Rotundus.com

Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman as cited by PolitiFact:

In the forty years of Amtrak’s existence, the Federal government has invested a total of $36 billion in the Amtrak system – a figure that represents both operating and capital funding. Between 1971 and 2008, by contrast, the Federal government has invested more than $421 billion in aviation and over a trillion dollars in the nation’s highways.

By comparison a high-speed rail network for California, connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles and Anaheim has been estimated as costing about $69 billion. Of course there's definitely a lot more people using both the airports and the highway system, but with large-scale investment in high-speed rail that figure might shift somewhat.

I found a 1997 study that considers high-speed rail the most expensive option but (a) it doesn't seem to include any real analysis of fuel cost and (b) it's time-cost analysis seems off (i.e. it seems to account only for travel time and not the time to drive too/from the airport and cost of security/boarding delays) both of which seem likely to increase the appeal of rail over flying.

Why Can Some Kids Handle Pressure While Others Fall Apart?

"There are two variants of the gene. One variant builds enzymes that slowly remove dopamine. The other variant builds enzymes that rapidly clear dopamine. We all carry the genes for one or the other, or a combination of the two. In lab experiments, people have been given a variety of cognitive tasks — computerized puzzles and games, portions of I.Q. tests — and researchers have consistently found that, under normal conditions, those with slow-acting enzymes have a cognitive advantage. ... when under stress, the advantage goes away and in fact reverses itself."

Bankrupt, Decaying And Nearly Dead: 24 Facts About The City Of Detroit That Will Shock You

The craziness that is modern Detroit - at least in parts of the city.

What happens at an atheist church?

"An 'atheist church' in North London is proving a big hit with non-believers. Does it feel a bit like a new religion?"

Reform at the Top

An interesting quote from a researcher studying the development of research universities: "by and large it’s easier – it’s not easy – but it’s slightly easier to start [a world-class university] from scratch if you have the right ingredients than to try to upgrade an existing institution or promote mergers"

The list of tabs currently showing for Google Chrome:

Currently this is a list of windows primarily focused on database scalability. It tends to look pretty similar early in the morning as I tend to at least skim the National Post and the New York Times over breakfast.