The Last Week of Winter Break

While many of my colleagues will be heading to San Francisco this week for the massively over-priced and always underwhelming annual meeting of the Association of American Law Schools, I'm staying home preparing to teach Climate Law & Policy for the first time and a Seminar in Property Theory for the second time (and the first time in more than half-decade). I also have to draft an introduction for an edited volume this week. It may be my only opportunity to get any new writing done this semester.

The second 8-week session of winter training also begins this week. Now that the holidays are over, it's really time to start ramping up the effort to add some watts and drop some pounds.

A State With Record Highs in Export Sales

New Hampshire has experienced record highs in export sales for the past three years, and the majority of it stems from small businesses.

Learn more about this here and also ask a question to their expert, Dawn Wivell, director of the state's International Trade Resource Center, here.

Illustration credit:  Encyclopedia Britannica

On This Date

On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States. It was, at the time, the only state not directly connected by land to any other state. Comprised of territory originally purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million, Alaska increased the total size of the US by more than 586,000 square miles (counting territorial waters) - more than the combined area of California, Texas, and Montana, which are the three next largest states. It has a longer coastline than all other US states combined, the lowest population density of any US state, huge reserves of minerals, and the most amazing scenery and wildlife to be seen anywhere. The tallest mountain in North American, Denali, is found in Alaska, as are the world's largest national park and wildlife reserve.

On This Date

On January 2, 1974, President Richard M. Nixon signed a bill lowering the maximum US speed limit to 55 mph. The primary purpose of the move was to conserve gasoline during the OAPEC oil embargo by an estimated 2.2 percent. However, because many motorists ignored the law, and many states did not strictly enforce the speed limit, the real gasoline savings were closer to 1 percent. Nevertheless, the limit had side-benefits as well, including reduced traffic fatalities and pollution emissions. The federal maximum speed limit was lifted in 1995, during the Clinton Administration, in response to pressure from states and the transportation industry, after the price of gasoline had fallen (in real terms).

Birmingham 0 - Arsenal 3

The Gunners kept pace with the two Manchester teams today with a heartening performance in Birmingham after  their disappointing draw at Wigan last Wednesday. After a rough-and-tumble first half in which Arsenal took a 1-0 lead on a deflected Van Persie free kick, the Gunners took complete control in the second half, with some stunning close passing, particularly between Nasri, who scored Arsenal's second goal, and Fabregas whose shot was ultimately played into the net for Arsenal's third goal by Birmingham defender Roger Johnson. The Gunners wasted nary a pass during the second half in a truly dominant display of football. The defense was also much better today, with goalie Lukas Fabianski, who made one great save on a Birmingham fee kick, earning the Gunner's first clean sheet in seven games.

Next up, a tough home match against Man City on Wednesday.  

Happy New Year!

With best wishes for a healthy, happy, prosperous, and crash-free 2011.

On This Date

On January 1, 45 BC the Julian calendar took effect for the first time, with January 1 as the first day of the year.