Criminal proceedings remain pending for BP supervisors Robert Kaluza and Donald Vidrine, who have been charged with manslaughter for their repeated disregard of abnormally high pressure readings that preceded the blowout of the Macondo well.

FORBES: As Profits Sag, BP Girds For The 'Trial Of The Year'

Blogs have written of young people driven to suicide by the pressure to succeed (though suicide rates among Asian-Americans are not abnormally high).

ECONOMIST: The contest with China moves into the classroom and nursery