"The USDA is mulling buying 400,000 tons of sugar to prevent defaults by sugar processors. Sugar prices have fallen dramatically since the USDA began a government price-support program, and loaned $862 million to the processors, reports WSJ." Continue reading →
"The Boston School Committee announced last week that it will finally end almost 40 years of forced busing — long after the policy effectively wrecked local schools. In May 1974, Boston residents voted 15 to 1 against busing schoolchildren to achieve racial integration. A month later, U.S. District Judge Arthur Garrity ignored the popular vote and made himself czar of Boston schools. Even though there are only 13 percent white students remaining in local schools, almost two-thirds of students last year were bused away from their neighborhoods. Students were dragged out of bed before 6:05 a.m. for the glory of a long-dead judge’s vision." Continue reading →
Amanda Teegarden announced her candidacy for the State Chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party today. Teegarden's experience in grassroots education and activism convinced her that “the only way to solve our current crisis is to truly become the party of the people...Oklahoma has a strong history of populism, based upon self-reliance, neighborliness, community and civic involvement that accounts for the unique character so many people admire in our citizens,” Teegarden said.
"A popular Irish bar in Florida has been banned from flying the Irish flag just days before St Patrick's Day. The owners of Culhane's Irish Pub in Atlantic Beach, northeast Florida, have been told they are no longer allowed to fly the flag because of a local rule banning the commercial display of non-U.S. flags despite displaying it for eight years. The four sisters who own the bar said they would apply for a temporary permit to at least fly the green, white and orange flag on St. Patrick's Day but are shocked by the ruling." Continue reading →
"The program’s approach becomes a bit suspect when one reads the Gloria Steinem quote on the top of its webpage: 'The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.' The webpage also offers a series of suggestions for high schools students to become more racially sensitive. They include: Wear a white wristband as a reminder about your privilege, and as a personal commitment to explain why you wear the wristband. Set aside sections of the day to critically examine how privilege is working. Put a note on your mirror or computer screen as a reminder to think about privilege." Continue reading →
"'Only to bureaucrats can the idea occur that establishing new offices, promulgating new decrees, and increasing the number of government employees alone can be described as positive and beneficial measures.' - Ludwig von Mises" Continue reading →
"The nanny state mentality is becoming more institutionalized in America as evidenced by the recent decision to ban the age-old gym class game of 'Dodgeball' in one New Hampshire school - though trust me, others will follow suit. In an incredible four to one decision, the five-member school board panel at Windham School voted to ban the 'classic gym class game' which 'has been a rite of passage for years' for kids - not to mention a whole lot of fun - according to CBSBoston." Continue reading →
"First Lady Michelle Obama took her campaign against childhood obesity to a new level Thursday with a $150 million program to encourage more physical activity in American schools. Let’s Move! Active Schools builds upon the Let’s Move! initiative that the mother-of-two and wife of Barack Obama unveiled three years ago during the president’s first term in the White House. Funded by a public-private partnership, Let’s Move! Active Schools aims within five years to get 50,000 schools across the United States to provide at least one hour of physical activity per day to their youngsters." Continue reading →
"A robot suit that can help the elderly or disabled get around was given its global safety certificate in Japan, paving the way for its worldwide rollout. The Hybrid Assistive Limb, or HAL, is a power-assisted pair of legs developed by Japanese robot maker Cyberdyne, which has also developed similar robot arms. A quality assurance body issued the certificate based on a draft version of an international safety standard for personal robots that is expected to be approved later this year, the ministry for the economy, trade and industry said. The metal-and-plastic exoskeleton has become the first nursing-care robot certified under the draft standard, a ministry official said." Continue reading →
"A man has had 75 per cent of his skull replaced with a custom-made 3D-printed implant. The un-named patient in the United States had his head imaged by a 3D scanner before the plastic prosthetic was crafted to suit his features. Oxford Performance Materials in Connecticut then gained approval from US regulators before the printed bone replacement was inserted in his skull during a surgical procedure earlier this week. The ground-breaking operation has only now been revealed. The company says it can now provide the 3D printouts to replace bone damaged by disease or trauma after the US Food and Drug Administration granted approval on February 18." Continue reading →