btw’s Year in Review: U.S. News
It’s that time of year again, time to take a break from the frantic pace of the holidays and reflect on the year behind us. Doing so not only reminds us what happened, but allows us to reflect on trends, learn from our successes and failures, and speculate on what might have lasting impact. 2013 […]
A Look at Magnificent Libraries
Going back to their earliest days–2600 B.C.E.–libraries have been many things to many people. For some, they are institutions of learning and a place to acquire knowledge. For others, they are sanctuaries, safe havens, community gathering spaces or architectural marvels. Even today, in an age where the printed word is challenged by digital content, libraries […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Super Typhoon Thrashes the Philippines The strongest recorded storm ever to reach land hit the Philippines on November 8. There are at least 10,000 reported deaths so far, and more than 11 million people said to be affected, around 673,000 of them completely displaced. The Philippines is a country made up of a cluster (or […]
The Kennedy Assassination: 50 Years Later
Some historical events leave a lasting impact on American culture and politics. The assassination of our 35th president, John F. Kennedy was one of those events that remain a strong memory for people who experienced it. Fifty years ago this week, on November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was visiting Dallas, Texas. He was on his […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Us First! You have probably heard about the Wright Brothers, the guys from Dayton, Ohio who have the credit for building the world’s first operable airplane and making the first human flight. You may also know about Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the place where the brothers first flew their plane. You might not have heard of […]
The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month
The end of war can be cause for celebration. The acknowledgement of victory and the joy of the thought of returning home to loved ones is cause to remember. Edward George Honey, a World War I veteran and journalist living in London at that war’s end also believed it was cause for a respectful silence. […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
First Aid for New Health Care System Now that it’s up and running again, the most recent challenge facing the U.S. government is rolling out the new health care system created by the Obama administration. To make sure all citizens who were eligible have access to health insurance, the government set up a website called […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
U.S. and Japan Partner on Security Last month, Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel met with their Japanese counterparts, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera. Together these leaders worked out ways to align on security measures that better protect both countries against threats from North Korea and […]
Shutdown Showdown
For the first time in seventeen years, the U.S. government is in the midst of a shutdown. This means that a number of federally-funded programs and services have been suspended and its workers “furloughed.” Furloughted workers are not allowed to work or get paid until the shutdown has been resolved and the continuing resolution that […]
So What’s the Deal with Obamacare?
You are probably well aware by now that the federal government has shut down temporarily. This is largely over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, sometimes called Obamacare. Congress already passed this law in 2010, which has been going into affect in stages. However, last Sunday night, Congress could not overcome political and financial […]