Iran Crisis Guide brings CFR third Emmy Award

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has won an Emmy Award in the category of “New Approaches to News & Documentary Programming: Current News Coverage” for its “Crisis Guide: Iran,” an interactive learning tool with timelines, maps, analysis and other resources. “We are excited about this recognition and proud of the team behind this series, said CFR President Richard N. Haass. “This award underscores the need not only for quality scholarship and analysis, but also for it to be presented in an accessible and engaging way, through the use of the most advanced media technologies.” CFR was selected among five media organization finalists in that category: ABCNews.com, NYTimes.com, NBC, al-Jazeera English and Globeandmail.com. The CFR Crisis Guides have won two other Emmy Awards. The project was done with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and in conjunction with MediaStorm, a production company that co-produced the series.


The weekend and beyond: Traffic, transit tips

The District’s 11th Street Bridge project opened a new ramp Thursday from I-295 onto the local bridge, one of three spans that make up the massive project. (DDOT photo) This isn’t one of our major getaway weekends, but travelers should look for some extra traffic this afternoon as people leave the D.C. area for Columbus Day, perhaps to get a look at the fall leaves up north. The Capital Weather Gang’s forecast suggests that Friday and Monday will be the best days of the stretch. In between, we get a blast of cool air and some showers. That shouldn’t stop the crowds for Columbia Heights Day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Harriet Tubman School on Kenyon Street NW, or the Taste of DC on Pennsylvania Avenue between Ninth and 14th streets NW, noon to 7 p.m. Saturday through Monday. The Nationals start their playoff series on the road, but the Redskins are back at FedEx Field on Sunday for a 1 p.m. game against the Atlanta Falcons. Road projects will be busy this weekend. There are many lane closings coming around the Capital Beltway/Telegraph Road interchange, for example. But one improvement occurred on Thursday: The District Department of Transportation opened a new ramp from northbound I-295 onto the local span of the 11th Street Bridge. So in the next couple of weeks, commuters will be getting used to a new access point to the Navy Yard, Capitol Hill and Anacostia. I’ll have more about this on Sunday’s Commuter page in The Post Metro section. Metro Metro weekend delays Trains on the Red and Orange lines will share tracks around work zones from 10 p.m. Friday through the rail system’s midnight closing on Monday. Red Line: On the eastern side of the line, where the work is concentrated, add about 20 minutes to normal travel times, Metro said. On the west side and through downtown D.C., add about 10 minutes. Orange Line: Taste of DC To clear room for the weekend festival, D.C. police will close these streets from 7 p.m. Friday through 3 a.m. Tuesday: Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Ninth Street to 14th Street;10th Street NW from E Street to Constitution Avenue; 11th Street NW from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue; 12th Street NW from E Street to Constitution Avenue; 13th Street NW from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue. Drivers, watch out for lots of pedestrian traffic throughout


Home Is Where the Party Is

courtyard garden. In late August, after three happy-hour-free months, Stanfill, 29, wanted to know where the beer-flowing socials had gone. He posted the question to the building’s Facebook wall. “We’ve been trying to mix things up,” management quickly responded, “with our Breakfast on the Go earlier this month and our upcoming Poolside Ice Cream Sundae Bar.” The plethora of events is thanks to Barbara Smith, the lead resident services coordinator at the Gramercy. She says the building hosts happenings so residents can get to know one another and “keep that home feel in the building.” Each year, the Gramercy partners with another Kettler property located next door, the Millennium (1330 S. Fair St., Arlington, 866-333-7158), to throw a massive Fourth of July celebration. Under a huge tent in the park between the two buildings, they serve up a full picnic spread: hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, etc. They provide beer and wine inside one of the buildings for the over-21 crowd, and they bring in stilt walkers, a moon bounce and a face painter for the kids. “It’s almost like a country fair,” Smith says. Activities such as these help residents get to know one another and have even spawned friendships. At the poolside ice-cream social this summer, a group of women came up with the idea of starting a book club in the building. “These people had never met each other before,” Smith says. “They went to that ice-cream party and became friends. That’s when you know you’ve got a hit.” Social clubs are a huge part of the culture at RiverHouse (1400 S. Joyce St., Arlington, 888-217-8530), an apartment building about a mile down the road. “It can be difficult to meet new people in D.C., especially if you are not from this area,” says Assistant Resident Services Manager Jessica Fill. “Our clubs are a great platform for our residents to branch out.” RiverHouse now has four clubs: running (the most popular group with 80 members), cycling, tennis and stitch (i.e. needlework). Each club has a Facebook page where members can find a tennis partner or schedule a jog or bike ride. Social activities are just as popular in buildings in the District, too. Raphaele Latillade, 41, has been renting an apartment in the Flats 130 at Constitution Square (130 M St., NE, 866-300-2916) since 2010. This year, she has attended a building-organized girls’ jewelry night with champagne


Cheating scandal lands ex-schools chief in prison in El Paso

There’s the garden-variety form of cheating on standardized tests — and then there’s the kind that is landing the former superintendent of the El Paso Independent School District in prison for 3 1/2 years. The El Paso Times Federal documents quoted by the newspaper said the conspirators “created the false demographics by improperly causing students to withdraw from school, discouraging students from enrolling in school, denying students entering EPISD from foreign countries properly earn credits, improperly reclassifying students from the tenth grade to the ninth or eleventh grade by changing passing grades to failing and failing grades to passing and by deleting students’ credits.” The scheme worked for a while, as test scores rose in most of the district’s high schools and the district’s academic rating improved. But the whole thing unraveled when the El Paso Times filed a Freedom of Information Act request for documents and the district owned up. Garcia had pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud for directing his employees to engage in the conspiracy and to a second count in which he was charged with misleading the board of education so that it would award a $450,000 no-bid contract to one of his lovers, the El Paso Times also reported. Along with the prison term, he was ordered by the judge to pay $180,000 in restitution and a $56,500 fine. Most of the dozens of scandals involving cheating on high-stakes tests in recent years have involved teachers and principals erasing wrong answers and marking in the right ones. Garcia brought cheating to a whole new level. There is, of course, no excuse for cheating on these tests, even when they are being inappropriately used in a high-stakes way to evaluate students, teachers, schools and districts. But this is just one more example of how desperate teachers and administrators have felt in the wake of federal and state policies that demand the high-stakes use of test scores for evaluation.


Nobel Prizes: Which schools have won the most?

(Correction: Rockefeller University has won 17 awards, including six when the institution had a different name. An earlier version said Rockefeller had won 11 Nobels.) It’s that time of year again when the Nobel Prizes are bestowed on the world’s brilliant, accomplished and lucky in the fields of physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, economics, literature and peace. The prizes have been given since 1901 — and from then until 2011, 549 awards were made, with only 44 of them going to women. Which schools or scientific institutions have faculty/researchers who have won the most Nobels over time? Here’s the list, as compiled from information on the official Nobel Prize Web site. You can see the entire list of institutions with individual winners here. Some schools have Nobel winners listed from different parts of the institution; for example, Harvard has winners from its Medical School in Boston as well as the university, the Biological Laboratories and the Lyman Laboratory, all in Cambridge. The following shows the total number of Nobels that an institution has received not including the awards being given this week. Harvard University: 32 Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 18 California Institute of Technology: 17 Rockefeller University 17 Stanford University: 17 University of California at Berkeley: 17 Columbia University: 16 University of Chicago: 16 Princeton University: 12 Max Planck Institutes: 11 Oxford University: 9 And the public school system with the largest number of Nobel Prizes is, hands down, the University of California system, with 36 awards. Note that only the last two institutions on the last are based in Europe; the rest are from the United States.


The United States of Search

If ever you needed proof of the diversity of the American electorate, the map below will provide it. A search company out of California by the name of Google, developed a list of seven political issues and then culled through a year's worth of search data to see which terms were used most commonly in which states. Before we get to a few of our the results, here's the map (you can see a larger version here): Some of the results are not surprising. Abortion is the top search term in southern states like Mississippi, Texas and Georgia as well as in Washington, D.C., which almost certainly has to do with the number of political and policy people inside the Beltway. Concerns (or at least high search volume) regarding the national debt are highest in five mountain west states. Social Security is a common search term in some of the nation's older states like Florida and West Virginia. The biggest surprise for us? Kentucky is the state where searches for legalization of marijuana are highest. Yes, Kentucky. One possible explanation: There is an effort to pass a law legalizing medicinal marijuana in the state, which could generate some search interest.


World peace and ‘Da Butt’

EU - Da Butt 1988 The European Union has won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. But let’s ponder for a moment an alternate, much better universe where a different E.U. would be so honored. After all, what better way to bring “fraternity between nations” than through the egalitarian powers of “Da Butt”? (h/t @SamSifton)


Five reasons why the E.U. deserved the Nobel Peace Prize

of the E.U. in 2004 and 2007 greatly increased immigration from poor to rich countries, which helped growth in the continent as a whole. There's a large amount of empirical literature, ably summarized by Columbia's Erik Gartzke here, suggesting that better economic conditions prevent war. That's intuitive, and the idea dates back to Kant's "Perpetual Peace." For one thing, good economic conditions prevent "diversionary wars" that states launch in an attempt to distract from bad economic conditions. As preposterous as it may sound, those wars do occur, with Argentina's invasion of the Falklands during bad economic times a prime example. In particular, Yale's Bruce Russett and Harry Bliss found that trade between states greatly reduces the chance of war. Evidence suggesting that European integration has greatly increased per-capita income and trade between member states, then, suggests that it has also reduced the chance of war. 3. It has spread democracy, and democracies don't fight each other. This is a matter of some controversy, but there is widespread belief among international relations scholars in the "democratic peace." Democracies and dictatorships fight a lot, and dictatorships fight each other all the time, but it's hard to single out a case of a democracy fighting another democracy. There are a few boundary cases — such the Kargil war between Pakistan and India in 1999 (Pakistan was a democracy but not a strong one) and World War I (Germany and the U.K. both had powerful parliaments, though less for the former). But even conceding those, the likelihood of conflict between democracies is still much lower than between democracies and non-democracies or between dictatorships. In one of the most-quoted lines in all of international relations, Rutgers' Jack Levy proclaimed that the democratic peace "comes as close as anything we have to an empirical law in international relations." So if the literature that Henry Farrell mentioned (and contributed to) is correct, and the E.U. promoted democracy among ex-Soviet satellites and imperial possessions in Eastern Europe by requiring democratic practices as a prerequisite to membership, then it in a small way contributed to peace in the region as well. Caveats are in order, though. Some argue that there haven't been enough democracies in history to draw strong conclusions about the effect of democracy on states' behavior. What's more, they claim that since the rise of democracy coincided with the Cold War, for which most democracies were on


Shorthand

* Romney accused Biden of misleading on Libya. * The White House says they didn't know about the security requests. * Obama voters in Wisconsin and Ohio liked Biden's smile. * A controversial voter fraud billboard isn't coming down. * And "Friday Night Lights" creator Peter Berg wants his slogan back.


How China builds so many trains, so quickly

Ever wonder how China seems to be able to build endless miles of high-speed rail quickly, cleanly, and without much fuss or political bother? Here's how: When the first high-speed line débuted with a test run in June, 2008, it was seventy-five per cent over budget and relied heavily on German designs, but nobody dwelled on that during the ceremony. And: China’s most famous public-works project was an ecosystem almost perfectly hospitable to corruption—opaque, unsupervised, and overflowing with cash, especially after the government announced a stimulus to mitigate the effects of the 2008 global financial crisis. It boosted funding for railway projects to more than a hundred billion dollars in 2010. In some cases, the bidding period was truncated from five days to thirteen hours. In others, the bids were mere theatre, because construction had already begun. Cash was known to vanish: in one instance, seventy-eight million dollars that had been set aside to compensate people whose homes had been demolished to make way for railroad tracks disappeared. Middlemen expected cuts of between one and six per cent. “If a project is four and a half billion, the middleman is taking home two hundred million,” Wang said. “And, of course, nobody says a word.” Not to mention: “America always criticizes us for human rights,” he said. “It’s our weakness. But construction is our strength. We put people together fast. The bosses don’t have to listen to anybody but themselves.” There's more in Evan Osnos's deeply reported look in the New Yorker at railway construction in China. This is the flip side of all those breathless op-eds you read about China's gleaming airports and high-speed trains and new roads. Autocrats can build quickly, but they also tend to build corruptly. America's got real infrastructure problems, but they're probably preferable to China's corruption problems.


When geoengineering goes rogue

U.S. agencies like NASA and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. He told the Guardian that it is the "most substantial ocean restoration project in history," and has collected a "greater density and depth of scientific data than ever before". "We've gathered data targeting all the possible fears that have been raised [about ocean fertilization]," George said. "And the news is good news, all around, for the planet." ... International legal experts say George's project has contravened the UN's convention on biological diversity (CBD) and London convention on the dumping of wastes at sea, which both prohibit for-profit ocean fertilization activities. As zany geoengineering schemes to slow global warming go, lacing the ocean with iron isn't a terrible one. Back in July, a research group at Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research found that the technique has potential to bury carbon in the deep ocean. Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institution estimates that large-scale iron-seeding could help the world sequester around 1 percent of its emissions. That's not nothing. But scientists still worry about the consequences of artificially mucking with ocean ecology. In 2009, an op-ed in Nature by four researchers warned about possible unexpected side effects from large-scale iron fertilization — for instance, the dead plankton could pull key nutrients out of the ecosystem. Victor Smetacek, a researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute, has said he doesn’t favor large-scale fertilization without further testing. That's why George's experiment has some people alarmed. And it highlights one of the more subtle risks of geoengineering. Many of the ideas on offer to cool the planet are remarkably cheap. A single nation can't cut the world's carbon emissions on its own. But a single businessman can start seeding the world's oceans with iron. Someday, individual nations or even concerned environmental groups might be able to spend a couple million dollars to spray sulfates into the air to cool down the planet. The consequences of artificially altering the climate would be hard to predict, but if the techniques are cheap enough, rogue geoengineering will remain a distinct possibility. Further reading: --A primer on geoengineering, the techniques, the possible unintended consequences. --A closer look at the science behind lacing the ocean with iron in order to create plankton blooms. --Scientists have also found that it's possible for cities to block heat waves with artificial volcanoes. But the side effects could be worrisome.


The geopolitical implications of (another) American rape arrest in Japan

strongly anti-base, give intense coverage to crimes by American military personnel and their families," the New York Times explained. It's also about the base itself, which is in the middle of a dense residential neighborhood and surrounded by schools. The recent arrival of new American aircraft, the tiltrotor V-22 Osprey, which locals believe is too dangerous, provoked "unexpectedly fierce opposition." And maybe it shouldn't be surprising that this historically nationalist society isn't crazy about an enormous foreign military presence on its soil. Japanese leaders don't have particularly attractive options for addressing the Okinawa issue. In 2010, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama pledged to relocate the U.S. base, then backtracked under U.S. pressure. Outraged Okinawans staged public protests, demonstrations spread to Tokyo, Hatoyama's approval rating plummeted to 25 percent, and he resigned. Okinawans and Japanese generally were already unhappy about the U.S. base before this week's arrests, so it's not likely that this one incident will on its own change much. But it's easy to see how this could help nudge Japanese politics in a counterproductive direction. Nationalist politicians are already on the rise, bringing less cooperation and more needless saber-rattling with South Korea and particularly China, with which disputed islands have become a focal point. It was the nationalist governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara, who provoked China's violently nationalist demonstrations by threatening to buy the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. It's hard to see how rising nationalism in either Japan or China is particularly helpful for the region's ability to remain stable and cooperative. If Japanese voters at some point again pressure their leaders to push for moving the base, the United States will have to decide between refusing, thus risking a hit to its relationship with Japan, or acquiescing, which would presumably set back whatever strategic purposes the base serves (containing China? deterring North Korea? securing shipping lanes?). A third option would be for the United States to move its troops some place else, which may inform the thinking behind its just-opened base on Australia's northern coast. Whatever the larger political outcome of the incident, it's a reminder of the tension surrounding the American base there that two 23-year-old American sailors can set off a minor international incident. Read more: - Japan protests alleged rape by U.S. soldiers - India's anti-corruption activists return - In Swat valley, a girl's school is gripped by fear - More stories from around the world


Why the Taliban hates polio vaccines

A polio vaccinator was gunned down in Pakistan's Baluchistan province Tuesday, highlighting tensions between local health officials' push to stem the region's polio epidemic and the attempts by Pakistani Taliban commanders to ban vaccinations. A team of male and female vaccinators was administering polio drops to children door-to-door when unknown gunmen on a motorbike shot dead a male volunteer, a senior government official told AFP. A health department worker applies a polio vaccine dose to a child in Peshawar, Pakistan on Oct. 16, 2012. (EPA/Arshad Arbab) The shooting spooked aid workers, and the vaccination campaign has been temporarily suspended in the area. Earlier this year, a key Pakistani Taliban commander halted a campaign to vaccinate 161,000 children, arguing that the health initiative could be used by Western forces as a cover for espionage. The New York Times reported: The commander, Hafiz Gul Bahadur, said that the vaccinations would be banned until the Central Intelligence Agency stopped its drone campaign, which has been focused largely on North Waziristan. The Taliban's fears also stem from the work of Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani doctor who administered polio vaccines but had also been working with the CIA for years and helped the United States root out Osama bin Laden, The Washington Post's Richard Leiby reported. Afridi was sentenced to 33 years in prison on treason charges in May. In July, the World Health Organization estimated the polio vaccine ban could affect about 280,000 children living in tribal areas of northwest Pakistan. Polio is a contagious, viral illness that causes paralysis, difficulty breathing and sometimes death. In the United States, the last case of naturally occurring polio happened in 1979. Pakistan is one of only three countries where polio remains endemic, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, the AFP reported. There have been 30 confirmed cases of polio in Pakistan this year, 22 of them in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. The situation has become so dire that Bruce Aylward, assistant director-general of polio at the World Health Organization said the government should try to assuage the Taliban's fears about the vaccination campaign. "We need to address any underlying concerns the people may have about the operation," he told Al Jazeera. "We need to have their people doing the vaccinating, doing the planning, and making sure that they're done in a way that is acceptable to those communities." Read more: - Japan protests alleged rape by


Best of 2012: D.C. Life

that heirloom pumpkin you just bought and you’ve got five recipes and three friends. K.P.K. 1st: Date Spot: Georgetown Waterfront When dinner and a movie just won’t cut it, Express readers turn to the Georgetown Waterfront. In the park, you can meander down paths and pretend you’re not in a city at all. Washington Harbor, the commercial food-drink-fun complex, offers dining, steps that lead right down to the Potomac, and a come-on-in-the-water’s-fine fountain where you and your date can play like kids in a lawn sprinkler. K.P.K. 1st: Place to See Famous People: Georgetown “Look, Honey! George Will!” won’t quicken any US Weekly addict’s pulse. Wannabe-paparazzos should stake out Georgetown, where that scruffy dude in a baseball hat and sunglasses could be Brad Pitt. Suggested stalking locations include Café Milano, where George Clooney is a repeat customer, and Bourbon Steak, at which Robert Redford and Adam Levine (who let him in?) dined this spring. Mick Jagger and fashion designer L’Wren Scott were seen at Filomena in February, and Drake and his entourage were spotted out shopping in June. K.P.K. 1st: Volunteer Organization: DC Central Kitchen Since its founding in 1989, DC Central Kitchen has been fighting hunger on multiple fronts. The charity sends 5,000 meals a day to local homeless shelters, after-school programs and other destinations; offers training for culinary jobs; delivers produce to stores in D.C.’s food deserts; and serves fresh, healthy meals to low-income D.C. schoolkids. K.P.K. 1st: Art Classes: Capitol Hill Arts Workshop The course list at CHAW reminds us how much we wanted to take all these classes in college but didn’t because we thought Journalism 101 would lead to a stable career. It’s good to know it’s not too late! “We get quite accomplished artists and people who have never put brush to paper,” says director Jill Strachan. Beading and fabric dying in “Beautiful Fiber Arts” or bookmaking in “Bound and Scored” both sound like solid resume boosters. L.M. 1st: Language Classes: Alliance Francaise Washington Google Translate is of limited value when you’re in Paris and really need to pee or discuss existentialism. Learn the language of love from Alliance Francaise, which offers training for babies (as young as 12 months), kids, teens and adults. Courses have adorable names like Phonétique (a look at the French accent) and Perfectionnement! (a brush-up course). Registration is still open for several fall classes. H.J.M. 1st: Cooking Classes: LivingSocial


Best of 2012: Dining

Velazquez was hooked after her first bite: “I said, ‘Oh my God, that’s the best brownie I’ve ever tasted.’” Agreed. M.S. 1st: Chef: Jose Andres It’s tough to keep up with the boundlessly energetic Spaniard who brings us so many gastronomic wonders at his Think Food Group restaurants. If Andres is not in his own kitchens here in D.C., he’s lecturing at Harvard about the “science of soft matter,” hanging out with star chef Anthony Bourdain or representing America abroad as a U.S. “culinary ambassador.” His latest adventure: reopening his avant-garde, tasting-menu-only restaurant, Minibar, on Nov. 2 in a new, larger space (9th and E streets NW). K.A. 1st: New Restaurant: Toki Underground Toki Underground is actually on the second floor. The contradictions don’t end there at this uber-hip H Street noodle house. A wood-beam ceiling tops a restaurant that’s a riot of graffiti and anime wallpaper, while Taiwanese-style ramen in a traditional “tonkotsu” broth gets topped with five-spice fried chicken, homemade sriracha sauce and other creative touches from Taipei-born chef Erik Bruner-Yang. He says he’s “honoring the tradition of making ramen,” while pleasing our modern palates. E.B. 1st: Place to Go to Impress Someone: Komi Chef Johnny Monis masterminds Komi’s $135 prix-fixe meal, which marches menuless from the kitchen and includes upward of 15 courses. Expect no shortage of surprises in the carousel of modern Greek small plates, which may include slow-roasted baby goat with pita and tzatziki, or foie gras and Wagyu beef-tongue gyro. Reservations are capped at parties of four to preserve an intimate feel and can be made only a month in advance. Komi is also closed on Sundays and Mondays, so getting that elusive reservation might impress your date even more than the dining experience itself. M.S. 1st: Place to Go With Someone Else Paying: Inn at Little Washington If your date’s pockets are deep, demand a visit to the area’s most notoriously expensive restaurant, where chef Patrick O’Connell serves locally sourced classic French cuisine with a modern twist. Dinner starts at $158 per person for a six-course meal midweek, excluding beverages, taxes and tip; a high roller can easily spend a few grand. To get your money’s worth, request a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour (it’s gratis for diners). K.A. 1st: Food Truck (Sweet): Pleasant Pops This ice cream truck for grown-ups serves sophisticated flavors — try honey lavender or Mexican chocolate — at farmers markets


China’s grip on the world’s rare earth market may be slipping

For the past two years, the world has had a rare earth problem. A man works at the site of a rare earth metals mine in Nancheng County, China. (Reuters) Okay, that's not quite as weird as it sounds. Rare earth metals are crucial for a wide range of electronics, from fluorescent bulbs to iPod headphones to hybrid vehicles. And China produces 95 percent of the world's supply. So when China began sharply restricting exports in 2010 — allegedly to give its own industries an advantage — the global prices for rare earths skyrocketed. Bad news. Except now it's looking like the rare earth crisis is receding. As this chart from Reuters' Scott Barber shows, the prices for various rare earth metals have started to fall quickly after exploding in 2010. (Gold and silver are in there for comparison to show that this isn't related to a general swing in commodities.) So what happened here? One key thing to note is that, despite their colorful name, rare earth metals aren't actually all that rare. At one point or another during the twentieth century, Brazil, India, the United States and South Africa were all major producers. It's just that, in the 1980s, China decided to ramp up production massively, driving out competitors and cornering the market. (China managed to do this, in part, by going easy on environmental oversight of mining, which can be a horrifically dirty process.) Then in 2010, China decided to restrict its export quota by 40 percent. That helped drive prices up and suddenly made it economical for other countries to start boosting their own production again again. Out in Mountain Pass, Calif., for instance, Molycorp is now reopening and expanding its massive rare earth metals mine. Meanwhile, Japan has rushed to reduce its dependence on rare earths over the past few years—especially since China has a habit of restricting exports every time the two nations get into a territorial spat. Panasonic has developed a technique to recycle neodymium from old electronic appliances. Honda is extracting rare earths from used car batteries. TDK Corp., which creates magnets for motors, now sprays dysprosium on its motors rather than mixing it in, in order to conserve. All told, reports the Asahi Shinbun, Japan's demand for rare earths dropped from 31,000 tons in 2010 to 23,000 tons in 2011. So even though China is still the world's largest rare earths


About the ‘rogue experiment’ that upset researchers

Yellow and brown show relatively high concentrations of chlorophyll in August, after iron sulphate was dumped into the Pacific Ocean as part of a controversial geoengineering scheme. Photograph: Giovanni/Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center/NASA A story in The New York Times tells about a California businessman who decided to launch an ecological experiment without scientific supervision and dumped 100 tons of iron dust into the Pacific Ocean near western Canada. Entrepreneur Russ George This type of “ocean fertilization,” a bioengineering technique aimed at manipulating Earth systems, comes up most often in the context of climate change. Critics say that nutrients added to ocean waters do spawn plankton but that the effect on marine life is still unknown and the practice is dangerous. The report quotes scientists who say the experiment was irresponsible and violated international agreements. But here’s what has really upset them, according to the article: Though the environmental impact of the foray could well prove minimal, scientists said, it raises the specter of what they have long feared: rogue field experiments that might unintentionally put the environment at risk. I couldn’t help thinking while reading this story about the parallels to school reform. For years now, we’ve seen unscientific ideas being dumped on public schools around the country in the form of vouchers, charter schools and accountability by standardized test score. These experiments were done without really knowing their effects on children. We’ve seen “rogue field experiments” that, in fact, did, intentionally or otherwise, put the public school environment at risk. The big difference: Government officials have been doing the educational experimentation. And the worst news of all: They aren’t finished.


Wig merchant is wholly unconcerned about Wal-Mart competition

WJLA-TV’s Sam Ford reports Toward the end, he interviews the owner of a wig shop near the site just north of Missouri Avenue NW. It appears to be #1 Beauty Supply, right across the street. “Not a problem!” said shopkeeper Rashad Ahmed. “Welcome to Wal-Mart!” Ahmed’s sanguine attitude goes to show that despite the high-strung rhetoric of some opponents, some of the typical anti-Wal-Mart arguments fail to hold water in D.C. — particularly the fear they will hurt local small businesses. The liquor, auto parts, cell-phone, barber, laundry, thrift and beauty shops that now populate upper Georgia Avenue have less to fear from the megaretailer looking to locate in the District than the major grocery chains and suburban big box competitors. If your beefs are with Wal-Mart’s anti-union stance, trade practices or commitment to urbanism, however, then beef away. The group that filed the zoning appeal says it will take its grievances to court.


Report: Gilbert Arenas close to signing with China’s Guangdong Southern Tigers

(Danny Johnston / AP) It’s time for Gilbert Arenas to trade in his hibachi for a little dim sum. The three-time All-Star guard and 11-year NBA veteran has failed to attract a suitor since the Memphis Grizzlies cut him loose at the end of last season. So rather than wait around for a team to come calling, the man formerly known as “Agent Zero” is heading to China. Arenas is close to signing a one-year deal with the Guangdong Southern Tigers on Monday, according to a report from Yahoo’s Marc J. Spears. The 30-year-old averaged 4.2 points and 1.1 assists in 17 games with the Grizzlies last season. He was suspended by the NBA for most of the 2009-10 season after he brought guns into the Washington Wizards’ locker room. The Wizards traded Arenas to Orlando the following season where he was waived last December under the amnesty clause. Arenas will join former Washington Wizard Yi Jianlian with the Tigers. Stephon Marbury and Tracy McGrady are among a handful of other past-their-prime NBA stars who have traveled to China to keep playing professionally. Follow us: More In China, Stephon Marbury is a hit Gilbert Arenas, Nick Young, JaVale McGee play paintball


The warrior on the Hill marches on

and staff who have endured her more-than-occasional bouts of fury, “which even admirers say seem more fitting for a sailor than a Yale Law School graduate.” Or, as former chief of staff Donna Brazile puts it, “She could cuss you out while chewing bubble gum.” While she’s also known as a savvy backroom operator, Norton says she often prefers the out-and-out political brawl: “I am most comfortable when I’m in a fighting-for-justice mode. … Here is the unattainable. Let’s see if we can get there.” In other news: Early voting is underway at One Judiciary Square (WRC-TV) Voucher enrollment is not keeping up with voucher dollars (WaTimes) What would you put on your ward’s flag? (The Root DC) “[Jim] Graham’s closed-door maneuvers are offensive and more serious than Marion Barry’s sole-source contract to a paramour,” says Jonetta Rose Barras (Examiner) Chartered Health Plan takeover offers relief to anxious clinics and hospitals (Post) Automobile tickets added $178 million to city coffers in FY12 (Examiner) Hizzoner says he’d be “happy to look at” a Bloombergian soda ban (WTOP) Food trucks get Wilson Building perch (All We Can Eat) All Hands on Deck but still lots of robberies (WaTimes) Rare mayoral honors for Family Research Council guard (Examiner, WaTimes) H.D. Woodson players and parents stand up for fired football coach (WUSA-TV) After “jihad” controversy, Metro ads will carry disclaimers (Examiner) Guilty verdicts for three men in 2011 murder of man alleged to have abused killer’s mother (Post) Council panel looks at updating scooter/moped regulations (Examiner) Marion Barry missed his campaign finance reporting deadline. Again. (Loose Lips) Residents are pleased with Upper 14th Street planning (Housing Complex) Former HIV/AIDS czar is nominated to United Medical Center board (LIMS) Income and sales taxes, not property taxes, drove FY12 revenue growth (WBJ) With “village square” request, Hill East redevelopment plans move ahead (Brian Flahaven) L Street NW will have its cycletrack soon (DDOT) DDOT will test streetcar service in Anacostia (Railway Age) Cyclist assaulted on Met Branch Trail (PoP) Read your parking meters carefully (Post letter) Ward 6 turns out to support Capitol Hill beating victim (WUSA-TV) New Carrollton man dies behind the wheel in Brookland (Crime Scene) It’s tax sale time again (WBJ) Today: Council hearing on driverless cars (AP) A closely-watched anti-SLAPP case is settled (Legal Times) Deer dies on lower 14th Street NW (DCist) Mary Cheh had her bike stolen (DCist) Coooooooooooley (Post)


Americans are obsessed with China’s obsession with America

(Liu Jin/AFP/Getty Images) Here's a sampling of the articles and blog posts spilling out of my RSS reader, all exploring Chinese reactions to their country's many mentions in the presidential debates: "Chinese glued to U.S. debate, with envy and concern" – Keith B. Richburg, The Washington Post "China and the U.S. presidential election" – video, the New York Times "China media: Quiet on Communist Party Congress, gaga for U.S. election" – the Los Angeles Times "Watching the debate in China: the panda sluggers" – Evan Osnos, the New Yorker "China is wary of U.S. candidates' tough talk" – Jane Perlez, the New York Times "Why China wants Romney to win" – Shen Dingli, Foreign Policy And on and on. Impressively, they're all fascinating, and all find something novel to say about Chinese views of the race. They also seem to be popular with readers. Partly, this is about China's growing fascination with America. "In China, far more people appear to be paying attention to the U.S. presidential race this year than in 2008. Internet usage has exploded since then, and the non-state-owned news media has become more vibrant," The Post's Keith B. Richburg explained. But it's also about Americans' growing interest in China, Chinese society and Chinese views. (How many articles have you read on Pakistani reactions to the debate? Did you notice their absence?) For all the tough rhetoric coming from American politicians and Chinese state media, the deep mutual interest tells a different story. You have to wonder the degree to which China and America's deepening economic integration, which has also entangled Chinese and American political interests, might be a factor in citizens of both nations peeking over the cultural gulf as well. I'm reminded of the headline of a recent BusinessWeek story: "Call It Chimerica: The U.S. and China Grow Ever Closer." The article was about economics, but it might have been about more. This post is the first of what I hope to make a running series: Chimerica Watch, on the ever-deepening connections – and occasional culture clashes – between the world's richest country and its most populous nation. There's more to this story than you might think, so check back.


Lance Armstrong likely to be removed from New York City, Boston marathon results, too

(Michael Paulsen / AP) Lance Armstrong’s name is likely to be expunged from the results of the New York City and Boston marathons, in addition to the Tour de France. Officials from both NYC and Boston races said they expect to follow decisions by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the International Cycling Union to ban Amstrong from competition and strip him of his seven Tour de France titles. However, both marathons are likely to wait until any appeals have taken place. Armstrong had been banned in late summer from running in the Chicago Marathon as well as the NYC race; those and the Boston race are governed by USA Track and Field rules. “I anticipate the results will come out of our archives,” Mary Wittenberg, president and chief executive officer of the New York Road Runners (sponsor of the NYC Marathon), told Bloomberg Businessweek. “Lance doesn’t have a place in running because we will stick to the rules and support USADA.” Boston Marathon officials also are waiting for any appeals to be exhausted before removing Armstrong’s name from its 2008 race finishers. “[T]here have been a great many developments on the matter of Mr. Armstrong over a rapid period of time. Perhaps there will be appeals,” Tom Grilk, executive dircector of the Boston Athletic Association, said in a statement to Runner’s World Newswire. “We have no way of knowing that. We will make every effort to be as thoughtful in our approach as the various governing bodies have been in theirs, and we will comply with the rules. Right now, it appears that the application of those rules will require expungement.” Armstrong, who no longer describes himself as a “seven-time Tour de France winner” on his Twitter bio, competes in triathlons. The Half Full and SuperFrog triathlons have recently chosen to have Armstrong participate, passing up sanctioning by USA Triathlon. Armstrong has denied doping, but gave up his fight against allegations in August. Follow us: More Armstrong changes his Twitter bio ICU bans Armstrong, strips him of Tour titles Armstrong’s participation trumps being officially sanctioned Armstrong in the SuperFrog Armstrong says he will fight no longer Armstrong “deserves to be forgotten” Nike, other sponsors drop Armstrong What’s next for Livestrong? Photos: Gallery of Armstrong’s career


Shorthand

* Obama said that kids know who to trust. * Mitt Romney's testimony in a decades-old divorce will be released. * He's raising tons of cash. * The Post editorial board endorsed Obama. * And the president voted in Chicago, with ID.


Qatar’s foray into Gaza politics: Bad for Iran, good for Israel?

some reason to think that Qatar's outreach to Hamas could do some good for a part of the world that badly needs it. Here's what some Middle East analysts are saying about it. Pro-Western Qatar could undermine Iran's often-nefarious influence in the region, analyst David B. Roberts argues at Foreign Policy. "While Israel and the Palestinian Authority may view Qatar's embrace of Hamas with chagrin, it is Iran that is the central loser in this drama. The emir's visit is part of a larger Qatari policy to unseat and reorient crucial Iranian allies around the Middle East — and by extension, amputate a long-used, effective limb of Iranian foreign policy," he writes. This is a bit surprising, since Qatar has long maintained friendly relations with Iran, its much more powerful northern neighbor. He adds, "The fact that Qatar is overturning one of the key tenets of its foreign policy by antagonizing Iran is a surprising and forthright move by the Qatari elite, which clearly does not accept conventional limits on what is and what is not possible in the Middle East." A Reuters analysis suggests that Qatar could help soothe divisions between Hamas and another major Palestinian political group, Fatah: "Analysts think Qatar, building up a leader's role in the Sunni Muslim world and influence beyond the Gulf, hopes to tame Hamas, get it to reconcile with the Fatah movement of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and perhaps advance the cause of Middle East peace." It's a long way from Palestinian unity to Middle East peace, but the former would still be a step in the direction of the latter, in part by making negotiations easier for Israel. That may explain why some analysts believe Israel and the United States gave Qatar the go-ahead for this trip, as Israel-Palestine watcher Hamadi El-Aouni told Deutsche Welle. Their goal seems to be to "re-orient" Palestinian groups away from supporters Iran and Syria and help them establish "new partners in the western-oriented and Sunni Middle Eastern countries," the paper explains, such as Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, and yes, Qatar. As Syria burns and Iran struggles under sanctions, these stabler and richer Sunni states — though at times perceived as too close to the U.S. or even to Israel — could be attractive allies for Hamas. Cash-strapped Palestinian groups such as Hamas must prove to Palestinians that they can provide for them, which costs money.


Shirlington Takes Shape

10 years, has witnessed its transformation from a suburban ghost town to a pedestrian-friendly, urban oasis. “When I moved here 10 years ago, none of this was like this,” says Plummer, who rents a condo at the Windgate a few blocks down from the bustling commercial district. “The neighborhood has completely evolved over the years. And it’s still growing.” Shirlington, which gets its name from its location just off Interstate 395 (also known as Shirley Highway) in Arlington, is just minutes by car from downtown Washington, D.C., or a short bus ride from Pentagon Metro station. About 265,000 people live within a three-mile radius of the commercial core, with I-395 serving as the main north-south artery. It’s bordered by King Street and Four Mile Run Drive. When Federal Realty Investment Trust purchased the 261,000-square-foot retail property along Campbell Avenue, now officially known as the “Village at Shirlington,” in 1995, there were a few stores sprinkled on the west end, and the AMC Loews Shirlington 7 was showing a variety of indie flicks. But the cafe-culture that makes Shirlington so popular among young professionals today didn’t exist, says John Tschiderer, vice president of development at Federal Realty. Today, the Village is thriving, with 26 restaurants, bars and coffee shops. You can indulge in some fresh guacamole and a pitcher of margaritas at Guapo’s Restaurant (4028 Campbell Ave., Arlington, 703-671-1701), go for classic American cuisine at the Carlyle Grand Cafe (4000 Campbell Ave., Arlington, (703) 931-0777), or get in touch with your more artistic side at Busboys and Poets (4251 South Campbell Ave., Arlington, 703-379-9759). The small-town vibe mixed with big-city convenience is making the area, which once catered to the 30- to 50-year-old demographic, more attractive to the 25- to 34-year-old crowd. “It’s a popular place for first-time buyers,” says Pat Shannon, a real-estate agent with Long & Foster. “I’d say price is the No. 1 factor.” A one-bedroom condo in Shirlington costs between $250,000 and $375,000; a two-bedroom ranges from $275,000 to $600,000, she says. Rachel and Jamie Auslander rented in several different Arlington neighborhoods before purchasing their four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom townhouse in the Shirlington Crest development, just around the corner from the commercial corridor. They paid roughly $660,000 for a new luxury townhouse in 2010 but say the same home in almost any other neighborhood would have cost upwards of $1 million. “We don’t really want to go much farther


Shorthand

* Lena Dunham talked about her first time (voting). * Campaign events are being canceled due to Hurricane Sandy, and it could have a much bigger impact. * Obama responded to Sununu, and lamented the lack of political tunes. * And Harry Reid was hospitalized, but he's fine.


Man runs Marine Corps Marathon while dressed as RGIII

This is Tim Yang. He ran the Marine Corps Marathon Sunday morning while dressed as Robert Griffin III. Complete with helmet and shoulder pads. At least there weren’t any receivers dropping his passes. The 26-year old from Rockville finished the race in just over 6 hours. He probably would have been faster if he hadn’t stopped to pose for photos passing out Gatorade. \


The scary global implications of Japan’s slowdown

An elderly investor watches a stock board in Tokyo. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) The Washington Post's Chico Harlan had an excellent story this weekend on the declining confidence in Japan's economy, the third-largest in the world after the United States and China. "The mass turnabout has helped launch an alternative — and increasingly accepted — school of thought about Japan: The country is not just in a prolonged slump but also in an inescapable decline," Harlan writes, marshaling lots of disturbing data and analysis on the country's shrinking population and ambitions, as well as its ballooning debt and corporate losses. One indicator that could cause concern is public debt as a proportion of GDP -- a way of measuring how much the government owes versus how much the country's economy is worth. The higher this number, the greater the damage if the country's economy crashes and interest on that debt shoots up. The International Monetary Fund says that Japan's is the highest in the world, with public debt worth 229 percent of national GDP. For comparison, Greece is ranked second -- with 163 percent. The United States carries 103 percent. Unlike those European economies, however, Japan has been able to manage its debt because interest rates have been below 1 percent. But the danger is that investors in and outside of Japan, who have poured money into Japanese debt, will one day look at the country's aging and shrinking tax base, and decide that debt might not actually be worth as much as they'd thought. Economists Peter Boone and Simon Johnson laid it out from there in a recent issue of The Atlantic. "As in Europe, the financial system in Japan could face a wave of insolvencies, triggering a broader loss of confidence," they write. A crisis in Japan would most likely manifest as a collapse of confidence in the yen: At some point, Japanese citizens will decide that saving in any yen-denominated asset is not worth the risk. Then interest rates will rise; the capital position of banks, insurance companies, and pension funds will worsen (because they all hold long-maturing bonds, which fall in value when rates rise); and fears of insolvency will surface. That's how a Japanese financial crisis could start, but its potential global effects are even scarier. The "shock felt around the world" would hit not just the many importers of Japanese goods but the nations that


The ‘Lucifer effect’ theory of Chinese governance

Protesters in Ningbo march against a proposed $9 billion chemical plant. (AFP/Getty Images) There's been a recurring story out of China lately. It starts with local officials planning some project that infuriates locals – say, a chemical plant, as happened recently in the city of Ningbo. Protests mount, security forces crack down, the story goes national on social media and officials back down, maybe with one of them losing his (almost always his, as women hold few senior positions) job. Of course, most protests never accomplish this kind of change, and officials still typically get their way, but the number of successful protests seems to be rising. Li Chengpeng, a highly influential Chinese blogger and social commentator, posted a caustic essay about the trend on Weibo, China's Twitter, where it's already been reposted a stunning 100,000 times. In it, he pointedly compares the Communist Party's government to a "fallen angel" that assumes its own benevolence and inherently superior understanding of how to govern the world's most populous nation. Liz Carter of Tea Leaf Nation translates and analyzes Li's essay. Here's her retelling: At one point in his post, Li describes how locals in one Western city were beaten when they rallied against a planned chemical factory. Li spoke with the local cadre, who “shook his head and sighed, ‘You see, these days, people are so selfish, and they don’t understand science. This project will be good for them too, you know.’” Li ultimately concludes that “the Chinese model for power is too arrogant. The more arrogant it is, the lonelier it becomes.” ... Li believes that a failure to interact lies at the root of the decay of the Chinese Communist Party’s “model.” ... At play, Li writes, is something called “the Lucifer effect.” He compares the Party government to a fallen angel, “who thought he was always right.” He writes, “Our officials think they represent the truth, that they are fighting a holy war, and that they stand for the interests of the people. In the end, plunder is called development and thieves are called angels.” What's compelling about this theory is that it accounts for both the China bulls and the bears; those who believe that the Chinese Communist Party system ultimately works and those who believe it has too many flaws and inherent contradictions. After all, the Party's firm, top-down, technocratic approach helped lift millions out of


Studies: Casinos bring jobs, but also crime, bankruptcy, and even suicide

(Katherine Frey - The Washington Post) While the presidential race is taking up much of the oxygen this cycle, many states have important ballot initiatives on the ballot next Tuesday as well. Maryland is considering a proposal that would allow table games at the state's five casinos, as well as approve the creation of a sixth in Prince George's County, near DC. The proposal is touted as a way to fund education — for which the funds it generates will be earmarked — and, ironically, the opposition to it is mainly funded by owners of rival casinos. But economic research concerning casinos suggest that members of communities with casinos should be wary. Melissa Kearney, an economist at the University of Maryland, released a literature review in 2005 summarizing work on gambling done to date. A study by Maryland's William Evans and Julie Topoleski that focused on Indian casinos found that they created a significant number of jobs. The ratio of jobs available to adults increased, on average, by 5 percent. This in turn lead to a 2 percent decline in mortality, as residents' economic conditions improved. But the casinos also lead to a plethora of social ills, including increased substance abuse, mental illness and suicide, violent crime, auto theft and larceny, and bankruptcy. The latter three all increased by 10 percent in communities that allowed gambling. Other work backs up the crime finding. The Baylor's Earl Grinols, University of Georgia's David Mustard, and the University of Illinois' Cynthia Dilley found that 8 percent of crime in counties with casinos was attributable to their presence, a crime increase that cost residents, on average, $65 a year. And the bankruptcy finding has been replicated as well. The St. Louis Fed's Thomas Garrett and Mark Nichols found that Mississippi riverboat gambling increases bankruptcies not just in Mississippi, but in counties outside the state where many residents gamble in Mississippi. The effect was largest in neighboring states, with the Mississippi casinos responsible with a 0.24 percentage point increase in bankruptcy filings. Interestingly, other casinos — such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and so forth — didn't have statistically significant effects on other areas' bankruptcy rates. Unsurprisingly, legalized gambling also exacerbates problems with gambling addictions. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission found that having a casino within 50 miles doubles one's likelihood to become a problem gambler. That suggests that the new DC-adjacent Maryland casino


Why would Israel bomb Sudan? Theories cite Iran, Hamas, even the U.S.

An Israeli F-15 fighter takes off during an air show near Beersheva. (Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images) A military factory in Sudan was destroyed in a mysterious explosion last week, killing two, which the Sudanese government quickly blamed on an Israeli airstrike. It would not have been the first such strike, although Israeli officials did not comment on the explosion. Sudan is thought to provide a conduit for Iranian arms shipments through Egypt to Gaza, where Hamas and other anti-Israeli groups operate. Tellingly, the next day, Israeli officials accused Sudan of aiding Iran-backed militant groups in the region. Also tellingly, the response from Arab states — which, though not exactly enamored of unilateral Israeli strikes, also tend to be wary of Iran — has been "muted." On Sunday, the Times of London published what it's portraying as the definitive, detailed, inside story: Eight Israeli F-15 jets flew along the Red Sea and then east into Sudan, where four bombed a munitions facility, according to the paper's anonymous sources. The newspaper also reported that the Sudanese facility constructed missiles and was run by members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. But is there something deeper and more significant behind the attack than just destroying a weapons depot? It can be difficult to separate reporting from informed analysis, and analysis from speculation, with this sort of story. Here are a few theories, but to be clear, these are not mutually exclusive and it's possible that none, one, or a combination of them, has some truth. It's also possible that some of them merely provided added incentive to the attack, the primary motive of which may have simply been to destroy the munitions: 1) "Rehearsal" for "forthcoming" Israeli strike on Iran. 2) A warning to Iran. 3) Preparing for conflict with Iran and Hamas. 4) A message to America.


A viral, fake Hurricane Sandy photo migrates to China

(Weibo) The Chinese Web has picked up on one of the most popular photos from Hurricane Sandy. It's from Brigantine, N.J., and purports to show a shark swimming through the town's flooded streets. It was originally posted by a guy named Kevin McCarty, who earlier posted another shark-in-Jersey photo that TheAtlantic.com's Alexis Madrigal demonstrated was fake. It's been shared almost 7,000 times on Facebook and has now made its way over to China, where users on the country's massive Twitter-like service, Weibo, picked it up. (Spotted by Bloomberg columnist Adam Minter.) In a testament to the international media coverage that Sandy has received, the Weibo user identified "the U.S. hurricane" as the photo's source. He added of the shark, "In China, it would've been cooked already." In case there was any doubt just how similar the Chinese and American social Webs are becoming, this is a case where both picked up an almost certainly fake photo from a major news event, and both passed it around in amazement and with pithy, gently self-mocking comments. One U.S. Facebook user commented, "dinner!! get the rod!!!!!! shark steaks!!!"


NYC Marathon, Knicks-Nets opener will go on despite Sandy’s damage

Pro sports will return to Brooklyn on Thursday night. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images) In spite of the damage Sandy inflicted on New York City and New Jersey, several major sports events will go on as scheduled. The New York City Marathon will take place on Sunday and the New York Knicks’ game against the Brooklyn Nets in the new $1 billion Barclays Center is a go for Thursday night. The Nets’ game marks the return of pro sports to Brooklyn for the first time since 1957. Marathon organizers, however, left open the possibility of changes from past races. “The marathon has always been a special day for New Yorkers as a symbol of the vitality and resiliency of this city,” New York Road Runners President Mary Wittenberg said in a statement. “NYRR continues to move ahead with its planning and preparation. We will keep all options open with regard to making any accommodations and adjustments necessary to race day and race weekend events.” There are plenty of logistical issues for the race, which has a course that runs through each of the five boroughs. Out-of-town and international amateur runners may have difficulty getting to the city, with the restoration of flights and train service just beginning. In addition, nearly 50,000 runners may need to find a different way just to get to the starting line. Wittenberg said that about half the runners take the ferry to the Staten Island starting line; others take buses through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. Neither has been open because of flooding. Organizers of the race are working to re-schedule the flights of the elite runners who have entered the race. There are plenty of logistical issues for the race, which has a course that runs through each of the five boroughs. Out-of-town and international amateur runners may have difficulty getting to the city, with the restoration of flights and train service just beginning. In addition, nearly 50,000 runners may need to find a different way just to get to the starting line. Wittenberg said that about half the runners take the ferry to the Staten Island starting line; others take buses through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. Neither has been open because of flooding. Organizers of the race are working to re-schedule the flights of the elite runners who have entered the race. Wittenberg said Monday that NYRR had a long list of contingency plans because it


Sandy shows the U.S. is unprepared for climate disasters

Cuomo after surveying the flooding in lower Manhattan. "The construction of this city did not anticipate these kinds of situations. We are only a few feet above sea level." So how far along is the United States in thinking about climate adaptation? Not very far at all. A new comprehensive survey from October 2012 finds that some states and cities around the country are beginning to draw up plans, but they're nowhere near adequate. "Most adaptation actions to date appear to be incremental changes," the survey notes, "not the transformational changes that may be needed in certain cases to adapt to significant changes in climate." Climate-change adaptation can take a variety of forms. Louisiana has written up a plan to restore and protect its coastline from further erosion at the hands of sea-level rise over the next 50 years. Texas is trying to improve its drought-response plans. Governors out West have begun talks on how global warming might affect water allocation in the Colorado River. New York City has to think about how to deal with fiercer storm surges in the years ahead as ice sheets melt and sea levels rise. But the adaptation survey, led by Rosina Bierbaum of the University of Michigan, found that many of these plans were hobbled by poor funding and various legal impediments. Another problem is that climate models still aren't as adept at predicting precise impacts in small areas, which makes preparation difficult in some cases. (It's easier for climatologists to forecast that droughts in North America will become more severe and persistent than to predict exactly where they'll take hold.) What's more, the survey notes, there are surprisingly few studies looking at the cost-effectiveness of various adaptation strategies. As John Carney points out over at CNBC, New York City isn't going to be able to harden its infrastructure against every single natural disaster ever. Some actions just won't be worth the price tag. (It wouldn't be terribly cost-effective to move all of Manhattan further inland, for instance.) The same is true for all regions. So a lot more work needs to be done to figure out what, exactly, cities and states can do to become more resilient against various climate impacts. As Mireya Navarro reported in September in the New York Times, that's something that New York City was beginning to study. After all, as sea levels rise, storm surges and flooding


China and Japan looking to the U.S. on disputed islands

island, America's treaty with Japan would require it to take that country's side. Neither Japan nor China seems to see U.S. non-involvement as satisfactory, or even as truly neutral. Tuesday, at a Beijing-organized event, a veteran Chinese diplomat accused the United States of using the islands to stir up Chinese-Japanese tensions. He urged the United States to restrain Japan and push for diplomatic negotiations, which The New York Times called "the most detailed public exposition of China’s views" yet. Meanwhile, Japan's new ambassador to the United States insisted Wednesday that America's "stance cannot be neutral if it is to respond firmly in the event of use of force or provocation." Chinese ships have been pushing near the islands more aggressively, so Japan may be seeking louder American support as a deterrent. There are two revealing ironies to this. The first is that the island dispute is at its root about nationalism, about Japan and China treating their respective claims as matters of national pride, to both affirm and be affirmed by their national greatness. But appealing to the superpower on the other end of the Pacific would not seem to convey much in the way of national greatness. The other irony gets to the Obama administration's effort to open a "Pacific century" of American leadership in Asia. The United States, in this thinking, has been mired for decades in the toxic politics of the Middle East. But the forces driving East Asian regional politics aren't always as clean, manageable, and U.S.-friendly as economic development and trade. Asian nationalisms are some of the strongest in the world, particularly in China and Japan, and the logic of nationalism doesn't always line up with the logic of regional cooperation. If the United States wants to maintain the sort of leadership position in the Pacific that both China and Japan seem to believe it currently holds, then Asia's powers may continue looking to it on regional disputes such as this one. Indeed, if Japan and China perceive the United States as implicitly involved already, then non-involvement isn't really even an option. Reacting to a dispute like this one wouldn't just mean helping Japan and China through diplomatic negotiations, but wading into the complex, superheated nationalisms of Asia, which are rooted in ancient cultural attitudes, in still-fresh grievances, and in the tricky internal politics of both nations. And you thought the Middle East was complicated.


Shorthand

* David Axelrod bet his mustache on Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. * The price of the election hit $6 billion. * Joe Biden joked about his 2016 campaign. * Mitt Romney donated to the Red Cross. * And Obama will be back on the trail tomorrow.


Can we stop the seas from rising? Yes, but less than you think.

One of the main concerns with climate change is that it's causing the oceans to advance. Global sea levels have risen about seven inches over the past century and that pace is accelerating. Not only does this threaten coastal regions, but it also makes storm surges much worse — both for huge hurricanes like Sandy and for smaller storms too. We can hold back some of the tide, but not all of it. (Amanda Lucier/The Washington Post) And the oceans are likely to keep creeping up. Scientists project that if we keep warming the planet at our current pace, sea levels could rise between two and seven feet by 2100, particularly as the world's glaciers and ice caps melt. So that raises the question: Is there anything we can do to stop sea-level rise? How much would cutting greenhouse-gas emissions help? As it turns out, reducing our emissions would help slow the rate of sea-level rise — but at this point, it's unlikely that we could stop further rises altogether. That's the upshot of a recent study from the National Center on Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The study estimated that aggressive steps to cut emissions could reduce the amount of sea-level rise by somewhere between 6 and 20 inches in 2100, compared with our current trajectory. That's quite a bit. But sea levels will keep rising for centuries no matter what we do. We can't stop it entirely. We can only slow the pace. As NCAR's Gerald Meehl, a co-author of the study, explained to me by e-mail, it's a lot easier to stabilize global temperatures by cutting carbon emissions than it is to stabilize sea-level rise. The carbon-dioxide that we've already loaded into the atmosphere will likely have effects on the oceans for centuries to come. "But with aggressive mitigation," Meehl added, "you can slow down the rate of sea level rise, which buys time for adaptation measures." There are two ways that global warming causes sea levels to rise. First, as carbon-dioxide traps more heat on the planet, the oceans get warmer and expand in volume. Second, ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica as well as other glaciers start melting, pouring more water into the oceans. Once these processes get underway, they won't stop quickly, even if we ceased putting carbon-dioxide into the atmosphere tomorrow. The NCAR paper estimated that if emissions go unchecked, we could warm the planet


Beijing lockdown: The 10 craziest new rules for taxis, toys and, yes, pigeons

A window handle on the door at the back seat has been removed in a taxi in Beijing. (Andy Wong/AP) Chinese security officials to do not play around. Preventing public dissent in the capital city has long been a high priority, particularly since the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations, but somehow they still find ways to tighten already-severe restrictions during big events. The Communist Party Congress, in which the country's next top leaders will begin their decade-long terms, starts next week. New rules are already in effect in Beijing, and some of them are a bit silly, reflecting both Chinese officials' cover-all-bases thoroughness on security, as well as a degree of high-level paranoia. Could leaflet-carrying pigeons really threaten the stability of the world's most populous nation? Or, with Tibetans self-immolating and the economy sinking, is some official insecurity justified? 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10)


The secret story behind Xi Jinping’s disappearance, finally revealed?

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping attend a Beijing banquet. (Feng Li -- Getty Images) In September, Chinese vice president and the man about to assume a 10-year term as China's leader, Xi Jinping, disappeared mysteriously for two weeks. He went unseen, unheard, and undiscussed by official Chinese media at a time when the world was (and still is) anxiously watching China's leadership transition. It was weird, and a little bit scary, and we still don't really know what happened. Now, longtime China-based journalist Mark Kitto says he knows "the true story." He says his source is "someone with access to the top level of the Chinese governing apparatus." According to Kitto's story, Xi was hit in the back with a chair hurled during a contentious meeting of "the red second generation." These meetings of the Communist Party old guard's elite and now-adult children, which includes Xi, come with a lot of baggage. Old rivalries, petty squabbles, and apparently fights that include flying chairs. Here's Kitto: The meeting turned violent. They went at it hammer and sickle. Xi Jinping tried to calm them down. He put himself physically in the crossfire and unwittingly into the path of a chair as it was thrown across the room. It hit him in the back, injuring him. Hence the absence, and the silence, and the rumours. It's a plausible story, but given its single anonymous source, probably best taken as an interesting but not yet verified account. Kitto argues that this was a lost public-relations opportunity for the party, which could have used the story to point out that Xi has the "courage to quell the squabbling about personal histories and vested interests." It's a common perspective among Western "China bulls" that China's government is actually better than it seems and that its failures often come down to public relations. There's some truth to this, but in this case it's hard to see how rich, old elites fighting in secret meetings would boost popular attitudes toward the party.


marijuana


Can Colorado create a legal market for marijuana?

would have to decide how aggressively, if at all, it would want to interfere with a state-level law. “The next administration could essentially say, we’re not going to let this happen,” said Carnegie Mellon’s Caulkins. “Or they could take a position where they respect the voters. They could also just try to stop exports to other states, since you would have one place that becomes a lot more appealing place to do production. While some have pushed Attorney General Eric Holder to take a solid position against the voter initiatives - a stance he took two years ago when the California amendment was on the ballot - he has not commented on the issue. Tvert, in Colorado, is optimistic that they could have a positive working relationship with the federal government. The state recently established a regulatory system for medical marijuana, another law that conflicts with federal regulation. There, the Drug Enforcement Agency has essentially allowed medical sales to continue, albeit with some interference. “The federal government has largely respected our state’s right to regulate and control the production and sale of medical marijuana,” he said. “They once did send letters to about 60 medical marijuana businesses, informing them that must relocate since they were within 1,000 feet of a school zone." Caulkins predicted that even one state legalizing marijuana would have dramatic effects on the drug’s national market, near certainly driving down prices as the intoxicant became more widely available. “One of the things people don’t realize is that, in all likelihood, this will effect markets across the country,” he said. “Over five or so years, you’d expect this to start pushing prices down.” States like Colorado and Washington would have the power to revoke licenses of those who transport marijuana across state lines. But as Caulkins pointed out, it's a big challenge as there “aren’t walls between one state and another.” Lower prices could stand to dramatically alter the marijuana market. If everyone can sell a cheap intoxicant, there’s a new premium on finding a niche market. “If you end up in the situation where adding marijuana to a brownie is really cheap, like a penny or two, you could see someone capitalizing on that,” Caulkins said. “Maybe we’re not talking about Godiva Chocolates, but some enterprising business saying, ‘I can make more money getting people to spend $1 on a brownie than I can just selling marijuana.’”


New York City Marathon backlash growing days before race

volunteer at a city evacuation shelter. Sunday morning I will catch the marathon bus to Staten Island. Not planning to run. Plan to volunteer instead and gather resources (extra clothes, bottles of water, food from runners at the start). Let’s not waste resources and attention on a foot race. Who is with me?” Nearly 30,000 of the 47,500 race entrants will be traveling to the race from outside the city, adding to the strain on the city’s re-opened airports and heavily damaged public transportation system and extending the already lengthy lines at gas stations. New York Road Runners President Mary Wittenberg said race organizers commissioned buses to transport runners to Staten Island, but the city wants to use the ferry, as it has in years past. Full transportation plans were expected to be announced Friday. Bloomberg wasted no time postponing Thursday’s scheduled NBA season opener between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets at the new Barclays Center. That decision was lauded as both rational and warranted. As ESPN columnist and runner Mario Fraioli explains, Bloomberg owed it to his city to make the same tough call on the marathon. New York is a city that has a proven history of encountering tragedy only to unite and overcome it, even under the gravest of situations. I have no doubt that the city will do so again during these trying times, but staging a marathon this weekend — even the biggest and most recognizable one in the world — while the city it winds through is in the direst of straits shouldn’t be a priority, and it does very little to improve the current situation for many of the 8 million-plus people who call the Big Apple home. I’m ready to be ripped apart for what I’m about to write, but the New York City Marathon does not need to happen this Sunday. There are more pressing issues that rightfully deserve the city’s attention, energy and limited resources. Electing to cancel an event of this magnitude is not an easy decision by any stretch, and some would even argue advisable or conscionable, but given the situation it’s a difficult one that must be made for the greater good of New York City and its residents. Period. Follow us: More Bloomberg: Marathon won’t divert resources from Sandy’s victims Bloomberg: NYC Marathon will go on as scheduled Knicks-Nets game postponed; Marathon still on


Everything you need to know about California’s genetically modified food fight, in one post

Of all the state-level initiatives on the ballot this Tuesday, few are generating as much vitriol — or advertising — as California's Proposition 37. If it passes, the law would require some genetically modified foods sold in grocery stores to be labeled as such. Soon this sort of label is going to take a lot more work (Paul Sakuma/AP) Here's the text of the law (pdf). Those in favor, including watchdog groups and organic food companies, argue that Californians have a right to know what's in their food. Those opposed, including various food and biotechnology firms, say the law could lead to higher prices at the grocery store and hurt small businesses. More than $44 million has been spent on the "no" campaign, with giant agribusinesses such as Monsanto and Dupont donating heavily. So what's all the fuss about? Here's a basic guide to the fight over genetically modified foods and labeling: How do you genetically modify food? Why would anyone manipulate genes like that? So there's no one single type of genetically modified food? How prevalent are GM foods? Are GM foods safe, health-wise? Some scientists, however, do insist that much more research needs to be done before GM foods can be so definitively considered safe. In a dissent to the AAAS statement, 21 researchers argued that U.S. testing of genetically modified foods is still voluntary, and that things like increased herbicide use — which can occur with things like Roundup Ready crops — may have health effects we don't yet know about. So, they say, why not label and let consumers make up their own minds? Are genetically modified crops good or bad for the environment? That said, there are some legitimate concerns. For instance, farmers planting herbicide-resistant GM crops tend to use a limited range of herbicides on their fields, which in turn has given rise to a variety of herbicide-resistant "super weeds." That, in turn, leads to the search for new herbicides — what critics have called a "chemical treadmill." And there's the risk that genetically engineered traits could escape into nature. But there are risks to conventional crops, too, and the National Research Council found GM crops, on balance, less harmful. So what would California's law actually do? There are plenty of loopholes: The law would exempt many foods, such as meat from animals that are fed GM crops or alcohol. (That's not a minor


The week ahead: Darker p.m. commutes, more road delays

Much of the work for the Metro Silver Line is focused on the areas around the five new stations, like this one on Route 123 in Tysons. (Robert Thomson – The Washington Post) [This post has been updated.] Travelers will find this a cool week, with yet another big storm likely to roll through in the middle of it, the Capital Weather Gang says. The main thing commuters will notice first is that the sun’s angle will be different during their afternoon travel following the return to Eastern Standard Time. On Tuesday, watch for some additional crowding on the streets and sidewalks around the schools and community centers that serve as polling places. Darker earlier Daylight saving time ended early Sunday, so on Monday, commuters should be extra alert as they deal with the changes in visibility. Trips that had been taken in sunlight will now be done in shadow. The slanting rays of the sun as it rises and sets will slow traffic at different hours and in different places. Not all drivers will be prepared to use their sunglasses and their vehicle lights at the right times. And many pedestrians will not realize that drivers are having a tougher time seeing them. Slow down and watch out for each other. BW Parkway Workers were successful this past weekend in using specially designed moving equipment to place a new 500-ton bridge deck over the northbound Baltimore-Washington Parkway at West Nursery Road near BWI Marshall Airport. The effort had been delayed for several weekends, first by a problem with the equipment and then by Hurricane Sandy. “Thanks to drivers who diverted during the closures, which allowed crews to move the old bridge deck out and roll the new one in place in two nights,” Melinda B. Peters, the Maryland State Highway administrator, said in a statement. Weather permitting, the state highway administration plans to repeat the process on the southbound side. That will mean completely closing the parkway in this area overnights Friday and Saturday. Northwest Branch bridge Workers have begun the resurfacing that will substantially complete the Northwest Branch bridge rehabilitation, the biggest project now underway on the Maryland side of the Capital Beltway. Since Thursday, crews have been closing lanes overnight on the Silver Spring bridge to remove the top layer of concrete. Project managers hope to be done with the entire resurfacing by Thanksgiving. This two-year rehabilitation


Running Commentary

The news about running hasn’t been so hot recently. There’s the Michigan dentist who’s been labeled a “marathon fraud” for his questionable wins. There’s the competitive runner who was caught injecting EPO. Even the Lance Armstrong scandal has extended to his marathon times, which are likely to get wiped from the record books. “There’s lying and cheating in the air. It must be a presidential election year,” jokes David Willey, editor-in-chief of Runner’s World, which unexpectedly had a scoop this summer when it found that Paul Ryan had fudged his claim that he’d run a marathon in less than three hours. Whether the GOP vice presidential candidate purposely lied or just has a bad memory, the story had legs — particularly among Willey’s readership. “Runners are upstanding, responsible, goal-oriented people who put pride into efforts and times,” he says. “He tried to claim credit for an achievement without doing the work. That violated their unspoken code.” Will it affect the results of today’s election? Probably not, Willey says, but he thinks runners as a voting bloc will cast their ballots with a few specific issues in mind, including the environment and health care. Personally, he’d like to see running used as a public policy in the fight against obesity. “It’s the best and quickest way to get kids moving,” Willey says. It’s also an effective regimen for presidents, who don’t just run for office but also for exercise, stress relief, mental clarity and a host of other benefits, he says. The November issue of Runner’s World features an interview with former Secret Service agent Nick Trotta, who ran with President Bill Clinton and both Presidents Bush. “You can really tell a lot about the person by what kind of runner he or she is,” says Willey, who notes the major differences between the presidents’ styles. While W liked to go out in 100-degree-plus weather and rarely had anyone other than his security detail tag along, Clinton used his jogs as social events, inviting other folks to join in and often ending with a bite at McDonald’s. Willey finds it unremarkable that so many presidents have been runners. (“It’s not as though they’re stamp collectors. There are a lot of runners in America.”) What amazes him is that more politicians don’t run. “Running sends the message that a president is healthy, vigorous and active,” Willey says. “It’s also incredibly egalitarian and


Beijing bar serving Obama’s beer recipe for the election – at 8 a.m.

(Source: Cuju Beijing) In a vignette of what it can be like to watch the U.S. presidential election from the other side of the world, a Chinese bar is opening very early Wednesday: 8 in the morning, which will be 8 on Tuesday evening on the U.S. East Coast. Just in time to pack in, watch the Midwest returns, maybe decide the race, and pack in a few breakfast beers. Cuju sports bar, which caters to Westerners in Beijing (they show NFL games), even has two cases of a white honey ale that they advertise as based on President Obama's much-discussed honey brown ale home brew. The Chinese version carries photos of Obama and Romney, the label "Ale to the Chief," and Benjamin Franklin's famous quote, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Here's the bar's announcement, a glimpse into life for Americans abroad who are looking for a taste of home – and maybe a little drink to get the day started. Though most Chinese will probably not be watching from an early morning visit to a sports bar, the race does receive wide attention there, a reminder that the presidential election is a truly global event. yup, it’s that time.. every four years, we tune in to see what’s happening in USAnia and who gets to spend the next 4 years in the white house and grace a turkey on thanksgiving. so come into Cu Ju this wednesday morning starting 8:00 am to see the last bits of the US presidential election as it all gets down to the final wire. For this occasion, we have teamed up with our friends at 京A who have brewed up a batch of ‘Ale to the Chief’ US election beer (it’s actually the official White House honey ale recipe).. And guess what? The only place you can taste this baby, short of winning the US presidential election, is at Cu Ju this wednesday.


A quarter of Americans will vote by electronic machine. Is that a problem?

became popular in 2002, after the Help America Vote Act required every polling place to have a handicapped accessible voting system. Many states decided to use their funds to switch to touchscreen systems. As a result, more than 25 percent of Americans are expected to cast their ballot by electronic machine in this election. But as Pamela Smith of Verified Voting explained in an interview, not all of these electronic machines leave paper trails that can ensure the integrity of the system. That's troubling since if there's a discrepancy in the numbers, these machines are more difficult to audit. "At the end of the day, you need to be able to reconcile the number of people who came into a polling place with the number of votes cast," Smith says. "If it's off by a lot, there's a real problem there!" Problems aren't unheard of. In 2004, Carteret County in North Carolina simply lost 4,500 votes because of a memory problem in the electronic machines. Similarly, a large report (pdf) from Verified Voting, Rutgers Law School, and Common Cause documented more than 1,800 complaints about electronic voting machines in the 2008 election and more than 300 about the 2010 election. The report recommended that more states with electronic voting machines keep a paper trail -- a practice that some swing states like Ohio and North Carolina have adopted. Others, like Florida, are pushing for that system. Electronic machines can also be more likely to cause delays and longer lines at a polling place. If a machine's touchscreen is badly calibrated — so that it highlights "Mitt Romney" when you try to vote for "Barack Obama" — then a technician will need to come in and fix it. That slows things down for everyone. By contrast, if an optical scanner for paper punch cards is busted, that's not a big deal — people can still vote, it will just get counted later. Some of these problems do come down to money, Smith says. Many states are using technology that's more than a decade old, and funds are scarce to upgrade to systems that leave paper trails or develop contingency plans for broken-down machines. Most of the money from the Help American Vote Act has largely been spent. "A lot more jurisdictions would like to move to an evidence-based system, but there aren't always the resources to make that switch," Smith says.


AP: Massachusetts approves medical marijuana

AP projects that the use of medical marijuana has been approved by Massachusetts voters, with 30 percent of the precincts in. The vote makes Massachusetts the 18th state to legalize medical marijuana through state approved distribution centers next year. Question 3 on the state ballot states: This proposed law would eliminate state criminal and civil penalties for the medical use of marijuana by qualifying patients. To qualify, a patient must have been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition, such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV-positive status or AIDS, hepatitis C, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, or multiple sclerosis. The patient would also have to obtain a written certification, from a physician with whom the patient has a bona fide physician-patient relationship, that the patient has a specific debilitating medical condition and would likely obtain a net benefit from medical use of marijuana. The proposed law would allow patients to possess up to a 60-day supply of marijuana for their personal medical use. The state Department of Public Health (DPH) would decide what amount would be a 60-day supply. A patient could designate a personal caregiver, at least 21 years old, who could assist with the patient’s medical use of marijuana but would be prohibited from consuming that marijuana. Patients and caregivers would have to register with DPH by submitting the physician’s certification. Marijuana legalization measures are also before voters in Colorado, Arkansas, Washington and Oregon. Massachusetts is also considering measures on the "death with dignity" and motor vehicle repair information.


CAP names Miliband, Murphy and Fukushima to national security team

policy, global competitiveness and oceans and coastal communities. Miliband is the former British Foreign Secretary and will be based in the United Kingdom where he remains a British Labour Party politician, currently serving his constituents in South Shields as a Member of Parliament. Miliband has held several offices in the British Cabinet. In May 2005, David became Minister of State for Communities and Local Government, where he created the idea of city regions. He then acted as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where he spearheaded the Climate Change Bill which set the world’s first legally binding framework for cutting emissions. From 2007 to 2010, Miliband served as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the youngest Foreign Secretary in 30 years. As Foreign Secretary, Miliband stood up for human rights, advanced British interests in Europe and established a clear British voice on the key global conflicts of the day. Patrick Murphy is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. Building upon his congressional career, Murphy will continue to focus on enhancing our national security and supporting military families, making government more efficient for the American taxpayer, and leveling the playing field of LGBT Americans and their families. As the first Iraq war veteran elected to Congress, representing Pennsylvania’s Eight Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, Murphy served on the House Committee on Appropriations, House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He was also the author and chief sponsor of the bill repealing the Defense Department’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy concerning gay service members. Glen S. Fukushima is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, where his work will focus on U.S. – Japan relations, U.S. foreign policy in East Asia, and international trade. Fukushima previously worked as a the Senior Vice President of Airbus SAS, and chairman and director of Airbus Japan K.K. Fukushima served two presidents at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where he worked as Deputy Assistant USTR for Japan and China and director for Japanese Affairs. He is credited with opening Japanese markets up to U.S. exports during his time at the USTR. After leaving government, Fukushima served as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. Fukushima is a published author in both English and Japanese on topics ranging from political economy to international law.


Tens of thousands want Malala to get a Nobel Prize

Nearly 90,000 people have signed a petition pushing for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for Malala Yousafzai, the 15-year-old who was shot by the Taliban while campaigning for girls' education in Pakistan. "Malala doesn't just represent one young woman, she speaks out for all those who are denied an education purely on the basis of their gender," said Shahida Choudhary, the British woman who set up the petition on Change.org. Some of the Web site's top petitions have hundreds of thousands or millions of supporters. Pakistani hospital workers carry injured Malala Yousafzai, 14, on a stretcher at a hospital following an attack by gunmen in Mingora on Oct. 9, 2012. (Mohammed Rehman - AFP/Getty Images) Choudhary was born in Britain, but was taken out of school, sent to Pakistan and forced into marriage when she was 16. "I was trapped, afraid of what would happen to me if I resisted. Eventually, I managed to escape back to the UK and when I was 28 I was finally able return to education, but I still think about the years I missed. I also think about all the other girls in our communities today who are in the same situation. I know there are girls like Malala here in the UK," she wrote on her petition profile. Malala's father said she was "humbled" by the support from around the world, according to the BBC. The petition comes ahead of a planned "Global Day of Action" in Malala's name Saturday, organized by the U.N. special envoy for education, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and aimed at raising awareness of girls' education worldwide. The 15-year-old was shot in the head on her school bus last month by militants in Pakistan after spending years as a prominent young advocate for literacy and peace. A Pakistani ambassador recently said she is making a steady recovery and is starting to walk, talk and read. Mullah Fazlullah, the mastermind of the attack, has escaped retribution by hiding in a part of eastern Afghanistan where U.S. forces are spread thin and focused on other targets, The Washington Post's Dana Priest reported. If she became a Nobel laureate, Malala would be the youngest ever by nearly 10 years: So far, the youngest has been William Lawrence Bragg, who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1915 at age 25 for "services in the analysis of crystal structure by means


Shorthand

* We compared apples to hamburgers. * George P. Bush filed papers. * Darwin got votes. * Petraeus resigned. Some people are skeptical. * And Carney defended the crying video.


Reconciliation

- How Top Chef makes you love food you can't taste. - International aid group Doctors Without Borders has opened its first American clinic, in post-Sandy Queens. - When one identical twin is accused of killing the other. - Philip Roth says he is not writing any more books. - Pauline Chen on why comparative effectiveness research often fails to lower health care costs. - Portraits of vanishing glaciers. - Abbie learns that, after a very drawn out campaign, 'Bronco Bamma' has won the presidency.


On Veterans Day, recognition for service

Lynn Callaway, an Air Force veteran whose seven-year fight to receive disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs was described in an article Sunday in The Washington Post, has received her back pay from the government. Mourners on Veteran’s Day. (Michael Reynolds/EPA) The check arrived this weekend at her home in Springfield. “I . . . plan to buy health insurance this week so that I can get better assistance than what I have received at the VA,” Callaway said Sunday. After the Post inquired about her case last week, the VA contacted Callaway to inform her the case had been resolved and that she would receive pay for service-connected fibromyalgia. On Sunday, President Obama marked Veterans Day by laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery. “No one who fights for this country overseas should ever have to fight for a job, or a roof over their head, or the care that they have earned when they come home,” Obama said in his remarks. As of Nov. 3, 896,409 veterans were waiting to have their claims decided by the VA, including 66 percent who have had their claims pending longer than 125 days. VA officials vow that reforms and technological improvements will eliminate the backlog by 2015.