This is a wonderful way of visually representing how the presidential candidates measure in terms of political belief. It uses the political compass and online quiz that is common but applies it to the candidates.

 
Along with the conflict between Israel and Palestine, there is the strife between Pakistan and India. However, despite perceptions that Islam and Hinduism are so disparate, there is evidence that there was accommodation between the two faiths before colonialism.

 
Peer-to-peer filesharing is a method of decentralized communication that goes beyond sharing music files. However, it must be stressed that this will help music production in the long term, and stimulate new forms of selling music. It must move beyond the petty accusations of piracy that paint an inaccurate picture of what is really transpiring.

 
In light of the close election for mayor of San Francisco earlier this month, we see that the values of the Green Party has a resonance with voters. There seems to be a discontent with the status quo that shows a window of opportunity for populists and progressives. There is a rising reform movement that could have a large impact on the future presidential election.

 
For the holiday season, here is a take on the classic Christmas Carol that deals with a critique of the illegalization of marijuana. It looks at the history and inconsistencies of the War on Drugs and how it fails to treat addiction and criminalizes a victimless act.

 
The conflict in the Middle East can appear to be completely foreign to the United States. However, as in this case, one can see how the restriction of basic rights and the militarization of a people in Israel and Palestine can only result in violence, revenge, and long term instability.

 
Space exploration ignites the imagination of all humans. As an effect of the space race which stimulated great leaps in technological advancement, there were plans for space habitats. The L5 Society was an organization that lobbied and speculated on ways to live in outer space. It demonstrated the drive of the human spirit and was combined with the ability to use technology in new ways.

 
In the last 20 years there has been the rise of edge cities. They are defined as the growth of business districts outside of the urban core and near suburban areas, which results in a new type of living environment. These are an evolution of the suburbs that may have new applications as businesses drift away in future scenarios.

 
Here is a retrospective of film history beginning with the 1890's and ending with the early 2000's, touching on themes and film movements in each decade. It is a good introduction to film theory.

 
In order to understand the current political situation it is important to be aware of neoliberalism as well as neoconservatism. The former is domestic and economic in nature while the latter is practiced in foreign policy. They are the guiding philosophies of the past ten years and is fully implemented in the Bush administration to such a large degree with the war in Iraq and the full support of NAFTA, FTAA, WTO, and the World Bank.

 
There are numerous surveys on the Internet, including ones to test one's political orientation. Here is one example that goes beyond the simple left/right spectrum.

 
This is an inspiring story about resisting forced patriotism. It demonstrates that true loyalty to one's country means being critical of wrongful actions and realizing that there are imperfections both in the present and the past. Dissent against extreme conformity is a valuable trait to teach to the youth of America.

 
The recent discovery of four bars of music written by Ludwig Wittgenstein further elaborates the depth of this philosopher's genius. Even though it lasts less than 30 seconds when played, it can be a great starting point for learning about how this man was able to deal with great ideas through an artistic and intellectual way.