@aemb.bsky.social
There is a clear disconnect between the national interest and the administration’s actions relative to research funding. This disconnect puts urgency on the need to re-think the funding model for academic research:
outoftheboxblog.org/2025/06/15/r...
outoftheboxblog.org/2025/06/15/r...
Re-thinking academic research funding
See Disclaimer. The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are outstanding examples of our country’s visionary and successful strategy to invest in unpar…
outoftheboxblog.org
June 15, 2025 at 11:24 PM
There is a clear disconnect between the national interest and the administration’s actions relative to research funding. This disconnect puts urgency on the need to re-think the funding model for academic research:
outoftheboxblog.org/2025/06/15/r...
outoftheboxblog.org/2025/06/15/r...
Michael Wilkin was a man of few words, but he had a soft heart, was distinctly talented at his craft, and had an unwavering commitment to problem-solving action. When he died unexpectedly on May 16, 2025, the world quietly became much poorer.
A man of few words
See Disclaimer. Michael Wilkin was a man of few words—occasionally, opinionated words. Stocky and bearded, most at ease in khaki shorts and short sleeved shirts, he had a soft heart, was distinctly…
outoftheboxblog.org
May 26, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Michael Wilkin was a man of few words, but he had a soft heart, was distinctly talented at his craft, and had an unwavering commitment to problem-solving action. When he died unexpectedly on May 16, 2025, the world quietly became much poorer.
The President's budget puts at risk funding for the US Integrated Ocean Observing System. This program has immense economic, environmental, and life-saving value for coastal communities. Protecting this and other essential programs from arbitrary cuts matters. outoftheboxblog.org/2025/04/25/p...
Protect the US Integrated Ocean Observation System—and more!
See Disclaimer. In the 1990’s, the idea began to emerge that it was possible—in fact, essential—to manage and study our coasts and estuaries with the power of real-time ocean observations coup…
outoftheboxblog.org
April 26, 2025 at 3:29 PM
The President's budget puts at risk funding for the US Integrated Ocean Observing System. This program has immense economic, environmental, and life-saving value for coastal communities. Protecting this and other essential programs from arbitrary cuts matters. outoftheboxblog.org/2025/04/25/p...
Attacking what we should cherish will take the country backwards.
Academia: A precious resource, not the enemy
See Disclaimer. I came to the US nearly four decades ago to have the meaningful academic career that I could not (at the time) have in my original country. Now retired, my teaching and researc…
outoftheboxblog.org
April 5, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Attacking what we should cherish will take the country backwards.
The Trump administration is pursuing its agenda largely unopposed. In particular, the Democratic leadership seems to hope that the storm will pass, and voters and normalcy will return. In that hope, they fail to realize that Democracy itself is at risk.
Coordinated action is needed. Read more:
Coordinated action is needed. Read more:
Of hope and coordinated action
See Disclaimer. Anne Lamott’s “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing” [1] are words that nicely express hope amidst today’s chaos. Hop…
outoftheboxblog.org
March 31, 2025 at 2:43 AM
The Trump administration is pursuing its agenda largely unopposed. In particular, the Democratic leadership seems to hope that the storm will pass, and voters and normalcy will return. In that hope, they fail to realize that Democracy itself is at risk.
Coordinated action is needed. Read more:
Coordinated action is needed. Read more:
I find Mr. Schumer’s argument to avert a government shutdown ultimately unconvincing and dispirited. But regardless of merit, wasn't the white flag raised way too early?
It is time for Democrats to get new leadership, possibly in the form of an Opposition Cabinet.
It is time for Democrats to get new leadership, possibly in the form of an Opposition Cabinet.
Needed: an Opposition Cabinet
See Disclaimer. The second Trump administration is markedly different from the first. A populist without substance, Mr. Trump’s ‘strength’ as candidate has always been to take real or perceive…
outoftheboxblog.org
March 15, 2025 at 11:47 PM
I find Mr. Schumer’s argument to avert a government shutdown ultimately unconvincing and dispirited. But regardless of merit, wasn't the white flag raised way too early?
It is time for Democrats to get new leadership, possibly in the form of an Opposition Cabinet.
It is time for Democrats to get new leadership, possibly in the form of an Opposition Cabinet.
Indiscriminate firing is not a way to achieve government efficiency—it is a way to deeply weaken government. There is method and purpose behind this madness. Democrats and others opposing this administration should respond in a disciplined manner. See more here: outoftheboxblog.org/2025/02/25/n...
DOGE barrels toward a fresh round of firings, the most widespread yet
Records show a Department of Labor component that enforces equal employment opportunity laws is developing a plan to reduce its workforce by 90 percent.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 27, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Indiscriminate firing is not a way to achieve government efficiency—it is a way to deeply weaken government. There is method and purpose behind this madness. Democrats and others opposing this administration should respond in a disciplined manner. See more here: outoftheboxblog.org/2025/02/25/n...
Democrats should consider creating a high-profile Opposition Cabinet, organized as a shadow government and blending competent practitioners and innovative thought leaders.
Needed: an Opposition Cabinet
See Disclaimer. The second Trump administration is markedly different from the first. A populist without substance, Mr. Trump’s ‘strength’ as candidate has always been to take real or perceive…
outoftheboxblog.org
February 25, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Democrats should consider creating a high-profile Opposition Cabinet, organized as a shadow government and blending competent practitioners and innovative thought leaders.
One month in, this administration is carving a path to authoritarianism and disrupting many, many lives (here and abroad, now and into the future). Predictable? Yes. Mitigable? Starts with each of us. Will require all of us.
One month in
See Disclaimer Elections have consequences. By electing Mr. Trump and giving Republicans (slim) majorities in both houses of Congress, America chose to invite the foxes into the hen house. What wil…
outoftheboxblog.org
February 21, 2025 at 5:03 PM
One month in, this administration is carving a path to authoritarianism and disrupting many, many lives (here and abroad, now and into the future). Predictable? Yes. Mitigable? Starts with each of us. Will require all of us.