The spirit of André Maginot lives today. Don’t think so? Take a look at the current U.S. preoccupation with the debt ceiling, to the apparent neglect of virtually every other issue, and the nature of the accompanying discussion. Then look … Continue reading →

Americans might be forgiven for thinking that Congress is “all-debt-ceiling,-all-the-time.” But thankfully, even Thursday, July 28 of all days, there’s evidence that Congress is tending to the rest of the Nation’s business. Over at the House of Representatives, the morning … Continue reading →

The last post posed the question…why isn’t there greater public-, policymaker-, and private-sector demand for the information Earth scientists and science-based services have on offer? There seemed to be four sobering possibilities (thankfully, a reader has raised a fifth, which … Continue reading →

Do you remember this verbal jab from your schoolyard days? Maybe it’s generational, but I used to hear it all the time when I was growing up. Couldn’t ever find a particularly snappy comeback then… …and today’s not that much … Continue reading →

Back in the day, stress test had one meaning…it referred to tests for heart disease. The idea was simple. Many of us were walking around seemingly healthy but that was because we weren’t being subjected to a sudden emotional shock … Continue reading →

Judith Curry’s blog Climate Etc. is always a great read. Last night I happened to read her July 17th post, entitled On the role of trust in climate communication. A lot of other people have been reading it as well! … Continue reading →

Did you know that among the thousands of professional societies and associations out on the real world, there’s a Council of Engineering and Science Society Executives (CESSE)? There is indeed. And it’s meeting here in Vancouver, Canada for the remainder … Continue reading →

Most if not all readers of this blog have heard economics referred to as the “dismal science.” Usually we hear this from economists themselves. For some reason, which reveals some deep-seated psychological quirk which bears study by other social scientists … Continue reading →

Here at the 36th Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop, academics and practitioners alike are finding much to talk about. The last twelve months have seen an apocalyptic run of earthquakes, floods, drought, wildfires, tornadoes, health emergencies, and industrial spills. … Continue reading →

This week I’m at the 2011 Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop. This is the 36th such annual event. For years it was held in Boulder, home of the Workshop’s host – the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Center of … Continue reading →