EuphLine

Given the economy, increased crime is to be expected.  The Monitor writes about community patrols springing up in response.  In my Baltimore neighborhood, both the Northwest Citizens Patrol and Shomrim keeps a watch on things.  When well organized and managed, it can make a significant impact.  Of course, I'm curious why we have two groups, rather than one.

When I think of polio, of think of my paternal grandfather, whose face had partial paralysis.  It always made it easy to tell him apart from his twin brother.  I don't think of it as a problem of "my generation."  Imagine my surprise to hear that, lead by the Gates Foundation with $255 million dollars, an additional $635 million will be spent over the next five years towards its erradication.  This is discussed in more length in the Washington Post and

We're all quick to read about and discuss the latest smart phone or newest Apple laptop.  As we look to the future, though, the real advances that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and change our lives are likely to be hidden to us.  One such example is discussed by the Christian Science Monitor in a piece about a vineyard's solar powered, wireless, soil monitoring network.  As such networks come on line across the world, the amount of data available will be spectacular. 

The St. Petersburg Times has a web site tracking Obama's performance on campaign promises.  Handy!

A New York Times blog entry this morning reported that biodiesel was implicated in the stalling of school buses.  It was later updated to suggest that perhaps its reporting was based on inaccurate information and that good old fashioned diesel was to blame.  This has to make me wonder, have these transportation companies bothered to read up on the basics of diesel, specifically, biodiesel?  Diesel fuel has always had low temperature issues.  Biodiesel has low temperature issues

Unitarian Universalists have long said, "Deeds not creeds."  (If UU's have any creed, that's it).  Apparently, according to the Christian Science Monitor, Iraqi voters are getting on the bandwagon.

The Christian Science Monitor wrote yesterday re: the rebound of pickup sales.  It seems to me that this is no great surprise given the incredible incentives (we've seen "buy one get one free" here, as well as $10k off, etc.) and the new, reasonable price of fuel.  Personally, I think those who think Detroit should "make smaller cars" are missing the point.  The cars that *really* sell well are cars like the Hybrid Escape: those that may not be the larges

A number of news outlets are reporting Obama's impromptu visit to the press room in the White House.  I hope they're able to contain themselves such that he can continue to visit.  I think it will si

The WSJ has a nice run-down of the Geithner / TurboTax situation. Frankly I'm inclined to give him credit.  He did all he could to take responsibility in the hearings.  And if the IRS gave me a letter asserting no further liability, I'd probably take them at their word, too.

The Washington Post writes this morning of the mess that is the White House's tech situation.  No great surprises here, other than that the transition team was surprised.