April 2008

TV Daily
Wednesday: "The Big 4-0" -- hurray for midlife-crisis television! Plus: What did you think of "Work Out" on Tuesday? (04/30/2008)

Three films about poverty, murder and Coca-Cola Andrew O'Hehir
Take a rattle-trap road trip with a trio of Romanian losers, a haunting cruise "Up the Yangtze" and a silky slide into a Hitchcock-lite thriller. (04/30/2008)

Does Madonna still matter? By James Hannaham
On "Hard Candy," the 49-year-old disco queen gracefully walks a tightrope between sex, motherhood and aging. (04/30/2008)

Should Clinton enter the race debate?
Alex Koppelman on the WSJ's recent comments that Clinton should join Obama in talking about race. (04/30/2008)

Scott Bateman's sketchbook of secrets and shame
Rice-A-Roni, thongs, Coors Light and more from the twisted mind of an animator. (04/30/2008)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
Weird jobs I've had, No. 32. (04/30/2008)

Indian P.M. calls sex selection a "national shame" Lynn Harris
But critics say his speech doesn't go far enough to address the root causes of bias against girls. (04/30/2008)

Lithwick on Ledbetter Lynn Harris
Slate: SCOTUS and Senate are "protecting us from the dangerous laws that protect us." (04/30/2008)

The chastity belt: It's ba-ack! Tracy Clark-Flory
Indonesian massage parlors are "protecting" female workers by forcing them to padlock their pants. (04/30/2008)

Stop the mommy madness By Ashley Sayeau
Forget those parenting books, forget what your friends do. "Opting In" author Amy Richards wants mothers to listen to someone else -- themselves. (04/30/2008)

Miley Cyrus: Daddy's little hurl Rebecca Traister
Scandal surrounding underage female sexuality swirls, and fathers are way too involved. (04/30/2008)

Pregnancy in the lap of luxury? Katharine Mieszkowski
More expectant moms are working until the last possible minute. (04/30/2008)

My husband of 12 years suddenly says he never loved me By Cary Tennis
We've got five children, one only 2 weeks old -- and now he says he wants a divorce. (04/30/2008)

Publishers think women are stupid? Tracy Clark-Flory
A columnist says that book covers featuring women's "disjointed body parts" are proof. (04/30/2008)

Poison ice By Elizabeth Grossman
As the sea ice melts, a toxic stew of mercury and synthetic chemicals is seeping into the Arctic food web, harming the area's people. We may be next. (04/30/2008)

The Democrats' God problem By Walter Shapiro
Obama and Clinton have trumpeted their religious credentials -- but is it really more secularism that they need? (04/30/2008)

Brian Williams' "response" to the military analyst story Glenn Greenwald
The NBC News anchor is finally forced to address the NYT exposé -- on his blog. His self-defenses raise far more questions than they answer. (04/30/2008)

Remember when it was fun to fly? By Garrison Keillor
As we inched through the airport security line, I seemed to be the only one grinding my teeth. Would anyone have defended me if I'd spoken up to the shirts? (04/30/2008)

Can Clinton heal the racial divide? Alex Koppelman
Examining an argument made in the Wall Street Journal about Hillary Clinton's power to affect the national discourse on race. (04/30/2008)

More fighting over gas tax proposal Alex Koppelman
The presidential candidates continued battling over a proposal for a "holiday" from the federal gas tax even as more experts weighed in to dismiss the utility of the idea. (04/30/2008)

Obama camp files complaint against pro-Clinton 527 Alex Koppelman
The campaign says the American Leadership Project is "operating outside of, and in violation of, federal campaign finance laws." (04/30/2008)

Webb calls out McCain on G.I. bill comments Vincent Rossmeier
The two senators, both veterans, are sparring over increased education benefits for soldiers. (04/30/2008)

Another failing reconstruction project in Iraq Alex Koppelman
The U.S. funded a $277 million water treatment and distribution plant that's now operating at only 20 percent of capacity. (04/30/2008)

Boehner: "Why We Can Win" Alex Koppelman
The House Republican leader gives a presentation outlining the GOP's message for the upcoming election, and putting a happy face on its situation. (04/30/2008)

Quote of the day Alex Koppelman
Who's responsible for the lack of substance in discussions about the presidential campaign? (04/30/2008)

A new round of superdelegates for Obama Alex Koppelman
Barack Obama gets endorsements from three superdelegates in what looks like an effort to shift the narrative about the campaign. (04/30/2008)

Dem candidates up with new ads in North Carolina Alex Koppelman
Both Clinton and Obama are making major pushes for votes in the state, one of two that will vote on one potentially significant day next week. (04/30/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
Suns, Mavs eliminated: Two Western Conference blockbuster trades go bust, one to go. Plus: Where'd the wild West go? And: NHL. (04/30/2008)

Stop calling it "giant," people -- this squid's "colossal"! Farhad Manjoo
Remember: A giant squid is distinct from a colossal squid. (04/30/2008)

A girl's nose ring and Indian death metal Andrew Leonard
"In the other room, I could hear Charlie growling a few times to warm up his throat. 'Ghraagh,' he said. 'Bregkk.'" (04/30/2008)

Farming wiser, not poorer Andrew Leonard
Rolling back industrial agriculture should not require a reversion to primitive scrounging in the dirt (04/30/2008)

Is there enough pig manure to feed the world? Andrew Leonard
Maybe not. But the New York Times still should have talked to some organic farmers to get their opinion on how to prevent a Malthusian future of fertilizer scarcity. (04/30/2008)

How the White House lost 5 million e-mails Farhad Manjoo
Officials dropped the Clinton administration's automatic archiving system in favor of a fully manual plan. (04/30/2008)

Is the American consumer finally giving up? Andrew Leonard
Even as the Fed gooses the economy with another rate cut, the latest GDP figures suggest that the mightiest shoppers on earth are at long last getting cold feet (04/30/2008)

An un-elitist Democratic debate moderated by Red State Update
Jackie and Dunlap invite the candidates to Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s new club, Whiskey River, for a presidential debate. (04/29/2008)

Bateman: Can Obama and Hillary share the tricycle?
Actual audio from the 1950 film "Ways to Settle Disputes." (04/29/2008)

Legal appeal By Louis Bayard
Long before there was "Law and Order," a TV criminal defense attorney named Perry Mason brought high courtroom drama to the masses. (04/29/2008)

TV Daily
Tuesday: Lesbian cruises, chaos and crunches on "Work Out." Plus: What did you think of "Carrier" on Monday? (04/29/2008)

No "Sex" on the beach at Cannes Andrew O'Hehir
Fernando Meirelles' "Blindness," starring Julianne Moore, to open Cannes fest, with Barry Levinson's "What Just Happened?" as the closer. (04/29/2008)

Drop that salmon! By Nicole Pasulka
With the days of indiscriminate fish consumption long gone, food writer Taras Grescoe explains how to eat seafood ethically. (Hint: Order mussels; skip shrimp.) (04/29/2008)

Mmm, I could go for some Kingsford briquettes about now Sarah Hepola
Apparently pregnancy cravings are up. But why do mothers-to-be have a hankering for coal? (04/29/2008)

Eating candy for science Catherine Price
British researchers are seeking 150 diabetic postmenopausal women to eat a special chocolate daily to see if it reduces their risk of heart disease. Does this strike you as odd? (04/29/2008)

I like him but he's weird about money By Cary Tennis
I'm reasonably thrifty but I have my pleasures. He on the other hand is an absolute miser! (04/29/2008)

No female priests? No problem! Catherine Price
A long-awaited report from the Church of England proposes ways to accommodate members who oppose the idea of ordaining women. (04/29/2008)

Iranian prosecutor: Banish Barbie! Tracy Clark-Flory
After tireless attempts to stop Barbie's Iranian invasion, will she be exiled for good? (04/30/2008)

Obama: "I am outraged"
Full text of Obama's press conference on the Rev. Wright. His comments "offend me, they rightly offend all Americans, and they should be denounced." (04/29/2008)

Brian Williams nominates Peggy Noonan for a Pulitzer Prize Glenn Greenwald
The WSJ column hailed by the NBC anchor as "a splendid piece of journalism" has to be read to be believed. (04/29/2008)

Why the Jeremiah Wright story deserves more attention Glenn Greenwald
Some problem-plagued nations could ill afford to devote so much time and energy to a matter of this sort. Thankfully, the U.S. isn't one of them. (04/29/2008)

Obama "outraged" by Wright Joan Walsh
What his pastor said Monday "directly contradicts everything I've done in my life." (04/29/2008)

What should Obama do about Rev. Jeremiah Wright? Compiled by Salon staff
With the pastor's latest invective clouding Obama's campaign, Salon turns to a panel of political and cultural experts for answers. (04/29/2008)

Taking back the debate over Israel By Gary Kamiya
Sick of right-wing Jews speaking in their name, progressive American Jews have launched J Street to change the way the game is played in Washington. (04/29/2008)

Polar bears 1, Bush administration 0 Katharine Mieszkowski
A court victory for the bruins. (04/29/2008)

Clinton to appear on "The O'Reilly Factor" Alex Koppelman
Fox News has itself become a campaign issue for some Democrats, but now both Democratic candidates will have given high-profile interviews to the network in one week. (04/29/2008)

Former Guantánamo prosecutor testifies for defense Alex Koppelman
The Air Force colonel who once led prosecutions at the controversial facility took the stand Monday to discuss political pressure affecting justice there. (04/29/2008)

Bush misleads on ANWR Alex Koppelman
The president lashes out at Congress on land in Alaska that could be used for oil drilling, but his rosy promises on that issue don't hold water. (04/29/2008)

Racial bias in the death penalty Alex Koppelman
A new study confirms a disparity in the death penalty based on the victim's race, and suggests one based on the convict's race as well. (04/29/2008)

When did Obama start running for president? Alex Koppelman
One reporter pieces together some clues and suggests the candidate may have made first moves toward a run before being elected to the Senate. (04/29/2008)

Why Obama denounced Wright Alex Koppelman
In a press conference Tuesday, Barack Obama spoke forcefully against his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright -- aides say he did so after he saw what Wright had said recently. (04/29/2008)

The gas tax battle continues Alex Koppelman
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama sparred Tuesday over Clinton's -- and John McCain's -- support for a summer holiday from federal gas taxes. (04/30/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
The NBA blew the call by not suspending Jason Kidd. Plus: Shoot before :24 or it's a turnover! And: Chris Webber still taking Steve Fisher's heat. (04/29/2008)

Eating the Amazon Andrew Leonard
Brazil's soy king does not, repeat, does not, speak for the trees. (04/29/2008)

Reviews: "Grand Theft Auto IV" will change your life Farhad Manjoo
Video game reviewers just can't get enough of this game (with apologies to Zach Braff, the Shins, and Natalie Portman). (04/29/2008)

In defense of Lou Dobbs Andrew Leonard
Nasty, nativist and pandering to the worst in America? Sure. But overstepping the bounds of the First Amendment? Uh, nope. (04/29/2008)

The education of an oil reporter Andrew Leonard
A year ago, the New York Times' Jad Mouawad pooh-poohed the theory of peak oil. But $120 a barrel for crude forces everyone to rethink their positions (04/29/2008)

Winning the global trade game Andrew Leonard
China overtook the United States as the world's number two exporter in 2007. But who reigns supreme? (04/29/2008)

Watch live, online: Scientists thaw and examine a colossal squid! Farhad Manjoo
One of the most mysterious creatures of the deep, splayed out on a table. (04/29/2008)

The Strategic Pandering Reserve Andrew Leonard
President Bush's analysis is correct. Releasing oil from the SPR will not ease consumer pain at the pump. (04/29/2008)

Finale wrap-up: "Big Brother 9" By Heather Havrilesky
The finale demonstrates how just a spoonful of sugar helps the mediocrity go down in the most delightful way! (04/28/2008)

He conquered the World Trade Center Andrew O'Hehir
"Man on Wire" and its daredevil star thrill Tribeca, but Mamet's "Redbelt" is a jiu-jitsu pratfall. Plus: Is Brecht still relevant? (04/28/2008)

Big Think: Beyond a "protectionist-only" environmentalism
Surfrider Foundation's Jim Moriarty on the role of the government, the individual and business in protecting our oceans. (04/28/2008)

TV Daily
Monday: "Top Gun"-style montages and heartfelt profiles of the crew tell the story of the nuclear-powered USS Nimitz in "Carrier." Plus: What did you think of "Battlestar Galactica" on Friday? (04/28/2008)

Scott Bateman: "Atom Age Vampire," Part 13
The Derma 28 wears off and Jeanette's face is burning! Can the doctor save her? Will Monique help? (04/28/2008)

Flagging America's racial divide By Louis Bayard
An infamous 1976 photo captured a violent encounter between white Bostonians and a black lawyer during an anti-busing rally. A new book explains why this image continues to haunt and define us. (04/28/2008)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
Infiltrating the highest levels of our society ... the elitist menace! (04/28/2008)

Nothing says "hip" like the Oxygen channel Thomas Rogers
The women's network revamps itself to appeal to younger viewers, with some cringe-inducing results. (04/28/2008)

The upside of a recession ... sort of Kate Harding
Spas are offering drastic discounts on services, but what's half off of ridiculous? (04/28/2008)

Aunt Flo saves the day Kate Harding
Here's something we didn't know about menstrual blood: It can be used to repair hearts. (04/28/2008)

So how about those Miley Cyrus photos? Sarah Hepola
Outrage and finger-wagging follow the semi-topless photos of the "Hannah Montana" star. (04/28/2008)

Writing is in my blood, but how do I know if I'm any good? By Cary Tennis
What if I have no talent? How can I find out? Who can tell me? (04/28/2008)

You are the river: An interview with Ken Wilber By Steve Paulson
The integral philosopher explains the difference between religion, New Age fads and the ultimate reality that traditional science can't touch. (04/28/2008)

When Democrats chase Hoosiers and Region Rats By Edward McClelland
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton seek votes in Indiana, a state fraught with economic woes and unlikely relevance for the '08 race. (04/28/2008)

John McCain's bid for American Jewish votes Glenn Greenwald
Do American Jews form their political views based on what is best for another country? John McCain seems to assume so. (04/28/2008)

Howard Kurtz on why media outlets ignore the "military analyst" story Glenn Greenwald
"Their coverage of this important issue has been pathetic. The story makes the networks look bad, and their response, by and large, has been to ignore it." (04/28/2008)

I was wrong about Wright Joan Walsh
He is, in fact, a stunning narcissist, and it's clear he's sabotaging Barack Obama. (04/28/2008)

The Gilded Age, past and present By Steve Fraser
The titans of Wall Street have failed us like never before. So why does no one care? (04/28/2008)

Karl Rove: Honest political genius Glenn Greenwald
Why does anyone listen to the "advice" and assessments of GOP operatives when it comes to choosing the Democratic candidate? (04/28/2008)

Obama responds to Wright Alex Koppelman
Barack Obama's campaign calls a press conference, and the candidate responds to his former pastor's latest forays into the spotlight. (04/29/2008)

Dean: "We really can't have a divided convention" Alex Koppelman
Howard Dean says again that the Democratic presidential race must effectively end in June. (04/28/2008)

Obama, Wright in new local Republican ad Alex Koppelman
A congressional race in Mississippi is the setting for a new attack ad featuring Barack Obama. (04/28/2008)

McCain's nondisclosure disclosure Alex Koppelman
It appears John McCain may have used his wife to keep from having to fully reveal his finances. (04/28/2008)

How much voter fraud is there, really? Alex Koppelman
A Supreme Court decision upholding an Indiana voter I.D. law raises the question of what these laws are actually fighting. (04/28/2008)

Quote of the day Alex Koppelman
Bill Kristol, humanitarian. (04/28/2008)

The return of the Rev. Wright Alex Koppelman
Barack Obama's former pastor is back in the news, and in a big way -- how will this affect the Obama campaign? (04/28/2008)

Clinton, Obama pick up new superdelegate support Alex Koppelman
Barack Obama pulls ahead in the tally of endorsements from the candidates' fellow Democratic Senators; Hillary Clinton ropes in North Carolina's governor. (04/28/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
Behold the dazzling strategic wisdom of NBA coaches, as captured by TV microphones: "Keep rebounding!" (04/28/2008)

Warren Buffett's sweet tooth Andrew Leonard
What does the Mars Inc./Wrigley's merger prove? In hard times, we cut back on the fancy dinners, but not the cheap chocolate bars. (04/28/2008)

Overbuilt America Andrew Leonard
A big reason why homebuilders are hurting: 18.6 million housing units in the United States are unoccupied (04/28/2008)

What will McCain, Obama, and Clinton look like in four years? Farhad Manjoo
Pop Photo magazine does some digital retouching to find out. McCain better take care of those liver spots! (04/28/2008)

The rice paradox Andrew Leonard
Sure, freer trade will probably boost production, eventually. But that's little comfort to the urban poor, right now. (04/28/2008)

I Like to Watch By Heather Havrilesky
"Oprah's Big Give" makes charity look as easy as speed dialing Jennifer Aniston, while "30 Rock's" Tina Fey breaks the angst of the single female out of a frothy Aniston-flavored rut. (04/27/2008)

John McCain's minister problem
Joan Walsh on the need to question McCain's relationship with John Hagee. (04/27/2008)

Opus By Berkeley Breathed
Is Obama a black man with a white mom, or a white man with a black dad? (04/27/2008)

John McCain and Bush's torture powers Glenn Greenwald
The alleged anti-torture maverick has done more to enable and legalize torture than any other political figure in the U.S. (04/27/2008)

Why Jeremiah Wright is so wrong Joan Walsh
I applaud Bill Moyers for being fair to Obama's pastor, but their PBS hour won't chase questions about his grim view of America. Plus: More Wright tapes emerge. (04/27/2008)

John McCain's "I care about poverty" tour Joan Walsh
While the GOP nominee was expressing sorrow over Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, his friend John Hagee said the tragedy was God's punishment. (04/27/2008)

Critics' Picks
Salon's culture gurus tip you off to their favorite things this week: A knockout '70s R&B singer, a ravishing anime, the best season of "Survivor" in years. (04/26/2008)

Tribeca celebrates Michael Jackson's "Thriller" Caitlin Shamberg
Zombies take over the Tribeca Film Festival for the 25th anniversary of the groundbreaking music video. (04/26/2008)

Tangled up in Dylan By Stephanie Zacharek
Suze Rotolo, the musician's first muse, has written an entertaining memoir about their love affair that is also a remarkable portrait of living and making art in the 1960s. (04/26/2008)

Lust in translation Tracy Clark-Flory
A new study says "faulty male introspection" is to blame for misread sexual signals. (04/26/2008)

John McCain's serious foreign policy Glenn Greenwald
The moderate, serious candidate tells right-wing bloggers that he'll be Hamas' "worst nightmare." (04/26/2008)

TV Daily
Friday/weekend: May the gods have mercy on "Battlestar Galactica." Plus: What did you think of "Lost" on Thursday? (04/25/2008)

"Deception" By Stephanie Zacharek
It's bad enough that this Ewan McGregor and Hugh Jackman thriller is improbable. But why does it have to look so awful? (04/25/2008)

Errol Morris doesn't want you to apologize
The filmmaker discusses "Standard Operating Procedure" and going beyond the Abu Ghraib photographs. (04/25/2008)

Guillermo del Toro to make "Hobbit" films: Bleah!
A director who hates Tolkien, enslaved in New Zealand by a latter-day George Lucas. Whose brilliant idea was this? (04/25/2008)

Scott Bateman: "I was a communist for the FBI"
And I walk alone... (04/25/2008)

Interrogating Abu Ghraib Andrew O'Hehir
Errol Morris on his film "Standard Operating Procedure," why Lynndie England and others took photographs, and how the infamous images conceal as much as they reveal (podcast and video). (04/25/2008)

"Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay" By Stephanie Zacharek
This good-natured sequel might not be as endearing as the original, but it's still much more than another stoner comedy. (04/25/2008)

WayLay By Carol Lay
The thing under the futon, Chapter 2. (04/25/2008)

Burning the keepsake wedding invitations Katharine Mieszkowski
Suzanne Finnamore on her memoir of divorce. (04/25/2008)

Feminism is the new funny By Rebecca Traister
"Baby Mama's" Amy Poehler has upended the old stereotypes about women and comedy -- and added a few fart jokes. (04/25/2008)

Quote of the day Kate Harding
A balanced workforce is ... 20 percent women? (04/25/2008)

Study: Most women "disordered eaters" Tracy Clark-Flory
Self magazine finds that 75 percent of women have an unhealthy relationship with food. (04/25/2008)

The fight for fair pay James Hannaham
Now that Republicans have blocked a wage discrimination bill, maybe it's time to start talking about our salaries. (04/25/2008)

The "Hannah Montana" virginity debate Thomas Rogers
Our icky cultural obsession with the deflowering of starlets has gotten a bit out of hand. (04/25/2008)

I should have gone to my aunt's funeral By Cary Tennis
I could have gone, I should have gone, but I thought about the money and my other plans! (04/25/2008)

Sweatin' to the arcade oldies Kate Harding
A group of sedentary, postmenopausal women tear it up to Dance Dance Revolution. (04/25/2008)

Will McCain denounce Floyd Brown? By Joe Conason
It's time for the GOP to finally repudiate the creator of the infamous Willie Horton ad, who is back smearing Obama. (04/25/2008)

Charles Krauthammer on the evils of associating with terrorists Glenn Greenwald
The most politically manipulated term in the English language is used to smear Barack Obama as an associate of "terrorists." (04/25/2008)

Whose fault is the Clinton-Obama stalemate? By Walter Shapiro
Hillary's missteps are legion, but both candidates are flesh and blood, and their squandered opportunities have prolonged the race. (04/25/2008)

Skepticism toward Bush claims about Syria and North Korea Glenn Greenwald
Many media accounts simply repeat uncritically the rather dubious accusations of the administration. (04/25/2008)

Keith Olbermann apologizes for his Clinton remark Joan Walsh
"It is a metaphor. I apologize." Thanks, Keith -- and thanks to everyone who made it an issue. (04/25/2008)

Obama, Clinton spar over energy policy, industry donations Alex Koppelman
After Barack Obama made a brief swipe at his opponents during a speech on energy, the Clinton campaign came back hard. (04/25/2008)

Audit shows more problems with Iraqi security forces Alex Koppelman
In a report, the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction highlights continuing difficulties accounting for Iraqi forces. (04/25/2008)

On taxes, Straight Talk Express off the rails Alex Koppelman
John McCain was against Republican tax-cutting philosophy before he was for it. (04/25/2008)

Quote of the day Alex Koppelman
President Bush is all about planning -- and accountability too, of course. (04/25/2008)

Krugman asks "what's gone wrong" with Obama campaign Alex Koppelman
Paul Krugman continues a line of negative columns about Barack Obama, and suggests an alternative explanation for why working-class whites aren't voting for Obama. (04/25/2008)

Clyburn hits Clintons on tactics Alex Koppelman
In interviews Thursday, the House Democratic whip, publicly neutral in the nomination race, delivered harsh criticisms of both Clintons. (04/25/2008)

Obama launches national registration drive Alex Koppelman
The campaign's timing suggests that this is aimed not at the remaining primaries but at the general election. (04/25/2008)

McCain: "Clear who Hamas wants to be the next president" Alex Koppelman
John McCain seizes on positive comments about Barack Obama made by a Hamas advisor, but it was Bush's policies that boosted the group. (04/25/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
NBA playoffs: Why is home so sweet? Rockets-Jazz excepted, that is. Plus: Top QBs vs. linemen in the NFL draft. (04/25/2008)

Flag day
What would a patriot wear? Does a flag on the lapel make a good president? Members of Salon's community, Table Talk, discuss stars, stripes and pins this week. (04/25/2008)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
Here's one way to exploit people's fear of flying: Tell them airlines are saving money by skimping on fuel. (04/25/2008)

Analysts guess new iPhone will debut in June Farhad Manjoo
Nobody knows for sure, of course. (04/25/2008)

A "True Enough" panel discussion in Berkeley Farhad Manjoo
If you're around, stop by! (04/25/2008)

Trash-meister strikes back! Andrew O'Hehir
Much-hated German director Uwe Boll reneges on promise to quit, pronounces self "only genius in the whole fucking business." (04/24/2008)

TV Daily
Thursday: "Lost" breaks out the big guns. Plus: What did you think of "South Park" on Wednesday? (04/24/2008)

The "I love Rabbit Bites" singalong
Watch out! This catchy tune will keep the bunnies on your mind for a long, long time. (04/24/2008)

What's hot (and not) at Tribeca Andrew O'Hehir
"Speed Racer" zooms, David Mamet knows kung fu, a Fellini rediscovery and much more at New York's downsized (but still glitzy) spring fest. (04/24/2008)

City of lost children By Heather Havrilesky
The PBS documentary series "Carrier" discovers conflict and camaraderie among the (shockingly young) inhabitants of the USS Nimitz. (04/24/2008)

Scott Bateman: As the sparks fly, a love story
Overreacting, apologizing, flowers and forgotten eggs. (04/24/2008)

A rough return from space
Tracy Clark-Flory on blaming the ladies when things go wrong on the ship. (04/24/2008)

The GOP on the verge of imploding By Sidney Blumenthal
A look at how radicalism has forced the Republican Party to retreat. (04/24/2008)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
Billy Dare, boy adventurer: One of the good guys! (04/24/2008)

Curse of the female cosmonauts Tracy Clark-Flory
Women are to blame for Russia's recent off-target capsule landing? (04/24/2008)

Quote of the day Catherine Price
Student Aliza Shvarts now says that when she revealed that her controversial art project was a hoax, she was just pulling a fast one. (04/24/2008)

Life expectancy drops for some American women Sarah Hepola
Hey, weren't we all supposed to live longer than our parents? (04/24/2008)

Where are your children? Catherine Price
Today marks the 15th annual Take Our Daughters -- and now Sons -- to Work Day. (04/24/2008)

My husband constantly upstages me By Cary Tennis
He takes credit for my ideas, he insinuates himself into my work life, he appropriates my friends: What's going on? (04/24/2008)

I now call to the witness stand ... your jeans Catherine Price
A South Korean court overturns a man's rape conviction because of the state of his alleged victim's pants. (04/24/2008)

No more brothels for you! Sarah Hepola
Bracing for recession, German bank tells employees to tighten the belt, zip the fly. (04/24/2008)

Will the Democrats flop in Denver? By Mike Madden
If they arrive at the convention still divided over their star, they risk being upstaged by John McCain. (04/24/2008)

Looking past Pennsylvania Joan Walsh
Obama needs to come down from his front-runner's pedestal and fight for working-class voters. Plus: Did Keith Olbermann really say that? (04/24/2008)

Turn down that thermostat, permanently By Michael T. Klare
In the new world order, energy scarcity will dominate our lives -- determining when we drive, if we travel, and what we eat. (04/24/2008)

Give it up, Dick Alex Koppelman
Vice President Dick Cheney is reportedly still on the hunt for Iraqi WMD. (04/24/2008)

Top Dems consider intervening in race Alex Koppelman
Harry Reid says he, Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean might press superdelegates to make their endorsements public, but not until at least June. (04/24/2008)

Who can win the big states? Alex Koppelman
A New York Times article states the obvious -- one of Hillary Clinton's key messages doesn't necessarily conform to reality. (04/24/2008)

Quote of the day Alex Koppelman
Hey, you know what's elitist? Scientific training and research, apparently. (04/24/2008)

Is Obama really standing up for gay rights? Alex Koppelman
An examination of the claims that Barack Obama is extraordinarily supportive of gay rights. (04/24/2008)

The end of "Obama Watch" Alex Koppelman
Barack Obama agrees to appear on "Fox News Sunday." (04/24/2008)

Anti-Obama ad a winner for McCain Alex Koppelman
If someone planned a strategy for the North Carolina GOP's ad attacking Obama, and John McCain's response, he or she did a great job. (04/24/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
The Olympic torch speaks: A rare phone interview from a secret hideout in Australia. Plus: Flapless batting helmet renaissance. (04/24/2008)

Where has all the rice gone? Andrew Leonard
While Sam's Club rations the world's number one staple in the U.S., China makes long term plans in Africa (04/24/2008)

Is humanity running out of technological tricks? Andrew Leonard
Paul Krugman argues that scientific progress may not help us escape our energy dilemma. But maybe we're just not trying hard enough? (04/24/2008)

In Japan, the Web prompts suicides by hydrogen sulfide gas Farhad Manjoo
Online forums are advocating an "easier" suicide method. (04/24/2008)

Prepare for the assault on "Grand Theft Auto IV" Farhad Manjoo
Will Hillary Clinton use the much-anticipated release to win over the concerned parents demo? (04/24/2008)

Total systemic breakdown, then and now Andrew Leonard
The early 17th century was a tough time in China -- but not as alien to our own lives as you might imagine. (04/24/2008)

TV Daily
Wednesday: "South Park" skewers American culture for the final time this season. Plus: What did you think of Sundance's Earth Day programming on Tuesday? (04/23/2008)

The president's (dis)approval rating
Alex Koppelman on how low ratings for Bush may affect McCain in the election. (04/23/2008)

"Baby Mama" By Stephanie Zacharek
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler make a dynamite duo, but this spoof of our child-centric culture doesn't go as far as it could. (04/23/2008)

Bateman: Under Hillary's nuclear umbrella (ella ella) By Scott Bateman
Clinton explains her nuclear policy when it comes to Iran. (04/23/2008)

Indy, Clint and Che hit the Côte d'Azur Andrew O'Hehir
Eastwood's "Changeling" and Soderbergh's four-hour "Che" top an impressive Eurocentric lineup at 61st Cannes festival. (04/23/2008)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
We're selling the naming rights to our baby! (04/23/2008)

I'm perpetuating the cycle of emotional abuse By Cary Tennis
I was a victim of rage and violence and now I can't control my temper. (04/23/2008)

Does that Vera Wang come in two-ply? Annsley Chapman
As lavish weddings get more over-the-top (doggy veils?), a few crafty brides make their special dress from toilet paper. (04/23/2008)

Vote yes on Lilly Ledbetter Lynn Harris
Call your senators today to support fair pay. (04/23/2008)

Skip breakfast, skip having a son? Tracy Clark-Flory
Researchers say a high-calorie diet and regular breakfasts increase chances of birthing a boy. (04/23/2008)

"Why do these men want to coach little girls?" By Julia Wallace
Former national champ Jennifer Sey exposes the anorexia and sexual and mental abuse that are rampant in elite women's gymnastics. (04/23/2008)

Too bad to keep, too good to hock Lynn Harris
What to do with 14-carat reminders of a no-account ex? (04/23/2008)

Obama can't close the deal By Walter Shapiro
Clinton notches another do-or-die big-state win in Pennsylvania. Which is more troubling for Democrats -- her scorched-earth tactics or Obama's failure to build on his base? (04/23/2008)

Hillary Clinton's bionic quest continues By Rebecca Traister
At her victory party in Philly, fresh talk of fundraising, Florida and a future in the White House. (04/23/2008)

What Pennsylvania tells us Joan Walsh
Obama's still struggling with white working-class voters. There's still time for him to deal with it -- but Clinton just bought herself some time, too. (04/24/2008)

Freedom is hard work By Garrison Keillor
Sometimes it's a relief to put on clean clothes every morning and be in an office by 9 and feel like part of a team. (04/23/2008)

Interview with Aaron Brown on NYT "military analyst" story Glenn Greenwald
The former CNN news anchor speaks about his program's use of retired generals as war commentators and about his war coverage generally. (04/23/2008)

Will Obama shift his focus to McCain? Steve Benen
Pivoting away from Clinton, Obama appears ready to go into a general-election mode. (04/23/2008)

Tuesday's other important contest Steve Benen
GOP struggles in a Mississippi special election it expected to win easily. (04/23/2008)

Campaign roundup Steve Benen
Clinton's cattle futures are off the table, while Obama looks strong in North Carolina. (04/23/2008)

Clinton capitalizes, contest continues Steve Benen
Clinton emptied her coffers to get a win in Pennsylvania, but then the money came pouring in. (04/23/2008)

Burden on superdelegates gets even heavier Steve Benen
Eventually, party leaders are going to have to weigh in and tip the scales toward Clinton or Obama. (04/23/2008)

Bush rewards Petraeus with Central Command Steve Benen
President replaces Adm. William Fallon with Gen. David Petraeus, who's more likely to stick to the Bush script. (04/23/2008)

Comparing McCain to an "Internet stock circa 1999" Steve Benen
Is John McCain's support in the polls just a bubble due to burst? (04/23/2008)

So, what's next? Steve Benen
With Pennsylvania in the rear-view mirror, Indiana begins to loom over the Democratic race. (04/23/2008)

Passing back the baton Steve Benen
Handing the War Room back to Alex Koppelman. (04/23/2008)

McCain seems awfully happy with Tuesday's results Steve Benen
With the Democratic race continuing for at least several weeks, the GOP candidate couldn't be more pleased. (04/23/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
Dolphins avoid holdout mess by signing No. 1 pick Jake Long before the draft. This Parcells guy must know what he's doing. Plus: NHL playoffs. (04/23/2008)

Nationalize the rating agencies! Andrew Leonard
Why should we trust the likes of Moody's with judging creditworthiness, when their profits depend on keeping clients happy? (04/23/2008)

What the hell is Microsoft's Live Mesh? Farhad Manjoo
The company promises a cross-platform way to synchronize your data across different devices. (04/23/2008)

The Washington food crisis consensus Andrew Leonard
Did following the advice of the IMF and World Bank in the 1990s set poor countries up for a big fall when grain prices spiked a decade later? (04/23/2008)

Does a vagrant-fighting "bum bot" give robots a bad name? Farhad Manjoo
An engineer builds a water cannon-toting machine to keep loiterers away from his bar. (04/23/2008)

Japan's unwanted low-fat diet Andrew Leonard
Two years ago, Japan had too much milk. But today, butter is suddenly a scarce commodity. The global food crisis strikes again. (04/23/2008)

TV Daily
Tuesday: Go green with the Sundance Channel. Plus: What did you think of "The Bachelor: London Calling" on Monday? (04/22/2008)

It's hard to spend $3 trillion!
Farhad Manjoo ends third-world debt and buys the Beatles' back catalog for a fraction of the cost of the war in Iraq (04/22/2008)

Red State Update: Older and madder than John McCain
Jackie Browles has John McCain beat when it comes to bad temper. Just watch his ad! (04/22/2008)

From the Riviera to Abu Ghraib Andrew O'Hehir
This week: Cannes announces its selections (almost), Tribeca kicks off, and Errol Morris plumbs the dark secrets behind those torture photos. (04/22/2008)

Scott Bateman: John McCain's healthcare fix
Americans are hurting. McCain will make you feel better with a tax credit. (04/22/2008)

Happy voting in Pennsylvania Rebecca Traister and Caitlin Shamberg
Voters stand by their candidates during the Pa. primaries. (04/22/2008)

Charlie Wilson's unfinished war Andrew O'Hehir
The legendary Texas congressman talks about his secret 1980s Afghan war (and its blowback), the Obama campaign and being better-looking than Tom Hanks. (04/22/2008)

When my finger was on the button for Israel By Gregory Levey
I was a young law student applying for a part-time internship. To my amazement, I was soon casting votes at the U.N. and working for Ariel Sharon. (04/22/2008)

Loves walks on the beach and ... money laundering Tracy Clark-Flory
Dear Madam, I am a Nigerian banker looking to break your heart and steal your money. (04/22/2008)

Your handbag is hysterical! Catherine Price
Did the designers of Gucci's Hysteria collection realize what they were selling? (04/22/2008)

Desperately unhappy in the top Ivy League school By Cary Tennis
I want to work in New York publishing, and I know this is the route, but I'm miserable and depressed. (04/22/2008)

Ladies, fight rape with ankle bracelets Tracy Clark-Flory
An Italian politician suggests women wear tracking devices for rescue from rapists. (04/22/2008)

Know any OB/GYNs who want to move to Italy? Lynn Harris
Abortion is legal there, but only 30 percent of doctors will do it. (04/23/2008)

Strangers on a train ... under arrest? James Hannaham
A man gets 10 days in jail for staring intensely at a female commuter. (04/22/2008)

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's Abortion Man! Catherine Price
A new sketch from Damon Wayans' YouTube "incubator" makes us question what kind of talent he's hoping to help birth. (04/22/2008)

Race and the white coat By Rahul K. Parikh, M.D.
Racial bias in doctors and healthcare workers is doing great harm. Is enough being done to stop it? (04/22/2008)

Attention, pundits. It ain't over By Rebecca Traister
The press may be fatigued by the Clinton-Obama battle, but the actual voters in Pennsylvania are still pumped -- no matter who wins. (04/22/2008)

The epic battle for Pennsylvania By Mike Madden
It seemed endless. It got nasty. (Babies were invoked, but so was bin Laden.) What will Tuesday's vote finally bring for the Democratic race? (04/22/2008)

Let's dump "Earth Day" By Joseph Romm
Affection for our planet is misdirected and unrequited. We need to focus on saving ourselves. (04/22/2008)

Life, death and spring By Gary Kamiya
April in the Sierra foothills is the cruelest month -- and the most beautiful. (04/22/2008)

Media's refusal to address the NYT's "military analyst" story continues Glenn Greenwald
CNN ex-chief Eason Jordan: "I went to the Pentagon several times before the war started ... and we got a big thumbs up" on the military analysts we wanted to use. "That was important." (04/22/2008)

Obama rules the Pennsylvania airwaves Joan Walsh
The Clinton camp complains he spent more on media in Pennsylvania than on all 20 Super Tuesday states. But will carping about Obama's fundraising prowess really make Clinton seem more electable? Stay tuned. (04/22/2008)

A Willie Horton ad for a new generation Steve Benen
Author of infamous 1988 ad is back with an anti-Obama smear. (04/22/2008)

Polls close in Pennsylvania Steve Benen
It's 8 p.m. in the Keystone State, but we don't know the winner of the state's primary just yet. (04/22/2008)

When no story becomes the story Alex Koppelman
Is the time it takes the networks to make a call really a good indicator of anything? (04/23/2008)

Step 2 in defining McCain: He's really rich Steve Benen
Progressive Media USA unveils its second spot, emphasizing how McCain came to be very wealthy. (04/22/2008)

Networks say Clinton will win Pennsylvania Steve Benen
MSNBC and Fox News both call the Pennsylvania primary for Clinton, but the margin remains to be seen. (04/23/2008)

Clinton's surprising appearance on "Countdown" Steve Benen
A week after a ridiculous debate, MSNBC's Olbermann shows the media how it's done. (04/22/2008)

What to expect when you're expecting (primary results) Steve Benen
After six weeks of anticipation, Pennsylvanians head to the polls. (04/22/2008)

The unofficial end of the race for pledged delegates Steve Benen
Pennsylvania effectively marks the end of the race for pledged delegates, attention will shift to popular vote and superdelegates. (04/23/2008)

It goes well beyond the Keating Five Steve Benen
New York Times reports on a possible influence-peddling controversy involving McCain and a major contributor. (04/22/2008)

Clinton: "The tide is turning" Alex Koppelman
In a speech, Hillary Clinton celebrates her victory in Pennsylvania, but a cloud of doom still hangs over her. (04/23/2008)

The painful task of measuring racism Steve Benen
A small percentage of the population won't vote for a black presidential candidate, but we don't know how small. (04/22/2008)

In speech, Obama looks past Pennsylvania Alex Koppelman
After he -- as expected -- lost a big primary, Barack Obama delivered just the kind of speech he needed to make. (04/23/2008)

Bill Clinton and the "race card" Mike Madden
Three months later, the former president accuses the Obama campaign of twisting his post-South Carolina remarks. (04/22/2008)

New York Times editorial scolds Clinton Katharine Mieszkowski
But was her victory in Pennsylvania really not a "big win"? (04/23/2008)

So far, Pennsylvania exit polls provide little insight Alex Koppelman
Early leaks show conflicting numbers. (04/22/2008)

Campaign roundup Steve Benen
Polls show Clinton up in Pennsylvania, but Obama up nationally. (04/22/2008)

Demographic breakdowns Steve Benen
Exit polls highlight differences among Pennsylvania Democrats. (04/22/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
Canadiens beat Bruins in a Game 7 that isn't a classic, but is just one of three in two days. Plus: Victory riot decorum, please. (04/22/2008)

Your very own climate change Victory Garden Andrew Leonard
Michael Pollan urges us all to grow our own veggies. But farming is work -- ask any peasant (04/22/2008)

FedEx bets on the California sunshine Andrew Leonard
But what's the company going to do when it absolutely, positively has to offset its humongous carbon footprint? (04/22/2008)

Housing market refuses to stabilize Andrew Leonard
No springtime bounce for the real estate industry -- in March, the median sales price of an existing home dropped 7.7 percent compared to year ago (04/22/2008)

The oil seesaw Andrew Leonard
Demand in the U.S. falls for the third straight quarter. But China's thirstier than ever, and it isn't alone. (04/22/2008)

TV Daily
Monday: See parents squirm on "The Bachelor: London Calling." Plus: What did you think of "Oprah's Big Give" this weekend? (04/21/2008)

Big Think: Conversation with Naomi Klein
The author and activist talks about her political awakening. (04/21/2008)

Scott Bateman: "Atom Age Vampire," Part 12
Jeanette and Dr. Levin will leave you unscrambled. (04/21/2008)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
Detainee abuse and the "bad apples" responsible. (04/21/2008)

"There needs to be a citizens revolt"
Economist Naomi Klein speaks about fighting corporations and the moment that made her an activist. (04/21/2008)

Old, fat, male ... and bulimic? Kate Harding
John Prescott's recent revelation reminds us that eating disorders aren't just a female thing. (04/21/2008)

Looking for a few good women Kate Harding
A new Marine recruitment strategy reaches out to the female population. (04/21/2008)

Ask Pablo By Pablo Päster
Considering the energy used in auto manufacturing, is it better to keep my old car or buy a new hybrid? (04/21/2008)

Danica Patrick makes sports history Sarah Hepola
The 26-year-old phenomenon puts doubts to rest, becoming the first woman to win an Indy car race. (04/21/2008)

Does Hillary Clinton remind you of your mom? Sarah Hepola
Linda Hirshman sees the presidential candidate in terms of a power struggle between mothers and daughters. (04/21/2008)

Ain't no party like a quilting bee party Sarah Hepola
Older Americans are happier than the rest of us. Can we stop freaking out about aging now? (04/21/2008)

The bosses used to monitor us on video from home By Cary Tennis
I hate my job and hated my last job and feel like a failure. But is it my fault? (04/21/2008)

Bill Clinton's Golden Oldies act By Walter Shapiro
On the road and off the radar, playing small-town Pennsylvania with the former president. (04/21/2008)

McCain's gassy tax relief By Katharine Mieszkowski
An economics and transportation expert evaluates the presidential hopeful's plan to suspend the gas tax: "It's a terrible idea." (04/21/2008)

The haunting of the Democrats By Andrew O'Hehir
The party is caught in an excruciating Catch-22. Whether it chooses the establishment figure or the liberal reformer, history offers many paths to defeat. (04/21/2008)

Bill Kristol, great man of sacrifice, on the duties of Passover Glenn Greenwald
The New York Times warrior/columnist points to the glories of sacrifice (by others) and the lessons of Judaism to urge a vote for John McCain. (04/21/2008)

A man with a triangulation plan? Steve Benen
John McCain expects to triangulate against Bush, and he wants the media's help. (04/21/2008)

Campaign roundup Steve Benen
Clinton ahead in Pennsylvania polls; Scaife and Moore make their endorsements. (04/21/2008)

Pondering whether McCain would be worse than Bush Steve Benen
The latest flap between Clinton and Obama is whether McCain would be as bad as or worse than Bush. (04/21/2008)

McCain "glad" to have radical preacher's support Steve Benen
McCain concedes Hagee's support was a mistake, but he's keeping the endorsement anyway. (04/21/2008)

Even Santorum can't stay away Steve Benen
After vowing to never support John McCain, Rick Santorum comes around. (04/21/2008)

Playing the bin Laden card? Steve Benen
Hillary Clinton unveils 11th-hour ad in Pennsylvania, featuring footage of the terrorist leader. (04/21/2008)

Senator Hothead Steve Benen
Slowly but surely, the "temperament question" is dogging John McCain's presidential campaign. (04/21/2008)

Russert should debunk nonsense, not repeat it Steve Benen
"Meet the Press" host repeats bogus line about Obama and the Pledge of Allegiance. (04/21/2008)

Malthus is in the air Andrew Leonard
The original dismal economist did not anticipate the productivity explosion bequeathed by technology. But when does the magic stop? (04/21/2008)

Dawning of the age of the Asian PC Andrew Leonard
No recession yet for sales of personal computers in China and India. That's good, because we could all benefit from their increased productivity (04/21/2008)

Dilbert's new mash-up site lets you add your own punch line Farhad Manjoo
This makes "mocking your co-workers and boss a competitive sport," says Scott Adams. (04/21/2008)

The vile state of Internet discourse knows no borders Andrew Leonard
The online reaction to a Chinese Olympic torch-bearer who dared criticize a boycott of a French supermarket chain? Burn her, stone her, she's a witch! (04/21/2008)

I Like to Watch By Heather Havrilesky
America the stupidful! As our nation falls to swine, two of our best comedies -- "South Park" and "Paradise Hotel 2" -- will chart our decline in laughter (through the tears)! (04/20/2008)

Opus By Berkeley Breathed
Women are hysterical? I denounce and renounce you! (04/20/2008)

Major revelation: U.S. media deceitfully disseminates government propaganda Glenn Greenwald
The New York Times in 2003 raised questions about the objectivity of retired generals. That didn't stop anyone -- including the Times -- from relying on them for "objective" commentary on the war. (04/20/2008)

Critics' Picks
Salon's culture gurus tip you off to their favorite things this week: Playboy Mansion mood music, an ultra-hip style guide, the exciting return of "Lost." (04/19/2008)

Will Obama's debate stumble hurt him? Joan Walsh
Joan Walsh on the last Democratic primary debate and the candidates' missed opportunities. (04/19/2008)

When bananas ruled the world By Katharine Mieszkowski
Intrigue. Power. Corruption. Death. Sex. The history of oil has nothing on that of the yellow fruit. (04/19/2008)

Ken Pollack: Al Qaeda is a great "catch-all" term Glenn Greenwald
John McCain's sloppy and misleading use of "Al Qaeda" prompts bizarre justifications from Serious Middle East experts. (04/19/2008)

The "bitter" vote
Was Obama on to something when he described the disenfranchised constituency? And are you bitter too? Members of Salon's community, Table Talk, give their perspective. (04/19/2008)

"88 Minutes" By Stephanie Zacharek
Al Pacino tries hard to make this squirrelly thriller worth your time. (04/18/2008)

Where in the world is Morgan Spurlock's 'stache? Andrew O'Hehir
Likable "Super Size Me" director searches for video-game villain (and '80s rapper) Osama bin Laden, yuks it up with Arab citizenry. (04/18/2008)

"The Forbidden Kingdom" By Stephanie Zacharek
Jackie Chan and Jet Li join forces on-screen for the first time in this lavish action movie. (04/18/2008)

TV Daily
Friday/weekend: Oprah, Oprah, Oprah and a million dollars in cash. Plus: What did you think of "30 Rock" on Thursday? (04/18/2008)

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" By Stephanie Zacharek
Remember: Just because a movie has been produced by Judd Apatow doesn't mean it's good. (04/18/2008)

The pope, the Jews and repentance Andrew O'Hehir
Leading Catholic dissident James Carroll talks about Pope Benedict's visit, and the church's failure to confront its anti-Semitic history. (04/18/2008)

Bateman: McCain, euros and giant black holes
Notes from the sketchbook. (04/18/2008)

Are webmasters to blame? Tracy Clark-Flory
Tracy Clark-Flory discusses France's decision to punish pro-anorexia Web sites. (04/18/2008)

The witty detective By Louis Bayard
Karen Joy Fowler's follow-up to bestseller "The Jane Austen Book Club" is a detective novel about a mystery writer whose tales come back to haunt her. (04/18/2008)

WayLay By Carol Lay
There's something under the futon and it won't come out! (04/18/2008)

Do women prefer men who play team sports? Thomas Rogers
Gentlemen, it might be time to trade that golf club for a basketball. (04/18/2008)

The evil future is now: Semen detection kits Sarah Hepola
Indulge your worst fears, violate others -- all for less than $50. (04/18/2008)

How I learned to stop worrying and love the recession By Heather Havrilesky
The market's in a slump and America's heyday is long gone. But I've found comfort in being a coupon clipper. (04/18/2008)

Women's studies, still alive and fist-shaking Annsley Chapman
Reports of the department's death may have been greatly exaggerated. (04/18/2008)

We want a kid but don't think it's right to have one By Cary Tennis
How can you bring a kid into the world when you can't know in advance if the kid wants to exist? (04/18/2008)

Ugh, what did she do to herself? Thomas Rogers
A television critic on why Hollywood actresses' excessive plastic surgery is complicating her job. (04/18/2008)

"She's not as bad as you think" By Walter Shapiro
Hillary Clinton showed off her softer side in the Philly burbs with witty advice on how to sell herself to undecided voters. (04/18/2008)

Duking it out to be London's head honcho By Thomas Hüetlin
Two eccentrics are competing for the London mayor's office. But does either man really want the job? (04/18/2008)

David Brooks' fictitious defense of his industry's behavior Glenn Greenwald
Establishment journalists blame the interests of Americans for their coverage choices without having any idea if their claims are true. (04/18/2008)

Will Obama's debate stumble hurt him? Joan Walsh
As the front-runner he shouldn't seem so peevish about tough questions. But Clinton missed a chance to recover from her Bosnia debacle. (04/18/2008)

Mukasey dishonesty update Glenn Greenwald
The fallout from the attorney general's false statements about 9/11 continues. (04/18/2008)

Obama, get ready for the "Clinton rules" By Joe Conason
As Wednesday's awful debate proves, it won't matter who the presidential nominee is -- the press will play footsie with McCain and attack the Democrat. (04/18/2008)

Dean looking for superdelegates to decide "now" Steve Benen
DNC wants to wrap up the race, but uncommitted superdelegates are in no hurry. (04/18/2008)

Rove willing to testify -- except when he's not Steve Benen
After expressing interest in talking about Siegelman controversy, Rove starts backpedaling. (04/18/2008)

Obama picks up support from Bloomberg-ites Steve Benen
Conservative Democrats Boren, Nunn shift their support from NYC mayor to Obama. (04/18/2008)

Gas taxes and head games Steve Benen
McCain can't make up his mind about the merit of his own "gas-tax holiday" proposal. (04/18/2008)

John McCain's "academic argument" Steve Benen
McCain avoids talk of his record on Iraq, preferring to emphasize the "future." (04/18/2008)

McCain releases tax returns -- at least, some of them Steve Benen
Unlike the Clintons and Obamas, the McCain campaign keeps spouse's tax records private. (04/18/2008)

Debating the debate, complaining about complaining Steve Benen
In the fall, Clinton complained about the media and Obama was on the attack. Now, they've switched. (04/18/2008)

About that flag-pin question Steve Benen
The debate question about flag lapel pins was hardly random and spontaneous. (04/18/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
NBA playoff preview: Lakers and Celtics back atop the heap, but watch out for the Pistons in the East -- and everybody in the West. (04/18/2008)

A loss for Berkeley, and the planet Andrew Leonard
Alex Farrell dedicated his life to solving some of the hardest problems humanity faces on this planet. He will be sorely missed. (04/18/2008)

Globalization gives Wall Street a boost Andrew Leonard
What do Google, IBM, Caterpillar and Intel all have in common? Besides making boatloads of money last quarter? (04/18/2008)

Antiwar site lets you spend $3 trillion your way Farhad Manjoo
A clever way to illustrate the opportunity cost of the war. (04/18/2008)

The bisphenol A blues Andrew Leonard
The U.S. government finally acknowledges that there might be a problem with the ubiquitous substance. But we still want to know: "Does plastic make us fat?" (04/18/2008)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
The bone-bending, ergonomic hell of economy class. Six easy ideas for making flying more comfortable. (04/18/2008)

TV Daily
Thursday: "30 Rock" returns! Plus: What did you think of the Democratic Presidential Debate on Wednesday? (04/17/2008)

Bateman: What will Rummy's book title be?
When "No Really, I Thought It Would Work" just doesn't cut it (04/17/2008)

Remember everything, forever
Farhad Manjoo discusses Evernote, the software that's a "backup for your brain." (04/17/2008)

Did Portishead kill trip hop? By James Hannaham
The moody British band is back, but they've ditched sensual black grooves and embraced their inner goth. (04/17/2008)

Media hypocrites love personality politics By Glenn Greenwald
Why is the GOP smear machine so good at re-creating the social dynamics of high school, pitting the Republican jocks against the Democratic nerds? (04/17/2008)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
Super-Fun-Pak Comix: The Elm Street Over-Scheduled Gang, Science Facts for the Immature, and more! (04/17/2008)

Quote of the day Sarah Hepola
New York magazine writes about a feminist reawakening. (04/17/2008)

Feminism vs. "Sex and the City"? Tracy Clark-Flory
An article asks whether it's possible for a feminist to like the HBO series. (04/17/2008)

My beautiful mommy Catherine Price
A new kids book about plastic surgery tries to explain why Mommy went to the doctor and came back with a new nose. (04/17/2008)

I'm a stage manager with an unmanageable partner By Cary Tennis
We're working together but she's so flaky it feels like she's working against me. (04/17/2008)

My body, my choice, my art project? Catherine Price
A college student repeatedly impregnated herself, induced -- and filmed -- miscarriages and used the resulting blood (and footage) as materials in her senior art project. (04/17/2008)

Beyond Vagina-dome By Rebecca Traister
A giant clitoris! Healing circles! Celebrities! It's the 10th anniversary of "The Vagina Monologues," but the real star is New Orleans. (04/17/2008)

Obama and Clinton fizzle in Philly By Walter Shapiro
Wednesday's debate was devoid of substance and rife with gotcha politics. In the end, Obama seemed to win simply by not losing. (04/17/2008)

What will they really do about Iraq? By Mark Benjamin
McCain, Clinton and Obama have all made broad pronouncements about how they'd handle the war as president. But how do their plans hold up under scrutiny? (04/17/2008)

The harmony between the Right and the media Glenn Greenwald
Last night's pathetic "debate" was a perfect microcosm of how our political discourse is conducted and our elections decided. (04/17/2008)

How to interpret a dead-even horse race Steve Benen
McCain is tied with his Democratic rivals, but is that good or bad? (04/17/2008)

McCain opposes earmarks -- except for the ones he likes Steve Benen
McCain vowed a ban on earmarks, until he learned that would cut off aid to Israel. (04/17/2008)

Worst. Debate. Ever? Steve Benen
In Democrats' debate, moderators -- not candidates -- blasted for an "embarrassing performance." (04/17/2008)

The fallout from the Democratic debate Steve Benen
After contentious event, Stephanopoulos on the defensive, Obama on the offensive. (04/17/2008)

Wrong on the substance and the style Steve Benen
At Democratic debate, moderator Gibson flubbed key facts. (04/17/2008)

Hannity's unfortunate role in the Democratic debate Steve Benen
Stephanopoulos' question about the Weather Underground came from a Fox News personality. (04/17/2008)

Bush's missing bin Laden plan Steve Benen
GAO report finds the administration has no comprehensive strategy for eliminating al-Qaida sanctuary in Pakistan's tribal region. (04/17/2008)

The GOP's "Culture of Corruption" lives on Steve Benen
Rep. Don Young's (R-AK) colleagues are ready to recommend criminal charges against him. (04/17/2008)

Murtha tackles McCain's age Steve Benen
One septuagenarian to another: "It's no old man's job." (04/17/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
NBA regular season ends with a bang: Those guys really know how to jockey for playoff seeding. Plus: So long, Isiah Thomas. (04/17/2008)

Darwin and the Ming Dynasty: Online like never before Andrew Leonard
The relentless expansion of the digital cornucopia can't be stopped. Not that anyone would want to... (04/17/2008)

How not to prepare for peak oil Andrew Leonard
Russia, Nigeria, Mexico: Please open your arms to foreign oil companies so we can pump out your black gold even faster (04/17/2008)

The Google Earth economy Andrew Leonard
Recession may be taking a bite out of the U.S. economy, but so far the world's biggest search engine is doing just fine. Emphasis on "world" (04/17/2008)

How to build an "external brain" Farhad Manjoo
More on Evernote, the software to help you remember forever. (04/17/2008)

Survey: Women looser with their passwords than men Farhad Manjoo
Nearly half of the ladies surveyed were willing to give up their passwords in return for candy. (04/17/2008)

George Bush and the Neanderthals Andrew Leonard
A German politician says mean things about the president's climate change policies. But why did he have to drag innocent Paleolithic hominids into the mix? (04/17/2008)

A new era of undocumented bond speculators? Andrew Leonard
A Mexican politician suggests that migrant workers in the U.S. buy bonds issued by the state oil company, instead of sending their money home to their families (04/17/2008)

TV Daily
Wednesday: Clinton-Obama throwdown on the Democratic Presidential Debate in Philadelphia. Plus: What did you think of "The Real Housewives of New York City" on Tuesday? (04/16/2008)

Finale wrap-up: "The Real Housewives of New York City" By Heather Havrilesky
The first season of this strangely addictive Bravo show ends with even more shock and awe. (04/16/2008)

Red State Update: A president who doesn't lie?
Quit sniping at Hillary for her Bosnia fib. (04/16/2008)

The old communist smear
Alex Koppelman on recent attacks on Obama for his allegedly Marx-like statements. (04/16/2008)

Criminals of the world, unite and take over By Laura Miller
In "McMafia," author Misha Glenny takes us on a startling tour of the new international underworld, documenting the hidden costs of an unregulated global free market. (04/16/2008)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
If only people were as critical with the president as they are with their sports teams. (04/16/2008)

Advertise anorexia, go to jail? Tracy Clark-Flory
A French bill could outlaw the promotion of "extreme" thinness. (04/16/2008)

I quit being a musician because I couldn't play without drinking By Cary Tennis
Now my life is all screwed up and nothing works. (04/16/2008)

Anti-abortion, pro-Obama Lynn Harris
Casey, Roemer seek "new consensus," "common ground" (04/16/2008)

Best reason to cab it: The subway groper Annsley Chapman
Freddie Johnson was arrested 53 times for rubbing against women on mass transit. (04/16/2008)

I now pronounce you ... seriously unhinged Sarah Hepola
A scorned wife makes a tearful, vicious rant about her divorce on YouTube. (04/16/2008)

The birds, the bees, the sperm donors... Lynn Harris
Parents are finding that "The Talk" has gotten really, really complicated. (04/16/2008)

Bitter as hell in Pennsylvania By Mike Madden
Folks agree with Barack Obama in at least one Pennsylvania trailer park. But will angry voters help or hurt Democrats in swing states this fall? (04/16/2008)

Don't blame San Francisco for Obama's "Bittergate" Joan Walsh
Candidates pander to wealthy donors in every city, not just mine! (04/16/2008)

Those Delta blues By Garrison Keillor
In my youth, I longed to fly away to the edge of the world and I knew Northwest would take me there. Now it's being devoured by Delta. (04/16/2008)

Is it "contradictory" to decry the right's tactics while insisting on their equal application? Glenn Greenwald
Allowing GOP personality-based attacks to go unanswered is a recipe for certain failure. (04/16/2008)

How about a five-way race in November? Steve Benen
With Nader, Keyes, and Barr in the mix, the presidential field starts to look crowded. (04/16/2008)

The "Seas of David" plot "more hype than evidence" Steve Benen
White House claims about alleged terrorist plot appears to have been wildly exaggerated. (04/16/2008)

Much to be desired from McCainonomics Steve Benen
McCain's "gas-tax holiday" leaves economists and conservationists scratching their heads. (04/16/2008)

The "distractions" debate Steve Benen
Democratic debate dominated by discussion of hot-button issues, not substance. (04/17/2008)

Environmental advocacy at its finest Vincent Rossmeier
A New York Post Op-Ed warns of a potential "dark side" to Whole Foods' ban on plastic bags. (04/16/2008)

Poll trajectory points to trouble for Clinton campaign Steve Benen
With less than a week before the Pennsylvania primary, new poll points to an "honesty gap." (04/16/2008)

Progressive group begins effort to "define" McCain Steve Benen
Progressive Media USA unveils new ad, connects McCain to Bush. (04/16/2008)

McCain reverses course on "rogue-state rollback" Steve Benen
In his latest flip-flop, McCain was for "rogue-state rollback" before he was against it. (04/16/2008)

Clinton pollster urges senator to go relentlessly negative Steve Benen
Doug Schoen, Bill Clinton's former pollster, says Hillary "needs to completely abandon her positive campaign." (04/16/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
Rob Neyer's latest "Big Book" debunks some baseball legends and confirms a few, all without spoiling the fun. (04/16/2008)

The brighter side of $115 a barrel crude Andrew Leonard
How can high oil prices, which encourage more burning of a coal, be a good thing? The answer lies in the European Union's Emissions Trading System (04/16/2008)

Let's fight: Popular Mechanics says Macs beat PCs in style and speed Farhad Manjoo
Why does Windows take minutes to start up and shut down? (04/16/2008)

Fake Springsteen praises Windows in heroically awful corporate video Farhad Manjoo
Oh, make it stop! (04/16/2008)

Evernote: Software to help you remember everything, forever By Farhad Manjoo
By photographing and saving all that you encounter, you can build a search engine for your life. (04/16/2008)

Bush's lame-duck climate change proposal Andrew Leonard
Pity the poor president: How do you become a leader in fighting greenhouse gas emissions after spending seven years pretending the problem doesn't exist? (04/16/2008)

Housing starts: Bad numbers keep getting worse Andrew Leonard
Don't look to the construction industry for signs we're in only a "mild" recession -- new residential construction just hit a 17-year low. (04/16/2008)

TV Daily
Tuesday: Break out the litchi martinis for the season finale of "The Real Housewives of New York City." Plus: What did you think of "American Experience" on Monday? (04/15/2008)

Meet Britain's Stephen Colbert By Molly Eichel
Steve Coogan's Alan Partridge is the greatest TV chat show host of all time -- if only in his own mind. (04/15/2008)

Bateman: We don't torture people. Honest! By Scott Bateman
George W. Bush explains our policy. (04/15/2008)

The punk stops here By Jess Harvell
Forget the slick mall-punk that rules the radio. If you like your music chaotic and bratty, you need to hear Times New Viking and Be Your Own Pet. (04/15/2008)

What every freelancer should know By Catherine Price
Tired of getting gouged on your taxes? Sensing an impending mental breakdown? Here are tips for the self-employed, from someone who feels your pain. (04/15/2008)

Shocker: Angela Merkel has boobs! Sarah Hepola
The German chancellor creates a furor by showing a little (OK, a lot of) cleavage. (04/15/2008)

I think my dad's too old to vote By Cary Tennis
He says he's not really following politics, but is planning to vote anyway. (04/15/2008)

Indians prefer boys Catherine Price
Despite modernization, many Indians continue to have sex-selective abortions. What's more, the trend seems to be growing. (04/15/2008)

Polygamists' progeny Catherine Price
Now that authorities have raided the FLDS sect in Eldorado, Texas, the state has a huge problem on its hands: What to do with all those children. (04/15/2008)

The rubes and the elites By Michael Lind
By calling small-town Americans "bitter," Obama has deepened a long-standing rift in the Democratic base. The party's success in November depends on healing it. (04/15/2008)

Iraq: The ten commandments By Gary Kamiya
In honor of Charlton Heston, here are 10 lessons we should engrave on our foreign policy tablets as we prepare to leave Iraq. (04/15/2008)

McCain sides with Bush, opposes new GI Bill Steve Benen
Despite calls from veterans' groups, McCain sides with White House against bipartisan education bill for the troops. (04/15/2008)

Bush administration backs down on fraud and abuse Steve Benen
Unable to defend pro-fraud contracting provision, the administration gives in. (04/15/2008)

McCain gets donuts; Obama gets likened to a terrorist Steve Benen
Last month, McCain gave reporters BBQ; this month, editors give McCain free doughnuts (with sprinkles!) and coffee. (04/15/2008)

House Republican blasts Obama as "that boy" Steve Benen
Conservative Kentucky lawmaker apologizes after racially-charged remark aimed at Obama. (04/15/2008)

Pope to president: Don't call me, I'll call you Steve Benen
Bush will host a White House dinner in the pope's honor, but the pope won't be there. (04/15/2008)

Would Obama investigate the Bush gang? Steve Benen
Obama, arguing "nobody is above the law," says he would consider investigating Bush administration, if elected. (04/15/2008)

McCain confused about Petraeus' job, chain of command Steve Benen
In the latest in a series of gaffes, McCain flubs question on Petraeus and Afghanistan. (04/15/2008)

Did the "bitter" flap affect the race? Steve Benen
New polls show little movement as a result of Obama's "bitter" controversy. (04/15/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
Michael Beasley's one and done: When the going gets good, the good turn pro. Plus: Big Papi's buried jersey. (04/15/2008)

Free trade for food Andrew Leonard
While Americans bicker over the Colombia FTA, China and New Zealand cut a deal. Could rising food prices be the reason? (04/15/2008)

McCain-onomics: Cheap gas in every tank Andrew Leonard
Rev up your engines and hit the road, America: John McCain says it's time for a gas tax holiday (04/15/2008)

Washington Mutual's bad day Andrew Leonard
Move over, Countrywide; WaMu just declared a billion-dollar loss. The subprime killer strikes again. (04/15/2008)

TV Daily
Monday: "American Experience" chronicles the life of Walt Whitman. Plus: What did you think of the "Miss USA" pageant on Friday? (04/14/2008)

Bush gives McCain the war
Joan Walsh on whether Bush's recommitment to Iraq will hurt John McCain. (04/14/2008)

Scott Bateman: "Atom Age Vampire," Part 11
Erstwhile stripper Jeanette and Dr. Levin celebrate with drinks. But what about Monique? (04/14/2008)

Big Think: Steven Pinker on hypocrisy, veiled threats and taboos
The linguist studies language in order to help us understand human nature. (04/14/2008)

King Kaufman: Pro baseball's bottom rung
A visit to an open tryout for an independent minor league, a last chance at a job for some players. (04/14/2008)

Dick Cheney was never a "grown-up" By Sidney Blumenthal
A hard look at how one man changed the face of neoconservatism. (04/14/2008)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
We can always hope... (04/14/2008)

Act like a man (who knows what that means)! Tracy Clark-Flory
A blogger sets out to answer what it means these days to be masculine. (04/15/2008)

Whiz-bang commercial: Awesome or awful? Sarah Hepola
Sometimes we need your help to decide these things. (04/14/2008)

Hey, Obama boys: Back off already! By Rebecca Traister
Young women are growing increasingly frustrated with the fanatical support of Barack and gleeful bashing of Hillary. (04/14/2008)

Was Katie Couric railroaded? Sarah Hepola
The unfortunate fate of America's first female news anchor. (04/14/2008)

Is Miss USA an Obama girl? Katharine Mieszkowski
2008 pageant winner is a Texas Democrat. (04/14/2008)

Attack of the "freemales" Sarah Hepola
Good news for single women between the ages of 25 and 44 -- you might actually be happy. (04/14/2008)

The technology that will save humanity By Joseph Romm
The solar energy you haven't heard of is the one best suited to generate clean electricity for generations to come. (04/14/2008)

How Iraq spawned wider terrorist chaos By James Martin
As experts long warned, Islamic militants steeped in urban warfare against U.S. troops in Iraq have expanded their violent campaign beyond Iraq's borders. (04/14/2008)

John McCain's bad week Joan Walsh
President Bush's halt to troop reductions and commitment to an endless Iraq war will haunt the GOP come November -- but Bill Clinton's lame Bosnia gaffe is already dogging his wife. (04/14/2008)

"Great American Hypocrites: Toppling the Big Myths of Republican Politics" Glenn Greenwald
News on the release of the new book. (04/14/2008)

DNC challenges McCain on campaign finance Steve Benen
After running afoul of the public campaign financing system, McCain faces legal challenge from the DNC. (04/14/2008)

Radio silence on Bush's torture admission Steve Benen
The president concedes that he endorsed White House torture discussions, but media takes a pass. (04/14/2008)

Clinton, Obama, and the forum on faith Steve Benen
In the wake of the "bitter" controversy, Democratic candidates pressed on faith and compassion at a Pennsylvania forum. (04/14/2008)

How Bush's HUD responded to the mortgage crisis Steve Benen
As the housing crisis erupted, Bush's HUD secretary made matters worse. (04/14/2008)

"People see him as a centrist" Steve Benen
When it comes to John McCain's ideology, the perceptions contradict the record. (04/14/2008)

In the market for a used Attorney General? Steve Benen
Alberto Gonzales resigned in disgrace, but didn't expect to still be unemployed. (04/14/2008)

Kristol plays the Marx card Steve Benen
Predictably, the far right has settled on a red-baiting strategy while attacking Obama. (04/14/2008)

Will Lieberman lose if Democrats win? Steve Benen
If Senate Democrats win big in November, Joe Lieberman may be the biggest loser. (04/14/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
Video: Reaching for the bottom rung. A day at an open tryout for an independent pro baseball league. (04/14/2008)

The American way of debt Andrew Leonard
However you calculate it, we owe more than we used to. Good thing the government's cutting us some checks (04/14/2008)

When is a recession not a recession? Andrew Leonard
When it is a "global" recession, as defined by the International Monetary Fund (04/14/2008)

How safe are you from the Great Flood? Andrew Leonard
Should you fear the ocean? Take a spin on the Sea Level Rise Explorer and find out. (04/14/2008)

The decline and fall of the American empire of debt Andrew Leonard
Kevin Phillips' newest excoriation of the state of the union, "Bad Money," is the right book for the right time. (04/14/2008)

In court, J.K. Rowling nearly cries over Harry Potter Lexicon Farhad Manjoo
The author says that a fan's book based on her creation is theft. (04/14/2008)

The Herbert Hoover of the housing bust Andrew Leonard
Now that HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson has resigned, the pile-on party can begin. (04/14/2008)

I Like to Watch By Heather Havrilesky
Bravo's fine tradition of torturing creative professionals continues with "Step It Up & Dance" while NBC's "Friday Night Lights" gets another chance to shine. (04/13/2008)

Opus By Berkeley Breathed
Watch more TV and find out how sick you really are! (04/13/2008)

Critics' Picks
Salon's culture gurus tip you off to their favorite things this week: A bawdy British sketch show, a book on the Bard's better half, the return of the Breeders. (04/12/2008)

John Yoo: Spearhead or scapegoat? Glenn Greenwald
Does excess focus on a single DOJ lawyer obscure the broader responsibility for torture and other war crimes? (04/12/2008)

The Bateman Interviews: Can I live with you, Alan Greenspan?
Our host loses his home to the subprime mortgage crisis and tries to move in with the former Fed chairman. (04/11/2008)

TV Daily
Friday/weekend: Donnie and Marie Osmond host the "Miss USA" pageant. Plus: What did you think of "Survivor: Micronesia -- Fans Vs. Favorites" on Thursday? (04/11/2008)

"Smart People" By Stephanie Zacharek
Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page and other fine actors do their damnedest to make this dumb movie look sharp. (04/11/2008)

"The Visitor" By Stephanie Zacharek
This eloquent, unassuming movie evokes the miraculousness of finding a sense of place. (04/11/2008)

Meditation for murderers Andrew O'Hehir
Buddhism without parole, in Alabama's darkest prison. Plus: Hot housewife seeks Asian stud, physics geek goes nutzoid and more. (04/11/2008)

Israel's Nazi-porn problem Andrew O'Hehir
Hot she-wolves of the SS, rescued from the memory hole. Also: Buddhism for murderers, housewife seeks Asian stud and more. (04/11/2008)

Can you hide slutty eyes?
Tracy Clark-Flory on a new study that says eyes project women's sexual promiscuity. (04/11/2008)

Where have all the bohemians gone? By James Hannaham
Richard Florida has made a career out of explaining the economic importance of the creative class. His latest book is a field guide to their moving and mating habits. (04/11/2008)

Story Minute By Carol Lay
What happens when the world has too many people to survive? (04/11/2008)

Once upon a time, Dad went to war By Alison Buckholtz
Books had always helped me in a crisis. But could I find one that explained to my kids why their father was in Iraq? (04/11/2008)

Are women less willing to speak their minds? Thomas Rogers
A video montage features women shying away from the camera while men actively engage. (04/11/2008)

When rape is just another workplace dispute Carol Lloyd
The appalling case of Dawn Leamon, stuck in bureaucratic limbo after claiming sexual assault in Iraq. (04/11/2008)

Do you have one-night-stand eyes? Tracy Clark-Flory
Coverage of a new study claims your eyes are the windows to your ... sex drive. (04/11/2008)

Quote of the day: It's a gynocracy! Kate Harding
Author and radio host Marc Rudov makes some jaw-droppingly stupid comments about Hillary. (04/11/2008)

What's behind the women's blog boom? Charly Wilder
A closer look at three recently launched, female-oriented Web sites. (04/11/2008)

Seal Press scandal Tracy Clark-Flory
Bloggers are battling the feminist press over recent comments about women of color. (04/12/2008)

Spare votes? By Walter Shapiro
He bowled gutter balls at the rec center, but Obama is picking up points with blue-collar voters in Pennsylvania. (04/11/2008)

McCain's lack of candor on reproductive rights By Joe Conason
On issues like abortion and sex education, the candidate is neither as moderate nor as principled as some might think. (04/11/2008)

Responsibility for the last seven years Glenn Greenwald
How can someone who urged in 2003 that torture occur in the "dark rooms" today insist that they never supported torture? (04/11/2008)

More on Michael Mukasey's false 9/11 and FISA claims Glenn Greenwald
The Attorney General, under questioning yesterday, now admits that he erred in what he described. But that doesn't mitigate the core deceit (04/11/2008)

Obama and the white working class Joan Walsh
The candidate's Pennsylvania remarks, and his passionate defense of them, are more convincing than the debate about them would have you believe. (04/12/2008)

McCain gives up on his mortgage plan Steve Benen
In the face of widespread disappointment, McCain scraps his own response to the mortgage crisis. (04/11/2008)

Who's in charge here? Steve Benen
Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rice endorsed torture, but took care to "insulate" Bush. (04/11/2008)

The dreaded septuagenarian issue Steve Benen
Why John McCain's age may be a sleeper issue in the presidential campaign. (04/11/2008)

The odd case of Dr. Cyril Wecht Steve Benen
Did federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania target a state official because he's a Democrat? (04/11/2008)

Cheney's bogus oil argument Steve Benen
Vice president warns against al-Qaida taking Iraq's oil, despite all evidence to the contrary. (04/11/2008)

From bowling to orange juice Steve Benen
Chris Matthews' shifts his attention from one piece of trivia to another. (04/11/2008)

Obama says he would have gotten rid of Penn Vincent Rossmeier
And the Clinton campaign cries hypocrite. (04/11/2008)

Conyers sends out invitations to a great party Steve Benen
House Judiciary Committee chair wants some answers about who authorized torture and when. (04/11/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
Brett Favre (circle one) might/might not come back. And we (circle one) care/want to strangle him. Plus: Pool o' Experts winner. (04/11/2008)

A dog's life
What's your requiem for a canine? One member of Salon's community, Table Talk, shares his memories of the dog he loves. (04/11/2008)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
As hundreds of planes are grounded, the FAA faces an identity crisis. Plus: What does a rash of airline bankruptcies mean for the future? (04/11/2008)

The Asiatic vs. Italian fake hair showdown Andrew Leonard
When Japan annexed Korea, wigmakers across the world felt the ripples (04/11/2008)

No, that photo doesn't show a naked woman in Dick Cheney's sunglasses Farhad Manjoo
It looked fishy at first, but Cheney is just holding his rod. (04/11/2008)

Actually, TiVo can't predict "American Idol" losers Farhad Manjoo
Yesterday I reported that according to TiVo, Syesha Mercado was going to lose. Wrong! (04/11/2008)

In every measure, Obama clobbers Clinton online Farhad Manjoo
Web traffic-monitoring firm Compete runs down the ways Obama trumped Clinton on the Internet in March. (04/11/2008)

TV Daily
Thursday: The action heats up on "Survivor: Micronesia -- Fans vs. Favorites." Plus: What did you think of "American Idol: Idol Gives Back" on Wednesday? (04/10/2008)

Scott Bateman: Gen. Petraeus goes to Washington
Sen. Joe Biden takes on the U.S. commander in Iraq. (04/10/2008)

On blaming MySpace
Farhad Manjoo on whether sites like MySpace and YouTube help cops or incite violence. (04/10/2008)

"Model minority" goes nutzoid Andrew O'Hehir
Meryl Streep's atrocious hairdo takes on a sweet, gun-totin' Chinese astrophysics student in "Dark Matter." (04/10/2008)

Suburban housewife seeks Asian stud Andrew O'Hehir
Vera Farmiga burns up the screen in a startling erotic melodrama. Plus: "Model minority" goes nutzoid! (04/10/2008)

Sins of the mothers By Laura Miller
Jonathan Coe's graceful new novel is the tale of daughters destined to repeat the failures of their mothers. (04/10/2008)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
Guys, try my particle accelerator hair treatment system. (04/10/2008)

How can I get a writing job? By Cary Tennis
I'm a good writer. Everybody says so. So how come other people get hired? (04/10/2008)

Who put this feminism in my porno? Sarah Hepola
The Feminist Porn Awards recognize adult-film makers who ditch degrading stereotypes of women. (04/10/2008)

Tattooed and proudly flabby on the catwalk Carol Lloyd
An alternative fashion show gives the stiff arm to all those anorexic models. (04/10/2008)

Cleric: Unveiled women burn men to ash Tracy Clark-Flory
And, he says, they should be punished like thieves and murderers. (04/10/2008)

Rep. Jackie Speier comes out swinging Katharine Mieszkowski
The newest member of Congress is booed for speaking out on Iraq. (04/10/2008)

Torching the Olympics By Katharine Mieszkowski
Protesters felt burned when the city of San Francisco changed the relay route. But one Burmese activist scored against China anyway. (04/10/2008)

"We'll make you see death" By Joanne Mariner
A harrowing account from a man the CIA handed over to Jordan -- smuggled from prison on tiny paper -- exposes U.S. complicity in torture. (04/10/2008)

No, Hillary Clinton shouldn't be winning By Brad DeLong
Sean Wilentz spun a fantasy in his Salon piece about Clinton's electability. In the real world, it's Barack Obama who's more electable. (04/10/2008)

Have Republicans given up on FISA and telecom amnesty? Glenn Greenwald
A huge blow to telecoms, and the lobbyist-dominated Beltway process, appears likely. (04/10/2008)

"History will not judge this kindly" Steve Benen
A report indicates top White House officials "discussed and approved" specific torture techniques, including waterboarding. (04/10/2008)

"Deferred prosecutions" clear way for corporate crimes Steve Benen
When it comes to lawbreaking by companies, the Bush administration isn't especially fond of enforcing the law. (04/10/2008)

Huckabee to follow in Robertson's footsteps? Steve Benen
Former GOP presidential hopeful to parlay campaign into new conservative organization. (04/10/2008)

One candidate, two camps, one direction Steve Benen
In the battle for McCain's ideological soul, the neocons won a long time ago. (04/10/2008)

McCain's misguided role model on deficit reduction Steve Benen
Asked about balancing the budget, McCain cites Reagan's example, despite Reagan's deficits. (04/10/2008)

About that "significant progress" Steve Benen
The White House, hoping to instill confidence, keeps repeating the same misleading phrase. (04/10/2008)

McCain's bizarre reluctance on the new GI Bill Steve Benen
Why McCain won't support a bipartisan bill on education benefits for veterans. (04/10/2008)

The financial costs of war Steve Benen
Bush's bogus arguments about defense spending fall apart under scrutiny. (04/10/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
The Olympic torch ducks out of sight in San Francisco, leaving the streets to thousands of politicians. (04/10/2008)

The IMF gets gloomy-doomy Andrew Leonard
A slight chance of global recession is in the forecast, and the dreaded phrase "since the Great Depression" pops up again. (04/10/2008)

Good vs. Evil? Yahoo, Google and AOL vs. Microsoft and News Corp. Farhad Manjoo
Of course it's not that. This is business, not a morality play. (04/10/2008)

Beware the ninja Prius Andrew Leonard
Silent and possibly deadly, quiet hybrids are gaining a reputation for stealth. Should there be a law? (04/10/2008)

MySpace, YouTube, and the cheerleader beating video Farhad Manjoo
My weekly video for Current TV. (04/10/2008)

Antipoleez: Breath mints that mask drunk driving? (No!) Farhad Manjoo
Of course the cops are going to find you out, you dodo. (04/10/2008)

"Tech doping"? How Speedo's LZR suit breaks swim records Farhad Manjoo
The secret is a girdle, and "ultrasonic welding." Really. (04/10/2008)

World smallest camcorders = world's most-limited camcorders Farhad Manjoo
Thursday morning gadget roundup. (04/10/2008)

Bush's dumb move on trade Andrew Leonard
Now is not the time, or the place, for the president to pick a fight with Congress over the Colombian Free Trade Agreement. (04/10/2008)

TiVo can predict "American Idol" losers. (Goodbye Syesha!) Farhad Manjoo
The guess is based on fast-forwarding statistics. (04/10/2008)

North Dakota -- not quite ready for OPEC prime time Andrew Leonard
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that there could be a few billion barrels of oil underneath the Dakotas. But knowing it's there and getting it out are two very different things. (04/10/2008)

Scott Bateman: Hillary's not-so-funny joke
Real audio from the candidate's appearance on "The Tonight Show." (04/09/2008)

TV Daily
Wednesday: Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon and Robin Williams make appearances on "American Idol: Idol Gives Back." Plus: What did you think of "Secret Talents of the Stars" on Tuesday? (04/09/2008)

Rabbit Bites: Rock 'n' roll with Carbon/Silicon
The bunnies interview the band, and Chou Chou introduces her own musical group. (04/09/2008)

Clinton tells the truth
Alex Koppelman on trusting Hillary Clinton's word. (04/09/2008)

More on the mommy wars
Rebecca Traister responds to readers of her recent Q&A with novelist Meg Wolitzer. (04/09/2008)

Through a bong, darkly By Gary Kamiya
A new book argues that the '60s counterculture achieved nothing of lasting importance. So why does the era continue to fascinate us? (04/09/2008)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
Sure, "Love Is" looks like an innocent little comic ... (04/09/2008)

I'm a med student, but my boyfriend has just a high school education By Cary Tennis
How important is education in a relationship, and can we be happy if he is less ambitious than I am? (04/09/2008)

Holy sex! By Daniel Radosh
Welcome to the Christian sex advice movement, where brave souls tackle the stereotype that evangelicals are prudes (masturbation is still iffy). (04/09/2008)

"Conscience" clauses: Clear? Lynn Harris
Could your doc refuse to even refer you to someone who'll prescribe you the Pill? (04/09/2008)

Coming to a theater near you: Dumb arguments Sarah Hepola
Remember that "Settling for Mr. Good Enough" article? Well, Tobey Maguire just bought the movie rights. (04/09/2008)

Where the aldermen are all women Lynn Harris
Good ol' girls run panhandle town. (04/09/2008)

We'll just need your private medical files, ma'am Lynn Harris
Kansas abortion case tests freedom to subpoena. (04/09/2008)

The mommy wars rage on
A response to the angry letters sparked by the Q&A with novelist Meg Wolitzer. (04/09/2008)

Sizing up Petraeus on Iraq By Mark Benjamin
The top U.S. general gave Congress an upbeat assessment of the war Tuesday. Here's the reality behind the rhetoric. (04/09/2008)

The urge to compete By Garrison Keillor
No one wants to be a loser, but you don't have to be first in line. There is grace afoot in the world and it will find you. (04/09/2008)

Hillary's slick willies By Camille Paglia
Does Hillary surround herself with girly men? Obama and the experience question. Plus: Lincoln, Madonna's new face and a Bush with real authority. (04/09/2008)

My last word (for now) on sexism Joan Walsh
I'm a sucker for thinking evidence will change people's minds. So watch this video, and tell me sexism hasn't hurt Hillary Clinton in this campaign. (04/09/2008)

Various items Glenn Greenwald
Book events. Persecuting military heroes. Self-justifications disguised as "self-criticism" from war advocates. UPDATE: AP photojournalist in Iraq finally ordered released. (04/09/2008)

McCain's century-long problem Steve Benen
Republicans are hyperventilating over talk that McCain is willing to maintain a U.S. troop presence in Iraq for 100 years. (04/09/2008)

Remember the Lieberman "hack attack"? Steve Benen
Criminal investigation shows Lieberman campaign was to blame for its own server crash. (04/09/2008)

Larry Craig has David Vitter's back Steve Benen
One Republican sex-scandal subject is rallying to the aid of another. (04/09/2008)

Examining the reaction to Clinton's hospital story Alex Koppelman
Even Democrats were quick to jump on Hillary Clinton when it appeared one tale she told on the stump was untrue. (04/09/2008)

The problem with comparing Obama to Tiger Woods Steve Benen
At a pro-war rally, a GOP supporter describes the '08 campaign: "You can have your Tiger Woods. We have Senator McCain." (04/09/2008)

"Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" kicks off Steve Benen
After poorly attended and widely mocked events in October, David Horowitz is giving the "holiday" a sequel. (04/09/2008)

The United States is not occupying Alabama Steve Benen
Conservatives make misguided comparison between the occupation of Iraq and the South after the U.S. Civil War. (04/09/2008)

That's McCain, Johm McCain Steve Benen
McCain's new campaign ad features an embarrassing typo. (04/09/2008)

Tancredo's one-track mind Steve Benen
Even when questioning Gen. Petraeus, at least one Republican would rather talk about illegal immigration than the war in Iraq. (04/10/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
Candace Parker and a stifling defense lead Tennessee to its eighth NCAA women's title. Plus: Glorious timeout scarcity. (04/09/2008)

Dropping like a lead imperialist balloon Andrew Leonard
Sacredness is in the eye of the plunderer, as British churches lose their roofs (04/09/2008)

LegiStorm tracks political aides' finances -- invades privacy, too? Farhad Manjoo
The site says it has a First Amendment right to publish public data. (04/09/2008)

North Dakota -- the next Saudi Arabia Andrew Leonard
Anti-peak oilers are rejoicing at the news of huge oil reserves yearning to be drilled. But it won't be cheap, and it won't be easy. OPEC can relax. (04/09/2008)

You must watch this: Randy Pausch's "last lecture" Farhad Manjoo
A dying computer science professor describes what he's learned in life. (04/09/2008)

A look at Disney and Pixar's 3-D movie technology Farhad Manjoo
How "Toy Story 3" and other upcoming films will create the illusion of depth. (04/09/2008)

Red State Update: Casting Oliver Stone's "W"
Jackie and Dunlap reflect on the director's new movie about Bush, and Dunlap auditions for the role of Rove. (04/08/2008)

Mod about you By Stephanie Zacharek
What we remember most about the '60s TV classic "The Mod Squad" is those groovy clothes. What we've forgotten is how sweet it was. (04/08/2008)

French cinema's prickly stepmom Andrew O'Hehir
A new DVD box set captures the puzzling genius of Agnès Varda, maybe the least-appreciated great filmmaker of Europe's golden age. (04/08/2008)

TV Daily
Tuesday: George Takei goes country on "Secret Talents of the Stars." Plus: What did you think of the NCAA Basketball Championship Final on Monday? (04/08/2008)

Did MySpace make this happen?
A teenage girl's bullying over online messaging (04/08/2008)

Scott Bateman: On board the Straight Talk Express
News from a sweet ride on John McCain's bus. (04/08/2008)

Abortion, redacted Catherine Price
Thanks to pressure from USAID, the world's largest database on reproductive planning eliminated "abortion" as a search term. (04/08/2008)

I let a homeless man move in with me and now I can't get rid of him By Cary Tennis
It's not like I picked him up off the street. I've known him for 20 years. Once he was my boyfriend. (04/08/2008)

Quote of the day Catherine Price
Is "white" feminism an impediment to social change? And how do you define "white," anyway? (04/08/2008)

Confronting Congolese rapists Catherine Price
In her gut-wrenching documentary about the Congo, Lisa Jackson asks the men why they rape. (04/08/2008)

Bobbing for boobs Catherine Price
A Los Angeles club figured out an ingenious strategy to attract more women to its dance floor: A contest for a free breast job. (04/08/2008)

Cashing in on the Clinton campaign By Mike Madden
Where do all those little-guy donations go? Ask top strategist Mark Penn, as he exits with millions in consulting fees. (04/08/2008)

How 1968 changed Hillary By Edward McClelland
The former Goldwater Girl became a member of the Democratic Party's new vanguard. But that's not how many liberals see her today. (04/08/2008)

The Iran boogeyman is back By Gary Kamiya
Gen. Petraeus is reportedly going to blame Iran for why we need to stay in Iraq. If he does, it'll be destructive propaganda. (04/08/2008)

Public opinion on Iraq Glenn Greenwald
The gap between Americans' views on withdrawal and the establishment's claims about those views continues to grow. (04/08/2008)

Thank you, Rush Limbaugh! Joan Walsh
The right-wing radio host quoted my CNN comments about the sexism Hillary Clinton faces, and I am very grateful. (04/09/2008)

Megan McArdle and Dan Drezner's defense of the media Glenn Greenwald
There are people who believe the press should be covering Obama's bowling scores and Monica Lewinsky while ignoring torture, lawbreaking, and the suspension of the Fourth Amendment. (04/08/2008)

Lee Hamilton denies Michael Mukasey's claim about 9/11 Glenn Greenwald
"I am unfamiliar with the telephone call that Attorney General Mukasey cited in his appearance in San Francisco on March 27. The 9/11 Commission did not receive any information pertaining to its occurrence." (04/08/2008)

Hearings full of sound and fury, changing nothing Steve Benen
Since few Republicans are prepared to vote with Democrats to change Iraq policy, we'll have to wait for the next president. (04/08/2008)

Reports of Penn's ouster may be greatly exaggerated Steve Benen
Mark Penn apparently will remain an advisor and pollster for the Clinton campaign. (04/08/2008)

McCain maintains menacing money problems Steve Benen
His March fundraising total of $15 million must be discouraging news for the GOP candidate. (04/08/2008)

McCain gets confused about al-Qaida again Steve Benen
The candidate showed today that he's still mixed up about the terrorist group's religious background. (04/08/2008)

Lieberman's unusual take on "the facts" Steve Benen
The Connecticut senator continues to push the embarrassment envelope at every opportunity. (04/08/2008)

Some in the military like pro-withdrawal candidates Steve Benen
An ABC News report highlights U.S. troops backing Obama, Clinton on war and in election. (04/08/2008)

Avoiding "a thermonuclear climax" Steve Benen
Geoff Garin, replacing Mark Penn as the top Clinton strategist, prefers a less negative tone. (04/08/2008)

The central front in the "war on terror"? Steve Benen
Biden gets Crocker to acknowledge that al-Qaida is a greater threat along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border than it is in Iraq. (04/08/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
Memphis can't buy a free throw, Chalmers hits an epic three-pointer and Kansas wins the NCAA Tournament. (04/08/2008)

Obama: The Chinese version Andrew Leonard
Why is the Democratic candidate for president throwing a net over the logo for China's biggest search engine? (04/08/2008)

Greenspan: "This is really quite unfair" Andrew Leonard
The Maestro responds with the most detail yet to the accusation that he is responsible for the housing boom and bust. (04/08/2008)

Google App Engine lets non-Googlers tap into Googly cloud
A future in which everything runs on Google. (04/08/2008)

When Pearl Buck tangoed with Mike Wallace Andrew Leonard
Fifty years ago, a televised showdown between the sexes. With a cameo appearance by Red China. (04/08/2008)

Peak weed-killer? Andrew Leonard
The price of Monsanto's premium herbicide is rising, along with everything else on the farm. Can industrial agriculture afford itself? (04/08/2008)

Don't blame YouTube, MySpace for teen beating video Farhad Manjoo
A sheriff targets YouTube and MySpace after teens beat up a girl on tape. (04/08/2008)

The Starbucks economy Andrew Leonard
When Americans start cutting back on their coffee consumption, it's time to start worrying (04/08/2008)

"I'd hate me too!" By Scott Lamb
Moby talks about his annoying public persona, the presidential election, his sex life and his brand-new album. (04/07/2008)

Big Think: Richard Meier on freedom of movement
The architect discusses his work, the color white and the difference between buildings and art. (04/07/2008)

TV Daily
Monday: The top teams take the court on the "NCAA Basketball Championship Final." Plus: What did you think of "Battlestar Galactica" on Friday? (04/07/2008)

Scott Bateman: "Atom Age Vampire," Part 10
Exotic dancer Jeanette is cured! But will she even notice? (04/07/2008)

How "Slaughterhouse Five" was born By Steve Almond
Kurt Vonnegut's new posthumous collection reveals the seeds of a modern masterpiece. (04/07/2008)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
Time-lapse cartooning: The experts speak. (04/07/2008)

Ask Pablo By Pablo Päster
Could the U.S. meet its energy needs with solar panels alone? (04/07/2008)

OMG, I'm totally having a thrisis! Sarah Hepola
A new buzzword for why being in your mid-30s sucks. (04/07/2008)

Today's moral outrage: Bikini waxes for 8-year-olds Sarah Hepola
But sometimes, things are just too ridiculous to get mad about. (04/07/2008)

MSNBC on the "pregnant man": "I'm gonna be sick" Thomas Rogers
Most of the coverage of Thomas Beatie has been respectful. Not so at one network. (04/07/2008)

Geisha guys: Japan's hottest new accessory Tracy Clark-Flory
They will keep you company and compliment your appearance for as much as $50,000 a night. (04/07/2008)

My mother-in-law put a curse on us and spat in my husband's face By Cary Tennis
I really think we are cursed now, because I am not Greek. How do I remove the curse? (04/07/2008)

Barack Obama in suspended animation By Walter Shapiro
The front-runner is trapped in an unchanging race that will be hard for him to lose -- but is proving impossible for him to end. (04/07/2008)

Cokie Roberts speaks out on the war on behalf of the American people Glenn Greenwald
ABC's establishment spokeswoman claims that Americans want to stay in Iraq until we "win." (04/07/2008)

Why Hillary Clinton should be winning By Sean Wilentz
Under a winner-take-all primary system, Hillary Clinton would have a wide lead over Barack Obama -- and enough delegates to clinch the nomination by June. (04/07/2008)

Vacation, all I ever wanted Alex Koppelman
Steve Benen will be running War Room for a couple of weeks. (04/07/2008)

A silver lining to a prolonged nomination process? Steve Benen
Voter registration is way up in six of the eight states yet to hold Democratic primaries. (04/07/2008)

McCain's "triumph" over a nonexistent heckler Steve Benen
CNN's Jim Acosta accuses a high school student of "heckling the senator" at an event in Virginia, but she was perfectly polite. (04/07/2008)

Lieberman, Graham take a misguided victory lap
If they see Sunnis, Shiites and Americans fighting "shoulder to shoulder," they probably need to start laying off the hallucinogens. (04/07/2008)

Vitter's prostitution headache about to get worse? Steve Benen
"D.C. Madam" Deborah Jeane Palfrey has subpoenaed the Louisiana senator to testify in her case. (04/07/2008)

A McCain-Rice pairing is unlikely Steve Benen
The secretary of state isn't exactly part of the Republican in crowd, nor has she shown any real interest in a V.P. role. (04/07/2008)

No more "rose-colored glasses" at the White House? Steve Benen
But Tony Snow insisted they were never being used to begin with. (04/07/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
NCAA Championship Game: Kansas and Memphis are both playing so well, how can either one lose? (04/07/2008)

Microsoft vs. Yahoo: First duel, then merge? Farhad Manjoo
Microsoft signals hostile intentions, and Yahoo fights back. Yes, this is surely the way to beat Google. (04/07/2008)

How much does solar power pollute? Andrew Leonard
The answer: Not much at all, really, even when all the numbers are crunched (04/07/2008)

The silver lining of the credit crunch Andrew Leonard
It's better for everyone to suffer a little, rather than the prime malefactors to suffer a lot? Does that make sense? (04/07/2008)

Is Barack Obama a libertarian paternalist? Andrew Leonard
There's a new movement coming out of the University of Chicago. Austan Goolsbee, Obama's economic adviser, is a key disciple. (04/07/2008)

I Like to Watch By Heather Havrilesky
The road to "Hell's Kitchen" is paved with chain-smoking line cooks, while "Top Chef's" top-shelf gastronomists are all foam and no flambé this season. Plus: Make me a supermodel, already! (04/06/2008)

Opus By Berkeley Breathed
Let the anxiety competition begin! (04/06/2008)

The Associated Press fails to reveal Mukasey's favorite color Glenn Greenwald
But it does uncover that he loves Ring Dings, parasailing and his grandchildren. (04/06/2008)

Penn out as Clinton's chief strategist Alex Koppelman
Mark Penn, who has been a lightning rod for controversy and criticism, will continue to advise and poll for the Clinton campaign. (04/07/2008)

New polls on race and gender
Joan Walsh on new polls that say Americans are more ready for a black president than a woman president (04/05/2008)

Can Stephen Colbert save America? By Louis Bayard
A new book argues that Colbert, Jon Stewart and Bill Maher are good for democracy. But is it taking late-night comedy too seriously? (04/05/2008)

The U.S. establishment media in a nutshell Glenn Greenwald
The U.S. government suspended the Fourth Amendment and expressly authorized torture. The attorney general lied about how the 9/11 attack happened. Barack Obama can't bowl well. Which revelations did the media cover? (04/05/2008)

Americans more ready for a black president than a woman? Joan Walsh
A new poll says yes -- as if the sexist attacks on Hillary Clinton hadn't already confirmed it. (04/05/2008)

Less sex, more intellectual intimacy?
Tracy Clark-Flory on whether waiting till marriage leads to better conversations with your spouse. (04/04/2008)

Scott Bateman: Hillary Clinton is Rocky Balboa
Never-before-seen footage of the candidate turned boxing legend. (04/04/2008)

Beyond belief By Heather Havrilesky
In the fourth and final season of Sci Fi's "Battlestar Galactica," Starbuck is back, but the colonists struggle to keep the faith. (04/04/2008)

TV Daily
Friday/weekend: Frack yeah! The fourth and final season of "Battlestar Galactica" premieres Friday. Plus: What did you think of "Make Me a Supermodel" on Thursday? (04/04/2008)

"Leatherheads" By Stephanie Zacharek
George Clooney makes it all look easy in this breezy, affable comedy. (04/04/2008)

"Flight of the Red Balloon" By Stephanie Zacharek
This quietly astonishing picture has the power to carry you outside of yourself and float you away. (04/04/2008)

Winona! Mongolia! Teen lesbian swimmers! Andrew O'Hehir
Indie roundup: All the women you'll ever boff -- revealed! Plus a creepy French tale of poolside teen lust and a great love story from Mongolia. (04/04/2008)

"Shine a Light" By Stephanie Zacharek
Hot for the Rolling Stones? Martin Scorsese's performance documentary of Mick, Keith and the gang may still leave you cold. (04/04/2008)

WayLay By Carol Lay
At least he hadn't turned into a cannibal. (04/04/2008)

Choose one: Sex or respect Tracy Clark-Flory
Abstinence advocates say men intellectually respect women only when they aren't having sex with them. (04/04/2008)

Our kids want to go to Christian summer camp By Cary Tennis
We're both atheists raised by fundamentalists, and we're afraid they'll be indoctrinated. (04/04/2008)

Randi Rhodes calls Hillary Clinton a whore Carol Lloyd
The Air America host, now suspended, offers more evidence of a troubling mean streak in our culture. (04/04/2008)

T-shirt: "I was raped" Tracy Clark-Flory
Does advertising to strangers that you were raped raise awareness about sexual assault? (04/04/2008)

The loneliest female gamer Thomas Rogers
Women still only make up 8 percent of the gaming workforce. Meanwhile, the industry continues its obsession with breast jiggle. (04/04/2008)

Quote of the day: NPR's Peter Sagal Katharine Mieszkowski
What has Hollywood done to Whoville? (04/04/2008)

Real female heroes: Ingrid Betancourt Carol Lloyd
The political rabble rouser, rumored to be near death, merits more column inches than all the bad girls of Hollywood combined. (04/04/2008)

Getting it on for science By Katharine Mieszkowski
Bonobo porn, MRI sex, female Viagra. "Bonk" author Mary Roach on the scientific quest to understand arousal -- and how little we still know. (04/04/2008)

Does NATO want out of Afghanistan? By Matthias Gebauer
Behind closed doors a paper has been circulated that may provide the beginnings of an exit strategy. (04/04/2008)

A truth teller who deserves justice By Joe Conason
Ex-Navy officer Matthew Diaz gambled everything to uphold the rights of prisoners at Guantánamo. Now he may lose his law license. (04/04/2008)

The DOJ comments on the Mukasey controversy Glenn Greenwald
Even Mukasey's own defense illustrates that the dishonest exploitation of 9/11 for ever-expanding unchecked government power continues to this day. (04/04/2008)

daou By Steve Benen
daou (04/04/2008)

Penn attended meeting on trade deal Clinton opposes Alex Koppelman
A top advisor to Hillary Clinton met with Colombia's ambassador Monday for talks on a free-trade agreement his candidate is against. (04/04/2008)

"Richardson has never questioned Senator Obama's electability" Alex Koppelman
A spokesman for the governor denies a Clinton associate's claim that Richardson said Obama can't win the general election. (04/04/2008)

A free ride for the Straight Talk Express? Vincent Rossmeier
An interview with Paul Waldman, coauthor of a new book on the relationship between John McCain and the press. (04/04/2008)

Obama advisor recommends troops in Iraq in 2010 Vincent Rossmeier
In a paper, the advisor says he thinks 60,000 to 80,000 U.S. soldiers should remain. (04/04/2008)

Michigan revote dies another death Vincent Rossmeier
Stating that another vote "is not practical," Michigan Democrats formally end discussion of a primary do-over. (04/04/2008)

Quote of the day Alex Koppelman
On the anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John McCain tries to apologize for voting against the King holiday. (04/04/2008)

Clinton's poverty proposal a signal to Edwards? Alex Koppelman
Is Hillary Clinton's proposal to add an "anti-poverty czar" to the Cabinet targeted at John Edwards? (04/04/2008)

Why did Clinton wait to release her tax return? Alex Koppelman
Examining the possible reasons Hillary Clinton's campaign may have wanted little attention paid to her family's finances. (04/05/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
Reds rookie Cueto debuts with five perfect innings. There's nothing like a brewing no-hitter. Plus: The Final Four overdogs. (04/04/2008)

The year that changed everything
Where were you in 1968? A member of Salon's reader community, Table Talk, shares the ways in which her memories linger. (04/04/2008)

The trade follies of Austan Goolsbee and Mark Penn Andrew Leonard
First there was Obama's "NAFTA-gate." Now comes Clinton's chief campaign strategist, lobbying for a free trade agreement. Which is worse? (04/04/2008)

Apple's iTunes beats Wal-Mart to become top U.S. music store Farhad Manjoo
CD sales slip, digital sales skyrocket. (04/04/2008)

Trade and the price of food Andrew Leonard
Cutting farm subsidies in the West will raise food prices even further. But that's not a problem -- it's the goal! (04/04/2008)

The 2010 census scraps handhelds for pen and paper Farhad Manjoo
Sometimes it's best to go with the old. (04/04/2008)

Bear Stearns: "Too interlinked to fail" Andrew Leonard
At a Senate hearing, Bernanke concedes the truth: "We bailed out the markets." (04/04/2008)

Unemployment jumps, payrolls drop Andrew Leonard
Spring is off to a great start with the worst job numbers in five years. (04/04/2008)

For unclaimed cash, try MissingMoney.com, not UnclaimedMoney.us.com Farhad Manjoo
Pennsylvania cracks down on an unclaimed-money site that was misleading consumers. (04/04/2008)

"The next time we have Black Monday" Andrew Leonard
Congress will wring its hands, and taxpayers will foot the bill. A prediction of the consequences of bank deregulation, from 17 years ago. (04/04/2008)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
From cockpit check to walkaround to stocking the galley: The Zen of preparing the "Monster" to fly. (04/04/2008)

TV Daily
Thursday: One pretty person will win the big prize on "Make Me a Supermodel." Plus: What did you think of "Autism Every Day" on Wednesday? (04/03/2008)

Wong Kar-wai's blueberry-pie America Andrew O'Hehir
In this video interview, the Chinese art-film demigod talks about directing Norah Jones in his first American movie (and her first movie, period). (04/03/2008)

Scott Bateman: John McCain talks about the surge
The GOP candidate on success in Iraq. (04/03/2008)

What I found when I Googled for you
Farhad Manjoo with an update on his innovative Web 2.0 start-up. (04/03/2008)

Hip-hop's biggest clowns By Miles Marshall Lewis
Are Gnarls Barkley's wacky costumes and goofy antics just a smoke screen for the massively successful duo's angst? (04/03/2008)

Wong Kar-wai on "My Blueberry Nights"
Andrew O'Hehir interviews the director about his first English-language film. (04/03/2008)

Marching into the mommy wars By Rebecca Traister
Everyone has an opinion about stay-at-home mothers. With her new novel, Meg Wolitzer has just one agenda -- to tell the truth about their lives. (04/03/2008)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
How America was destroyed. If only we'd seen the warning signs! (04/03/2008)

What causes crybabies? Carol Lloyd
New research in primates suggests that it's not just overanxious parenting. (04/03/2008)

I'm a college student with no natural social skills By Cary Tennis
I'm 21, female, and I don't know how to talk to people! (04/03/2008)

Buckle up those fetuses! Carol Lloyd
A report on pregnant women and seat belts is a reminder of the slippery slope in how we talk about the unborn. (04/03/2008)

Margaret Cho's "gel insole" for her G spot Tracy Clark-Flory
The comedian blogs about getting a G-Shot and the lack of sex that followed. (04/03/2008)

The Obama difference By Walter Shapiro
Unlike most presidential Dems in recent memory, the Illinois senator is at ease with himself -- even while bowling gutter balls in Pennsylvania. (04/03/2008)

Hillary's bridge back to the 20th century By Mike Madden
With recession looming, Clinton banks on '90s nostalgia, reminding Pennsylvania voters of the good old days of her husband's administration. (04/03/2008)

Why doesn't the 9/11 Commission know about Mukasey's 9/11 story? Glenn Greenwald
Did the attorney general just reveal a critical, previously unknown fact about the 9/11 attack, or did he lie about it to demand new spying powers? (04/03/2008)

Richardson said Obama can't beat McCain? Alex Koppelman
Conflicting accounts of a meeting between Bill Richardson and Hillary Clinton surface. (04/03/2008)

Hillary Clinton's petition Katharine Mieszkowski
100,000 signers want delegates from Florida and Michigan seated at convention. (04/03/2008)

Yet another "3 a.m." ad released Alex Koppelman
John McCain's campaign responds to Hillary Clinton's latest television spot. (04/03/2008)

Would you vote for a smoker? Alex Koppelman
Barack Obama admits he hasn't stayed completely away from cigarettes -- believe it or not, that could hurt him. (04/03/2008)

Al Gore, Cabinet minister for climate issues? Katharine Mieszkowski
Obama says, given the chance, he'd hire the former vice president. (04/03/2008)

Edwards says he won't run for veep Alex Koppelman
The former vice-presidential candidate says he would not accept a second nomination for the slot. (04/03/2008)

Clinton denies she said Obama can't win Alex Koppelman
Hillary Clinton says she did not tell Bill Richardson that Barack Obama can't beat John McCain. (04/03/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
Baseball's justice system is in need of an overhaul. We have the answers. Plus: The killer timeout strikes again. (04/03/2008)

Signs of the biodiesel apocalypse Andrew Leonard
A grease bandit gets nabbed outside a Burger King in Morgan Hill, Calif. Used french fry oil never smelled so sweet (04/03/2008)

How to translate Fedspeak Andrew Leonard
If Ben Bernanke told the plain truth, Wall Street would need a defibrillator. So the man talks softly... (04/03/2008)

The Federal Reserve's "socialist" agenda Andrew Leonard
Senator Jim Bunning calls the rescue of Bear-Stearns a repudiation of the invisible hand (04/03/2008)

"An inclusive and sustainable globalization" Andrew Leonard
Robert Zoellick debuts a new World Bank campaign slogan (04/03/2008)

What happened when I Googled For You Farhad Manjoo
1,800 queries, 400 responses, boogers, naked photos of Bea Arthur, and lost car keys. I give up! (04/03/2008)

Bear-Stearns recalls the glory days of Enron Andrew Leonard
How do you make a company disappear? Easy: Just sic the news media on 'em. (04/03/2008)

Everything you were afraid to ask about "Battlestar Galactica" By Thomas Rogers
A complete primer on the smartest sci-fi TV show ... maybe ever. (04/02/2008)

TV Daily
Wednesday: Sundance airs the haunting documentary "Autism Every Day." Plus: What did you think of "Hell's Kitchen" on Tuesday? (04/02/2008)

Scott Bateman: Voodoo Death Monkey's Movie Minute
Cultural commentary from a scary creature. (04/02/2008)

A Murdoch daughter supports Obama
Alex Koppelman on Elisabeth Murdoch's plans to fundraise for Obama. (04/02/2008)

Mr. Wong, meet No. 44 Andrew O'Hehir
Was this the strangest all-time mismatched-celebrity elevator ride? (04/02/2008)

Terror and loathing By Laura Miller
Martin Amis may not know much about Islam and 9/11, but he knows what he hates. (04/02/2008)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
Life's little victories. (04/02/2008)

This week in repro-rights rhetoric Lynn Harris
Mississippi in a "muddle," Oklahoma struck by twister of facts. (04/02/2008)

To cut my breasts off, or not to cut my breasts off ... By Corrie Pikul
After testing positive for the "breast cancer gene," "Gilmore Girls" writer Jessica Queller made a radical choice -- a preventive double mastectomy. (04/02/2008)

"Petroleum perpetuates patriarchy" Lynn Harris
Blame oil, not fundamentalism, for keeping the Middle East's women down. (04/02/2008)

Draft cards yes, bras no Lynn Harris
HuffPo buries the still-smoldering myth about feminists and their undergarments once and for all. Again. (04/02/2008)

The album that made me a feminist Kate Harding
A remembrance of Liz Phair's "Exile in Guyville," which is being rereleased for its 15th anniversary. (04/02/2008)

I'm 21 and addicted to pot -- but I'm doing just great! By Cary Tennis
Should I be worried? I'm performing at a high level and enjoying life, but I smoke pot all the time. (04/02/2008)

Rape is like force-fed chocolate cake? Tracy Clark-Flory
So says the British National Party's London leader, Nick Eriksen. (04/02/2008)

The sun blotted out from the sky By Elizabeth Svoboda
Global warming demands more than do-gooder actions. It demands "geoengineering" -- like blocking the sun's rays with stratospheric dirt. (04/02/2008)

The Great Depression: The sequel By Andrew Leonard
Is it coming to a soup kitchen near you? Here's how we'll know if the current recession is turning into something much worse. (04/02/2008)

Theirs not to reason why By Garrison Keillor
What's mysterious to civilians about the military is the Semper Fi part, the discipline to carry out a mission about which you're deeply skeptical. (04/02/2008)

John Yoo's war crimes Glenn Greenwald
Why is one of the central perpetrators of a systematic torture regime teaching at Berkeley law school and welcomed in our most respectable opinion venues? (04/02/2008)

Elizabeth Edwards: "Obama was charming" Joan Walsh
The former candidate's wife attacks John McCain's healthcare plan, praises Hillary Clinton's and shoots down reports of an argument with Barack Obama. (04/02/2008)

Book news and media campaign coverage Glenn Greenwald
New examples of the media dynamic examined in "Great American Hypocrites" emerge literally on a daily basis. (04/02/2008)

Lee Hamilton is backing Obama Alex Koppelman
The 9/11 Commission co-chairman describes Barack Obama as "pragmatic, visionary and tough." (04/02/2008)

"That's even worse than being a Democrat" Vincent Rossmeier
The Department of Justice's inspector general is investigating whether a former DOJ employee lost her job because of suspicions about her sexual orientation. (04/02/2008)

Whom will McCain choose? Vincent Rossmeier
Today John McCain announced that he has begun the search for his running mate. (04/02/2008)

Fox News' influence on the Democratic race Alex Koppelman
The network isn't just covering the election -- it's an issue within it. (04/02/2008)

New Clinton ad: "Ringing" Alex Koppelman
Hillary Clinton's latest ad goes after John McCain on the economy. (04/02/2008)

Rocky is not running for president Vincent Rossmeier
Barack Obama responds to Hillary Clinton's "Rocky" jab with a swipe of his own. (04/02/2008)

FactCheck.org: Obama statement "a little too slick" Alex Koppelman
The Web site says a claim in a new Obama ad is misleading. (04/02/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
American League preview. Sorry Blue Jays: Yankees and Red Sox again. Plus: Indians to win it all. (04/02/2008)

Web surfing for food stamps Andrew Leonard
Why the mad craze for food-stamp info at Yahoo Buzz? (04/02/2008)

Craigslist scam "artists" caught! Farhad Manjoo
A couple who posted a phony ad on Craigslist offering "free stuff" were really trying to cover up an earlier theft. (04/02/2008)

Bernanke: Markets could have become "chaotic" Andrew Leonard
The Fed chairman updates Congress on the economy -- bad -- and explains the Bear-Stearns rescue. (04/02/2008)

E. O. Wilson gives soccer moms a bum rap Andrew Leonard
The naturalist savages them as enemies of a "proper biological education" but he's firing his artillery at the wrong target. (04/02/2008)

Tibetan Orientalism Andrew Leonard
Chinese pop star Sa Dingding has big plans for taking her blend of Tibetan Buddhism and world music international. Is now the right time? (04/02/2008)

TV Daily
Tuesday: Tune in for the sadistic antics of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay on "Hell's Kitchen." Plus: What did you think of "Retirement Revolution" on Monday? (04/01/2008)

Erica Jong and the feminist classic
Back from a conference on Jong's "Fear of Flying," Rebecca Traister considers her own feminist readings. (04/01/2008)

"Ab Fab" ... in church! By Rebecca Traister
"Clatterford," a British comedy from the "Absolutely Fabulous" team, brings you a new crew of hilarious nut cases to love. (04/01/2008)

Red State Update: Should Hillary Clinton quit?
Jackie and Dunlap consider the candidate's continued fight. (04/01/2008)

Scott Bateman: Sketchbook of secrets and shame
A collection of drawings and thoughts from the artist. (04/01/2008)

Indie box office: Lennon's assassin a hit, man Andrew O'Hehir
"Chapter 27" strong in NYC bow -- and don't miss an ultra-cool doc on L.A.'s hot modern art scene. (04/01/2008)

In memory of Gordon Ramsay By Alex Koppelman
The host of "Hell's Kitchen" is a good chef, lost beneath his own shtick. (04/01/2008)

Breaking the mirrored ceiling Tracy Clark-Flory
A new report rails against London's corporate strip club culture. (04/01/2008)

What makes a feminist book a classic?
After a conference on Erica Jong's "Fear of Flying," Rebecca Traister reflects on her own library. (04/01/2008)

I'm embarrassed to admit I met my guy online By Cary Tennis
I get funny looks from people when I tell how I made my boyfriend's acquaintance. (04/01/2008)

Mariachi women Catherine Price
America's first all-female mariachi band, Reyna de Los Angeles, is the subject of a PBS documentary that airs tonight. (04/01/2008)

Make mine a Mrs. Robinson! Catherine Price
Would-be trend alert: Fruity cocktails based on MILFs. Our challenge to you? Come up with some for the guys. (04/01/2008)

Your girlfriend seems so fake Catherine Price
Maybe that's because she's a robot. (04/01/2008)

Who's your daddy? Catherine Price
A new at-home paternity test helps answer the age-old question. (Whether he's rich, however, is a different issue entirely.) (04/01/2008)

McCain's Vietnam obsession By Mark Benjamin
The former POW's Senate career has been marked by his outspoken determination never to repeat Vietnam mistakes. So why does he support the Iraq war? (04/01/2008)

"Great American Hypocrites: Toppling the Big Myths of Republican Politics" Glenn Greenwald
My new book examines the deceitful personality-based tactics the right uses to win elections, and the establishment media's vital role in enabling those tactics. (04/01/2008)

Is the Internet eroding America's Puritanism -- or making it worse? By Gary Kamiya
Beneath the gawking, the online reaction to the Spitzer and Paterson revelations shows that Americans are wary of passing judgment on private sins. (04/01/2008)

Why al-Maliki attacked Basra By Juan Cole
The three reasons the Iraqi prime minister launched his ill-fated assault on the Sadrists of southern Iraq. (04/01/2008)

Quote of the day Alex Koppelman
50 Cent explains his view of the presidential election. (04/01/2008)

"I'm f---ing Obama" Alex Koppelman
A new satire suggests that Hillary Clinton is, well, f---ing Barack Obama, and not in the sense you think. (04/01/2008)

Obama: Clinton "deserves to be able to run" Alex Koppelman
Interviewed for NBC's "Today," Barack Obama has some nice words for his opponent. (04/01/2008)

McCain discusses his legendary temper Alex Koppelman
John McCain's notoriously mercurial personality comes up in a speech and an interview. (04/01/2008)

Will the Democratic race end July 1? Alex Koppelman
Two prominent party leaders think undecided superdelegates should make up their mind by then. (04/01/2008)

Bowling for Pennsylvania Mike Madden
Hillary Clinton makes fun of her opponent's bowling skills. (04/01/2008)

"Money (That's What I Want)" Alex Koppelman
A look at the candidates' finances at the beginning of yet another month of campaigning. (04/01/2008)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily By King Kaufman
National League preview: As the steroid cloud starts to lift, an unjuiced look at the senior circuit. (04/01/2008)

No more plastic bags, no more jobs Andrew Leonard
Live, from central China, Al Jazeera's Tony Cheng provides a short refresher course in environmental economics (04/01/2008)

True or false? An April Fools' cheat sheet Farhad Manjoo
Microsoft buys Yahoo? TechCrunch sues Facebook? Here's a handy rundown of the fakery now flooding the Web. (04/01/2008)

My new start-up: I Google For You By Farhad Manjoo
The search engine for busy people. (04/01/2008)

Record gas prices equal record Prius sales Andrew Leonard
Another dismal month for U.S. auto sales -- but not for the king of the hybrids (04/01/2008)