Monthly Archives: April 2020

“Covid-19 is not the end of the world but you can see it from here.[1]” World leaders have their hands full at the moment with covid-19. Why should they lift up their gaze and make the case for climate-change research … Continue reading →

“Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.”– Proverbs 27:2 (NIV) Yesterday’s LOTRW post closed noting that geoscientists and their engineering and social-science colleagues currently confront a dilemma. In the face … Continue reading →

And well he should. Here’s the background. The greatest generation was born into an era of rapid IT innovation that gave us the telephone and radio (and hinted at television). They then endured the Great Depression, a decade of hardscrabble economic … Continue reading →

Would you rather be part of a generation of great people, or part of a great generation? The answer should be easy. At each point throughout history, great people are everywhere. Truth is, get to know anyone – that’s anyone – … Continue reading →

Today is Earth Day – at not just any Earth Day, but the 50th[1]! A real milestone! But the backstory for today’s post goes back to a February 15themail from the eminent natural-hazard researcher (and, equally importantly, distinguished hazards pedagogue, policy … Continue reading →

The covid-19 pandemic has sharpened minds. Much of the resulting thought has focused on survival and recovery – both physiological and economic, and at individual, institutional, and national levels. But the scale and magnitude of events are leading each of … Continue reading →

Hold on! The CARES Act — $2T of aid and loans to keep Americans on economic life support during the social distancing and economic slowdown necessitated by covid-19, was enacted only three weeks ago. There’s talk this funding was deficient … Continue reading →

Whatever our place in life – where we live, whatever our relationships, our work, our culture, our circumstances – Covid-19’s school is in session, providing stern but valuable instruction, in ways that are broadly similar, but also in some respects … Continue reading →

“The disease is not a great leveler, the consequences of which everyone — rich or poor — suffers the same… This is a health issue with huge ramifications for social welfare and it’s a welfare issue with huge ramifications for … Continue reading →

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that [is] it’s an opportunity to do things that you think you could not before.”– Rahm Emanuel (Wall Street Journal interview, November 19, 2008) Covid-19 … Continue reading →