“China is pouring another $7 billion into Brazil’s oil industry, reigniting fears of a global ‘land grab’ of natural resources.” The Independent on a rising China’s geopolitical strategies.
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“Amish values of hard work, humility, loyalty, and community make for surprisingly—or maybe not-so-surprisingly—successful entrepreneurs.”
“Part of our current malaise is sheer fatigue with the old forms of politics. Can the Comedy Central duo break the mold?” The Guardian on Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert.
“‘The average American doesn’t realize how much of the laws are written by lobbyists’ to protect incumbent interests, Google CEO Eric Schmidt told Atlantic editor James Bennet.”
An idea proposed by the Third Way, that government issue an itemized taxpayer receipt, has the support of many commentators who want to know what their tax dollars are used for.
When Maurizio Cattelan unveiled his 30-foot-high sculpture titled L.O.V.E. in front of the Milan Stock Exchange recently, many people were wondering exactly where the love was. The massive hand with […]
Last night I appeared on a panel here at AU with the editors and contributors to the bold new book “The Environmental Politics of Sacrifice.” The goal of the book […]
Since its invention in 1859, the escalator has been the most widely used mode of non-vehicle urban transpiration, ubiquitous everywhere from airports to shopping malls to subways. It is estimated […]
Yesterday, Ezra Klein flagged an excellent idea from progressive think tank The Third Way: why don’t we give taxpayers a receipt for their taxes? As The Third Way’s David Kendall […]
Gen. Wesley Clark’s Four-Star Advice on Life, War, Foreign Affairs and America’s Energy Independence
Who better to comment on President Obama’s recent decision to declare an end to the United States’ prolonged conflict in Iraq than General Wesley Clark? In his Big Think interview, […]
As neuroimaging labs use scanners to reveal more and more details about how the brain works, their findings are increasingly affecting the legal system.
No one knows monsters better than Guillermo del Toro. The director of “Pan’s Labyrinth” and the “Hellboy” franchise is renowned for creating fantastical beasts like the terrifying Pale Man, with […]
There’s been a lot of great writing about the conservative backlash known as the tea party lately. Matt Taibbi has an astute take on racism and the tea party movement […]
A quickie post, but there were a few things too good to pass up: Twenty Indonesian volcanoes “ready to erupt”: Ralph at the Volcanism Blog has a great new post […]
Time for a new mystery volcano photo. The last one was a little harder, but Boris Behncke got it on his first try as Negit Island in Mono Lake, California […]
“Brazil goes to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president. After two terms, Lula will leave behind a booming economy and renewed international confidence.”
“Patient outcomes may not be as inextricably linked to doctors as many pay-for-performance programs presume.” An M.D. writes on incentive-based physician pay.
“Anyone with a video camera and some talent has the chance to reach millions; many budding producers want to talk about brands—whether or not brands want them to.”
“American society has become increasingly harsh, where the richest Americans buy their way to political power, and the poor are abandoned to their fate.”
“Last week, the FCC adopted a regulation that could dramatically improve our wireless devices. The rule offered a much-improved slice of the radio space for unlicensed use.”
“Casino-resort developer Steve Wynn is betting big on the art market this fall. Mr. Wynn has enlisted Christie’s to auction off a Roy Lichtenstein painting for at least $40 million.”
“The role of religion seems increasingly to be filled by environmentalism. It has become ‘the religion of choice for urban atheists,’ according to Michael Crichton, the late author.”
“Female sexual dysfunction—which is claimed to affect up to two thirds of women—is a disorder invented by the pharmaceutical industry to build global markets for drugs to treat it.”
“Collective intelligence exists among groups of people who cooperate well; such intelligence extends beyond the cognitive abilities of the groups’ individual members.”
“Gliese 581g would be the first Earth-like planet found orbiting in a star’s habitable zone. The new plant is located in a region where temperatures could sustain life and liquid water.”
One cannot put it much better than this: Literature is a felicity, but it is not a festival. It is a proposal, or an infinity of proposals, for an emendation, […]
Three House Republicans want to eliminate energy efficiency standards for light bulbs. Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX), Michael Burgess (R-TX), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) have introduced the Better Use of Light […]
Try #3 on this post (let’s not get into it): Taal and Mayon rumble: PHIVOLCS reports that two of the more hazardous volcanoes in the Philippines are experiencing increased seismicity: […]
The U.S. Census Bureau has released a report this week which finds that the marriage rate, for people between the ages of 25 and 34, is down once again.
Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah sparked an internet meme with his op/ed entitled “What Will Future Generations Condemn Us For“? The challenge is to predict which widely accepted practices or institutions […]