What are the truck and rail technologies that will transform California’s freight system in the 21st century to meet our climate, energy, and air quality goals? And what strategies can be employed to improve the efficiency of our freight system? Read More
Latest Posts
How the Science of Tornado Forecasting Saved Lives in Moore, Oklahoma – and How We Can Do Better
May 21, 2013
Yesterday, a mile-wide tornado that spent forty minutes on the ground ripped through Moore, Oklahoma. As of this writing, 51 people are dead (including twenty children) and more than 140 are injured (SEE UPDATE, BELOW). Almost immediately, this country began coming together to grieve and support the affected as it does during national tragedies. While it is clear that we have a long way to go in terms of tornado forecasting, investments in science and technology over the past three decades have significantly increased our understanding of these storms and our ability to minimize casualties. Read More
A Look Toward Dangerous Summer Air with Asthma Awareness Month
May 21, 2013
Of my many childhood memories, most of which can be looked back at with a smile and involved sports in some way, one that stands out with a great deal of clarity was my first asthma attack. Read More
What Do Food and Fracking Have in Common? We Need Information to Make the Best Choice
May 17, 2013
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel that I spend a lot of my time in stores trying to read the ingredients and nutritional information on package labels. And it can be bewildering, not just because of the tiny print. But I also know that reading those labels impacts what I eat – even if my choices are not always the best, at least I had a chance to consider the content. Read More
We Don’t Have To Give Up Our Place To Special Interests: Democracy Gives Us Options
May 16, 2013
There is a practice in the Senate, primarily of corporate lobbyists, to hire low-income folks, usually minorities, to hold their place in line before Supreme Court or congressional hearings. There are firms that actually hire the standees, and contract with lobbying firms or corporations. Depending on the interest in the issue, standees can wait for hours before a hearing starts. Last time I checked with one of them, a standee told me he earned $10 an hour. Read More
