…Congress has given no indication that other major issues of the day will be confronted this year, even on matters where members of both parties agree urgent action is needed. The immigration system is still in crisis. Companies are renouncing…
Wasting Time Instead of Governing
The speaker of the House, John Boehner, has announced that Republicans in the House are likely to file suit against President Obama. They are doing this because he delayed parts of a law, the Affordable Care Act, that they have…
Documentary on Poor Kids in America
Frontline tells the story of child poverty in America, including illuminating comments from children such as “To us it’s just how we live. You don’t get to make choices in how you live.” Currently available to view online.
Update on Carbon Capture and Storage (CSS)
Henry Fountain presents a grim picture of limited progress on carbon capture and storage: “China already burns almost as much coal as all other nations combined, and its appetite keeps expanding. Worldwide, coal consumption in 2020 will be about twice…
Charles Schumer on Saving America
“The Senate hasn’t been so polarized since Reconstruction; the House has not been so divided since around 1900. As measured by laws passed, the current Congress is on track to be among the least productive in our republic’s history. ……
What Can Be Learned from Educational Testing?
The Atlanta school system’s focus on test results became counter-productive, driving well-intentioned teachers to cheat so scores would improve sufficiently to avoid closure of their school, which was doing well in ways insufficiently reflected in test scores. Rachel Aviv’s excellent…
Climate Change Outlook
A report delivered to the UN on 7/8/2014, Pathways to Deep Decarbonization, examines how the global mean surface temperature increase might be kept within 2°C (3.6°F), a limit governments agreed to in 2010 “in recognition of the extreme risks to…
Evan Williams’ Medium
David Carr’s recent article on Evan Williams’ Medium, A Platform and Blogging Tool, Medium Charms Writers (New York Times, 5/25/2014) is well-written, informative, and worth reading if you’re interested in such things. Here’s an excerpt: Mr. Williams is putting good…
Retreating Glaciers
The photos below of Muir Glacier (in the foreground of the first picture) and Riggs Glacier (the tributary glacier in the upper right) were taken in August 1941 and August 2004 from the same spot on White Thunder Ridge in…
Hungary’s Commissioner for Future Generations
Hungary may be unique in having a government official explicitly charged with promoting the well being of future generations. The duties of this Parliamentary Commissioner for Future Generations, who serves in the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, are…