Universities reject Kindle over inaccessibility for the blind | The Digital Home - CNET News

Universities reject Kindle over inaccessibility for the blind | The Digital Home - CNET News: "Pamela McLaughlin, director of communications and external relations at Syracuse University, said in a statement that her school bought two Kindle DX units to see if it could replace hardcover textbooks and course materials."

Do they only buy textbooks and materials that have a blind-accessible version?

Divisions Remain Ahead of Climate Change Conference in Denmark - FOXNews.com

Divisions Remain Ahead of Climate Change Conference in Denmark - FOXNews.com: "developing countries say the West grew rich on cheap energy that polluted the atmosphere."
The developing countries also greatly benefited from that.

2010 Tesla Roadster Sport first drive | The Car Tech blog - CNET Reviews

2010 Tesla Roadster Sport first drive | The Car Tech blog - CNET Reviews: "Tesla often emphasizes that it works more like a Silicon Valley technology company than a traditional car company. And the company just proved it by delivering a model update to the Tesla Roadster for 2010. Remember, the Roadster has only been in production for one year, but in that time Tesla completely redesigned the interior, while at the same time adding new materials to reduce cabin noise. Model updates from other automakers often take five years."

Three Cheers for Divided Government | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary

Three Cheers for Divided Government | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary: "since the start of the Cold War, we've had only a dozen years of real fiscal restraint: Six under Eisenhower and a Democratic Congress, and six under Clinton and a GOP majority."

"since FDR, unified governments have spent roughly three times as fast as divided ones, and they've been much more likely to waste blood and treasure abroad."

Planned Parenthood Director Quits After Watching Abortion on Ultrasound - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

Planned Parenthood Director Quits After Watching Abortion on Ultrasound - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com: "'When I was working at Planned Parenthood I was extremely pro-choice,' Johnson told FoxNews.com. But after seeing the internal workings of the procedure for the first time on an ultrasound monitor, 'I would say there was a definite conversion in my heart ... a spiritual conversion.'

Johnson said she became disillusioned with her job after her bosses pressured her for months to increase profits by performing more and more abortions, which cost patients between $505 and $695."

"'Ideally my goal as the facility's director is that your abortion numbers don't increase,' because 'you're providing so much family planning and so much education that there is not a demand for abortion services.'

'But that was not their goal,' she said."

Campaign For Liberty — Marriage License & Registration, Please ��| by Steve Bierfeldt

Campaign For Liberty — Marriage License & Registration, Please ��| by Steve Bierfeldt: "In the American colonies and the subsequent Republic, the idea of the government holding preeminence over a marriage is a relatively new concept. Historically the 'requirement'to get married had more to do with obtaining parents' approval, making a public announcement, and finding a willing church official to perform the ceremony. State supreme courts often ruled public cohabitation was sufficient evidence the marriage was valid and referred to the couple as having been married under 'Common Law.' A couple whom had the approval of their parents, held a ceremony, and pledged their faithfulness to one another had made it as clear as possible they were getting married.

How then did we arrive at the point we now find ourselves? As time progressed, many states began passing laws outlawing the marriage of racially mixed couples. In the mid-1800's, certain states began allowing interracial marriages as long as those marrying received a the state's approval. In the 1920's more than 30 states prohibited whites from marrying individuals of another racial background. 18 states had restrictions on remarrying after a divorce, and a dozen states would refuse a license if one partner were a drunk, addict or "mental defect." Soon states began requiring all people to obtain a marriage license. By 1929, every state in the nation had adopted marriage license laws.

The government had now entered into the business of determining who was fit to marry, how drunk was "too drunk," or if some had an addiction or just a vice."

Read the Bills? How about Reading the Constitution? | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary

Read the Bills? How about Reading the Constitution? | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary: "If congressmen can't be bothered to read a [campaign finance] law that directly affects them, should we be surprised that they're not planning to read the health care bill, which won't?"

Fannie, Freddie Mustn't Be Left Out Of Reform | Mark A. Calabria | Cato Institute: Commentary

Fannie, Freddie Mustn't Be Left Out Of Reform | Mark A. Calabria | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Ultimately, Fannie and Freddie were not bailed out in order to save our housing market; they were bailed out in order to protect the Chinese Central Bank from taking losses. Without the implicit federal guarantee of Fannie and Freddie, trillions of dollars of global capital flow would not have been funneled into the U.S. subprime mortgage market."

Welcome to the Health Care Free Lunch Cafe | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary

Welcome to the Health Care Free Lunch Cafe | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: "At the core of the president's proposal is the idea that he can provide more health care services to more people and have it cost less. A neat trick – but one that flies in the face of economic reality, not to mention common sense.

For example, the president wants to require insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions, that is, people who are already sick. Doing so will cost money. And where will that money come from? Insurance companies will simply raise premiums for the rest of us.

Similarly, the president would mandate that all insurance plans provide a new government-designed minimum benefits package. In addition to the usual coverage for hospitalization, physician services and so on, all insurance plans would also have to include coverage for prescription drugs, rehabilitation services, mental health and substance-abuse treatment; preventive services and maternity, well-baby, and well-child care, as well as dental, vision, and hearing services for children under age 21. If that's not enough, he would also establish a new federal commission headed by the surgeon general, which will have the power to develop additional minimum benefit requirements. There is no limit to how extensive those future required benefits may be."

Reduce, Reduce, Reduce, Reuse, Reuse, Recycle

The phrase is usually "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" but I think that makes each part equally important. Reducing is the most important and recycling is the least important. But, of those three, recycling seems to get the most focus. Why isn't reducing given the most focus? If I reduce the usage of something, it is much better for conservation than to recycle it. Why isn't there a push to create and use items that last longer? Why can't I buy an appliance with a 10 year warranty (and expect it to last 25 years)? Just think of how much waste would be reduced if we used products that lasted longer! Why aren't there rebates for reusing and buying products with a longer warranty? Why is reusing discouraged by charging sales tax on used goods?