The social tradition in question is keeping the peace. So yes, it is more valid, because it isn't culture-specific.

"even", in context, is a *diminishing* term. That is to say, it indicates that the lesser evil is forcing a kid to recite religious text. It does not indicate that the two are equal. You're welcome. And there is a huge difference between forcing public apologies (grounded in social traditions and legal liability) versus forcing kids to participate in belief systems (grounded in oppression of alternate belief systems). That you aren't aware of that is a little scary.

No doubt all of the lawyers who wanted only to make big dollars went into divorce law rather than, say, corporate.

There's no "even" to forcing a kid to say a prayer. Using a diminishing modifier is wholly inappropriate. I'm a lot more comfortable forcing someone to apologize than forcing them to recite religious text of any sort.

Her suggestion that water is *never* returned to the river seems wrong. Or is the word "evaporation" in "evaporation basin" a misnomer?

Sorry, I mis-tracked the GP. Nonetheless, other commenters have suggested those are issues. They are not. As to the plot, it never really bogs down. He switches threads more than often enough to keep your attention in my opinion.

Along with Ian McDonald, Bacigalupi is part of a wave of authors doing a good job of using non-traditional, non-fluff settings for near-future fiction. His characters, despite what the GP would have you believe, are pretty vividly drawn. Calling the white guy the main character is a non-starter. It's a collisionist book, with many threads crossing one another to paint a more complete picture of the setting and the action. The actual language is beautiful. There are hard things about the book that seem to derive directly from the hard things about the cultural extrapolations the author is drawing. In general, it's just good writing, period. Not easy writing, not obsessive compulsive series fiction, but good, solid, literary science fiction in an unusual setting with a diverse cast. It's hard to imagine how it would not be at least in contention for a ton of awards.

And yet the official reviews of the leaked emails have concluded that while there are some weaknesses in the system (when aren't there?) overall the conduct of these people has been ethical and their stated interpretations in line with the data and models in use.

It's also a 66% confidence projection using a new climate model that has undergone peer review but probably not much other discussion in the community. It's interesting, but hardly definitive.

I don't know what you're talking about with "98 to 99% efficiency", but maybe be a bit careful throwing a number like that around. Nothing is vaguely close to 98% efficiency when looking at potential->output energy.

Seven years later, the statute of limitations has expired. Read the research yourself?

Both my parents have lived in Qatar for 10 years and have visited most of the countries in the region. Text or no text there are a huge number of shitty drivers in the form of careless nationals driving over there who can get away with literally anything up to and including totalling hundred thousand dollar cars and face minimal or zero prosecution for doing so, even though they endanger other drivers in the process. Check Youtube for videos of young stupid bastards driving up on two wheels. This is something my dad's seen first hand. There is a huge sea change in traffic law enforcement required to make the roads safer in that area of the world. Being smug about cell phone usage doesn't begin to tap into the problem they're actually facing.

Maybe you missed it, but TFA is about how that totally amazing technology was being banned from sale because two giant companies are going to war over patents. Totally amazing technology that's not available is not much good to anyone.

Deduction! Deduction! NERD POWER! Sounds like a winner to me...

No doubt you've reviewed the system in detail and have any fucking idea what you're talking about, which is why it worries me so much.