Best Thinking for May 17, 2012

Trending Topics

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  Predictions for the 2012 Wildfire Season
  By Kate Prengaman

  Last year wildfires engulfed almost 4 million acres across Texas alone, destroying thousands of homes and killing 10 people. Climatologists predict that the extreme drought that created highly flammable conditions will continue in 2012. Texas is not alone. Across the United States, more...

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  The Ongoing Debate of American Education
  By BestThinking

  With the upcoming 2012 Presidential Election drawing closer, candidates are sure to address the U.S. education system. As students in the United States continue to lag behind countries such as India and China in math and science, the issue of American education remains an unsolved problem....

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  The Third Party Problem
  By Carrie Kirby

  Come election time, my husband and I often find ourselves on opposite sides of the voting booth. It's not that our political beliefs differ much -- we're both liberals. The difference is that he believes in voting for the candidate who most closely matches his personal beliefs, which often...

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  Is Sunscreen Safe?
  By BestThinking

  It is well-documented that unprotected exposure to the sun and UV rays can lead to skin cancer. With UV levels reaching all-time highs, it is important that people take preventative measures to protect themselves from UV exposure which can cause damage to their skin, as well as their eyes. ...

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  Acid in the Ocean
  By Harvey K Black

  Mention climate change and people’s thoughts typically turn to changes in the weather. We hear stories of extreme events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, mammoth snow and rain--storms linked to man-made climate change. Another eye-catcher is stories of sea-level rise, and the inundation of...

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  Ban Violent Video Games to Protect Children
  By BestThinking

  On June 27, 2011 U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association that overturned a California law that would have banned children under 18 years old from purchasing violent video games. California argued that it had the responsibility to protect children from...

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  Al Jazeera Earning Credibility?
  By Ed Murrieta

  Al Jazeera is something of an anomaly in journalism -- a well-funded news operation with reporters on the ground in locations around the world where cash-strapped broadcasters like CNN and the BBC can only parachute into when news breaks. Funded by the emir of the Middle Eastern...

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  Zero-Packaging Stores and the Environment
  By BestThinking

  What if grocery stores in the future sold products without any packaging? Well, it seems as if the future has already arrived because in Austin, Texas, the first zero-packaging grocery store is set to open in October. Known as In.gredients, this grocery store's goal is to reduce the waste...

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  Obama Addresses a Nation Divided on Issue of Same-Sex Marriage
  By Erin Luhmann

  On May 8th, voters across North Carolina weighed in on the civil right afforded a minority group. Banning gay marriage, residents asserted their intolerance and conjured discriminatory sentiments the state is reluctant to reform. But while Amendment One dug roots in NC, President Obama has...

• Ai Weiwei, China and Human Rights
• Bonnaroo Music Festival 2012
• Air Traffic Safety
• Green Weddings: Making Ecologically and Economically Friendly Choices
• Comparing Generic and Brand Name Prescription Drugs
• Do Hunger Games and Brave Signal a New Age for Heroines?
• Oceans Facing Mass Extinctions
• Shameful Game: Concussion Aftermath Reveals Brutality of NFL
• Cigarette Warning Labels Include Graphic Images
• Same Sex Marriage is Illegal in North Carolina so Why Amendment 1?
• Illegal Immigration
• Study: Violence Damages Children's DNA