The European Union is finally approaching a much postponed moment of decision.  Will the EU turn into a true USE (United States of Europe) or will it subside into something looser and less ambitious — a new Holy Roman Empire of loosely confederated but uncoordinated minor states?Both proponents and opponents of the euro knew that […]

Rhode Island is one of the bluest states in the country, and one where public sector unions have long worked with sympathetic politicians to create a true blue system of well paid public employees retiring comfortably on generous pensions with cost of living raises automatically thrown in. The only problem is that the state could […]

Nobody understands the tragedy of modern California better than Joel Kotkin: In its modern origins California was paean to progress in the best sense of the word. In 1872, the second president of the University of California, Daniel Coit Gilman, said science was “the mother of California.” Today, California may worship at the altar of […]

With today’s news from Europe focusing on crumbling financial markets and one fiscal crisis after another, The Atlantic’s visual retrospective of World War Two reminds us that Europe has survived much worse. September 4th’s photos are from the North African Campaign.70 years ago Libya was an Italian colony and the English had already been in Egypt […]

I’m blogging this morning from the Skyteam lounge in Terminal 4 of Heathrow Airport on my way to the Global Policy Forum in Yaroslavl, Russia where I’ll be speaking on the problems of democracy in advanced countries today.  My students at Bard will be watching a debate between Max Boot and Charles Kupchan on American […]

There are many people who feel like the biggest loser from the wave of revolution sweeping the Arab world.  Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in his iron cage, the Great Loon of Libya sweating it out in his hideaway, embattled German Foreign Minister Guido Westervelle trying to tough out mounting calls for his resignation after […]

[Note to readers: Via Meadia usually tries to post an update on religious persecution every Sunday; this holiday weekend with the team scattered to the four winds (and WRM stuck without internet access in the medieval Hilton Hotel at Heathrow Airport), Monday morning was the best we could do.]“The most certain test by which we […]

Researchers from the Memphis Zoo recently completed a year-long study on the glories of panda poop. Their shocking conclusion? It breaks down plant fibers so efficiently that it could be used to turn organic waste into biofuel. Here’s the story: The microbes in the feces of giant pandas break down super-tough plant material in grass, […]

It appears that BP for one is having no luck doing business in Russia. The FT reports: BP has a remarkable ability to make enemies in Russia. As bailiffs raided one of its Moscow offices on Wednesday, it was hard to avoid the sinking feeling that it may once again be on the wrong side […]

In what is widely seen as a serious break with the environmental movement, President Obama has rejected an EPA proposal to tighten emission controls across the US. From the NYT: The Environmental Protection Agency, following the recommendation of its scientific advisers, had proposed lowering the so-called ozone standard from that set by the Bush administration […]