Safe Search Tools & Portals for Kids: The List Keeps Growing – The Technology Liberation Front Over at Ars, Ben Kuchera has a review of Ask.com’s redesign of its web portal for kids, AskKids.com. It’s a great new addition to the growing list of safe seach tools and web portals … More

The Green Bait-and-Switch – Adam Smith Institute In the US many environmentalists are getting infected with the NIMBY-virus* as they realize the unpleasant consequences of renewable energy. New projects, such as the 240-mile transmission line through Indiana to accommodate wind farms (at a cost of $1bn), are unlikely… Does Government … More

How Transparent is Your Local Government Website? – Government Bytes Sunshine Review is working on the My Government Website Project for “people from all around the country to collaboratively determine the extent to which government-managed websites contain the information people need.” Minnesota’s Declaration of Energy Independence – Townhall I wish … More

Joe Biden’s So-So Record on Trade – Cato-at-Liberty During his long tenure in the Senate, Joe Biden of Delaware has compiled a mixed record on votes affecting our freedom to participate in the global economy. The record of the Democratic vice-presidential… Amtrak Ridership at “Record” Levels, More Subsidies Needed – … More

Whose Business Is It Anyway? – Townhall.com “Stossel is a pig.” “Wait and see how he is going to react when he [gets] fired by ABC News without a reason, just because he is skinny like a monkey.”… Virtual water: The New Carbon Footprint – Adam Smith Institute This week … More

Dem Lawmaker Kicked Out of Capitol – The Club For Growth Democratic leaders in the California legislature kicked Assemblywoman Nicole Parra out of the Capitol building because she didn’t vote for their budget… Obama, McCain, and School Choice – The Locker Room In the latest Phi Delta Kappa poll, a … More

Federal Regulations Helped Spawn Mortgage Crisis – OpenMarket.org Federal “affordable housing” and “diversity” mandates helped spawn the mortgage crisis. Additional evidence comes from a Washington Post story, which notes that “even late in the housing bubble… Sales Tax Holidays: Small Gains Are Outweighed By Serious Harms – The Tax Foundation … More

Now Safely Asserted: Card Check Eliminates the Secret Ballot – Shopfloor.org The DFL Party in Minnesota, feigning outrage that someone would express disagreement with their candidates’ support of the Employee Free Choice Act, tried to punish and prevent the speech rather than… To Drill, or Not to Drill – the … More

Republican Energy Protest Starts Picking up Steam – FRC Blog Returned to the House floor yesterday to watch the Republican “speech-in” demanding a vote from Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on energy. The crowds was at least four times the crowd I saw last week… Using the Economic Weapon Against Russia … More

Economic Consequences of Russia’s Invasion of Georgia – Shopfloor.org Looking at U.S. trade data, we’re a little suprised to see that even with its energy resources, Russia’s economy is still second tier. In 2007, Russia ranked 30th among countries in the value of U.S. exports shipped there, $7.3 billion, right … More