The fact is that three years ago none of the countries now in or near crisis seemed to be in deep fiscal trouble.
The U.S. has few farmers. So why does Congress love farm subsidies? - 0 views
Op-Ed Columnist - The Euro Trap - NYTimes.com - 0 views
-
-
And all of the countries were attracting large inflows of foreign capital, largely because markets believed that membership in the euro zone made Greek, Portuguese and Spanish bonds safe investments.
-
Then came the global financial crisis. Those inflows of capital dried up; revenues plunged and deficits soared; and membership in the euro, which had encouraged markets to love the crisis countries not wisely but too well, turned into a trap.
- ...5 more annotations...
Red, Green, and Blue | Patriotism that loves our country, our land, and our planet - 0 views
-
What is ironic is that these vines represented about the least scary GMO crop imaginable. They were engineered to be resistant to a disease called Fan Leaf Virus that is spread by nematodes that live in the soil. Back before people understood this disease it was unintentionally spread to many grape-growing areas. Once a given vineyard is contaminated with the nematodes and virus, grapes will only survive for a few years on that site before declining and dying. Some of the best wine production areas around the world are seriously compromised this way, and there has been no lasting cure.
-
at was being tested in Colmar was a “rootstock.” All grapes are cuttings of the desired variety (Gewurtztraminer, Cabernet, Chardonnay…) grafted on to a root that is resistant to various pests. The Colmar roots would have also been resistant to the virus. The top of the vine (all that is above ground) would be exactly like all the neighboring vineyards. In theory the grapes wouldn’t die in a few years (that is what the researchers were hoping to demonstrate).
-
but this same irrationality is hindering efforts to provide things like virus resistant Cassava to poor farmers in Africa or virus resistant Papayas to people in Thailand.
What if the Secret to Success Is Failure? - NYTimes.com - 0 views
-
In the winter of 2005, Randolph read “Learned Optimism,” a book by Martin Seligman, a psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania who helped establish the Positive Psychology movement.
-
Seligman and Peterson consulted works from Aristotle to Confucius, from the Upanishads to the Torah, from the Boy Scout Handbook to profiles of Pokémon characters, and they settled on 24 character strengths common to all cultures and eras. The list included some we think of as traditional noble traits, like bravery, citizenship, fairness, wisdom and integrity; others that veer into the emotional realm, like love, humor, zest and appreciation of beauty; and still others that are more concerned with day-to-day human interactions: social intelligence (the ability to recognize interpersonal dynamics and adapt quickly to different social situations), kindness, self-regulation, gratitude.
-
Six years after that first meeting, Levin and Randolph are trying to put this conception of character into action in their schools. In the process, they have found themselves wrestling with questions that have long confounded not just educators but anyone trying to nurture a thriving child or simply live a good life. What is good character? Is it really something that can be taught in a formal way, in the classroom, or is it the responsibility of the family, something that is inculcated gradually over years of experience? Which qualities matter most for a child trying to negotiate his way to a successful and autonomous adulthood? And are the answers to those questions the same in Harlem and in Riverdale?
- ...13 more annotations...
How Jean Tirole's Work Helps Explain the Internet Economy - NYTimes.com - 0 views
-
How Jean Tirole’s Work Helps Explain the Internet Economy
-
He also said that industries should be regulated differently depending on their distinct characteristics.
-
- ...9 more annotations...
Irish Charm With Germans Leads Nation Out of Bailout Wilderness - Bloomberg - 0 views
-
Before the new government could go on the offensive, it needed to play defense. It fended off an attack on Ireland’s 12.5 percent corporate tax rate, the cornerstone of an economic policy that transformed Ireland from a financial backwater into a European hub for companies such as Pfizer Inc., the maker of Viagra, and Google Inc.
-
Two days after commencing his premiership, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, 62, became embroiled in what he called a Gallic spat with French President Nicolas Sarkozy after refusing to raise the tax rate in return for an interest-rate cut on aid.
-
“The attitude was: ‘You misbehaved and here’s what you have to do’,’”
- ...5 more annotations...
1 - 8 of 8
Showing 20▼ items per page