A new national study reveals that the rate of past month alcohol use (i.e., at least one drink in the past 30 days) among American Indian or Alaska Native adults is significantly lower than the national average for adults (43.9 percent versus 55.2 percent). The study, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that American Indian or Native Alaska adults have a rate of past month binge alcohol drinking (i.e., five or more drinks on the same occasion - on at least one day in the past 30 days) well above the national average (30.6 percent versus 24.5 percent). The level of past month illicit drug use was also found to be higher among American Indian or Alaska Native adults than the overall adult population (11.2 percent versus 7.9 percent).
Global study finds we are more likely to give money to charity if we are happy than if we are wealthy
8 September 2010
Charities Aid Foundation
The “World Giving Index”, the largest study ever carried out into charitable behaviour across the globe, which ranked the UK the eighth most charitable nation in the world, has found that happier people are more likely to give money to charity than those who are wealthy.
The “World Giving Index”, the largest study ever carried out into charitable behaviour across the globe, which ranked the UK the eighth most charitable nation in the world, has found that happier people are more likely to give money to charity than those who are wealthy.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Men Seem More Susceptible to Memory Problems Than Women
Among elderly, rate of mild impairment was 1.5 times higher in males, study finds.
healthfinder.gov
healthfinder.gov
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly men are more likely to suffer memory problems than women, new research shows.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly men are more likely to suffer memory problems than women, new research shows.
Administrative Bloat at American Universities: The Real Reason for High Costs in Higher Education
Jay P. Greene
Goldwater Institute Policy Report
August 17, 2010
Executive Summary
Enrollment at America’s leading universities has been increasing dramatically, rising nearly 15 percent between 1993 and 2007. But unlike almost every other growing industry, higher education has not become more efficient. Instead, universities now have more administrative employees and spend more on administration to educate each student. In short, universities are suffering from “administrative bloat,” expanding the resources devoted to administration significantly faster than spending on instruction, research and service.
Goldwater Institute Policy Report
August 17, 2010
Executive Summary
Enrollment at America’s leading universities has been increasing dramatically, rising nearly 15 percent between 1993 and 2007. But unlike almost every other growing industry, higher education has not become more efficient. Instead, universities now have more administrative employees and spend more on administration to educate each student. In short, universities are suffering from “administrative bloat,” expanding the resources devoted to administration significantly faster than spending on instruction, research and service.
Six most generous nations: US ties for fifth
Christian Science Monitor
Which country has the most generous people in the world? A poll of 153 countries ranked global philanthropy in three categories: individual donations, volunteer time, and the number of people willing to help a stranger. Gallup’s 2010 World Giving Index Report was released Wednesday.
Which country has the most generous people in the world? A poll of 153 countries ranked global philanthropy in three categories: individual donations, volunteer time, and the number of people willing to help a stranger. Gallup’s 2010 World Giving Index Report was released Wednesday.
Are You Up to the Challenge?
By: Marietta | September 08, 2010 | Category: General
GovGab: Your U. S. Government Blog
I love a challenge! Right now I am competing in a running challenge with friends to determine who can run the most miles in two months. Each week, we post our mileage, while checking who has the lead. I'm not quite winning right now, but in the last month I've gotten a little faster and improved my endurance. In the end, we'll all be better runners, and the winner will win a pair of shoes and bragging rights. Talk about incentives! [New Web Site: Challenge.gov]
I love a challenge! Right now I am competing in a running challenge with friends to determine who can run the most miles in two months. Each week, we post our mileage, while checking who has the lead. I'm not quite winning right now, but in the last month I've gotten a little faster and improved my endurance. In the end, we'll all be better runners, and the winner will win a pair of shoes and bragging rights. Talk about incentives! [New Web Site: Challenge.gov]
Understanding Bluetooth Technology
National Cyber Alert System
Cyber Security Tip ST05-015
United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT)
Many electronic devices are now incorporating Bluetooth technology to allow wireless communication with other Bluetooth devices. Before using Bluetooth, it is important to understand what it is, what security risks it presents, and how to protect yourself.
Cyber Security Tip ST05-015
United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT)
Many electronic devices are now incorporating Bluetooth technology to allow wireless communication with other Bluetooth devices. Before using Bluetooth, it is important to understand what it is, what security risks it presents, and how to protect yourself.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Sex for sale: Why Sweden punishes buyers
To combat prostitution and sex trafficking, Sweden made it illegal to buy sexual services in 1999. Its record since then stands out amid the failures of legalized prostitution elsewhere in Europe.
By Janice Raymond
By Janice Raymond
Christian Science Monitor
At a time when some governments are trying – and failing – to combat sex trafficking by legalizing prostitution, Sweden’s innovative approach stands out as an exemplary model of lawmaking that reduces prostitution, penalizes men, and protects women.
At a time when some governments are trying – and failing – to combat sex trafficking by legalizing prostitution, Sweden’s innovative approach stands out as an exemplary model of lawmaking that reduces prostitution, penalizes men, and protects women.
Always in Its Element, No Matter the Weather
By HOLLAND COTTER
With summer on the wane and autumn on the way, Nature’s where you want to be. And there’s no more bracing or reposeful place to find it than Storm King Art Center, one of the country’s premier outdoor sculpture parks, set on 500 acres of wide-open meadow and woodland in Mountainville, N.Y., about an hour’s drive north of Manhattan. Slide Show Video
Wall Street Journal
With summer on the wane and autumn on the way, Nature’s where you want to be. And there’s no more bracing or reposeful place to find it than Storm King Art Center, one of the country’s premier outdoor sculpture parks, set on 500 acres of wide-open meadow and woodland in Mountainville, N.Y., about an hour’s drive north of Manhattan. Slide Show Video
Library Card Sign-Up Month
By: Joanne | September 07, 2010 | Category: General
Do you like free stuff? I know I do! That’s what I love about publiclibraries. Libraries have books, movies, video games, computers, andother activities, and it’s all free.
GovGab: Your U.S. Government Blog
Do you like free stuff? I know I do! That’s what I love about publiclibraries. Libraries have books, movies, video games, computers, andother activities, and it’s all free.
Google to start TV service in U.S. this autumn
By Nicola Leske
Reuters
(Reuters) - Google Inc will launch its service to bring the Web to TV screens in the United States this autumn and worldwide next year, its chief executive said, as it extends its reach from the desktop to the living room. Includes video
(Reuters) - Google Inc will launch its service to bring the Web to TV screens in the United States this autumn and worldwide next year, its chief executive said, as it extends its reach from the desktop to the living room. Includes video
Consumer Reports Latest Taste Tests Find Some Store Brands at Least as Good as National Brands
New study shows filling a shopping cart with store brands saves an average of 30 percent on groceries
Consumer Reports
YONKERS, N.Y., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Store brand products can compete with their name-brand counterparts and save shoppers more than a thousand dollars a year on grocery bills, according to a new study from Consumer Reports. In 21 head-to-head taste match-ups, national brands won seven times, the store brand came out on top in three instances, and the remainder resulted in ties. The article can be found on www.consumerreportsenespanol.org.
YONKERS, N.Y., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Store brand products can compete with their name-brand counterparts and save shoppers more than a thousand dollars a year on grocery bills, according to a new study from Consumer Reports. In 21 head-to-head taste match-ups, national brands won seven times, the store brand came out on top in three instances, and the remainder resulted in ties. The article can be found on www.consumerreportsenespanol.org.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits
By BENEDICT CAREY
Every September, millions of parents try a kind of psychological witchcraft, to transform their summer-glazed campers into fall students, their video-bugs into bookworms. Advice is cheap and all too familiar: Clear a quiet work space. Stick to a homework schedule. Set goals. Set boundaries. Do not bribe (except in emergencies).
New York Times
Every September, millions of parents try a kind of psychological witchcraft, to transform their summer-glazed campers into fall students, their video-bugs into bookworms. Advice is cheap and all too familiar: Clear a quiet work space. Stick to a homework schedule. Set goals. Set boundaries. Do not bribe (except in emergencies).
Life's Key Moments Occur Within Relationships, Study Finds
Personal highs, lows less important than events shared with others, researchers say.
healthfinder.gov
healthfinder.gov
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
HEALTHDAY, Sept. 3 (HealthDay News) -- It isn't personal success or failure that make up the best and worst moments of a person's life, but the events that occur within social relationships, new research has found.
Taming the Wild Tuna
By PAUL GREENBERG
New York Times
IN the wide expanse of the wild ocean, there is perhaps nothing more wild than the world’s largest tuna — the giant Atlantic bluefin. Equipped with a kind of natural GPS system that biologists have yet to decode, the bluefin can cross and recross the Atlantic’s breadth multiple times in the course of its life. Its furious metabolism enables the fish to sprint at more than 40 miles an hour, heat its muscles 20 degrees above ambient, and hunt relentlessly at frigid depths in excess of 1,500 feet.
IN the wide expanse of the wild ocean, there is perhaps nothing more wild than the world’s largest tuna — the giant Atlantic bluefin. Equipped with a kind of natural GPS system that biologists have yet to decode, the bluefin can cross and recross the Atlantic’s breadth multiple times in the course of its life. Its furious metabolism enables the fish to sprint at more than 40 miles an hour, heat its muscles 20 degrees above ambient, and hunt relentlessly at frigid depths in excess of 1,500 feet.
The Claim: The Day’s Events are Incorporated Into That Night’s Dreams.
By ANAHAD O’CONNOR
New York Times
THE FACTS In the world of sleep research, dreams are something of a black box. But one tidbit that scientists have discerned is the peculiar but predictable pattern in which dreams tend to occur.
New York Times
THE FACTS In the world of sleep research, dreams are something of a black box. But one tidbit that scientists have discerned is the peculiar but predictable pattern in which dreams tend to occur.
Height of Hurricane Season 2010
By: Jake | September 06, 2010 | Category: Health
GovGab: Your U.S. Government Blog
Happy Labor Day!
Last Friday, Hurricane Earl landed in North Carolina and caused minimal damage. With Tropical Storms Fiona and Gaston directly behind Earl and a tropical storm in the Eastern Pacific, it seems to me we are entering the height of hurricane season. Since the season does not end until November, it's good to be prepared in case a tropical storm or hurricane heads your way.
GovGab: Your U.S. Government Blog
Happy Labor Day!
Last Friday, Hurricane Earl landed in North Carolina and caused minimal damage. With Tropical Storms Fiona and Gaston directly behind Earl and a tropical storm in the Eastern Pacific, it seems to me we are entering the height of hurricane season. Since the season does not end until November, it's good to be prepared in case a tropical storm or hurricane heads your way.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
The Boss Is Robotic, and Rolling Up Behind You
By JOHN MARKOFF
New York Times
SACRAMENTO — Dr. Alan Shatzel’s pager beeped at 9 on a Saturday morning. A man had suffered a stroke, and someone had to decide, quickly, whether to give him an anticlotting drug that could mean the difference between life and death. Interactive Graphic
SACRAMENTO — Dr. Alan Shatzel’s pager beeped at 9 on a Saturday morning. A man had suffered a stroke, and someone had to decide, quickly, whether to give him an anticlotting drug that could mean the difference between life and death. Interactive Graphic
A Course Load for the Game of Life
By N. GREGORY MANKIW
AS a Harvard professor who teaches introductory economics, I have the delightful assignment of greeting about 700 first-year students every fall. And this year, I am sending the first of my own children off to college. Which raises these questions: What should they be learning? And what kind of foundation is needed to understand and be prepared for the modern economy?
New York Times
AS a Harvard professor who teaches introductory economics, I have the delightful assignment of greeting about 700 first-year students every fall. And this year, I am sending the first of my own children off to college. Which raises these questions: What should they be learning? And what kind of foundation is needed to understand and be prepared for the modern economy?
Mine foreman keeps trapped crew on task in Chile
By Jonathan Franklin
Special to The Washington Post
COPIAPO, CHILE - Luis Urzua went to work as a shift foreman at the San Jose gold and copper mine in northern Chile on Aug. 5. A month later, the steely 54-year-old has yet to relinquish his command, pivoting to the challenge of organizing the increasingly sophisticated existence of 33 men facing long-term entrapment underground. Photo Gallery
Attempted abductions
Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children | Credit: The Washington Post
An analysis of 4,202 attempted abductions that took place between February 2005 and March 2010 revealed that ...
An analysis of 4,202 attempted abductions that took place between February 2005 and March 2010 revealed that ...
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