Nancy Pearl Presents 10 Terrific Summer Reads

My office (a spare bedroom in my house) is strewn with books that I’ve gotten for possible review. There are books on the bookshelves, books more or less arranged on the floor and other books stacked high, waiting to be shelved. I probably start 15 books for every book I finish. When I’m ready for [...]

In West Bank, Palestinian Accord Faces Challenges

A newly minted peace deal between rival Palestinian factions is already fraying. Fatah, which rules the West Bank, and the militant group Hamas, which holds sway in Gaza, have been at odds since a civil war broke out in Gaza in 2007. Last month, the groups signed a reconciliation agreement. The two factions were supposed [...]

As Rivals Unveil Hybrids, Toyota Boosts Prius

The Prius, Toyota’s flagship green vehicle, is facing some stiff competition from other automakers launching their own hybrids, so Toyota is responding by making the Prius its own brand. Lauren Squires, a resident of Ann Arbor, Mich., has heard all the stereotypes about Prius owners, and she’s not a bit defensive about it. “I don’t [...]

Gray Wolf In Cross Hairs Again After Delisting

Conservation groups howled when Congress removed the Rocky Mountain gray wolf from the federal endangered species list. The “delisting” in most of the Northwest was attached to the budget deal in April between the White House and Congress. The head of one environmental organization likened it to Congress throwing the wolf off Noah’s Ark. But [...]

Debate: Did Obama Overstep His Authority In Libya?

The White House says it is confident President Obama has followed the law when it comes to U.S. involvement in Libya. But members of Congress and legal scholars aren’t so sure. They’re debating whether the president exceeded his authority by not getting approval from Congress. Nearly 38 years ago, lawmakers passed the War Powers Resolution. [...]

Auto Industry Adjusts To New Normal: Low Sales

The U.S. auto market is slowly rebounding. But even as sales increase, they’re still not at the peaks hit 10 years ago. In 2000 and 2001, more than 17 million automobiles were sold in America. Last year, just under 12 million were sold. But many analysts, dealers and executives believe the industry is actually healthier [...]

President Obama Sounds Domestic Theme In Afghanistan Speech

When a democracy wages war, the most important weapon in its arsenal is the willingness of its people to make the necessary sacrifices of blood and treasure. But the American people have increasingly indicated through public-opinion polls that the Afghanistan War is losing their support. With his campaign for re-election already underway President Obama, in [...]

Obama: ‘The Tide Of War Is Receding’; Troop Withdrawals To Begin

Saying that the U.S. has largely accomplished its mission in Afghanistan and that “it is time to focus on nation building here at home,” President Obama tonight laid out a plan to bring 33,000 of the 100,000 U.S. military personnel in that country home by the end of next year. He said 10,000 troops will [...]

Why We Tip

If you ask people why they tip, they’ll say it’s obvious. They tip for good service, of course. It’s a reward for a job well done. But a leading theory on tipping suggests that’s not really why we do it. Studies show that the size of the tip doesn’t have much to do with the [...]

Egyptian Workers Who Fled Libya Struggle At Home

For the Egyptian youth who spearheaded the protests that led to the ouster of autocrat Hosni Mubarak in February, the revolution was an exhilarating, crowning moment. But for young Egyptian laborers caught in the violent backwash of the region’s revolts, the Arab spring has proved financially and psychologically crippling. Egyptian workers who fled the fighting [...]