Death Takes a Policy: How a Lawyer Exploited the Fine Print and Found Himself Facing Federal Charges
Rhode Island prosecutors say that Joseph Caramadre is an unscrupulous con artist who engaged in identity theft, conspiracy and two different kinds of fraud. Prosecutors contend he deceived the terminally ill to make millions for himself and his clients. His criminal trial is scheduled to begin in November.
The Century of the Child: Contributions of women as architects, designers, teachers, critics, and social activists
"Our age cries for personality, but it will ask in vain, until we allow them to have their own will, think their own thoughts, work out their own knowledge, form their own judgements; or, to put the matter briefly, until we cease to suppress the raw material of personality in schools, vainly hoping later on in life to revive it again."
We Have Another Five Years? Underestimating Longevity and Working in Retirement
In the past half-century, life expectancy for newborn Americanfemales, the average increase was about 1.5 years per decade, from 73.1 years in 1960 to 80.8 years by 2010. “There is a general misunderstanding of what ‘average life expectancy’ means, and when people are told they will live to an age such as 80 or 85, they don’t realize that this means there is a 50 percent chance that they could live past that age.”
One Woman's Reaction: US Representative Todd Akin on Rape and Pregnancy
Julia Sneden writes: Isn’t it odd that the very people who keep saying we need to get the government out of our lives, at the same time condone legislation insisting that more than half the population needs its government to tell them what to do or not to do with their wombs?
Entering College Class of 2016: They have never needed an actual airline “ticket,” a set of bound encyclopedias, or Romper Room
They are probably the most tribal generation in history and they despise being separated from contact with friends. They are helping their parents understand that you don’t take pictures on “film” and that CDs and DVDs are not “tapes.” Those parents have been able to review the crime statistics for the colleges their children have applied to.
Shopping With The Irresistibles: Spoon Sisters and One King's Lane
We discovered One King's Lane not long ago and although we've sworn off daily emails from any shopping sources, we have to admit that we lost our resolve with this site. Years ago we added the Spoon Sisters to our shopping pages and although they sound like a singing duo, they're dedicated to quirky, useful, colorful, unique shopping.
Ellsworth Kellys Botanical Art: Corn On the Roof, Hyacinth, Seaweed and Wild Grape Leaves
Val Castronovo writes: The botanicals, “portraits” in his words, are simple, elegant distillations of all manner of vegetation — sweet peas, sunflowers, ginkgo, water lilies, calla lilies, beanstalks, banana leaves, coral leaves, wild hibiscus, grass. The emphasis is on contour drawing. In these minimalist masterpieces, without shading, the line is the thing.
Todd Akin's "Forcible rapes hardly ever result in pregnancy": A 1996 Study About Rape-related Pregnancies
The national rape-related pregnancy rate is 5.0% per rape among victims of reproductive age (aged 12 to 45); among adult women an estimated 32,101 pregnancies result from rape each year.
Why Don't They Vote: Who Are the Unlikelies?
“There is a huge block of Americans who are never asked their opinions because they are immediately screened out once they’ve indicated that they are not registered or unlikely to vote. It is the first poll taken this year that exclusively looks at this segment of the population."
What Is In That Lipstick and Other Beautiful Questions
“While voluntary action on the part of manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson indicates that some in the cosmetics industry are getting the message that consumers want safer products. Only stricter regulation of this $50 billion industry will ensure that all consumers are protected.”
Suddenly Homeless
Rose Mula writes: I was awakened by what sounded like the pitter-patter of a gentle rain against my windows. I wish. Instead, it was the dripping of toilet water from a broken commode in the empty condo above mine. The demolition crew moved my furniture into a temporary storage pod, then started mercilessly ripping up floors and tearing down ceilings and walls, releasing trapped water before mold had a chance to establish a beachhead.
Elaine Soloway's Caregiving Series: Food and Music - A Perfect Match
Elaine writes: As we dipped corn chips into salsa, we revealed our favorite things. We were like game show contestants hoping to find correct answers. We matched on Masterpiece Theatre, jazz vocalists, dogs and cats, and quiet nights at home. When we learned we had the same favorite song, It Never Entered My Mind by Rodgers and Hart, we felt we had won first prize.
Maeve Binchy, Queen of the Bookshelves ... and Friend
Jane Shortall writes: Her books chosen by Oprah, made into movies, Maeve somehow managed to remain one of us, to stay absolutely the same warm, giving, human being. Beyond generous, she gave away both time and money as if she had double the amount to spare. She was, in every sense, larger than life, with a superior imagination and an uncanny ability to tell a story.
“I should have married her when I had the chance.” Sex Differences in Relationship Regret
“I should have married her when I had the chance.” “I shouldn’t have eaten that entire pie.” “If only I had not gotten into that car on that fateful day.” Sentiments such as these reflect an emotion that is known to most of us. Regret is an unpleasant emotion commonly felt when we experience some unfortunate outcome that we believe would have been different had we taken a different course of action.
Canadian Exceptionalism: Optimism About Immigration
Canadian public opinion has been supportive of immigration for a long time and support has been increasing over recent decades, a time of economic uncertainty and concerns over foreign terrorists.ompared to the citizens of other developed immigrant-receiving countries, Canadians are by far the most open to and optimistic about immigration.
Notice to Employers: Mothers Are More Engaged At Work Than Fathers, Research Shows
Popular beliefs about work-family issues characterize working moms as having a divided focus on home and work — they are therefore seen as less competent, less committed, and, as a result, less worthy of employment and promotion than men or childless women.
Just Us
Adrienne G. Cannon writes: Hey Bob! Look who has come visiting. So many friends and family members.....and they’ve come to celebrate your active and joyful life and remember their special moments with you. But first, I want to remember with you, those days when, before all these folks came into our lives and it was — just us.
Your Mobile Phone: Reassessing Radio Frequency Exposure
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has advised that the FCC should formally reassess and, if appropriate, change its current RF energy exposure limit and mobile phone testing requirements related to likely usage configurations, particularly when phones are held against the body. By not formally reassessing its current limit, FCC cannot ensure it is using a limit that reflects the latest research on RF energy exposure.
Gauguin, Cézanne, Matisse: Visions of Arcadia
The dream of Arcadia, a mythic place of beauty and repose where humankind lives in harmony with nature, has held an enduring appeal for artists since antiquity. With its promise of calm, simplicity, and order, it has served as both an inspiration and as an image of refuge, a place that is distant and seemingly protected from the vicissitudes of life.
Apply for Martian Citizenship While You Wait for 'Seven Minutes of Terror'
Curiosity's main assignment is to investigate whether its study area ever has offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life. By designing the aeroshell enclosing Curiosity to create lift and be steerable, engineers were able to build a system that lands much more precisely instead of dropping like a rock. Watch a video explaining the '7 minutes of terror'.
Even with Dyed Hair, “Grey Power” Has Taken Root
Doris O'Brien writes: There’s an odd assumption that people tend to become invisible as they grow old ... women, in particular. I figure I could rob a bank and nobody would even notice who done it. But, in reality,seniors are the least likely to break the law, and maybe even the most reluctant to publicly express their opinions on controversial subjects, for fear of refutation, ridicule, or even recrimination.
National Archives Nationwide Network and Attachments: Faces and Stories from America’s Gates
The exhibit draws from the millions of immigration case files in the Archives to tell a few of these stories from the 1880s through World War II. It also explores the attachment of immigrants to family and community and the attachment of government organizations to immigration laws that reflected certain beliefs about immigrants and citizenship. These are dramatic tales of joy and disappointment, opportunity and discrimination, deceit and honesty.
Those Revealing Social Security Cards: Protecting You From Identity Theft
More than 48 million Medicare cards display the SSN (Social Security Number), which increases Medicare beneficiaries’ vulnerability to identity theft. GAO was asked to review the options and associated costs for removing SSNs from the Medicare card.
Every man for himself: Gender, Norms and Survival in Maritime Disasters
Our results provide a new picture of maritime disasters. Women have a distinct survival disadvantage compared to men. Captains and crew survive at a significantly higher rate than passengers. We also find that the captain has the power to enforce normative behavior, that the gender gap in survival rates has declined.
First, Do No Harm: A Hearing About Enhancing Women's Retirement Security
Statistics illustrate the discrepancy between men’s and women’s retirement funds: “The median 401(k) account balance for men age 60 and older is $82,000 and only $46,000 for women age 60 and older. Clearly more needs to be done to help women. For those with low account balances, solutions that merely annuitize retirement accounts will not be sufficient.”






