Fluff.

This opinion piece relies on a single article to support its major point so its a bit light as far as really being convincing. In spite of that, it forcefully makes an important argument and its worth reading, if only as a starting point to decide if you agree with the author.

An interesting description of the techniques used by mass advertisers, or spammers depending on your point of view, and some analysis and insight into how the business will change over time.

A well written rant. No real analysis and unlikely to change anyone's mind, but it makes its point well.

A well written view of the health care debate, focusing on the public option.

As the weeks crawl by while the details of health reform are worked out, there will be a lot of charges and rebuttals about the costs and impacts of each detail. This story and video show us one of these moments and let us see Sen Franken getting down to work after a long wait.

The editorial speaks directly about the kind of thing that Newstrust is doing: Giving credibility and filtering to the news. It talks about the perceived problem with media today, and how that problem is being addressed to get around the problem. While nothing here is totally new, the author puts it all together in a way that makes us stop for a minute and think about it.

This is a good summary of a major change in policy that touches on resource use and public health.

An important topic that deserves better treatment. This article states what we all ought to know: Technology is neutral. Its all in how its put to use. It does not do enough to explain the various ways this particular technology could be used to make the reader come away with a much deeper understanding of the issue.

Exposes and explains an important detail in how health insurance exchanges could work and what it means to the consumrer. Articles like this are important to keep us informed about what's being considered and what it means. Clearly explains one small part of the giant puzzle.

Its interesting to read how the work of getting legislation crafted happens out of the headlines and behind the scenes. In spite of this describing how things happen out of public view, the author still managed to get names and sources.

Big news for bay area news. After the long decline in newspaper quality a non profit is stepping in to fill the void. This could be an example of a new model for news organizations.

Entertaining, but superficial look at Burning Man. I don't see any effort to show another point of view to counter that of the director of Burning man or any discussion of why these things might not work in a real city.

Provides good insight into how different world views will provide different answers to the same question and reminds us that the other side is not evil or stupid.

This editorial complains about how others cherry pick statistics, then goes on to do the same. Still, the argument is well stated and backed up.

Straightforward update to the Coleman/Franken race.

Interesting tidbits of information about WWII, but while interesting doesn't seem to have much connection to current events.

The author makes excellent points not only about our society's bias in favor of office work above manual work, but he eloquently makes the case for the pleasure of the manual work and makes it well enough to put to rest the idea that those who chose manual work aren't as smart as the office workers. Well worth a read.

Much more than the Madoff content, I think the importance of this story is in how stories should be checked for bias and information should be available to let readers evaluate the sources. This article provides a good launching point to talk about quality in journalism.

I would have never named Iowa as a state that has a long history of being on the forefront of civil rights, but even more important is the personal story of how a fairly short time ago rights that we now take for granted were controversial.

An excellent overview of how power transmission works, doesn't work, and what needs to be done to fix it.

This is a really good review of an author's work and it makes me want to read someone I would never have looked for in a genre I wouldn't usually read. That's a sign of good writing!

One of the top energy experts makes the pitch for distributed power generation. When such an influential thinker talks, it is wise to pay attention.

A good factual summary of tax perks from a very well respected source of financial information. Short on the context, background, reasons, and history of the cuts, but they never claimed to provide it in this article.

I really wish this article was better. Legalization would be a good thing for so many reasons but other than some numbers claiming overwhelming support for legalization and claims of a rosy hemp based future this article lacks the depth to be useful. Are we talking about full legalization of all drugs, as the line about abolishing the DEA suggests? Does the government owe its citizens less protection from harmful drugs than poorly designed cars? How much hemp will it take to ... More »

A not particularly enticing call to civic engagement.

It is good to see the people who were very supportive of Obama during the campaign hold him to high standards now that it is time to deliver. This editorial questions his possible choices for Secretary of Education.

Grady Booch is one of the more respected names in computer science, as such I was dissapointed that he didn't have a deeper insight and a more complete discussion of the topic.

A lot of the articles about machine counting of votes report worries and concerns that computer science people have about the machines. This one reports in detail about an actual problem, how it occurs, and how it was identified. Excellent article!

Entertaining and well written. Complains about the trend of celebrity being more important than skill to get published in a humorous way.

With all of the clothes shopping stories hitting us today, its nice to read a well written piece in defense.

It is important to shed light on the tactics used to win an election rather than win votes. for that reason alone this article is important.

Explains the role of the economy in McCain's inability to win and keep supporters through first hand accounts of people hurt by the economy.