“What are you going to do over spring break?”
Papal conclave should elect a gay black Muslim woman
Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to step down from the helm of the Holy See at the end of this month has puzzled many. Indeed, no pope had resigned since the antipope-and-bubonic-plague-afflicted 15th century. The pontiff’s Feb. 11 announcement came as a shock even to his own spokesman.
Should I get a dog?
Unfortunately for all of the struggling college students out there, puppies will always be cute, even when the bank account is busy being empty. We see a fluffy canine prancing on the sidewalk and can barely contain ourselves from reaching out to ruffle its furriness.
What’s in a name?
A 15-year-old Icelandic girl is suing to keep her own name. Blaer, meaning “light breeze,” is apparently not acceptable, according to the Icelandic government. Why? Because the word “takes a masculine article” and is therefore not one of the 1,853 female names that parents can choose from when naming their girls, according to an Associated Press report.
Say goodbye to the Internet as you know it
The year 2012 saw a series of fights for the freedom and openness of the Internet. SOPA, PIPA, CISPA and the WCIT treaty all failed. But it’s a new year, and the fight will never be over.
Wranglin’ and rhymin’
In case you don’t already know this from my previous columns, I like words. Language is a really neat thing, and because of its constant evolution it never stays the same for long. (Except apostrophe rules—those don’t change, so please stop pretending they don’t exist.)
Ineloquently said
A Catholic high school in New Jersey has implemented a new rule: No cursing. But only if you’re a young lady. Female students at Queen of Peace High School in Arlington, N.J. have been asked to take a vow to avoid the use of foul language while at school. Their male counterparts have been asked to refrain from using expletives as well—around young women in the halls and classrooms.
The power of withholding data
Last weekend I was one of many who watched more episodes of Net-flix’s own series House of Cards than I probably should have. Netflix released the first season in its entirety, granting its 27 million U.S. subscribers access to all 13 episodes of the series on the same day.
Hillary for president: Are we ready?
On the heels of his second inauguration, President Barack Obama sat down for a 60 Minutes interview with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The two had never conducted a joint interview, which is not to say they’d never been on camera together—who can forget the less-than-cordial Democratic presidential debates of 2007?
Hagel is the right choice
President Barack Obama’s nomination of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense has generated a bewildering amount of controversy, but it seems to be a sure thing anyway. This is good.
Day of love
Today is Valentine’s Day, a holiday when we gather together with our special someone and celebrate our love and affection for each other. But there’s more to the holiday than roses, candy and a special meal.