Monthly Archives: June 2009
In Nicaragua, a Miskito separatist movement
The Miskito indians of Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast have a history of clashes dating back to the Spanish conquest and leading through to the Contra War. More recently their coast was badly damaged by Hurricane Felix in 2007, and largely neglected … Continue reading
Eating sustainable fish
I think I was like a lot of kids in the fact that I never really cared for eating fish. Catching fish I loved (though I seldom did), but eating them? No thank you! My tastes, of course, changed as … Continue reading
Whatever Works
Woody Allen’s latest movie, “Whatever Works”, channels his neuroses through Larry David. Add Larry David’s own neuroses to that equation and you’re bound to get either a great comedy or a great flop. The trailer looks promising. This is also … Continue reading
Full life-cycle emissions of train worse than plane
A study from UC Berkeley compared the emissions of 11 different transportation modes starting from their manufacture. The study found, among other things, that trains can emit more greenhouse gases than planes, which I’m sure will piss off all those … Continue reading
Gauging Happiness
A Harvard study began in 1937 has tracked 268 males (all Harvard students when the study began) to find out, put simply, what makes people happy. The study is intensely detailed with everything from one-on-one interviews to obscure measurements like … Continue reading
Hot dog diplomacy
U.S. embassies this year can invite Iranian officials to their Fourth of July receptions for the first time since the 1979 seizure of the American Embassy in Tehran. The receptions often include hot dogs, which apparently have a long history … Continue reading