Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

WTO Doha, agriculture, and values

As I re-do templates for eventual updates to the site, I found this graphic on AB from the early days. I did misplace the link, sorry. But it appeared to be a great graphic for several thoughts: 1. The foundering of the Doha agreements was centered around agriculture protection. 2. Our beliefs about values are […]

Water in the works in December 07

The Great Lakes Water Resources Compact was signed last December by the governors of the eight states that border the lakes — Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York — and the premiers of the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario. The agreement requires approval of state legislatures before it is sent […]

Stuff and nonsense, or does it make sense

The Wellesley Dump has expanded even more to date. It is not my town, but is remarkable. Wellesley’s recycling program was started in 1971 by local environmentalists and the Department of Public Works when the town incinerator failed to meet air emission standards. Unlike many of the earlier recycling centers around the nation, Wellesley’s is […]

Reclaiming water

The LA Times reports on one way to deal with a shortage of drinking water: As a hedge against water shortages and population growth, Orange County has begun operating the world’s largest, most modern reclamation plant — a facility that can turn 70 million gallons of treated sewage into drinking water every day.The new purification […]

"Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin"

Lifted from comments on trolls: I honestly don’t think there are any real “trolls” at this site. Trolls are malicious and their only intent is to sabotage websites. They might post hundreds of irrelevant posts with the only purpose of discouraging people from visiting that site. I guess I’m more interested in how a discussion […]

Fair hearings of any kind are due

Morris D. Davis is the former chief prosecutor for the Office of Military Commissions. The opinions expressed are his own and do not represent the views of the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The Military Commissions Act provides a foundation for fair trials, but some changes are clearly necessary. I […]

Thinking or testing

This blog on research digest of pysychology noted the following research report from Scotland on schools and how to learn. Teaching children the art of collaborative philosophical inquiry brings them persistent, long-term cognitive benefits, according to psychologists in Scotland. Keith Topping and Steve Trickey first reported the short-term benefits of using Thinking through Philosophy” with […]

Early returns from Iowa

NYT updated 10:19 PM ETELECTION RESULTSRepublicans Vote %Huckabee 30,852 34%Romney 22,973 25Thompson 12,289 14McCain 12,109 13Paul 8,995 10Giuliani 3,246 4Others 394 076% reporting IowaDemocrats Vote %Obama 879 37%Edwards 704 30Clinton 693 29Richardson 50 2Biden 22 1Dodd 1 0Others 3 095% reporting

The story of stuff

The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard is a wonderful short video of ‘how our economy works’ for the people in the back of the class and elementary school. It is fun and guaranteed to make Corev laugh.

Controlling spending through price

Tufts Health HMO, rated best in the US by US News, just sent a note that included changes in co-payments on procedures. Co-pays go from $25 to $600 for Cat scans, MRI scans, pet scans, breast biopsies (which can consist of removal of a cysts with a BIG needle), colonoscopies and other procedures. Where the […]