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Why a New Computer Program May Improve Writing Proficiency 0
- Education
- January 20, 2016
I admit to rolling my eyes when I first read the title, “Can a Curious Computer Improve Student Writing?” in Slate Magazine. “Honestly!” ran my internal conversation, “Haven’t people realized by now that students need more than a computer program to become better writers?” But I changed my mind as I read the article, primarily
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The Perfect Video when the Markets go to Hell 0
- Economics
- January 20, 2016
As of January 20, MarketWatch is reporting that the S&P 500 index is trading 10% below its 200-day moving average. Ouch. But not to worry, it could drop a lot further. And since there’s a strong chance things will get worse, we decided to resurrect a classic E-Trade video from 2011. Enjoy! And,
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8 Deeper-Than-Usual Critiques of American Education 0
- Education
- January 20, 2016
In 1987 Allan Bloom’s The Closing of the American Mind was published. It represented a penetrating critique of higher education in America. Almost thirty years later, his criticisms—including the following eight—are still very much relevant: 1) “Fathers and mothers have lost the idea that the highest aspiration they might have for their children is
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Truly, what if?0
- Culture
- January 20, 2016
Generally, we Americans are quite proud of our overall military history. Yes, there’s discontent and guilty consciences about Vietnam and our recent incursions into the Middle East, but even in these feelings there seems to be a presumption that America can defeat anyone, we just shouldn’t do it as much. These memes give you a
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Read Literature to Learn and Love the Truth 0
- Education
- January 19, 2016
The other night I testified (via telephone) before the Alaska state legislature, on the standards their public schools are adopting for classes in English. I’d read the standards but didn’t have them in front of me, so I was taken aback when one of the representatives plucked a directive out of all the verbiage and asked
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Famed Historian Explains How a Civilization Collapses 0
- History
- January 19, 2016
Will and Ariel Durant are famous for their magisterial 11-volume survey of human history titled The Story of Civilization. After spending fifty years of studying and reflecting on the history of mankind, they are at the very least an interesting authority to consult on the matter. In The Lessons of History—written after they completed their
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Why a New Computer Program May Improve Writing Proficiency 0