Test Your News Knowledge
Do you know the name of the Speaker of the House? The national unemployment rate? Test your knowledge of these and other facts of civic life by taking Pew’s Political IQ Quiz. (I scored 100 percent, so it can’t be too hard.)
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Radio Lab’s Sonic Gallery and the NYT Sunday Magazine
I have to admit, the new New York Times Sunday Magazine is very disappointing so far — it now contains lots of fluff designed to get readers to “interact” online, a publishing trick I find grating and counterproductive. When I lay in bed to read the magazine, I’m done with the computer and set to read some quality print journalism. Instead, I’m confronted with reproduced Twitter posts and snarky online comments, with little or no attribution, and picture-heavy “articles” designed to look like blog posts or cartoons.
How is this stuff enlightening anyone? It’s not exactly entertaining, either. And some of it is positively infuriating: one recent page featured — apropos of nothing — only purse pistols. (Yes, pretty guns that fit in your pocketbook.) Another dumb example: the 2011 Easter-Egg Audit. Seriously? When The Washington Post magazine went in a similar direction a few years ago, I stopped reading it and, soon after, stopped subscribing.
Have said all that, this feature with “Radiolab,” from last Sunday’s edition, is pretty cool.
But it’s really taking a lot of patience to give this darn thing a chance. Grumble.
The World According to Tina Fey
Comedy writer Tiny Fey has been penning articles for The New Yorker; has a new book out called “Bossypants”; and, today, talked again with Terri Gross on “Fresh Air” about sketching bits for SNL, winning the Mark Twain prize, and impersonating Sarah Palin (among other topics). Has Fey been busy? You betcha!
Science Friday: A Suitable Outfit for Space
Science Friday: A space (outfit) odyssey, here or below.
President Obama’s Libya Speech
Here is an embed of President Obama’s Libya speech, delivered last night to the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.
Don’t Miss These Stories
Hopefully you are, like me, busy at work and play. Still, one must stop to smell the roses and read the articles. Here are a few pieces falling into my don’t-miss category for the week:
4 Times Journalists Held Captive in Libya Faced Days of Brutality (New York Times)
Rear-Facing Car Seats Advised at Least to Age of 2 (New York Times)
In the Mideast, U.S. policy is still driven by realism (Washington Post)
The Poverty Clinic (The New Yorker – fascinating!)
‘Suicide By Cop’ Leads Soldier On Chase Of His Life (NPR – this piece is riveting!)
Cutting Car Talk (and De-Funding NPR)
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) drips with sarcasm during the recent debate to defund NPR. I bet the “Car Talk” guys are giggling and snorting like crazy!