By ELIZABETH BERNSTEIN
Wall Street Journal
I'd like to tell the man whose cab I stole in the rain last week that I'm very sorry. But to my mom, whose driving I criticized recently? Not so much.
Casual reading for the intellectually curious.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
I'm Very, Very, Very Sorry ... Really?
We Apologize More to Strangers Than Family, and Why Women Ask for Forgiveness More Than Men
By ELIZABETH BERNSTEIN
I'd like to tell the man whose cab I stole in the rain last week that I'm very sorry. But to my mom, whose driving I criticized recently? Not so much.
By ELIZABETH BERNSTEIN
I'd like to tell the man whose cab I stole in the rain last week that I'm very sorry. But to my mom, whose driving I criticized recently? Not so much.
Study Finds Adversity Does Make Us Stronger
By LAURA LANDRO
Friedrich Nietzsche was right—sort of.
The German philosopher's oft-quoted adage, "What does not destroy me, makes me stronger," was put to the test as part of a national study of the effects of adverse life events on mental health by researchers at the University at Buffalo-the State University of New York and the University of California, Irvine.
Friedrich Nietzsche was right—sort of.
The German philosopher's oft-quoted adage, "What does not destroy me, makes me stronger," was put to the test as part of a national study of the effects of adverse life events on mental health by researchers at the University at Buffalo-the State University of New York and the University of California, Irvine.
In Kansas, Climate Skeptics Embrace Cleaner Energy
By LESLIE KAUFMAN
New York Times
SALINA, Kan. — Residents of this deeply conservative city do not put much stock in scientific predictions of climate change. [Slide Show]
SALINA, Kan. — Residents of this deeply conservative city do not put much stock in scientific predictions of climate change. [Slide Show]
From Junk to Collectible, Shaped by Time and Tide
By CORNELIA DEAN
New York Times
HYANNIS, Mass. — Laura McHenry started walking Cape Cod beaches searching for sea glass a few years ago, when her marriage was breaking up and she was looking for something she and her daughter Katie, could do together for fun.
HYANNIS, Mass. — Laura McHenry started walking Cape Cod beaches searching for sea glass a few years ago, when her marriage was breaking up and she was looking for something she and her daughter Katie, could do together for fun.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Magic by Numbers
By DANIEL GILBERT
New York Times
I RECENTLY wound up in the emergency room. Don’t worry, it was probably nothing. But to treat my case of probably nothing, the doctor gave me a prescription for a week’s worth of antibiotics, along with the usual stern warning about the importance of completing the full course.
I RECENTLY wound up in the emergency room. Don’t worry, it was probably nothing. But to treat my case of probably nothing, the doctor gave me a prescription for a week’s worth of antibiotics, along with the usual stern warning about the importance of completing the full course.
Income Inequality: Too Big to Ignore
By ROBERT H. FRANK
PEOPLE often remember the past with exaggerated fondness. Sometimes, however, important aspects of life really were better in the old days.
New York Times
PEOPLE often remember the past with exaggerated fondness. Sometimes, however, important aspects of life really were better in the old days.
The Secret to Turning Consumers Green
It isn't financial incentives. It isn't more information. It's guilt.
By STEPHANIE SIMON
By STEPHANIE SIMON
Wall Street Journal
A real-life experiment in engineering green behavior unfolded recently in the nation's capital.
A real-life experiment in engineering green behavior unfolded recently in the nation's capital.
Tea in Kabul
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
New York Times
A few vignettes to explain why I believe America’s strategy in Afghanistan isn’t working:
A few vignettes to explain why I believe America’s strategy in Afghanistan isn’t working:
The Sound of Spirit
By ARTHUR LUBOW
Emigrating from the Soviet Union to the West in January 1980 with his wife, Nora, and their two small sons, the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt was stopped by border police at the Brest railroad station for a luggage search. “We had only seven suitcases, full of my scores, records and tapes,” he recalled recently. “They said, ‘Let’s listen.’ It was a big station. No one else was there. We took my record player and played ‘Cantus.’ It was like liturgy. Then they played another record, ‘Missa Syllabica.’ They were so friendly to us. I think it is the first time in the history of the Soviet Union that the police are friendly.” He was joking, but not entirely. Later, when I asked Nora about that strange scene at the border, she said, “I saw the power of music to transform people.” [Be sure and access the audio files that are part of the article]
New York Times
Emigrating from the Soviet Union to the West in January 1980 with his wife, Nora, and their two small sons, the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt was stopped by border police at the Brest railroad station for a luggage search. “We had only seven suitcases, full of my scores, records and tapes,” he recalled recently. “They said, ‘Let’s listen.’ It was a big station. No one else was there. We took my record player and played ‘Cantus.’ It was like liturgy. Then they played another record, ‘Missa Syllabica.’ They were so friendly to us. I think it is the first time in the history of the Soviet Union that the police are friendly.” He was joking, but not entirely. Later, when I asked Nora about that strange scene at the border, she said, “I saw the power of music to transform people.” [Be sure and access the audio files that are part of the article]
In Mexico, Scenes From Life in a Drug War
By PEDRO ÁNGEL PALOU, FEDERICO CAMPBELL, ÉLMER MENDOZA and RICARDO ELIZONDO ELIZONDO
Incidences of drug-related violence in Mexico and on the border continue to make news. We tend to hear about the crimes that touch American lives — like the reported killing of a man riding a Jet Ski on the Rio Grande. What we don’t hear as much about is how drugs and violence shape the everyday lives of Mexicans. So here are dispatches from four writers on how drug trafficking has changed their parts of the country. They were translated by Kristina Cordero from the Spanish.
New York Times
Incidences of drug-related violence in Mexico and on the border continue to make news. We tend to hear about the crimes that touch American lives — like the reported killing of a man riding a Jet Ski on the Rio Grande. What we don’t hear as much about is how drugs and violence shape the everyday lives of Mexicans. So here are dispatches from four writers on how drug trafficking has changed their parts of the country. They were translated by Kristina Cordero from the Spanish.
‘Culture of Poverty’ Makes a Comeback
By PATRICIA COHEN
For more than 40 years, social scientists investigating the causes of poverty have tended to treat cultural explanations like Lord Voldemort: That Which Must Not Be Named.
New York Times
For more than 40 years, social scientists investigating the causes of poverty have tended to treat cultural explanations like Lord Voldemort: That Which Must Not Be Named.
Secrets of Centenarians
By JANE E. BRODY
New York Times
Esther Tuttle is nearing the end of the 10th decade of a remarkably productive and adventurous life. If all continues to go as well as it has to date, next July 1 she will join the rapidly growing clan of centenarians, whose numbers in the United States have increased to 96,548 in 2009 from 38,300 in 1990, according to the Census Bureau. [Audio Slide Show]
Esther Tuttle is nearing the end of the 10th decade of a remarkably productive and adventurous life. If all continues to go as well as it has to date, next July 1 she will join the rapidly growing clan of centenarians, whose numbers in the United States have increased to 96,548 in 2009 from 38,300 in 1990, according to the Census Bureau. [Audio Slide Show]
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Those with a desk job, please stand up
By Michael S. Rosenwald
Washington Post
Some people can't stand working. Mark Ramirez works standing.
He is not a waiter or factory worker - he is a senior executive at AOL. Ramirez could, if he wanted, curl into the cushiest leather chair in the Staples catalog. No, thanks. He prefers to stand most of the day at a desk raised to above stomach level.
Some people can't stand working. Mark Ramirez works standing.
He is not a waiter or factory worker - he is a senior executive at AOL. Ramirez could, if he wanted, curl into the cushiest leather chair in the Staples catalog. No, thanks. He prefers to stand most of the day at a desk raised to above stomach level.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Hitler Exhibit Explores a Wider Circle of Guilt
By MICHAEL SLACKMAN
BERLIN — As artifacts go, they are mere trinkets — an old purse, playing cards, a lantern. Even the display that caused the crowds to stop and stare is a simple embroidered tapestry, stitched by village women. [Slide Show]
New York Times
BERLIN — As artifacts go, they are mere trinkets — an old purse, playing cards, a lantern. Even the display that caused the crowds to stop and stare is a simple embroidered tapestry, stitched by village women. [Slide Show]
Toddlers’ Favorite Toy: The iPhone
By HILARY STOUT
THE bedroom door opened and a light went on, signaling an end to nap time. The toddler, tousle-haired and sleepy-eyed, clambered to a wobbly stand in his crib. He smiled, reached out to his father, and uttered what is fast becoming the cry of his generation: “iPhone!”
New York Times
THE bedroom door opened and a light went on, signaling an end to nap time. The toddler, tousle-haired and sleepy-eyed, clambered to a wobbly stand in his crib. He smiled, reached out to his father, and uttered what is fast becoming the cry of his generation: “iPhone!”
Atheists Debate How Pushy to Be
By MARK OPPENHEIMER
LOS ANGELES — Energized by a recent Pew Research Center poll showing that atheists are more educated about religion than religious people, 370 atheists, humanists and other skeptics packed a ballroom at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel last weekend to debate the future of their movement.
New York Times
LOS ANGELES — Energized by a recent Pew Research Center poll showing that atheists are more educated about religion than religious people, 370 atheists, humanists and other skeptics packed a ballroom at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel last weekend to debate the future of their movement.
Friday, October 15, 2010
A Second Disease Vanquished
By DONALD G. MCNEIL
New York Times
Quietly, almost under the radar, a United Nations organizationannounced this week that another disease — the first after smallpox — had been eliminated from the face of the earth.
Quietly, almost under the radar, a United Nations organizationannounced this week that another disease — the first after smallpox — had been eliminated from the face of the earth.
A Red-Hot Sport Leaves Some Folks With a Sour Taste
By ANNE TERGESEN
Wall Street Journal
George and Janet Dillard bought a home in SaddleBrooke, a 55-and-older community in Tucson, Ariz., where they hoped to meet neighbors with common interests and enjoy the tranquility of the desert and mountain setting.
But two years ago, a trio of "pickleball" courts were opened about 100 feet from the Dillards' property. Their peaceful lives were disrupted, as was the harmony in SaddleBrooke.
George and Janet Dillard bought a home in SaddleBrooke, a 55-and-older community in Tucson, Ariz., where they hoped to meet neighbors with common interests and enjoy the tranquility of the desert and mountain setting.
But two years ago, a trio of "pickleball" courts were opened about 100 feet from the Dillards' property. Their peaceful lives were disrupted, as was the harmony in SaddleBrooke.
Study of Montgomery County schools shows benefits of economic integration
By Stephanie McCrummen and Michael Birnbaum
Low-income students in Montgomery County performed better when they attended affluent elementary schools instead of ones with higher concentrations of poverty, according to a new study that suggests economic integration is a powerful but neglected school-reform tool.
Washington Post
Low-income students in Montgomery County performed better when they attended affluent elementary schools instead of ones with higher concentrations of poverty, according to a new study that suggests economic integration is a powerful but neglected school-reform tool.
Alarms to Outsmart Sleepyheads
By ANNE MARIE CHAKER
Wall Street Journal
What does it take to wake you up in the morning? Would the rip of a chain saw do the trick? [Slide Show]
What does it take to wake you up in the morning? Would the rip of a chain saw do the trick? [Slide Show]
Y U Luv Texts, H8 Calls
We Want to Reach Others But Not to Be Interrupted
By KATHERINE ROSMAN
Wall Street Journal
For anyone who doubts that the texting revolution is upon us, consider this: The average 13- to 17-year-old sends and receives 3,339 texts a month—more than 100 per day, according to the Nielsen Co., the media research firm. Adults are catching up. People from ages 45 to 54 sent and received 323 texts a month in the second quarter of 2010, up 75% from a year ago, Nielsen says. [Interactive Graphic]
By KATHERINE ROSMAN
Wall Street Journal
For anyone who doubts that the texting revolution is upon us, consider this: The average 13- to 17-year-old sends and receives 3,339 texts a month—more than 100 per day, according to the Nielsen Co., the media research firm. Adults are catching up. People from ages 45 to 54 sent and received 323 texts a month in the second quarter of 2010, up 75% from a year ago, Nielsen says. [Interactive Graphic]
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Capitalism Saved the Miners
The profit = innovation dynamic was everywhere at the mine rescue site.
By DANIEL HENNINGER
It needs to be said. The rescue of the Chilean miners is a smashing victory for free-market capitalism.
By DANIEL HENNINGER
Wall Street Journal
It needs to be said. The rescue of the Chilean miners is a smashing victory for free-market capitalism.
What Oman Can Teach Us
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
As the United States relies on firepower to try to crush extremism in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen, it might instead consider the lesson of the remarkable Arab country of Oman.
New York Times
As the United States relies on firepower to try to crush extremism in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen, it might instead consider the lesson of the remarkable Arab country of Oman.
Earth Is Parched Where Syrian Farms Thrived
By ROBERT F. WORTH
AR RAQQAH, Syria — The farmlands spreading north and east of this Euphrates River town were once the breadbasket of the region, a vast expanse of golden wheat fields and bucolic sheep herds.
New York Times
AR RAQQAH, Syria — The farmlands spreading north and east of this Euphrates River town were once the breadbasket of the region, a vast expanse of golden wheat fields and bucolic sheep herds.
As Nations Age, a Chance for Younger Nations
By TED C. FISHMAN
New York Times
YOU MAY KNOW that the world’s population is aging — that the number of older people is expanding faster than the number of young — but you probably don’t realize how fast this is happening. Right now, the world is evenly divided between those under 28 and those over 28. By midcentury, the median age will have risen to 40.
YOU MAY KNOW that the world’s population is aging — that the number of older people is expanding faster than the number of young — but you probably don’t realize how fast this is happening. Right now, the world is evenly divided between those under 28 and those over 28. By midcentury, the median age will have risen to 40.
New Tool to Test Home Listings
By JENNIFER SARANOW SCHULTZ
ZipRealty, a nationwide residential real estate brokerage, recently released a new tool on its Web site aimed at helping potential home sellers decide whether to put their home on the market.
New York Times
ZipRealty, a nationwide residential real estate brokerage, recently released a new tool on its Web site aimed at helping potential home sellers decide whether to put their home on the market.
Securing Your Laptop Before It Gets Stolen
By JENNIFER SARANOW SCHULTZ
Fred R. Conrad/The New York TimesThere are software programs available that can help you safeguard your laptop before it’s stolen.
If your laptop happens to be stolen, like mine recently was, it can be a big hassle to protect your data after the fact. That’s why it’s important to know how to secure your laptop before it’s gone.
New York Times
Fred R. Conrad/The New York TimesThere are software programs available that can help you safeguard your laptop before it’s stolen.
If your laptop happens to be stolen, like mine recently was, it can be a big hassle to protect your data after the fact. That’s why it’s important to know how to secure your laptop before it’s gone.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Bullying: The advice you got is wrong. Here's what really works.
It's time to rethink our approach to bullying. Much of the advice we’ve been given is not only ineffective, but actually makes things worse. Here’s what we should be teaching our kids instead.
By Patricia Kelley Criswell
Christian Science Monitor
The warm fuzziness of the first few weeks of school is cooling and the strength of the "bullying will not be tolerated" lectures is waning. Come October, social hierarchies emerge and, too often,bullying begins. Low self-esteem, a bad day, months of anguish, suicide – the range of effects victims suffer is devastating. Parents, aware of the perennial pattern, hold their breath, hoping their child isn't targeted.
Christian Science Monitor
The warm fuzziness of the first few weeks of school is cooling and the strength of the "bullying will not be tolerated" lectures is waning. Come October, social hierarchies emerge and, too often,bullying begins. Low self-esteem, a bad day, months of anguish, suicide – the range of effects victims suffer is devastating. Parents, aware of the perennial pattern, hold their breath, hoping their child isn't targeted.
Building a More Resilient Brain
By SHIRLEY S. WANG
A lifetime of speaking two or more languages appears to pay off in old age, with recent research showing the symptoms of dementia can be delayed by an average of four years in bilingual people.
Wall Street Journal
A lifetime of speaking two or more languages appears to pay off in old age, with recent research showing the symptoms of dementia can be delayed by an average of four years in bilingual people.
Moonlighting as a Conjurer of Chemicals
By NATALIE ANGIER
Sir Isaac Newton was a towering genius in the history of science, he knew he was a genius, and he didn’t like wasting his time. Born on Dec. 25, 1642, the great English physicist and mathematician rarely socialized or traveled far from home. He didn’t play sports or a musical instrument, gamble at whist or gambol on a horse. He dismissed poetry as “a kind of ingenious nonsense,” and the one time he attended an opera he fled at the third act. Newton was unmarried, had no known romantic liaisons and may well have died, at the age of 85, with his virginity intact. “I never knew him to take any recreation or pastime,” said his assistant, Humphrey Newton, “thinking all hours lost that were not spent on his studies.”
New York Times
Sir Isaac Newton was a towering genius in the history of science, he knew he was a genius, and he didn’t like wasting his time. Born on Dec. 25, 1642, the great English physicist and mathematician rarely socialized or traveled far from home. He didn’t play sports or a musical instrument, gamble at whist or gambol on a horse. He dismissed poetry as “a kind of ingenious nonsense,” and the one time he attended an opera he fled at the third act. Newton was unmarried, had no known romantic liaisons and may well have died, at the age of 85, with his virginity intact. “I never knew him to take any recreation or pastime,” said his assistant, Humphrey Newton, “thinking all hours lost that were not spent on his studies.”
Offshore Wind Power Line Wins Backing
By MATTHEW L. WALD
WASHINGTON — Google and a New York financial firm have each agreed to invest heavily in a proposed $5 billion transmission backbone for future offshore wind farms along the Atlantic Seaboard that could ultimately transform the region’s electrical map.
New York Times
WASHINGTON — Google and a New York financial firm have each agreed to invest heavily in a proposed $5 billion transmission backbone for future offshore wind farms along the Atlantic Seaboard that could ultimately transform the region’s electrical map.
Taking Early Retirement May Retire Memory, Too
By GINA KOLATA
New York Times
The two economists call their paper “Mental Retirement,” and their argument has intrigued behavioral researchers. Data from the United States, England and 11 other European countries suggest that the earlier people retire, the more quickly their memories decline.
The two economists call their paper “Mental Retirement,” and their argument has intrigued behavioral researchers. Data from the United States, England and 11 other European countries suggest that the earlier people retire, the more quickly their memories decline.
New Web Code Draws Concern Over Privacy Risks
By TANZINA VEGA
Worries over Internet privacy have spurred lawsuits, conspiracy theories and consumer anxiety as marketers and others invent new ways to track computer users on the Internet. But the alarmists have not seen anything yet.
New York Times
Worries over Internet privacy have spurred lawsuits, conspiracy theories and consumer anxiety as marketers and others invent new ways to track computer users on the Internet. But the alarmists have not seen anything yet.
'Scrapers' Dig Deep for Data on Web
By JULIA ANGWIN And STEVE STECKLOW
Wall Street Journal
At 1 a.m. on May 7, the website PatientsLikeMe.com noticed suspicious activity on its "Mood" discussion board. There, people exchange highly personal stories about their emotional disorders, ranging from bipolar disease to a desire to cut themselves.
It was a break-in. A new member of the site, using sophisticated software, was "scraping," or copying, every single message off PatientsLikeMe's private online forums.
At 1 a.m. on May 7, the website PatientsLikeMe.com noticed suspicious activity on its "Mood" discussion board. There, people exchange highly personal stories about their emotional disorders, ranging from bipolar disease to a desire to cut themselves.
It was a break-in. A new member of the site, using sophisticated software, was "scraping," or copying, every single message off PatientsLikeMe's private online forums.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Watch Out for ATM Skimming
By JENNIFER WATERS
Wall Street Journal
The next time you pull up to an ATM, take a closer look at the machine. Does it look a little clunkier than usual?
The next time you pull up to an ATM, take a closer look at the machine. Does it look a little clunkier than usual?
The New Bugatti: Waiting for Superman No More
By DAN NEIL
I've encountered some pretty courageous people in my time. I once shook John Glenn's hand. I've seen Pierce Brosnan sing in public. But the bravest guy I've met lately is Pierre-Henri Raphanel, the pilote officiel for the Molsheim, France-based car maker Bugatti. It was Mr. Raphanel who, in July, strapped himself into the new Veyron 16.4 Super Sport and circuited Volkswagen's Ehra-Lessien test track at an astonishing 268 mph, setting a new Guinness land-speed record for a production car. [Slide Show]
Wall Street Journal
Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
I've encountered some pretty courageous people in my time. I once shook John Glenn's hand. I've seen Pierce Brosnan sing in public. But the bravest guy I've met lately is Pierre-Henri Raphanel, the pilote officiel for the Molsheim, France-based car maker Bugatti. It was Mr. Raphanel who, in July, strapped himself into the new Veyron 16.4 Super Sport and circuited Volkswagen's Ehra-Lessien test track at an astonishing 268 mph, setting a new Guinness land-speed record for a production car. [Slide Show]
Mexican cartels and ensuing violence leave mark on Texas border town Read more: Mexican cartels and ensuing violence leave mark on Texas border town
By Kevin Vaughan
The Denver Post
ZAPATA, Texas — Sgt. Jimmy Mendoza is so baby-faced he could pass for a high school student, but he has helped drag bodies from the Rio Grande, bullets in their heads.
The Denver Post
ZAPATA, Texas — Sgt. Jimmy Mendoza is so baby-faced he could pass for a high school student, but he has helped drag bodies from the Rio Grande, bullets in their heads.
Homemade ricotta: A big payoff for so little effort
By Russ Parsons
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
(Seattle Times)
When it comes to most things around the house, I'm about the most unhandy guy you've ever seen. I can't hang a picture straight. But when it comes to cooking, I go a little do-it-yourself crazy. The last couple of weeks I've been making my own ricotta. Before you dismiss this as just another wacky fad, trust me — you've got to give it a try.
When it comes to most things around the house, I'm about the most unhandy guy you've ever seen. I can't hang a picture straight. But when it comes to cooking, I go a little do-it-yourself crazy. The last couple of weeks I've been making my own ricotta. Before you dismiss this as just another wacky fad, trust me — you've got to give it a try.
In the cards: How teenage poker prodigy Steven Silverman won, and lost, millions
By Jessica Weiss
Steven Silverman doesn't miss the old days: Those restless nights when, deep in the throes of his latest poker binge, he slept on an air mattress on the floor of his 2,700-square-foot penthouse apartment in Bethesda.
Washington Post
Steven Silverman doesn't miss the old days: Those restless nights when, deep in the throes of his latest poker binge, he slept on an air mattress on the floor of his 2,700-square-foot penthouse apartment in Bethesda.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Google Cars Drive Themselves, in Traffic
By JOHN MARKOFF
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Anyone driving the twists of Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles recently may have glimpsed a Toyota Prius with a curious funnel-like cylinder on the roof. Harder to notice was that the person at the wheel was not actually driving. [Graphic]
New York Time
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Anyone driving the twists of Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles recently may have glimpsed a Toyota Prius with a curious funnel-like cylinder on the roof. Harder to notice was that the person at the wheel was not actually driving. [Graphic]
Calling Phones in Gmail
By COURTNEY BANKS
Wall Street Journal
When I moved into my apartment in 2007, I had a home phone line installed. I cancelled the service soon after, deciding that it wasn't worth $30 a month for what was essentially a dedicated line for telemarketers and an occasional personal call.
When I moved into my apartment in 2007, I had a home phone line installed. I cancelled the service soon after, deciding that it wasn't worth $30 a month for what was essentially a dedicated line for telemarketers and an occasional personal call.
The Playground Gets Even Tougher
By PAMELA PAUL
SCARLETT made for a good target. The daughter of a Williamsburg artist, she wore funky clothing to her East Village school, had a mild learning disability and was generally timid and insecure. Lila, the resident “mean girl” in Scarlett’s kindergarten class, started in immediately.
New York Times
SCARLETT made for a good target. The daughter of a Williamsburg artist, she wore funky clothing to her East Village school, had a mild learning disability and was generally timid and insecure. Lila, the resident “mean girl” in Scarlett’s kindergarten class, started in immediately.
10/10/10: They Love Just Thinking About It
By JOHN SCHWARTZ
Sunday is the big day for saying “I do.”
More than 39,000 couples chose 10/10/10 as their wedding day — a nearly tenfold increase over the number of nuptials on Oct. 11, 2009, the comparable Sunday last year, according to figures gathered by David’s Bridal, the wedding superstore chain.
New York Times
Sunday is the big day for saying “I do.”
More than 39,000 couples chose 10/10/10 as their wedding day — a nearly tenfold increase over the number of nuptials on Oct. 11, 2009, the comparable Sunday last year, according to figures gathered by David’s Bridal, the wedding superstore chain.
High Cost of Crime
By CHARLES M. BLOW
New York Times
When times get hard and talk turns to spending and budgets, there is one area that gets short shrift: the cost of crime and our enormous criminal justice system. For instance, how much do you think a single murder costs society? According to researchers at Iowa State University, it is a whopping $17.25 million. [Graphic]
When times get hard and talk turns to spending and budgets, there is one area that gets short shrift: the cost of crime and our enormous criminal justice system. For instance, how much do you think a single murder costs society? According to researchers at Iowa State University, it is a whopping $17.25 million. [Graphic]
Arizona Is a Haven for Refugees
By JASON DePARLE
PHOENIX — Here in Arizona, illegal immigrants get the boot. But refugees get the welcome mat.
Even as officials rage at what they have called the “invasion” of illegal immigrants, mostly Mexicans, Arizona has welcomed thousands of legal immigrants from such grief-torn lands as Somalia, Myanmar and Iraq, and is known for treating them unusually well.
PHOENIX — Here in Arizona, illegal immigrants get the boot. But refugees get the welcome mat.
Even as officials rage at what they have called the “invasion” of illegal immigrants, mostly Mexicans, Arizona has welcomed thousands of legal immigrants from such grief-torn lands as Somalia, Myanmar and Iraq, and is known for treating them unusually well.
Friday, October 8, 2010
The Great Mortgage Mystery
By BRETT ARENDS
The big question from the mortgage meltdown isn't why so many distressed homeowners are defaulting on their loans.
It's why any of them are still making payments.
Wall Street Journal
The big question from the mortgage meltdown isn't why so many distressed homeowners are defaulting on their loans.
It's why any of them are still making payments.
You, Too, Can Have More Self-Control
By ALINA TUGEND
I HAVE a cold and a headache, and I just want to go to bed. But knowing that my editor is relying on me (and I’m relying on my next paycheck), I muster my willpower to stay at my computer and finish the column.
New York Times
I HAVE a cold and a headache, and I just want to go to bed. But knowing that my editor is relying on me (and I’m relying on my next paycheck), I muster my willpower to stay at my computer and finish the column.
No more 'marriage gap' for college-educated women
By Donna St. George
Washington Post
White women with college degrees are now just as likely to get married as their less-educated counterparts, ending what researchers once thought of as a "marriage penalty" for generations of young women who sought out higher education.
White women with college degrees are now just as likely to get married as their less-educated counterparts, ending what researchers once thought of as a "marriage penalty" for generations of young women who sought out higher education.
Is It a Cold, Allergy, or Sinusitis?
By American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Have you ever had a cold or allergy attack that wouldn’t go away? If so, there’s a good chance you actually had sinusitis. Experts estimate that 37 million people are afflicted with sinusitis each year, making it one of the most common health conditions in America. That number may be significantly higher, since the symptoms of bacterial sinusitis often mimic those of colds or allergies, and many sufferers never see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Have you ever had a cold or allergy attack that wouldn’t go away? If so, there’s a good chance you actually had sinusitis. Experts estimate that 37 million people are afflicted with sinusitis each year, making it one of the most common health conditions in America. That number may be significantly higher, since the symptoms of bacterial sinusitis often mimic those of colds or allergies, and many sufferers never see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
TV’s Future Has Arrived (Almost)
By DAVID POGUE
Americans used to gather in front of their TV sets on, say, Thursday at 8 p.m. and tune in to Channel 3. The upside: the whole country had a common cultural bond.
New York Times
Americans used to gather in front of their TV sets on, say, Thursday at 8 p.m. and tune in to Channel 3. The upside: the whole country had a common cultural bond.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Readers’ Recipes: The Potluck
New York Times
After much debating, testing and tasting, the editors of food52, Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, selected the top dishes to share. All recipes and photos were submitted by readers.
After much debating, testing and tasting, the editors of food52, Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, selected the top dishes to share. All recipes and photos were submitted by readers.
The Seat Not Taken
By JOHN EDGAR WIDEMAN
New York Times
AT least twice a week I ride Amtrak’s high-speed Acela train from my home in New York City to my teaching job in Providence, R.I. The route passes through a region of the country populated by, statistics tell us, a significant segment of its most educated, affluent, sophisticated and enlightened citizens.
AT least twice a week I ride Amtrak’s high-speed Acela train from my home in New York City to my teaching job in Providence, R.I. The route passes through a region of the country populated by, statistics tell us, a significant segment of its most educated, affluent, sophisticated and enlightened citizens.
Neuroticism expensive for society: study
By Anne Harding
MedlinePlus
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Neurotic people aren't only making themselves miserable; they cost society billions of dollars in health care spending and lost productivity, according to new research from the Netherlands.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Neurotic people aren't only making themselves miserable; they cost society billions of dollars in health care spending and lost productivity, according to new research from the Netherlands.
What You Can Get Free
By JENNIFER SARANOW SCHULTZ
New York Times
What do passport photographs, workouts and e-books have in common? You can easily get all three at no cost, according to Kiplinger.com, which recently released its fourth annual list of 33 quality freebies.
New York Times
What do passport photographs, workouts and e-books have in common? You can easily get all three at no cost, according to Kiplinger.com, which recently released its fourth annual list of 33 quality freebies.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Health Tip: Are You at Risk for Tetanus?
healthfinder.gov
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HealthDay News) -- Tetanus infection can result from exposure to a life-threatening bacteria found in soil. It can enter the body through an open wound, blocking signals from the spinal cord that help control the muscles.
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HealthDay News) -- Tetanus infection can result from exposure to a life-threatening bacteria found in soil. It can enter the body through an open wound, blocking signals from the spinal cord that help control the muscles.
Could I Have Lupus?
The National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC)
Office on Women's Health (OWH)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
EPA-Registered Bed Bug Products
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA has developed a search tool that can help you choose an EPA-registered bed bug product that meets your needs. You can search for a product by its:
Name
Company
EPA-registration number
Where you can use the pesticide
Pesticide type
EPA has developed a search tool that can help you choose an EPA-registered bed bug product that meets your needs. You can search for a product by its:
Name
Company
EPA-registration number
Where you can use the pesticide
Pesticide type
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Taxing drivers by the mile and not by the gallon
A tax on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) was shot down last year by President Obama. But a new study by respected transportation experts – and a successful pilot program in Oregon – should revive the idea.
By the Monitor's Editorial Board
By the Monitor's Editorial Board
Christian Science Monitor
As more Americans buy hybrid or electric cars, drivers in traditional gas-only vehicles are bound to start asking: Why should I still be paying more in fuel taxes? Don’t we all use the highways?
As more Americans buy hybrid or electric cars, drivers in traditional gas-only vehicles are bound to start asking: Why should I still be paying more in fuel taxes? Don’t we all use the highways?
Business cards thrive in a digital age
By Michael S. Rosenwald
Washington Post
Paper is in peril. Hardcover book sales, down; e-book sales, soaring. Magazine and newspaper circulation are in decline. When was the last time you let your fingers do the walking in the Yellow Pages?
Paper is in peril. Hardcover book sales, down; e-book sales, soaring. Magazine and newspaper circulation are in decline. When was the last time you let your fingers do the walking in the Yellow Pages?
The Claim: A Soap-and-Water Rinse Gets Produce Cleanest
By ANAHAD O’CONNOR
THE FACTS The prospect of ingesting pesticides and other contaminants can make supermarket produce seem less than appetizing. Buying organic lowers the risk, but is no guarantee against food-borne pathogens.
New York Times
THE FACTS The prospect of ingesting pesticides and other contaminants can make supermarket produce seem less than appetizing. Buying organic lowers the risk, but is no guarantee against food-borne pathogens.
Diversity Visa Lottery
By: Joanne | October 05, 2010 | Category: General
GovGab: Your U.S. government blog
Interested in immigrating to the United States? Online registration for the 2012 Diversity Visa Lottery begins today, and ends November 3, 2010.
Interested in immigrating to the United States? Online registration for the 2012 Diversity Visa Lottery begins today, and ends November 3, 2010.
Monday, October 4, 2010
How Handwriting Trains the Brain
Forming Letters Is Key to Learning, Memory, Ideas
By GWENDOLYN BOUNDS
Wall Street Journal
Ask preschooler Zane Pike to write his name or the alphabet, then watch this 4-year-old's stubborn side kick in. He spurns practice at school and tosses aside workbooks at home. But Angie Pike, Zane's mom, persists, believing that handwriting is a building block to learning.
She's right. Using advanced tools such as magnetic resonance imaging, researchers are finding that writing by hand is more than just a way to communicate. The practice helps with learning letters and shapes, can improve idea composition and expression, and may aid fine motor-skill development.
Ask preschooler Zane Pike to write his name or the alphabet, then watch this 4-year-old's stubborn side kick in. He spurns practice at school and tosses aside workbooks at home. But Angie Pike, Zane's mom, persists, believing that handwriting is a building block to learning.
She's right. Using advanced tools such as magnetic resonance imaging, researchers are finding that writing by hand is more than just a way to communicate. The practice helps with learning letters and shapes, can improve idea composition and expression, and may aid fine motor-skill development.
National Cyber Security Awareness Month 2010: Stop. Think. Connect
10/04/2010 01:31:00 PM
Official Google Blog
Governments, industry and everyday people have been abuzz this year about online security to a larger extent than ever before. People are talking about their information, how they share it with others and how they secure it. With more information moving online, and with cyber attacks on the rise, we think it’s important that we keep the conversation about security flowing.
Threat of global warming sparks U.S. interest in geoengineering
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post
It's come to this: Climate-conscious policymakers are beginning to contemplate the possibility of playing God with the weather in the hope of slowing global warming.
It's come to this: Climate-conscious policymakers are beginning to contemplate the possibility of playing God with the weather in the hope of slowing global warming.
Debit cards replacing credit cards on college campuses
By Ylan Q. Mui
Washington Post
This is not a credit card offer. Instead, it is a new type of plastic that allows students to easily access money from their college loans everywhere from the bookstore to the bar with the swipe of a card. These cards, however, are not subject to the sweeping reforms that took effect this year and sought to curtail similar relationships between colleges and credit card issuers. Meanwhile, students complain that the loan cards are riddled with high fees, and they have organized protests at several campuses.
This is not a credit card offer. Instead, it is a new type of plastic that allows students to easily access money from their college loans everywhere from the bookstore to the bar with the swipe of a card. These cards, however, are not subject to the sweeping reforms that took effect this year and sought to curtail similar relationships between colleges and credit card issuers. Meanwhile, students complain that the loan cards are riddled with high fees, and they have organized protests at several campuses.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
From ‘Avatar’ Playbook, Athletes Use 3-D Imaging
By JAMES GLANZ and ALAN SCHWARZ
New York Times
In the endless quest for athletic advantage, a handful of major league baseball teams are engaged in an elaborate, largely clandestine race to master an advanced imaging technology that some baseball officials think could influence the way athletes of all ages train, perform and recover from injuries. [Interactive Graphic]
In the endless quest for athletic advantage, a handful of major league baseball teams are engaged in an elaborate, largely clandestine race to master an advanced imaging technology that some baseball officials think could influence the way athletes of all ages train, perform and recover from injuries. [Interactive Graphic]
The Folding Bike Goes Cool
Once the pocket protector of the cycling world, these adaptable rides have evolved into a stylish mode of transport
By MICHAEL HSU
By MICHAEL HSU
Wall Street Journal
The appeal of foldingbikes goes beyond the fact that they're easy to transport and store. One minute, these bikes are cruising down the street. The next, they've contorted into an impossibly tight space with a bit of mechanical sleight of hand that can be as mesmerizing as seeing Optimus Prime turn into an 18-wheeler.
The appeal of foldingbikes goes beyond the fact that they're easy to transport and store. One minute, these bikes are cruising down the street. The next, they've contorted into an impossibly tight space with a bit of mechanical sleight of hand that can be as mesmerizing as seeing Optimus Prime turn into an 18-wheeler.
These Families Shop When Aid Arrives
By MIGUEL BUSTILLO
Wall Street Journal
HOUSTON—At midnight on the first of the month, a scene unfolds at many Wal-Mart StoresInc. sites that underscores the deep financial strains that many low-income American consumers still face.
Parking lots come to life after 11 p.m. as customers start to stream into the stores, cramming their shopping carts full of milk, infant formula and other necessities. [Interactive Graphic] [Slide Show]
HOUSTON—At midnight on the first of the month, a scene unfolds at many Wal-Mart StoresInc. sites that underscores the deep financial strains that many low-income American consumers still face.
Parking lots come to life after 11 p.m. as customers start to stream into the stores, cramming their shopping carts full of milk, infant formula and other necessities. [Interactive Graphic] [Slide Show]
Major changes are at hand for marijuana politics
By John Ingold
The Denver Post
SAN FRANCISCO — The medical-marijuana political movement in America began the night police busted into Dennis Peron's apartment with a warrant. [Graphic]
The Denver Post
SAN FRANCISCO — The medical-marijuana political movement in America began the night police busted into Dennis Peron's apartment with a warrant. [Graphic]
Traumatic brain injury leaves an often-invisible, life-altering wound
By Christian Davenport
Washington Post Staff Writer
The doctor begins with an apology because the questions are rudimentary, almost insultingly so. But Robert Warren, fresh off the battlefield in Afghanistan and a surgeon's table, doesn't seem to mind. [Video] [Slide Show] [Graphic]
The doctor begins with an apology because the questions are rudimentary, almost insultingly so. But Robert Warren, fresh off the battlefield in Afghanistan and a surgeon's table, doesn't seem to mind. [Video] [Slide Show] [Graphic]
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