This is a look at studies of human nature, and how/why humans insist on fairness, even at great cost to themselves. Extrapolating this aspect of human psychology to explain resistance on climate change may strike some as far-fetched, but I think it explains a great deal.

This is a devastating article about how and why the VA fails so many veterans with PTSD. It should be required reading for anyone who supports the troops.

This is a very short article that basically just announces and summarizes a new study that examines the effects of adolescent health on education outcomes. I'd like to see it developed a bit more. Otherwise, it's good to know about, and there are links at the bottom of the story to similar articles.

This is a good article with important information for people diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. How unfortunate for John Edwards to have such a thing named for him, "The Edwards Effect". Support needs to be available from the initial diagnosis of an illness to keep families together.

This is an important article that highlights the terrible price being paid by the people who are supposed to be helping our soldiers with PTSD and emotional problems resulting from war. What a vicious cycle; is it right to ask so much of any of our citizens? Are these wars really worth it?

This article will have resonance for those of us who were flabbergasted at the polls showing how so many people believed that Saddam Hussein was involved in 9:11 and the many other lies of the Bush administration and Fox News. I imagine more will be written on the subject in the years to come, but this seems to me to be one of the first articles exploring the psychology behind the phenomenon.

Glacier National Park is changing rapidly. This article highlights the changes, and what may be next for the park, which celebrates its 100th anniversary as a national park (and national treasure) in May 2010.

This is a great interview with Lester Brown of Worldwatch Institute. His lates report is a surprise: he feels progress is being made! That's a complete switch from his decades of reporting the bad news about resource depletion and climate change. There are caveats here, but over all, Lester Brown is pleased. This is worth the read.

What a nice look at two women who saw a need created by President Clinton's "Welfare to Work" program and filled it, to the benefit of many poor women and children. Very nice.

I like this because it includes the main reason why Somalis turned to piracy in the first place: destruction of their fishing areas. A good look at the different approaches of world governments to deal with the serious problem of piracy.

An interesting look at the libertarian political philosopher Jeffrey Friedman's take on who caused the financial meltdown (hint: government). I disagree with most of the things he states, for the same reason I disagree with most libertarians. The theories they spout make sense but only if you don't take reality into the equation. They base assumptions on a world I don't think really exists, because they only look at a small part of an issue and stop there. However, it's an ... More »

A good look at a new trend in California: potgrowing. Will taxing marijuana save the state from bankruptcy?

A great first person account of how the "help" for homeowners hasn't worked out the way the Obama Administration planned. It's unclear here which entity is keeping the various programs from working, but it isn't because the author didn't try. It may never be known exactly where the breakdown occurs: with the mortgage lenders or with the mortgage insurance industry. Overall, a very informative article.