John Burkholder

MIT is offering a fast track to the Master’s program. It just happens to be in NORC’s content space. Here is how the system works: You take 5 online courses:                 Principles of Microeconomics                 The Challenges of Global Poverty                 Data Analysis for Social Scientists                 Foundations of Development Policy: Advanced Development                 Designing and Running Randomized Evaluations Pass a proctored exam for each course at a testing facility around the world. Earn a MicroMaster credential from MITx (from the best I can tell, this is a certificate...

My sister and I have started testing the doughnuts around Chicago. Do-Rite Donuts & Coffee has always been my "go to" for a fantastic doughnut. Over the past few weeks, we tested Stan's Donuts , Glazed and Infused Doughnuts , and Firecakes Donuts . As we continue to go around the city, I will provide updates. Here are my rankings so far: Do-Rite: 8 / 10 Firecakes: 9 / 10 Stan's: 6 / 10 Glazed and Infused: 3 / 10 To ensure testing is even, I am using a glazed raised yeast doughnut. My sister may have different feedback. Do-Rite has amazing flavor, texture, and the glaze is not too sweet. This has been my doughnut of choice for years. The flavor has a hint of vanilla from the glazed and a light fluffy doughnut that doesn't dry out the mouth. This is not a melt in your mouth doughnut but is equally satisfying. Firecakes was the biggest most wonderful surprise I have had in a very long time. This is a flavorful doughnut that is so light that it mel...

My children were raised to be independent, contributing, and hopefully happy members of society. I never wanted them to be dependent on any person, including us because sooner or later, our time here will end.  There is one problem with making them so independent. We never see them. I miss them. I miss the oldest silly, overtly childlike attitude of having fun. I miss the second child’s empathic views on people and the life around them and her slightly outside-the-box interpretations of it.  I miss the third child’s aspiration to try everything and master many.  Now they live in cities across the US and nowhere near us. That is good I suppose. It is different from many of my foreign co-workers. They try to leave America at least once a year and go visit their parents in their country of origin. Even those with parents here in America will go back and visit once every 3 years or so. The family system for them is just… different. It is more about family than it is about ind...