fun facts
Who died and left the US $7 billion?
“It was the biggest estate-tax payment in modern history, but no one knew who made it. Then an anonymous phone call pointed to one man.” ~ learn more
Tag: United states of America
big ideas
Will US cities stop adding fluoride to drinking water?
“For decades, drinking water fluoridation opponents were often portrayed as a fringe element and conspiracy theorists, but a federal ruling in the US may put an end to the practice and marks a pivotal point in their campaign to convince […]
fun facts
Steve Ballmer talks through the US federal budget.
“He discusses taxes, mandatory and discretionary spending, the federal deficit, as well as spending on Medicare, veterans, social security, and more. Get the data straight from the source, so that you can have the information you need ahead of the […]
big ideas
Solar will get too cheap to connect to the power grid.
“In the US, the size of the grid connection queue has increased over 7x in the past decade, and 95% of the queue is solar, wind and batteries. The capacity in the queue is now more than twice the installed […]
to your health
Dermatology’s disastrous war against the sun.
This is anonymously published by “a midwestern doctor” so who knows just how much of this is bs. Informed readers, please write to me! “Skin cancers are by far the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, so to […]
big ideas
Solar cells keep getting cheaper.
FOB China prices are now under $0.05/watt for the most popular solar cells in the market. Lower prices open new markets, which drive more volume, which can lower prices further. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for this virtuous cycle! Note […]
fun facts
When RAND made magic in Santa Monica.
“RAND’s halcyon days lasted two decades, during which the corporation produced some of the most influential developments in science and American foreign policy. So how did it become just another think tank?” ~ learn more
fun facts
Beach umbrellas injure thousands a year.
“Data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) indicates that more than 31,000 people were treated in hospitals for umbrella-related injuries between 2008 and 2017.” ~ learn more
oh, chicago
What Colombia can teach Chicago about managing a migrant wave.
This isn’t really about Chicago at all, it’s about Colombia. “The small, relatively poor South American country has received four times more Venezuelans than the United States but offers a path to integration. We went to see it.” ~ learn […]
oh, chicago
Chicago’s fake robbery visa scam.
Here’s a story about a, “ Chicago-based scheme that staged armed robberies so the purported victims could apply for U.S. immigration visas reserved for legitimate crime victims.” ~ learn more