There is a simple reason gun laws are not about to change in this country: Those who are against it do not have the political, organizational or financial strength to fight it. Just read the first two paragraphs of this NYT story to understand. Why would any state approve guns in a school setting? Because is there no group or organization strong enough to STOP them. Sure, school admins and teachers might complain, but they've been oddly disenfranchised throughout our society. Actually, the vast majority of us -- on both sides of the political fence -- have been disenfranchised for... Continue reading

Our Susan Brink has a book on The Fourth Trimester coming out in March of next year. Here is a description of the 185-page book, which is being published by University of California Press: The first three months of a baby’s life is an outside-the-uterus period of intense development, a biological bridge from fetal life to preparation for the real world. The fourth trimester has more in common with the nine months that came before than with the lifetime that follows. This comprehensive, intimate, and much-needed “operating manual” for newborns presents a new paradigm of a baby's early life that... Continue reading

Our Kathy Price-Robinson writes in Home Energy (Page 30) about her trip to a ranch where women go to learn more about energy efficiency in buildings. She explains: As home energy experts know, most BPI (Building Performance Institute) certification classes have a certain tone: logical, sequential and serious. You could call it left-brain learning with a focus on the parts. (Trainer) Tamasin (Sterner's) all-women classes take on a distinctly different character--intuitive, holistic and more flowing, yet equally rooted in science and diagnostics. It's more right brain, with a focus on the whole. Continue reading

Our Chris Kraul, who is based in Bogata, Colombia, has this piece in Automotive News on how Chinese car-makers are making inroads into South American markets. Kraul writes: Analysts generally see Latin America as a proving ground for Chinese automakers' eventual invasion of the U.S. car market, an event that still is unscheduled but likely will follow what (Brian) Irwin (of A.T. Kearney Americas) calls the "Korean model" -- a reference to how Hyundai entered Canada and other countries to gain market experience before it dared set foot in U.S. showrooms, (Jian) Sun said. Chinese makes' U.S. entry plans have... Continue reading

I stopped having faith in an all-powerful G-d a long time ago. Has It stopped believing in me? Continue reading

Seth on a very difficult hiking trail. We're using it to train for some backpacking. Continue reading

A Phoenix transformer has been burning near the Scottsdale border for 12 hours so far. Continue reading

Why are those who so ardently defend the Constitution not speaking up when police keep forcibly removing those who are trying to exercise such a clear and simple right? Amendment I Congress shall make no law ... prohibiting the free exercise thereof ... the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Despite quotes to the contrary, I do not see anything in these words that provide for an exception to this right. Full wording: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;... Continue reading

Not sure if this blog will stick. The information highway is littered with the rusting hulks of my dead blogs. But here goes nothing. Continue reading

Seth and I hiked up Quartz Trail on Saturday. Continue reading

Continue reading

A glass blower works his magic in Jerome, Arizona. My wife and I saw same guy back in 1998 when I proposed to her. Continue reading

This tree was knocked down by a fast-moving storm that hit Louisville, Kentucky, over the weekend. Brett Levy thejournalismshop.com dadtalk.net Continue reading

test post. hello. Continue reading

Our James Gerstenzang writes in The New York Times Opinion section -- along with Safe Climate Campaign Director Dan Becker -- that President Obama must stick to his guns and order automakers to cut tailpipe emissions by 6 percent: Automakers are pushing for the weakest standard and want the president to riddle it with loopholes. Americans want much better. A survey conducted in May for the Consumer Federation of America, for instance, found that 65 percent of Americans, including 62 percent of Republicans, supported a tough mileage standard — 60 m.p.g., which would come from installing technology that cuts carbon... Continue reading

Our Brett Levy recently built a new website for his client, Quantum Solutions using Dot Net Nuke technology. Several months in the making, Brett focused on building an affordable site that meets the design and content requirements of his client, and is easy to maintain. Continue reading

Our James Gerstenzang writes in the Los Angeles Times Opinion section -- along with Safe Climate Campaign Director Dan Becker -- that one of the best ways to keep energy prices low in the long term is to enforce increased fuel efficiency in cars: The Obama administration can't do much to lower the price of a gallon of gas, but it is on the cusp of a crucial decision that could help consumers come out ahead because they would need less gas. Officials are quietly working on just how steeply to require the auto industry to cut emissions and increase... Continue reading

This pedestrian suspension bridge spans Queen Creek at Boyce-Thompson arboretum. Continue reading

Journalism Shop member James Gerstenzang and Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Campaign, write in a Miami Herald article that hidden in a House-approved budget bill is a provision that may seriously damage the Clean Air Act: Some of the nation's biggest polluters have teamed up with the Republicans to try to stop progress – just as more evidence documents global warming: The 10 warmest years on record have all been since 1998; last year was tied with 2005 as the hottest. Together, they would turn the House into a special-interest court of appeals to circumvent the 2007 Supreme... Continue reading

I did a double take when I noticed where the video camera is located on Barbie. I won't say anything else for my own protection. Continue reading