In most discussions of global affairs, China and India are the 800-pound (insert large animal of your choice) in the room. With almost half of the world's population, the two nations are developing at an alarming — and inspiring — rate, their newspapers along with them. While much media analysis mourns the decline of print journalism in the U.S., associate professors Nikhil Moro of the University of North Texas and Debashis Aikat of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill looked at the newspaper industry boom in China and India for solutions. Taking their cue from Eric Schmidt, ... Read More
Making Seed Aid Blossom
November 18, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
The summer floods continue to leave Pakistanis struggling to survive. Some areas are reporting 100 percent crop losses and tens of thousands of livestock deaths, making Pakistan’s agricultural future uncertain at best. Around 17 million acres of crops are under water or destroyed, and many of the animals that have survived have nothing to eat. With the wheat-planting season already under way, experts fear that crops for the next two years could be affected if farmers are unable to plant by this November. The Pakistan Emergency Response Fund, set up by the United Nations, has thus far ... Read More
When Migrant Workers Return Home
October 31, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
As the midterm elections approach, many Americans are worrying about two things: the economy and immigration. Republicans are expected to come out ahead on these issues, although would-be voters may not realize that deportations have increased since Obama took office, as have crackdowns on employers — leaving many migrant workers, legal and illegal, unemployed. Anecdotal evidence abounds indicating that, as the recession continues, more and more migrants are returning home, unable to find work. On a recent trip through Central America, I found that conversation after conversation ... Read More
Public Schools: An Untapped Recreational Resource
August 30, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
There is no shortage of research touting the health benefits of physical activity: Exercise can reduce gall stones and protect the hypothalamus, in addition to providing the more obvious benefits of improved cardiovascular health and an endorphin-elevated mood. Plenty of research has shown the consequences of inactivity, too, as John McKinney documented in a 2009 Miller-McCune.com article, pointing out that a lack of physical activity is now the No. 2 cause of death in the U.S. and accounts for 6 to 10 percent of the country's health care expenses. One way to get people to be more ... Read More
Recreating the Creative Industry in New Orleans
August 24, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
After Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, there seemed to be hundreds, if not thousands, of proposed solutions to the "problem" of New Orleans. Some argued that the city should be relocated to higher ground; others said it should be rebuilt from the ground up as America's model green city; still others advocated that the city allow nature to determine its shape. These blueprints had one thing in common: They sought to re-establish The Big Easy as one of America's great cities (even though some of the city's detractors argued that it should be abandoned altogether). While many of the proposals ... Read More
The Yellow Light Conundrum
June 10, 2010 • By • 3 Comments
Even before attending a driver's education class, most would-be drivers know how traffic signals work: green means go, red means stop and yellow means slow down. Or does it? Real-world experience suggests that for many drivers, yellow is a cue to speed up, an indication that if you want to make it through the intersection, you'd better gun it. What dictates whether a driver hits the brakes at a yellow light or races through it? A new study by University of Cincinnati doctoral student Zhixia Li identifies factors influencing the split-second decision that follows what he refers to as ... Read More
Corruption Leads to More Corruption
June 6, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
Once upon a time, there was a monarchy. Like many governments, it required a number of people — dukes, knights, lords, etc. — to function. These people were chosen based on their proximity or loyalty to the royal family, which was itself royal because it had more money and land than other families. The members of the court were rewarded for their service to the royal family, and they drew their power from having more money and power than everyone else. Back in the days of monarchies, government officials who were in with the king (and/or queen) were, to a large extent, allowed to do ... Read More
Full-Time Students, Part-Time Education
June 4, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
"When I was your age, I had to walk to school. Barefoot. In the snow. And it was uphill — both ways." So begins the stereotypical you-kids-don't-know-how-easy-you-have-it rant. Ignoring the logistical problems of the uphill-both-ways argument, there's more than a little research suggesting that Grandpa might be right. One study covered by Miller-McCune.com in October found that leisure time for adolescents in the U.S. has been on the rise since the 1970s, while paid work time, time spent on household chores and time spent doing schoolwork have decreased. On average, girls have gained ... Read More
Studying Abroad or Drinking Abroad
May 27, 2010 • By • 3 Comments
American students’ foreign language skills may be lacking, but participation in study abroad programs has quadrupled in the last 20 years, according to a 2009 report by the Open Doors Initiative. Proponents of study abroad programs tout them as a great way for American students to get out of their comfort zones and experience other cultures. Study abroad program websites contain inspirational quote after inspirational quote claiming that time in another country has changed the life of Ashley or Robert (who now goes by Roberto). For plenty of students, however, “experiencing other ... Read More
