Headlines from January 4, 2013
- As Sandy Hook students head back to class, school officials create a familiar, friendly environment.
- Chris Ware on his latest New Yorker cover, inspired by Newtown and a sharp contrast to his back-to-school cover.
- On Christmas Day 1945, five Fayetteville, W.Va., children went missing during a house fire—no evidence of their deaths exists.
- X-rays of famous Tudor portraits reveal earlier paintings underneath. #art
- There are only four NFL games this weekend, so go ahead and pick a team you don’t hate. #tmn
- The making of “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay,” which was recorded just 18 days before Otis Redding died in a plane crash. #music
- Going back through the scripts, you can see why [Monty Python] wasn’t destined to last for long. #comedy
- As long as my marbles stay in order, we’ll keep doing it. Michael Apted on the past, present, and future of the Up series. #tv
- TMN’s Jonathan Bell on growing up in Britain alongside the children of Up! #tmn
- Edith Zimmerman: “After editing an advice column for two years, I’ve decided that there is no such thing as advice.”
- How lead is possibly behind everything from crime to ADHD. #longreads
- FDA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife butt heads over the environmental safety of the sterile, genetically modified “Frankenfish.” #nature
- We don’t want to die in Dallas. Birnbaum digs deep with Ben Fountain, the author of Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.
- Selections from our “Reading Roulette” series in time for Gérard Depardieu’s Russian decampment. #tmn
- Robert Krulwich on the joys (no combs) and trials (no sitting) of weightless space living.
- The known universe, from the Himalayas to the afterglow of the Big Bang. #video
- Hard-line conservatives oppose or go mum during Boehner’s reelection as House speaker.
- Six Indian parliamentarians have charges of rape against them.
- “There is no reason to think that India is destined to abuse women”—but the journey will be a long one.
- Pakistani schoolgirl activist shot in the head by the Taliban leaves hospital in Britain.
- Treat coal from Indian lands as an alternative energy source. Ten weird parts of the fiscal-cliff bill.
- After more than 30 years of constant increase, prison populations have begun to decline.
- Sartorial profile of the diamond floral tiara worn by Princess Marie of Denmark. via
- Notes on the troubadour life from when Tom Waits became “Tom Waits” in an LA motel.
- There will never be a knuckleball revolution in baseball. Why more pitchers don’t take on the game’s trickiest throw: it’s deadly, but too difficult.
- David Simon of Treme chooses favorite songs for a French radio program.
- Blind man explains how he uses Instagram on his iPhone.
- See also: Movie reviews from a blind film critic. #video
- For your lunchtime poetry reading: “I’d Like to See You at Thanksgiving” by J.Y. Strain.
- Fawning profile of the (deservedly) exalted George Saunders on the occasion of his new book. #longreads
- Study uncovers the “end of history illusion,” where people constantly underestimate how much they will change in their lives.
- Accounting for basketball players who score 100 or more points in a single game.
- Andy Murray doesn’t swear he’ll stick to his pledge to quit cursing on the court.