The Truth About Fracking’s Impact

Bethany McLean digs deep into the cycles of boom and bust that have plagued the American oil industry for the past decade

LIVE from Columbia: Bethany McLean & Joe Nocera

The recent booming fracking industry has led many to declare that America will soon be free of the influence of foreign oil and gas suppliers such as Saudi Arabia and Russia. But will we really? This discussion between Bethany McLean and Joe Nocera will persuade you to think about the power of oil in a new way

Utilizing Computer-Assisted Vocabulary Learning Tools in English Language Teaching: Examining In-Service Teachers' Perceptions of the Usability of Digital Flashcards

This study explores five in-service teachers' perceptions with regards to the technical and pedagogical usability of digital flashcards in English language teaching. All the teachers were enrolled in a one-year Masters of Art in English Language Teaching program at Coventry University and had previous teaching experience ranging from elementary to university level. The study adopted a quan?QUAL mixed-method research design, combining elements of surveys and case studies, to examine the factors that affected the teachers' perceptions in addition to how they view three specific websites: Cram, Quizlet, and StudyStack. Participants explored these websites and created sets of flashcards in a computer lab, then completed a survey and participated in a focus group interview. Findings suggest that although the teachers were willing to integrate digital flashcards in their future teaching, it is dependent on several factors, including: learners' age, the quality of graphics in the websites, and the teachers' prior experience as students on their MA program. Nonetheless, the “wow” factor seemed to influence their perceptions of the usability of these websites, which can either be extreme positive or negative initial reactions as a result of the websites' presentational scheme.</jats:p

Business Gone Bad & the Art of Persistence

Via The Investor's Field Guide podcast: I’ve often heard that good investors are a bit like journalists: doggedly collecting evidence and building an understanding of how all the pieces of a company or investment fit together. My guest this week is one of my favorite writers and journalists, Bethany McLean.

Boston University Chamber Orchestra, February 27, 2007

This is the concert program of the Boston University Chamber Orchestra performance on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 8:00 p.m., at the Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts. Works performed were Overture to La calamita de cuori by Johann Christian Bach, Symphony No. 34 in C Major, K. 338 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Dolly, Op. 56 by Gabriel Fauré. Digitization for Boston University Concert Programs was supported by the Boston University Center for the Humanities Library Endowed Fund

Where Were the Media in the Financial Crisis of 2008, and Have We Seen This Trend Before?

In the fall of 2008, the United States and the rest of the world experienced significant financial turmoil. The financial industry as we knew it crumbled before our eyes. After experiencing this event and the media\u27s fragmented and inconsistent coverage of it, I felt an interesting topic to look into was the financial press\u27 failed coverage of the finance industry, both today and in the past. In looking at this event, I will focus on both the financial press that failed to cover the happenings of the financial industry, as well as those that did recognize the issue at hand. In doing this, I will include a content analysis of the relevant sections of The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. In addition, I will also look into past financial crises, including the Enron scandal, the Savings and Loan crisis, and the Technology Bubble to see if the financial press\u27 recent failure is the continuation of a long trend. After discussing the fragmented nature of the financial press, I will then discuss why the financial press had little effect on individuals, despite some actually good coverage existing. In discussing this issue, I will focus on topics such as the media’s lack of objectivity and the audience\u27s unwillingness to accept the situations they are presented with. Finally, I will suggest ways to rectify this situation, such as news consumers becoming more media literate