Today's Web Picks - America.gov

View Other Languages

From the birth of nations to global sports events... Join our discussion of news and world events!

Democracy Is…the freedom to express yourself. Democracy Is…Your Voice, Your World.

The climate is changing. Join the conversation and discuss courses of action.

Connect the world through CO.NX virtual spaces and let your voice make a difference!

Promoviendo el emprendedurismo y la innovación en Latinoamérica.

Информация о жизни в Америке и событиях в мире. Поделитесь своим мнением!

تمام آنچه می خواهید درباره آمریکا بدانید زندگی در آمریکا، شیوه زندگی آمریکایی و نگاهی از منظر آمریکایی به جهان و ...

أمريكاني: مواضيع لإثارة أهتمامكم حول الثقافة و البيئة و المجتمع المدني و ريادة الأعمال بـ"نكهة أمريكانية

Learn more about Today's Web Picks.

Unifying RSS

Moving away from McMansions?
A writer speculates whether Americans’ home-size preferences will shift from huge to humble following the U.S. housing crisis. (New York Times Magazine)
Show time at the Apollo
The legendary New York venue where a stellar lineup of African-American performers got their start celebrates its 75th anniversary. (Smithsonian)
Civil war averted – for the time being
In 1819, Congress hotly debated whether Missouri should be admitted to the Union as a free or slave state. Moderates brokered a compromise that averted armed conflict for three decades. (American Heritage)
Invasion of the stinkbugs!
The latest arrival from Asia, the brown marmorated stinkbug, has made itself at home in the mid-Atlantic U.S. states. An entomologist has tips on what to do about these harmless yet annoying critters. (Smithsonian)

What makes a global city?
Five of the world's 10 most global cities are in Asia and the Pacific, according to a survey by Foreign Policy. Three are in North America, and two in Europe. A global city is defined by its influence beyond its borders. (Foreign Policy)
Top of the Class
Journalist Amanda Ripley travels the globe to find out what the best classrooms look like and how technology impacts learning. (Slate)
Saving Canada’s boreal forest
With little fanfare, environmental groups and forest products companies recently signed the landmark Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, which calls for a logging suspension on 70 million acres and improved logging practices on another 106 million acres. (Yale Environment 360)
Fertilizers are overloading plant life
Fertilizer use worldwide has exploded in the past half century. A new study identifies potentially long-lasting environmental impacts. (USA Today)

Defending a New Domain
Retaliation to cyberattacks is not an option. Instead the Pentagon strategy is to deny any benefit to the attackers. (Foreign Affairs)
Women: How Are They Doing?
The United Nations releases two reports on social progress for women. Women have made progress in education and health, but remain threatened by violence. (New York Times)
Can money buy love?
A recent survey in Pakistani areas hit by the 2005 earthquake found that international humanitarian assistance has created lasting good will. (Foreign Policy)

Building a social safety net
Despite the global financial crisis, China is making a serious effort to improve its pension and health-care systems. (Finance & Development)
Just a couple hundred trillion in off-balance-sheet liabilities…
A Boston University economics professor’s blunt prognosis on what needs to be done to close the U.S. fiscal gap. (Bloomberg)
Economic reality check
Tim Jackson, the economics commissioner of the U.K. government’s Sustainable Development Commission, discusses economic growth and natural resource limits: “questioning growth is deemed to be the act of lunatics . . . but question it we must.” (TED Talks)
The North American unconventional energy boom
Across the U.S. and Canada, huge sums are being spent to develop what one reporter calls environmentally risky energy sources. He asks: are we moving further from a clean-energy future? (Yale Environment 360)

Arctic shipping will hasten ice cap melt
A new study finds that soot particles from marine engine exhaust of passing freighters are contributing to the meltdown in the Arctic. (Ottawa Citizen)
Putting a Price on Nature
At a world conference on biodiversity, scientists release an economic value for the world’s natural assets. Forests, soils and wildlife are priceless. (U.N. Environment Programme)
Climate skeptics embrace clean energy
The residents of Salina, Kansas, don’t believe in climate change – but have become enthusiastic about energy conservation, thanks to a program that tries not to inject climate politics into energy issues. (New York Times)
Waste pickers are part of the solution
In cities across the developing world, millions survive by collecting rubbish. Noting that they cheaply and efficiently gather materials for recycling, a group of NGOs is urging greater recognition and support for waste pickers at future climate talks. (Yahoo! News)