Opinion

Does The 2011 'Photo Of The Year' Look Familiar?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:37:00 -0500

It was taken in Yemen, but it might ring a bell — if you know your Renaissance history.

Foreign Policy: Embarrassment Of Riches

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:31:00 -0500

Resource-rich countries often depend heavily on a few volatile commodities to pay for imports, to service foreign debts and to fund government services. Peter Passell of Foreign Policy describes how resource wealth often leads to corruption and mismanagement.

How My Voice Went Silent

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:06:00 -0500

After coming down with a mysterious headache and a blazing sore throat, NPR science correspondent Richard Harris lost his voice. And it didn't come back. Doctors eventually pinpointed the cause: a paralyzed vocal cord.

Discovering The Mysteries Of Rice Krispyhenge

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:47:00 -0500

A gummy bearskin rug, you say? Graphic designer Brock Davis plays with food, but not like the rest of us.

Weekly Standard: Voters Oppose Contraception Rule

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:35:00 -0500

Rasmussen Reports' polling suggests that voters oppose the Obama Administration's ruling requiring coverage of birth control. John McCormack of The Weekly Standard argues that the ruling has little popular support.

New Republic: Birth Control Bad Politics For Obama?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:17:00 -0500

Some pundits have criticized the Obama administration's requirement for faith based institutions and other employers to provide free contraceptive health coverage as bad politics. Johnathan Cohn of The New Republic questions whether it is bad for the president.

The Nation: Rocky Recovery For Women

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:17:00 -0500

In 2009, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act resetting the 180-day statute of limitations for filing an equal-pay lawsuit with each paycheck. Laura Flanders of The Nation argues that despite these attempts, there remain discrepancies between men and women in employment.

Weekly Standard: Big Economic Challenges Remain

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:16:00 -0500

The unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the people who do not have work but are looking by everybody in the labor force. Jay Cost of The Weekly Standard finds that what's really been going on with employment is more complicated than the official 8.3% unemployment rate indicates.

Santorum's Support Goes Beyond Social Conservatives, Strategist Says

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:51:00 -0500

In an interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep, Santorum strategist John Brabender said the candidate's victories this week show he has broadened his base.

Why We Like What We Like

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:41:00 -0500

Can you tell white wine from red? As Paul Bloom discusses in a recent book, you might be surprised by the answer. Alva Noë argues that examples such as this give us an opportunity to think anew about perception and its pleasures.

How One George Lucas Fan Takes Fan Filmmaking Into His Own Hands

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:01:00 -0500

Fan documentaries may seem like the work of bored hobbyists, but for many fans, they outstrip real DVD features for both satisfaction and information.

Scheming Parents Set Their Kids Up — And It Works

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:01:00 -0500

When Steven Ketcham met Alexandra Budny's mother, she told him, "I'm going to be your future mother-in-law." There was only one catch: Steven had never met Alexandra. But their parents had already decided they were perfect for each other.

George Clooney On Acting, Fame, And Putting Down Your Cellphone Camera

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:29:00 -0500

George Clooney talks to Robert Siegel about The Descendants, aging gracefully in Hollywood, and the ubiquity of cell phone cameras.

Much Ado About Dickens: Why The Bicentennial Hype Matters

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:58:00 -0500

He's trending on Twitter, inspiring Google Doodles and hawking hoodies. Why Dickens has always inspired such adoration — and why the book business should pay close attention.

The Pulse And Beat Of A Daily Valentine Ritual

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:43:00 -0500

Anthropologist Barbara J. King writes about her ritual of choosing three "Valentine moments" from each day to hold close in a too-rushed world. She invites us to describe how our own daily practices may prepare us to take purposeful steps in the world.

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