Why America scours the earth for her fallen soldiers

By Rick Hampson, USA TODAY
 
May 25, 2012 
The fallen navigator waited until dawn to crawl from the jungle. His back was broken, his jaw ripped open by shrapnel. There was a bullet hole in his left leg.

In the night, Lt. Jose Holguin had parachuted from a burning B-17. Painted on its nose were a scantily clad woman and the words "Naughty but Nice." Now the bomber lay before him in pieces.  He hobbled to the plane's mid-section, where he saw the charred, mangled bodies of two of his nine comrades. He fired his pistol twice, signaling the crew to rendezvous. He heard nothing in return.  This is when he made his hardest decision — to flee — and his most important promise, one as old as war. "I told the men that I couldn't take them with me," he would recall. "But I would be back to take care of them."
That was June 26, 1943, on an island in the Southwest Pacific, at the height of World War II. Many vows like Holguin's were uttered in the war. But when it ended, 79,000 Americans were missing and presumed dead. Half were virtually unrecoverable — lost to the deepest oceans, highest mountains or thickest jungles.
So when the war ended in 1945, Americans mostly got on with living. The dead rested where they fell.  Today, that's changing. No nation has ever tried so hard to recover so many remains from battlefields so distant and so old.

Continued at:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-05-25/military-fallen-soldiers-remains-recovered/55191544/1

Dollars and Scents:

 The Chemistry of a Delicious Tomato

Overlooked aromatic compounds make huge contributions to tomato flavor, which suggests a new way to improve the taste of high-yield crops

By Ferris Jabr  | May 24, 2012 |

 The typical supermarket tomato: ripe red, firm to the touch, free of blemishes—and of flavor. Since at least the 1970s, U.S. consumers have lamented the beautiful but bland fruits that farmers breed not for taste, but rather for high yield and durability during shipping. Recently, organic farmers and foodies have championed the superior flavors of heirloom tomatoes—older varieties that come in an assortment of shapes, sizes and colors. In a new study, researchers took a close look at the chemical composition of both standard tomatoes and hundreds of different heirloom varieties, which they also fed to 170 volunteers in a taste test. Their new findings confirm what scientists have learned in recent years: a tomato's flavor depends not only on the balance of sugars and acids within the fruit, but also on subtle aromatic compounds—many of which are lacking in the modern supermarket tomato. In the future the researchers hope to work with seed companies and farmers to breed tomatoes that produce large quantities of flavorful fruits packed with aromatic compounds—a healthier solution than engineering super-sugary tomatoes.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=delicious-tomato-chemistry

 

Five rules on how to be smart about polls

By David Lauter

May 24, 2012, 3:45 a.m.

The campaign for president has moved into an anxious phase for political junkies: A lot is going on, but nothing is really happening. Mitt Romney has largely consolidated support among his Republican base, matching the support that President Obama has among Democrats. Now, the two sides are testing the messages they will deploy with increasing intensity over the next five months as they seek to motivate their supporters and woo the undecided few.

All that produces a lull in political news, which gets filled with pseudo-events and polls – lots of polls. Reading polling data can make a person smarter about politics – or dumber. Herewith, a few hints about how to achieve the former.

Continue at:

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-five-rules-on-how-to-be-smart-about-polls-20120523,0,5740423.story

How The Recovery Went Wrong

By HARVEY GOLUB 


May 22, 2012




Of the 11 recoveries in the last 60 years, this one is at or near the bottom in job growth and every other economic indicator.




All the available Keynesian levers for achieving economic growth have been pulled, yet the recovery is one of the weakest since World War II. The problem lies with the way the "stimulus" was carried out, the uncertainty of looming higher taxes, and the antibusiness rhetoric and regulatory strong-arming of this administration.


First, exactly how weak has this recovery been? The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis tracks economic performance for each recovery and compares gross-domestic-product growth and job growth, the two most important indicators of economic performance. Over the past 60 years, there have been 11 recessions and 11 recoveries.


Sadly, this recovery is near the bottom of all 11.


Excerpt from:  


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304019404577418311631098508.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

(Don't miss the 367 comments.)

Feeding the poor:

But is it healthy food?

By Cynthia Boyd | 08:17 am

 

 

Amount spent per meal at Ramsey County meal programs 

 

For people in crisis, salad on the table likely isn’t first on their list of necessities. So it’s good to hear there are people seriously concerned about the menus at homeless shelters and meal programs feeding the poor.
Boosting the nutritional quality and attractiveness of foods served and keeping costs manageable are among the key goals of the Healthy Meals Coalition in Ramsey County and their 20-some members. Now they’ve banded together to share healthy recipes, buy collectively and set guidelines.
Their numbers are not insignificant. Meals for those in crisis dished up at 19 sites last year in Ramsey County tallied in at 1,066,000 in one of the most densely populated and racially diverse counties in the state in a challenging economy. A majority of those sitting down to eat there are African-Americans. 

People in crisis need healthy, tasty meals, including protein, fresh fruits, veggies and salads, and that’s what meal providers want to serve, says Julie Seiber, who is working with the coalition in connection with SHIP, a Statewide Health Improvement Program grant.

http://www.minnpost.com/community-sketchbook/2012/05/feeding-poor-it-healthy-food

Is college too easy?

 As study time falls, debate rises.

 

By Daniel de Vise, Published: May 21

Over the past half-century, the amount of time college students actually study — read, write and otherwise prepare for class — has dwindled from 24 hours a week to about 15, survey data show.
And that invites a question: Has college become too easy?

Ashley Dixon, a sophomore at George Mason University, anticipated more work in college than in high school. Instead, she has less. In a typical week, Dixon spends 18 hours in classes and another 12 in study. All told, college course work occupies 30 hours of her week. Dixon is a full-time student, but college, for her, is a part-time job.
“I was expecting it to be a lot harder,” said Dixon, 20, of Haymarket. “I thought I was going to be miserable, trying to get good grades. And I do get good grades, and I’m not working very hard.”
Declining study time is a discomfiting truth about the vaunted U.S. higher-education system. The trend is generating debate over how much students really learn, even as colleges raise tuition every year.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/is-college-too-easy-as-study-time-falls-debate-rises/2012/05/21/gIQAp7uUgU_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines

Subtler Entry From Masters of Attack Ads

Steven J. Law of Crossroads GPS said a new ad was aimed at voters who may like President Obama but are disillusioned. 
 

By JEREMY W. PETERS

Published: May 22, 2012

WASHINGTON — The ad is the work of two of the most fearsome players in Republican politics: Larry McCarthy, the producer behind the infamous Willie Horton commercial in 1988, and Crossroads GPS, the political battle squad founded by Karl Rove. 

When it makes its debut Wednesday in 10 swing states as the centerpiece of a $25 million campaign, it is expected to become one of the most heavily broadcast political commercials of this phase of the general election.

Yet what Mr. McCarthy and Crossroads have produced is not the kind of searing denunciation of President Obama that their track records would suggest. More soft-pedal than Swift Boat, the 60-second advertisement, complete with special effects, is a deeply researched, delicately worded story of a struggling family; its relatively low-key tone is all the more striking, coming at a point in the campaign when each side is accusing the other of excessive negativity. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/22/us/politics/new-crossroads-gps-ad-takes-a-soft-shot-at-obama.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120522 

 

Why Gas Stations Are So Close To Each Other

 

Jonathan Becher, SAP

Have you ever noticed that you rarely see a gas station by itself? Instead multiple gas stations seem to be clustered close to each other. Wouldn’t it be better if they were more spread out? Presh Talwalkar noticed this phenomenon and used game theory to explain why it’s a rational decision for the gas stations, even if it’s not the optimal choice for consumers. It’s worth reading his entire post to understand the nuances of the shortcomings of the explanation, the theory of location competition, and where to place a hot dog stand on the beach. However, for those short on time, here’s my simplified explanation:


http://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2012/05/21/why-gas-stations-are-so-close-to-each-other/

 

Quebec Protests

Fire, barricades, and a Rolling Stone: Quebec protests make waves

By: Benjamin Shingler, The Canadian Press

May 20, 2012

MONTREAL - A plan to restore order in Montreal appeared to erupt in smoke late Saturday, with fiery blockades blazing on a busy downtown street corner in a dispute gaining international attention.

Groups of protesters built pyres from plastic traffic cones and construction materials, setting them ablaze in the middle of an intersection in a popular nightclub district.

Meanwhile, the protest has spread beyond borders.

In New York, members of the Montreal-based rock band Arcade Fire wore the movement's iconic red squares during an appearance with The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger on Saturday Night Live. Jagger wore a red shirt, but no red square.

A day earlier, players in Quebec's film industry were sporting them at the Cannes Film Festival.

The scenes in Montreal unfolded during a tense late-night march that, on several occasions, saw riot police use tear gas and protesters throw bottles and rocks.

Student protesters were joined by others spilling out of bars and clubs.

Together, they built the fires and cheered as the flames lit up the streets and sent plumes of black smoke billowing into the night sky. 

continue at:

 http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/fire-barricades-and-a-rolling-stone-quebec-protests-make-waves-152193475.html

Winnipeg Free Press

The Backbone of the Electric System

A Legacy of Coal and the Challenge of Renewables

By Dawn Santoianni | May 17, 2012

 “Energy policy” and “clean energy” may be political hot buttons this year, but the technological realities and challenges to achieving energy and environmental goals are seldom discussed. There is strong public sentiment that the U.S. should decrease our reliance on fossil fuels because of concerns about pollution, global warming, ecosystem damage, and energy security. Although a domestically abundant energy source, coal power is imputed as being a major contributor to smog, acid rain, and global warming. High-profile accidents associated with coal mining and coal ash management have further damaged coal’s reputation. Grass-roots campaigns to replace coal as a major source of electricity claim that wind, solar, and geothermal power could replace retired coal capacity.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2012/05/17/the-backbone-of-the-electric-system-a-legacy-of-coal-and-the-challenge-of-renewables/

 

Will Mark Zuckerberg Ever Pay Taxes Again?

A fascinating look at how staying in debt can save you money ... if you're worth $25 Billion



By: John Carney

February 2,  2012  (note date)

Next year Mark Zuckerberg’s base salary will receive a dramatic pay cut—going from a base salary of $600,000 to just one dollar.

Which raises the question: will he ever pay taxes again?

Zuckerberg’s salary cut is being compared to similar moves by other tech titans. Google’s Eric Schmidt and Larry Page are paid just $1 annual salaries. Steve Jobs took just $1 in salary from 1997 until his death last year. Other members of the one-percent/one-dollar club include Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Hewlett-Packard’s Meg Whitman.

Zuckerberg was paid a base salary of $500,000 in 2011 and is set to be paid a base of $600,000 this year. He got a cash bonus of $250,000 for the first half of 2011 and will likely receive a similar bonus for the second half. 
 
"It’s possible that he might even be eligible for certain types of government aid for those with low-income—although it’s unlikely that he would collect them."

Continue at:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/46236916?__source=otbrn|fbext|&par=otbrn