Headlines from March 5, 2012

The only unexpected aspect of Putin’s Sunday victory was the tear in his eye.
America’s moral “decline” includes decreased crime, divorce, teenage pregnancy rates.
Question dividing the GOP: Is the end of defeating radical Islam worth the means of big government nation-building?
Remnick: Netanyahu feels that “the fervor of the few offers him more than the disillusion and drift of the many.”
Iceland officially to adopt the Euro someday, but it’s also looking at the Loonie.
The Saints’ bounty-hunting purse is exactly assault and battery. #opinions
Brief fashion critique of LeBron’s very small bag and Wade’s shirt, pre-Lakers loss.
For Tony, ideas were a kind of emotion, something he felt and cared about in the way that most people do about feelings like sadness or love. Tribute by Tony Judt’s wife.
Elevator prank by Rémi Gaillard. #video
Joshua Bell look-a-like steals watch by impersonating violinist, using towel to trick staff into opening locked safe.
Researcher spins violin strings out of spider silk.
BBC documentary on the history of Vox guitar amps via #video
Reading the privacy policies encountered in one year on the web would take 76 work days.
In a world without Helvetica, it’s difficult to do laundry, browse the internet, or eat.
Comic: “...Dot Tumblr dot com” is gradually replacing “...Would be a good name for a band.”
The Port Huron Statement reads as relevant today as it did 50 years ago.
After thousands of years of looking down on feelings, they may be smarter than the conscious mind.
History shows it’s still too early to count on Obama’s momentum and count out a GOP win.
More than a dozen flying cars are in development. Though few can afford it now, flying to work isn’t so far off.
How the latest bionic replacements can help build a new human body.
Shoppers import wild meat—e.g., “cat and doglike flesh”—to elude local controls.
The story of “African prints” is actually the story of really good Dutch-Indonesian marketing.
Estimating how many people Manhattan can hold, and finding ways to make it fit more.
Every week, 20,000 new volumes arrive. The Internet Archive collects a copy of every book.
German linguist debunks claim his country is obsessed with all things bathroom.
Brits debate offensiveness of sofa store slogan, “Sofa King Low.”