New York’s currently: the crystal lithium

 U.K. spies bugged Kofi Annan’s office prior to the Iraq invasaion, says ex-cabinet minister (see the transcript of the interview, and the backstory).

 Greenspan says some Social Security benefits should be cut to prepare for boomers’ retirement.

 Dozens of U.S. servicewomen, in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere, report rape and sexual assault by fellow troops.

 Hot! First novel by TMN’s Tobias Seamon, The Magician’s Study, to be released this fall by Turtle Point Press.

 Details behind the Showa Shinzan International Yukigassen, Japan’s snowball-fight champsionship.

 ‘Prince of Darkness’ Richard Perle resigns (perhaps to spend more time investing). Related: Thomas Powers on Perle’s new book, full of lively comments about toppling everyone.

 The question is, ‘What’s Your Law?’ and the responders include Nassim Taleb, Alan Alda, and Alison Gopnik, among many.

 Early films of New York, 1889-1906, including comedy on 23rd street [5.5 MB].

 Wrong and right strawberry planting, and other diagrams.

 Studying the rise of anti-semitism in Europe – ‘the longest hatred’ – when incidents are isolated, but 59 percent of poll respondents say Israel is the world’s greatest threat to peace.

 Some people see figures in clouds, some people see figures in New York.

 Exotic and extremely expensive cars, crashed.

 NYC events: Bill Murray Q&A at BAM, April 13; Origins of viticulture, tonight; Orchids, tomorrow until March 28.

 Want to be a cool teenager at a cool teenager party? Look for the drunk cool person and start talking, and other helpful tips. (See also: Dating Your Way Up the Social Ladder.)

 Review of the TMN-tested and approved Cooking by Hand by Paul Bertolli.

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We thank you (hot) three / donors who gave, generous- / ly this week / to our jar for blow money / sweet, thanks.