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The State of the Union Hasn’t Always Been Political Theater 0
- History
- January 12, 2016
The State of the Union has become an occasion for political showmanship and partisan display. But it wasn’t always that way. It was originally instituted by the Constitution as an opportunity for the President to “recommend … such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” But most presidents didn’t take the opportunity to appear
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Russia’s Latest Announcement Renews Fears 0
- Politics
- January 12, 2016
Recently, Russia announced that it will create three new divisions along its Western flank and five new nuclear missile regiments along its Western flank. Uh oh… This latest action could mean one of two things—or more likely, both: 1) Russia wishes to ramp up its campaign in Eastern Europe. The new divisions help Moscow highlight
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Can Thinking About Death Make You Happier?0
- Culture
- January 11, 2016
It seems paradoxical, but it may be true: regularly thinking about your own death can make you happier. At least, that’s what Arthur Brooks of the American Enterprise Institute claims. In an op-ed for the New York Times he writes, “[T]his meditation on death is intended as a key to better living. It makes disciples aware
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Are Computers Contributing to the Decline of Writing Skills?0
- Education
- January 11, 2016
According to new research from the Department of Education, the switch to computer-based writing tests shows a decided decline in the writing ability of fourth–grade students, particularly for low or average performing students. As Jill Barshay from the Hechinger Report explains, “Last year, more than half of U.S. states gave computer-based writing tests to children
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Child Brides, Boy Rape, and Exploding Children: Morally Relative, or Just Plain Evil?0
- Culture
- January 11, 2016
Yesterday, The Foreign Desk reported that Syrian families are increasingly being forced to give their daughters as brides for ISIS fighters. Young women of “marriageable” age they are not: “According to a report from AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA News), an activist belonging to the ‘Deir ez-Zor Is Being Slaughtered Silently’ campaign, said more than 30
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9 Timeless Strategies from Sun-tzu’s ‘Art of War’0
- History
- January 8, 2016
Sun-tzu’s Art of War is a highly influential text from the 5th century B.C. Its lessons have been applied in both the East and West not only to war, but also to business, politics, law, sports, and even life. After all, as Plato reminds us in the Gorgias, life is the “great combat… greater than
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The State of the Union Hasn’t Always Been Political Theater 0