I came across an interesting quote in a new book by Nobel Prize winner in economics, Edmund Phelps.  This was in his new book entitled Mass Flourishing.  The context is a discussion of the conditions necessary for what he calls “dynamism” in an economy, or innovation and entrepreneurship.  Here it is: “The more opportunity that […]

‘Je Suis Charlie’ In light of the murders of much of the staff of Charlie Hebdo, the magazine that published cartoons of Mohammed, and paid for it, an interesting movement has developed. ‘Je Suis Charlie‘ is growing into a popular hashtag, sign, and symbol, as people from around the world are unifying around the idea […]

Your news links for January 8th are… Terrorism in Paris Islamic terrorists invaded a magazine’s offices in Paris and killed cartoonists, visitors, and two police officers, ostensibly because the magazine, Charlie Hedbo, had previously published cartoons depicting Mohammed in less than flattering positions. Here is the BBC’s description. Also, I wrote a post on the […]

According to early reports, the three gunmen who slaughtered an office full of French cartoonists and two police officers, said, as they departed the scene, “We have avenged the Prophet Mohammed…” Charlie Hebdo, the magazine, is essentially dead at the hands of religious zealotry. For what, you might ask, did Mohammed demand revenge? The publication […]

I just finished reading part of a transcript from an interview on MSNBC this morning of Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont, and reliable liberal.  The topic was the massacre of twelve employees of a Paris magazine that had spoofed the prophet Muhammed with a cartoon picture with caption.  All I can say is, “Wow!”  […]

In what I hope will become a running feature here at Bereans @ The Gate, here are links of interest for today: A sliver of the GOP attempted a coup against John Boehner for Speaker of the House. They failed. Now, there are consequences. Some of them will lose choice committee slots. If you plan […]

Mike Huckabee (R-ARK) is considering a presidential run in 2016. He has stepped away from his lucrative Fox News show so that he can ponder the possibilities. (Fox does not allow employees to run for office while under contract.) Indications are that he will jump into the contest. Huckabee is, without challenge, the standard-bearer for […]

As the new Republican congress gets set to tackle the Obama agenda, its pertinent to ask if we’re winning or losing on spending.  After all, this is supposedly the reason for the rise of the tea party–out of control spending on the part of the Obama administration.  This past fall the U.S. government reported the […]

Brigid Schulte, at The Washington Post, has written an interesting piece on Isabel Sawhill, a scholar at Brookings, and the future of marriage. Sawhill has historically promoted and defended marriage based on its economic benefits for both parents and children.  For example, children in single-parent families are four times more likely to live in poverty than […]

This review is late. After all, Interstellar debuted seemingly eons ago and most of those who are going to see it in theaters have already done so. If you are on the fence about the possibility, let me implore you. Get thee to a theater. Interstellar demands a large screen, high quality sound, and popcorn drizzled […]