January 15, 2009

Below are a few letters we received on topics that appeared in the past few weeks. They capture the essence of how many readers say they feel.
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December 31, 2008

Many of us have been watching the tube and trying to learn about this alleged Ponzi scheme set up by Bernard Madoff. Not many had ever heard of him until the news broke that he had been accused of swindling so many out of so much. But what has captured my thinking is how the human psyche can get so far off track.

I'm not smart enough to try and figure out what this guy has supposedly done (and neither are the regulators.) But I'll try and share some insights that I've gathered over the years from writing about similar subjects. Generally, schemers have a way of ingratiating themselves into the right circles.

Low-income people who live in old or flimsy housing are becoming prime targets for cities and groups intent on slashing energy use.

Recent efforts to cut energy consumption in the home have focused on new construction, often in more affluent areas and public buildings. Now, community organizations and cities that have embraced the green effort are homing in on low-income houses and apartments to reduce emissions and help poor people lower their utility bills.

"That area is getting a lot more attention now," says Tom Deyo, senior adviser for Green Strategies at NeighborWorks America, a non-profit that promotes homeownership and affordable housing through more than 230 local organizations.

November 06, 2008

Below are a few letters we received on topics that appeared in the past few weeks. They capture the essence of how many readers say they feel.
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October 16, 2008

Below are a few letters we received on topics that appeared in the past few weeks. They capture the essence of how many readers say they feel.
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