Comments Off on Education Reform: Perverse Incentives Over the past few weeks, I’ve read many dozens of news articles, editorials, and research studies about current “education reform” efforts.
Today, I realized that nearly all the “disputed” ideas involve accusations of perverse incentives.
Comments Off on Update: LessonIndex.com Over the past few months, I’ve been pleased with the success of my newest web site, LessonIndex.com. Read more »
Comments Off on Wisconsin? Really? (Every Vote Counts) The most expensive judicial election campaign in history. In Wisconsin? Really?
Here’s a list of “talking points” that Tim Slekar identified to explain why he (and many other parents) are “opting their children out” of the high-stakes testing, mandated by “No Child Left Behind,” that doesn’t serve any legitimate educational purpose.
Today, I was astonished to read a blog post in which a parent, angry about her local school’s budget battle, wrote of her desire to smash teachers’ “expensive sedans” in a school parking lot on “back to school night.”
Marsia Mason, please note: if I find your car in a parking lot . . . Read more »
Comments Off on How to Drink Less Soda (Can Caps) I’ve recently started to use a very cool product: “Bottle Caps” (can caps), which turn an open soda can into a “bottle” that can be closed. It’s my answer to the bizarre economics of soft-drink bottlers who charge more for six- and eight-ounce cans of soda than for 12-ounce cans.
Comments Off on Damages From the Illinois “Advertising-Nexus” law Illinois enacted an “Advertising-Nexus” tax law yesterday, triggering some serious negative consequences — while collecting no additional sales taxes. Here’s a quick summary of the law’s impact:
One of the “Advertising Nexus” tax bills (pending in the California legislature) is scheduled for hearing tomorrow (Monday) in Sacramento. Yesterday, I found this editorial on the American Booksellers’ web site, and was annoyed enough to write this reply: Read more »
Comments Off on Google’s “Farmer” Algorithm Update (Panda) There’s been a flurry of SEO-related commentary over the past week, discussing Google’s most recent algorithm adjustments, which changed the results for about 12% of all search queries. Internally, Google calls this the “Panda” update, but most observers call it the “Farmer update” for its impact on “content farms.”
Comments Off on Unity vs. “Divide and Conquer” In response to a financial crisis fueled by corporate greed, Republicans now seek to further empower corporations and disenfranchise voters. Read more »
OfficeFolders theme by 
Themocracy
