It may be too strong an adage to say the definition of insanity is to continue to do the same things with the expectation
Extreme weather convinces Americans: Global warming is real
Corporations have debunked it, media has ignored it, and conservative politicians have fought it, but in spite of these self-serving efforts at denial, Americans
Stupid legislative tricks: Missouri edition
The silly—and nasty—season in Jefferson City, Missouri came to a merciful end last night [May 18, 2012], with the customary cheers and sophomoric tossing-in-the-air
The odd but simple figures about unemployment
On the first Friday of each month, the U.S. Department of Labor announces job numbers and unemployment figures for the previous month. During the
The income inequality speech TED doesn’t want you to see
TED is a nonprofit that began in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from the worlds of technology, entertainment, and design. Since then
The greatest grid: When America thought big
Most people who want to navigate the streets of New York City quickly learn the easy-to-follow logic of the city’s street grid. But what
Budget cuts: Slash now, pay later
While Illinois has been struggling to balance its budget, most efforts still seem to be focused on cutting programs. This tactic often has been
The U.S. war on drugs: ineffective, bloated, corrupt
The global war on drugs launched during U.S. President Richard Nixon’s 1969-1974 administration has been an abysmal failure, and all nations should immediately de-criminalize
The Clintons and the Obamas: Being smart and learning humility
A common stereotype about Ivy League universities as well as other high prestige ones is that the students are arrogant, even snobby. That can
Denying global warming: How low can you go?
When Unabomber Theodore J. Kaczynski becomes your poster child, you’ve reached a new low. And that’s exactly what happened recently in Chicago, when the