April 14, 2011
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.)
April 13, 2011
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!
April 8, 2011
Science Friday: A Bug’s Life
Science Friday: Stop buggin’! Here or below.
April 1, 2011
Science Friday: A Suitable Outfit for Space
Science Friday: A space (outfit) odyssey, here or below.