The trigger for this new state of affairs is dual—the US shale-oil boom, which has wholly muffled the geopolitical disruptions behind previously skyrocketing oil prices, and soft demand from a transforming Chinese economy.
The effects of social origins and cognitive ability on educational attainment →
I shy away from linking directly (or only) to academic papers, but this one strikes me as important at this time. The authors show (though, of course, this is just one study) that, even when accounting for how "smart" we start as kids, the people we are born to matters: the poverty cycle. If we want everyone to have roughly the same chances in life, we need to worry more about inequality.
Merkel Said to Reject Ukraine NATO Bid →
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government is alarmed by President Petro Poroshenko’s plan to hold a referendum on Ukraine joining NATO, seeing it as a dead end that would only inflame tensions with Russia.
Egypt jails 78 minors for pro-Morsi protests →
An Egyptian court sentenced 78 minors to between two and five years in prison Wednesday for joining demonstrations calling for the return of the ousted Islamist president, judicial sources said.
The authorities have engaged in a crackdown on Mohamed Morsi's supporters since the army ousted him last year, with hundreds jailed in mass trials the United Nations has described as "unprecedented in recent history".
But of course Egypt is a shining democratic example, which is why they are often the #2 recipient of US military aid.
FDA's New Calorie Rules Are Broader Than Expected, Including Movie Theaters and Alcohol →
This would be excellent. More information, please! Give us consumers the info we need to make informed decisions!
The Supreme Court is about to tackle online threats for the first time →
The case centers on Anthony Elonis, who was convicted after writing graphic, gory fantasies about mutilating and killing his wife and other women and posting them to Facebook. The issue before the Supreme Court is whether "a true threat" requires finding that the threatener subjectively intended to be threatening. Elonis is arguing for a subjective intent requirement, claiming that his posts were meant as rap lyrics and not as threats, while the prosecutors are arguing for an "objective" standard—a threat counts as a threat if a "reasonable person" would think the statement is a threat.
Seven global trends to be really, really thankful for →
Journalists may have many biases, but among the most important is that they always see the glass as half empty. It's a phenomenon researchers call "negativity bias," and studies show all humans share it. This is why Thanksgiving is a useful holiday. It gives us a reason to think about what's actually in the bottom half of the glass.
The ‘Busy’ Trap →
Take some time to busy yourself less and reevaluate priorities this weekend. :)