Rotundus.com

A ceramic mug may seem a more virtuous choice than a cup made of polystyrene, the foam banned by ecologically conscious local governments. But it takes much more energy to manufacture the mug, and then each washing consumes more energy (not to mention water). According to calculations by Martin Hocking, a chemist at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, you would have to use the mug 1,000 times before its energy-consumption-per-use is equal to the cup.

... A more immediate environmental impact has been demonstrated by studies in restaurants: the average number of bacterial organisms on reusable cups, plates and flatware is 200 times greater than on disposable ones.

Source: Recycling is Garbage

The rising unemployment among younger workers bucks a widely held belief that higher-paid and older workers are the first to be fired when employers look to cut labor costs, economists and recruiting experts say.

Historically, younger workers are more likely than older ones to be unemployed during tough economic times.

Source: Baltimore Sun

Apparently the U.S. unemployment rates for those 25-29 is 10.1% at the moment.

This is the question

Mary

Children — (if it Please God) — Constant companion, (& friend in old age) who will feel interested in one, — object to be beloved & played with. — —better than a dog anyhow. — Home, & someone to take care of house — Charms of music & female chit-chat. — These things good for one's health. — Forced to visit & receive relations but terrible loss of time. —

Source: Darwin Online

That's only the beginning of some scribbled notes by Charles Darwin. He also lays out reasons to avoid marriage and pontificates on when in life to marry.

At least he sounds a little more sane than Einstein, who's wife was persuaded partway through their marriage to sign a contract stating that, (e.g.), she would "renounce all personal relations with [him] insofar as they are not completely necessary for social reasons"

Here's a brief excerpt of what the paper had to say:

“I tell my classes that if they just do what they are supposed to do and meet the standard requirements, that they will earn a C,” he said. “That is the default grade. They see the default grade as an A.”

A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, found that a third of students surveyed said that they expected B’s just for attending lectures, and 40 percent said they deserved a B for completing the required reading.

... James Hogge, associate dean of the Peabody School of Education at Vanderbilt University, said: “Students often confuse the level of effort with the quality of work. There is a mentality in students that ‘if I work hard, I deserve a high grade.’ “

It's kind of silly to see 40% students seem to think "hard work" is attending lectures.