Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Was the College Football Season Worth It?

Was the College Football Season Worth It?
It brought joy — and revenue. But the full cost will never be tallied.
https://ift.tt/2JxzAGM

Judge John Hodgman on Calling Yourself Middle-Aged

Judge John Hodgman on Calling Yourself Middle-Aged
Is 32 the new 45?
https://ift.tt/3rGdMdi

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

A New Year’s Treat to Close Out a Difficult Year

A New Year’s Treat to Close Out a Difficult Year
Dorie Greenspan is baking this layer cake, a cousin to gingerbread with plenty of frosting, hoping it will make 2021 a bit sweeter.
https://ift.tt/2L4An2o

Knocking on Two Million Doors in Georgia

Knocking on Two Million Doors in Georgia
Control of the Senate could hinge on Black voters — and on an ambitious effort to get them to the polls in the largest numbers ever for the Jan. 5 runoff elections.
https://ift.tt/3pupK7Q

Poem: American Sonnet 18

Poem: American Sonnet 18
Wanda Coleman’s work has jazz, soul and idiosyncrasy.
https://ift.tt/3pxsEbX

I Might Be Able to Jump the Vaccine Line. Should I?

I Might Be Able to Jump the Vaccine Line. Should I?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on getting vaccinated through your husband’s job when, otherwise, you might have to wait a few more months — and more.
https://ift.tt/3aRQISW

How to Train for Team Sports Alone

How to Train for Team Sports Alone
Focus on what you can do solo. Find someone to talk to. Seek camaraderie.
https://ift.tt/37Tf64D

Monday, December 28, 2020

How My Pet Snake Taught Me to Really See

How My Pet Snake Taught Me to Really See
For most of us, snakes are as much symbol as animal. But I haven’t communed with a metaphor for all these years.
https://ift.tt/3mU0Som

A New Theory About the Monolith: We’re the Aliens

A New Theory About the Monolith: We’re the Aliens
A mysterious metal pillar in a desert would be interesting in any year. But something about 2020 has made one a global phenomenon.
https://ift.tt/2WQi5EM

Her Stomach Hurt Unbearably. Her Doctors Were Baffled.

Her Stomach Hurt Unbearably. Her Doctors Were Baffled.
Then she remembered a story from her mother.
https://ift.tt/37Vn3q5

Rev. William Barber on Greed, Poverty and Evangelical Politics

Rev. William Barber on Greed, Poverty and Evangelical Politics
“Jesus never charged a leper a co-pay!”
https://ift.tt/3rAgj8T

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Who Should Get the Covid-19 Vaccine Next? A Debate

Who Should Get the Covid-19 Vaccine Next? A Debate
With limited doses available, and a pandemic claiming more lives every day, a complex moral calculus has begun. Five thinkers weigh the choices ahead.
https://ift.tt/3mQpcHv

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Konrad Steffen Was a Prophet of Climate Change, and its Victim

Konrad Steffen Was a Prophet of Climate Change, and its Victim
The very ice melt he warned would threaten the planet turned out to be his undoing.
https://ift.tt/3hc4YHb

James Harvey Celebrated the Pleasure of a Packed Movie Theater

James Harvey Celebrated the Pleasure of a Packed Movie Theater
No one was more passionate about the cinema, one more experience we lost this year.
https://ift.tt/2KNwJtt

Chadwick Boseman Played Great Men, and Created One

Chadwick Boseman Played Great Men, and Created One
He built his career portraying giants of American history. But it was a fictional character that transformed him into a kind of political figure.
https://ift.tt/3mQ6sbu

Stanley Crouch Was a Critic Who Didn’t Hold Back Punches

Stanley Crouch Was a Critic Who Didn’t Hold Back Punches
He was an intellectual, a holder of court, a jazz connoisseur, a snob and a contrarian of the Black condition.
https://ift.tt/3roWrFC

Tad Jones Lived Alone in Nature, Until Nature Revolted

Tad Jones Lived Alone in Nature, Until Nature Revolted
He spent decades under the redwoods. Then came this summer’s fire season.
https://ift.tt/34G87Ka

Denny O’Neil Changed the World of Superheroes

Denny O’Neil Changed the World of Superheroes
The comic-book writer took stock of a country’s turmoil and put it into his work.
https://ift.tt/38rsWuc

Bill Withers Was a Working Man Who Became a Star

Bill Withers Was a Working Man Who Became a Star
He went from manual labor to musical phenomenon in a matter of months, but his struggles were always there in the music.
https://ift.tt/3aD6lO0

Mary J. Wilson Was Baltimore’s First Black Senior Zookeeper

Mary J. Wilson Was Baltimore’s First Black Senior Zookeeper
She had no specialized training, but she did have a way with the fiercest and most vulnerable animals.
https://ift.tt/3hdSA9z

Sy Sperling Brought Dignity to the Bald

Sy Sperling Brought Dignity to the Bald
You didn’t need to be ashamed to join the Hair Club for Men.
https://ift.tt/3roQZlR

Cecilia Chiang Lost Everything in China, and Built It Back in California

Cecilia Chiang Lost Everything in China, and Built It Back in California
She twice escaped war in China, and eventually landed in an America that was hungry for a new kind of Asian cuisine.
https://ift.tt/2JeQ3iR

The Meme-ification of Breonna Taylor

The Meme-ification of Breonna Taylor
People shared her name and image in grief and solidarity, but why didn’t it feel like enough?
https://ift.tt/2WEskf1

Shere Hite Explained How Women Orgasm, and Was Hated for It

Shere Hite Explained How Women Orgasm, and Was Hated for It
“The Hite Report” provoked a sexual revolution. Then came death threats and the paparazzi.
https://ift.tt/2Kls1U5

Tom Seaver Was the Greatest Met Ever. The Mets Still Broke His Heart.

Tom Seaver Was the Greatest Met Ever. The Mets Still Broke His Heart.
He put the franchise on the map — and was traded away in return.
https://ift.tt/3nLO7gG

Stanley Chera Was a Mogul Who Made Covid-19 Personal for Trump

Stanley Chera Was a Mogul Who Made Covid-19 Personal for Trump
The New York real estate titan was in some ways a foil to the president — and was on his mind as he went to Walter Reed.
https://ift.tt/2WI68AG

Helen Reddy Embodied Her Feminist Anthem, ‘I Am Woman’

Helen Reddy Embodied Her Feminist Anthem, ‘I Am Woman’
She hit No. 1 with that song, and her own life was proof of what it took to get there.
https://ift.tt/3pbUF8K

Mimi Jones Understood the Power of Public Resistance From a Young Age

Mimi Jones Understood the Power of Public Resistance From a Young Age
When she was 17, she leapt into a segregated Florida swimming pool — and landed on the front page.
https://ift.tt/2WLKdbL

Friday, December 18, 2020

Behind the Cover: Russia and Climate Change

Behind the Cover: Russia and Climate Change
A look at how no country is better positioned to capitalize on climate change than Russia.
https://ift.tt/38ajYkA

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Poem: American Income

Poem: American Income
George Floyd. Eric Garner. A poem that speaks to it all.
https://ift.tt/38bytEP

The Tactic of Our Time: Sound Urgent, Be Incomprehensible

The Tactic of Our Time: Sound Urgent, Be Incomprehensible
In an era of institutional rot, cranks can be hard to tell from heroes.
https://ift.tt/3gSGylY

Emerald Fennell’s Dark, Jaded, Funny, Furious Fables of Female Revenge

Emerald Fennell’s Dark, Jaded, Funny, Furious Fables of Female Revenge
A brilliant young show runner from “Killing Eve” unveils her first film, “Promising Young Woman,” bringing macabre feminist wit to experiences that no one wants to talk about.
https://ift.tt/3pcViiD

Judge John Hodgman on Eating Mashed Potatoes

Judge John Hodgman on Eating Mashed Potatoes
A deeply personal choice: Should you use a spoon or a fork?
https://ift.tt/34kGnKV

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

How Russia Wins the Climate Crisis

How Russia Wins the Climate Crisis
Climate change is propelling enormous human migrations, transforming global agriculture and remaking the world order — and no country stands to gain more than Russia.
https://ift.tt/34iaGCh

Her Wrist Was Swollen and Excruciatingly Painful. Steroids Didn’t Help.

Her Wrist Was Swollen and Excruciatingly Painful. Steroids Didn’t Help.
At first, it was just sore. Then she could barely turn a doorknob or hold her cellphone. What brought this on?
https://ift.tt/3r10nw2

He Wanted to Count Every Vote in Philadelphia. His Party Had Other Ideas.

He Wanted to Count Every Vote in Philadelphia. His Party Had Other Ideas.
When Donald Trump’s campaign tried to overturn the election results in Pennsylvania, Al Schmidt found himself trapped between his party and his principles.
https://ift.tt/3oVZzqj

Your New Favorite Condiment: Salsa Macha

Your New Favorite Condiment: Salsa Macha
This chunky Mexican chile oil can make everything from fried eggs to potatoes more delicious.
https://ift.tt/3oXFUXe

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

What if the Great American Novelist Doesn’t Write Novels?

What if the Great American Novelist Doesn’t Write Novels?
Frederick Wiseman’s documentary films offer an unparalleled, panoramic vision of society. His 45th feature, “City Hall,” is on PBS this month — and he’s eager to get back to work.
https://ift.tt/2Whfpje

No One Loves Arby’s Like I Do

No One Loves Arby’s Like I Do
The fast food establishment allows me to indulge in an uncomplicated worldview and to exist anonymously for a little bit.
https://ift.tt/3njVcoA

What Should I Do About the Abusive Mom Down the Hall?

What Should I Do About the Abusive Mom Down the Hall?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on how to respond when a neighbor is regularly hitting her kids, whether to accept a personal gift from a former patient and more.
https://ift.tt/3gMBsaE

How to Collect Salt

How to Collect Salt
Find somewhere warm, near the sea. Build a salt bed with clay. Remove the top layer first.
https://ift.tt/3nkqQCB

Monday, December 14, 2020

What Can America Learn From South Africa About National Healing?

What Can America Learn From South Africa About National Healing?
“This is something that we have to say: ‘We will never eradicate racism.’” Read an interview with an expert on Truth and Reconciliation.
https://ift.tt/2LtBSqR

Friday, December 11, 2020

Behind the Cover: Great Performers

Behind the Cover: Great Performers
A look at the best screen actors of 2020
https://ift.tt/346GU37

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Poem: the times

Poem: the times
Lucille Clifton brings a complexity to something we imagined we understood — and a relentless honesty.
https://ift.tt/3nhIB5z

Watch This Disgusting Food Video Right Now. It Explains Everything.

Watch This Disgusting Food Video Right Now. It Explains Everything.
A viral clip of a grotesque breakfast dish reveals more about the way we use social media — and how it uses us — than about American cuisine.
https://ift.tt/3gzdJdT

We Know How to Curb the Pandemic. How Do We Make People Listen?

We Know How to Curb the Pandemic. How Do We Make People Listen?
Could better public health messaging persuade more people to change their behavior?
https://ift.tt/3gz2kuO

Judge John Hodgman on Plush Toy Nativity Scene Advent Calendars

Judge John Hodgman on Plush Toy Nativity Scene Advent Calendars
It’s the most wonderful time of the year — until mom tries to hijack your Balthazar.
https://ift.tt/2VYhAYu

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

The Best Actors of 2020

The Best Actors of 2020
In a year of tragedy and isolation, screens were more important than ever before. These film, TV and TikTok stars gave us more than just diversion.
https://ift.tt/3grtkMG

We’re Not Used to Seeing Women Act This Way

We’re Not Used to Seeing Women Act This Way
A new class of artists are engaged in a risky performance of self — not as elegant but as klutzy, volatile and occasionally unstable.
https://ift.tt/2VVsOgz

Viola Davis Wants to Be Honest With You

Viola Davis Wants to Be Honest With You
“When you’re creating a character, the most important thing you can do is observe life.”
https://ift.tt/36ZoxPt

The Two Minute Geniuses of TikTok

The Two Minute Geniuses of TikTok
Comedians like Sarah Cooper, Blaire Erskine and Jeff Wright turned the short clip into a mirror — and a send up — of our pandemic anxiety.
https://ift.tt/3lTsrh6

Dear Academy: Please Give Cher Another Oscar

Dear Academy: Please Give Cher Another Oscar
“Moonstruck” sustained so many of us through the pandemic. We talked to Cher about why it endures.
https://ift.tt/2VSx7ZY

This Borscht Is the Essence of the East Village

This Borscht Is the Essence of the East Village
The Polish diner that used to feed me is gone, so I make this soup instead. It’s almost as good.
https://ift.tt/3oBtc01

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

What Do I Owe to an Impoverished Villager I Befriended Abroad?

What Do I Owe to an Impoverished Villager I Befriended Abroad?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on whether we have a duty of charity to individuals — and more.
https://ift.tt/3mWGqEa

Library Books: A Small Antidote to a Life of Perpetual Dissatisfaction

Library Books: A Small Antidote to a Life of Perpetual Dissatisfaction
A little realism goes a long way in a world where the next book purchase, the next apartment, the next significant other promise to finally deliver the goods.
https://ift.tt/3mVGXGz

How to Build a Covert Fire

How to Build a Covert Fire
Build it underground. An air vent will help.
https://ift.tt/2Lcry6t

Friday, December 4, 2020

Behind the Cover: Tree Communication

Behind the Cover: Tree Communication
A look at how trees appear to be communicating through intricate underground networks.
https://ift.tt/2JSYxfp

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Poem: The Body Electric

Poem: The Body Electric
A poem with a breath that moves from the intimate to the vast, from solitude to community.
https://ift.tt/3qplMP2

How Nick Kroll Became the Picasso of Puberty

How Nick Kroll Became the Picasso of Puberty
His show “Big Mouth” is a seriously funny — and surprisingly mature — exploration of humanity’s most horrifying shared experience.
https://ift.tt/37u5hZw

Her Legs Would Barely Follow Her Brain. Then She Saw Double.

Her Legs Would Barely Follow Her Brain. Then She Saw Double.
She’d just quit drinking, but could that really have anything to do with these disturbing symptoms?
https://ift.tt/3on4a4r

Judge John Hodgman on Contested Uno Victories

Judge John Hodgman on Contested Uno Victories
Can your 11-year-old daughter overturn your winning hand?
https://ift.tt/3mBCrfZ

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

The Social Life of Forests

The Social Life of Forests
Trees appear to communicate and cooperate through subterranean networks of fungi. What are they sharing with one another?
https://ift.tt/3lzno5p

Rice and Beans, With an Exhilarating Crunch

Rice and Beans, With an Exhilarating Crunch
Like the Persian tahdig Samin Nosrat grew up eating, this Puerto Rican arroz con gandules delivers a crispy layer you won’t be able to resist.
https://ift.tt/3lsG1rl

I Want to Live in the Reality of ‘The Queen’s Gambit’

I Want to Live in the Reality of ‘The Queen’s Gambit’
It’s no accident that this year’s most popular fairy tale is about a woman celebrated for her genius.
https://ift.tt/2JwzNto

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

India’s Leading Documentary Filmmaker Has a Warning

India’s Leading Documentary Filmmaker Has a Warning
Anand Patwardhan spent decades tracking the rise of Hindu nationalism. And now, under an increasingly repressive government, he holds his screenings in secret.
https://ift.tt/37qwTOX

I Read Court Documents for Fun. Hear Me Out.

I Read Court Documents for Fun. Hear Me Out.
Trial lawyers are storytellers. Take the case of the Velvet Elvis, a kitschy cigar lounge that got on the wrong side of the Presley estate.
https://ift.tt/3fS8TIo

How to Build a Snowman

How to Build a Snowman
It doesn’t have to be a man. Pat the snow as you go. Leave scarves outside to cool before accessorizing.
https://ift.tt/2VjC3qD

Should I Stop Speaking to My Trump-Supporting Friends?

Should I Stop Speaking to My Trump-Supporting Friends?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on ending friendships with those who back the president, identifying as L.G.B.T.Q. on medical-school applications — and more.
https://ift.tt/36nH5sg