Fake journals and copyright takeover: Why the public should care about open access to published scientific results

Open access week” sounds suspiciously like a boondoggle, not unlike “dairy week” or “safety week”. Is this just another excuse for meetings, punch and cookies, or is there something more to the issue?

Hawaii’s health system possible model for national reform efforts

An article in today’s NY Times suggests that Hawaii’s health insurance system could serve as a model for national healthcare reform.
Do you agree?

Elderly couple consider divorce to keep health benefits

A dear friend’s parents have been married for nearly 50 years, but now are considering divorce in order to keep healthcare benefits. Is this status quo really worthy of protecting, as some opponents of healthcare reform advocate?
About 2 months ago Mrs. Jones (name changed at her request) had a sudden, massive stroke. Her brain swelled [...]

Nixon spied on Ted Kennedy during Hawaii vacation in 1971

The Nixon tapes (available at www.nixontapes.org) reveal that the former president wanted to put pressure on Ted Kennedy by looking for dirt. During the fall of 1971, Nixon worried that Ted Kennedy would become the leading Democratic candidate for the presidential election in 1972, for which he was seeking re-election. So Nixon monitored Kennedy while [...]

Congress should renew the $8k cash back for home buyers program

Experts credit the slight pulse in the housing market to a Stimulus package program, which gives buyers $8,000 cash back for a purchase in 2009. This program seems to be working, at least in the short term, and Congress should renew or extend it when they resume session in September. Another popular Stimulus program was Cash for Clunkers, which was extended once doubling the federal money allocated to it from $1 billion to $2 billion dollars. If a carrot works, use it.