The San Francisco Experience

Professor Harcourt represents death penalty cases originating in the state of Alabama. He shares with us several recent cases he has worked on.

The Human Freedom Index presents the state of human freedom around the world based on a broad measure that covers personal , civil and economic freedom.  The United States ranks 23 out of 165 nations included in the index. 

To most cineastes' surprise, Andrea Riseborough was nominated for Best Actress - one of five coveted slots in the category - for her role in "To Leslie". Were Academy lobbying rules broken as Hollywood stars pushed for her nomination ?  And some lamented that more deserving actresses were passed over. But the Academy decided not to rescind her nomination. So it is now  in the hands of the Academy voters. 

Ambassador Charles Ray kicks off TSFEP's celebration of Black History Month. A true renaissance man, he has had distinguished careers as an Army officer, a senior Foreign Service Officer and an author. You will enjoy his interview.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, science grew to dominate the  practice of medicine, all but abandoning the practice of healing which had been its  cornerstone  for millennia. Ed Cohen shows that the revival of healing as a part of medical practice has an important and fulfilling role to play.

In December 2022, nuclear fusion ignition occurred at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Physicists have pursued the technology to achieve such a break through for decades. Nuclear fusion power promises limitless, clean energy. It is the energy that fuels the sun and the stars. 

In the 1990s the US accounted for 37% of global chip production. Today that metric has plummeted to 12%. In October the Biden Administration introduced tough export measures against China to stem the flow of advanced technology. And the 2022 CHIPS Act earmarks $280 billion over 10 years to boost R&D, onshore  chip plant construction and STEM education to regain a leading role in the Semiconductor industry. Is it enough ?

Prince Harry's memoir is a combination of a car crash interview and a settling of scores to let his father, brother and step mother know what he really thinks of them. All 410 pages of it.

As inflation surges and wages fail to keep pace, housing costs and especially rents are rising. Numerous US cities and states are adopting rent control measures but in the long run, do we create even more housing unaffordability ?

Richard Allen, Director of the UC Berkeley Seismology Lab and his team, have developed an early warning system for earthquakes. The app can be downloaded to smartphones. During December's 6.4 quake in Ferndale, California, the app alerted 3 million users before the shaking started. Download the app at the App store, either IOS or Android