On Saturday, October 6, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the United States Supreme Court. His confirmation has brought up a question that seemed totally out of the question just a few years ago: Could the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade?

Roe v. Wade, an infamous Supreme Court case from 1973, ruled that abortions were protected by the 14th Amendment’s focus on personal privacy. While some states had already legalized abortions, this ruling struck down many states’ anti-abortion laws; laws that had been on the books in most states since the 1800s.

Sociologists have known for years that the fewer number of sexual partners one has before marriage, the lower the odds of divorce after marriage. New research from the Institute for Family Studies now shows that the fewer number of sexual partners before marriage, the happier the marriage relationship (The Atlantic, October 22, 2018)!

Earlier this year, Japanese scientists from the Kobe Ocean Bottom Exploration Center discovered a massive lava dome 30 miles from the southern tip of Japan’s main southern island of Kyushu. The dome stands 2,000 feet high, has a diameter of six miles and currently sits just 100 feet below the ocean’s surface. The dome is immense and contains nearly eight cubic miles of magma.

Many extol the virtues of compromise, especially in politics. Some historical compromises were made to avoid conflicts, wars, and loss of life. But, is compromise always a good idea?

One meaning of compromise is an agreement reached by each side making concessions. A compromise about what to have for dinner or deciding what television program or movie to watch may be a viable method of reaching an agreement. Likewise, compromise may resolve more serious disagreements in settling legal disputes. These may be cases where compromising is good.

Recent historic rains brought major flooding to Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey (Reuters, August 14, 2018). This was the second time in a month many in this region experienced severe flooding.