The New York Times (6/18/2015) article cites the United Nations with the headline: “60 Million People Fleeing Chaotic Lands, U.N. Says.” Continue reading
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Blog 77. Science—what it is, what it isn’t
Along with our cultural distrust of government, American society doesn’t trust science, whether the scientific information is about climate, vaccines, evolution, or toothpaste. What’s going on? Why can’t we sort the valid information from the advertising? Continue reading
Blog 75. Water, Water, Worries Everywhere
A week ago, the governor of California ordered a 25% reduction in water use. Well, the 25% statewide reduction will turn the big lawns brown, as they should be in this climate, Continue reading
Blog 71. The War on Science
The cover of the March 2015 issue of National Geographic magazine blazes with the title, “THE WAR ON SCIENCE.” Continue reading
Blog 68. Ball, the Crazy Prospector
It’s time for a lighthearted story—but one with a purpose, of course.
Back in the 1940’s, when I was growing up in a San Luis Valley in southern Colorado, a retired forest ranger named Darley occasionally took me into some of his favorite haunts, Continue reading
Blog 67. Evolution versus Revolution
A friend gently suggested that the American disparity in income and opportunity could be resolved by a socialist revolution. Continue reading
Blog 66. America’s Unreal Ideals
Among industrial nations, America is unusual, perhaps totally unique. So says political scientist John Kindgon in his small book, America the Unusual. Continue reading
Blog 62. Conspiracy theories—making politics crazy.
As reported in Scientific American (Dec. 2014) two political scientists* at the University of Miami find that about one-third of Americans believe Obama is a foreigner, and about as many believe that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an “inside job” by the Bush administration. Continue reading