The SAT is not perfect. We all know smart, knowledgeable people who do badly on standardized tests. But neither is it useless. SAT scores do measure both specific knowledge and valuable thinking skills. Virginia Postrel badlyknowledgeknowledgeable share on social
Science is about exploring the unknown and cannot offer guarantees. Virginia Postrel exploreguaranteeoffer Change image and share on social
Americans hate their cable companies - for bumbling installers, on-again-off-again transmissions, peculiar channel selections, and indifferent customer service. The only thing cable subscribers hate more than the cable company is not being able to get what it delivers: multichannel selection and good reception. Virginia Postrel americanbumblecable share on social
Before it became a ubiquitous part of urban life, Starbucks was, in most American cities, a radically new idea. Virginia Postrel americancityidea Change image and share on social
The impulse for personal adornment is hard to stamp out. Virginia Postrel adornmenthardimpulse Change image and share on social
Neon signs don't consume much power, but they look like they do. A cousin of fluorescent lighting, neon is actually quite energy efficient. A neon tube glows coolly when high-voltage, low-amperage electrical power excites the gas within it. Virginia Postrel amperageconsumecoolly share on social
As discomfiting as it is to both market optimists and policy activists, a certain amount of instability is inherent to the economy. Virginia Postrel activistamountdiscomfit Change image and share on social
I think glamour has a genuine appeal, has a genuine value. I'm not against glamour. But there's a kind of wonder in the stuff that gets edited away in the cords of life. Virginia Postrel appealcordedit Change image and share on social
Just as producers often give consumers things they want but didn't think to ask for, consumers sometimes come up with surprising uses for new inventions. When a new product appears, it can uncover dissatisfactions and desires no one knew were there. Virginia Postrel appearconsumerdesire share on social
Through the 1990s, 'Reason' was a voice of 'dissident feminism,' upholding the equal dignity of both sexes and supporting the rights of individuals against a government that had gone mad over sexual harassment. Virginia Postrel 1990sdignitydissident share on social