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Archive

Archives for July 2014

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Are Americans ready for self-driving cars?Are Americans ready for self-driving cars?
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A new poll finds that Americans have a lot of concerns about buying and riding in self-driving cars — even if they find the technology promising.

By Brad Plumer
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How to legally seize empty islands for AmericaHow to legally seize empty islands for America
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If you find a deposit of dried bird excrement on an island that no country occupied or exercises control over, you can claim that island for America. That is a real law.

By Dylan Matthews
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In defense of the NYC “poor door”In defense of the NYC “poor door”
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Separate entrances is fine. The real affordable housing crisis is the chronic undersupply of new units.

By Matthew Yglesias
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95 percent of Jewish Israelis support the Gaza war95 percent of Jewish Israelis support the Gaza war
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Jewish Israelis’ biggest criticism of the Gaza war is that the government isn’t using enough force.

By Zack Beauchamp
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People judge you for the way you pronounce ‘vase’People judge you for the way you pronounce ‘vase’
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A new study shows that we attach social judgments to accents.

By Brandon Ambrosino
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Employers are finally giving raises againEmployers are finally giving raises again
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Wage growth is at its highest point in more than five years.

By Danielle Kurtzleben
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Chart: America’s nine fattiest restaurant mealsChart: America’s nine fattiest restaurant meals
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The Center for Science in the Public Interest scoured the country for the worst waistline offenders. Here are the winners.

By Julia Belluz
Health Care
Maybe there’s not a doctor shortage, after allMaybe there’s not a doctor shortage, after all
Health Care

The government spends $16 billion annually on training doctors, and many stakeholders are clamoring for more. Would that be money well-spent?

By Adrianna McIntyre
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College is much cheaper than people thinkCollege is much cheaper than people think
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And the fact that people don’t know this is a problem.

By Libby Nelson
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Watch: Neil deGrasse Tyson on GMO opponentsWatch: Neil deGrasse Tyson on GMO opponents
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“Practically every food you buy in a store for consumption by humans,” he says, “is genetically modified food.”

By Joseph Stromberg
Health Care
Why isn’t there an Ebola vaccine?Why isn’t there an Ebola vaccine?
Health Care

“The drugs are out there. It’s much more of a situation with economic and logistical challenges.”

By Sarah Kliff
Marijuana Legalization
US marijuana policy isn’t funny. It’s racist.US marijuana policy isn’t funny. It’s racist.
Marijuana Legalization

It’s a laughing matter to some Americans. But for the poor and minorities, it’s a civil rights issue.

By German Lopez
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How a US hedge fund forced Argentina to defaultHow a US hedge fund forced Argentina to default
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A long, strange, and pointless journey that ends up with nobody getting paid.

By Matthew Yglesias
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Boehner’s lawsuit is great news for ObamaBoehner’s lawsuit is great news for Obama
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It’s all about the zugzwang.

By Matthew Yglesias
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Sharknado 2: 10 important things we learnedSharknado 2: 10 important things we learned
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Underneath all of the low-fi special effects is an ambitious film setting out to dispense messages about our country, how we live, our healthcare system, and even race (we think).

By Alex Abad-Santos