Headlines from May 17, 2012
- White births no longer a majority in America; “minorities” gain majority for the first time in U.S. history.
- Quintessential American food: the taco.
- Short study of Euro-fringe currencies—the British pound, the Bulgarian lev—and how they’re absorbing anxiety.
- Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s favorite records listed in no particular order.
- FDA to weigh in on over-the-counter home HIV test this year.
- Tom Waits narrates a brief history of John Baldessari. #video
- Pictures of transsexuals in 1960s Paris. #photography
- Part two of “Our French Connection”—TMN editor visits American places called Paris to measure current U.S.-France relations.
- Related: Full story available now as an e-book for the cost of a fancy French coffee.
- Economist’s report after a month of shopping in an Asian grocery store.
- We assume we will be free tomorrow, because we were free today. In case you missed it, Rushdie on censorship.
- Accounts of Iranian and Moroccan rappers running into political trouble.
- Anti-Wes Anderson critic finds charm overwhelming twee-ness at Cannes.
- Paper planes redesigned by artists.
- Portraits of people enduring gale-force winds directly to the face.
- Murky definition of death and organ harvesting from the “pretty dead.”
- Tree music—modified record player translates year rings into sound. #video
- Italian blogger sketches outline of U.S. shadow war in Horn of Africa.
- They can’t, they don’t, they won’t stop changing the face of hip-hop, of music, and of our culture. New York Senate passes a resolution honoring Adam Yauch.
- A tribute from the Muppets to Jim Henson, who died 22 years ago yesterday. #video
- In a recent poll, Americans think organ donors should be compensated.
- Death is bad for you. But why?
- RIP Canadian penny, the latest coin to stop being minted.
- Brian Leli profiles three buskers who perform in the London Underground.
- Implant enables paralyzed woman to control robot arm with her mind. #video
- Backpfeifengesicht: A face badly in need of a fist. Twenty-five handy words with no English equivalent.
- Not everyone needs to learn to code, because coding is not a life skill. #opinion
- You’re a group of incredibly well-educated dumb people. Aaron Sorkin’s commencement speech to Syracuse grads.
- Collected commencement addresses from Conan, Obama, more.
- Future magazine covers of Barack Obama, the first lumberjack president. #photos