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Archive

Archives for September 2014

archives
Why Qatar tries to make nice with everyone from Israel to al-QaedaWhy Qatar tries to make nice with everyone from Israel to al-Qaeda
archives

They’re not evil, they’re just trying to be practical and useful as a rich but tiny country in a dangerous neighborhood.

By New America Foundation Weekly Wonk
archives
A big solar storm is hitting Earth this weekendA big solar storm is hitting Earth this weekend
archives

These storms aren’t expected to be catastrophic. But it’s a reminder that the sun is capable of much worse.

By Brad Plumer
Technology
Software patents are crumbling, thanks to the Supreme CourtSoftware patents are crumbling, thanks to the Supreme Court
Technology

The courts have destroyed 11 software patents in the last 3 months and are on track to shatter previous records for software patent invalidations.

By Timothy B. Lee
archives
Olive Garden’s investors are coming for your free breadsticksOlive Garden’s investors are coming for your free breadsticks
archives

A hedge fund wants the company to stop giving you so many breadsticks when you show up. But there are bigger problems to solve.

By Danielle Kurtzleben
Syria
3 numbers that explain why ISIS will be so hard to destroy3 numbers that explain why ISIS will be so hard to destroy
Syria

Why the numbers 20,000, 56, and zero are so important to understanding what ISIS is and why it’s so hard to defeat.

By Zack Beauchamp
War on Drugs
3 reasons the Obama administration is reversing President Clinton’s tough-on-crime law3 reasons the Obama administration is reversing President Clinton’s tough-on-crime law
War on Drugs

The effects of tough-on-crime policy, in three disheartening charts.

By German Lopez
Culture
“All About That Bass” isn’t actually body-positive“All About That Bass” isn’t actually body-positive
Culture

It’s super catchy, but its lyrics promote mixed messages.

By Kelsey McKinney
Culture
Ken Burns’ new film The Roosevelts is 14 hours long. Which hours should you watch?Ken Burns’ new film The Roosevelts is 14 hours long. Which hours should you watch?
Culture

The new intimate historical epic traces the lives of Theodore, Franklin, and Eleanor Roosevelt.

By Emily St. James
Health Care
How many people who start Weight Watchers maintain their goal weight after five years?How many people who start Weight Watchers maintain their goal weight after five years?
Health Care

The long-term evidence is not reassuring.

By Julia Belluz
Technology
Big Cable’s big problem in the net neutrality debate: everyone hates themBig Cable’s big problem in the net neutrality debate: everyone hates them
Technology

Cable companies have some decent arguments against stronger network neutrality regulations. But the industry is so unpopular that the arguments are falling on deaf ears.

By Timothy B. Lee
Labor
What we didn’t learn from the economic crisisWhat we didn’t learn from the economic crisis
Labor

One of the world’s best-known economic commentators takes on the question of what we learned from the financial crisis.

By Danielle Kurtzleben
archives
We don’t know which countries have the hardest workersWe don’t know which countries have the hardest workers
archives

A quagmire of inadequate data.

By Matthew Yglesias
Transportation
House GOP bill would force Amtrak to rethink its insane boarding processHouse GOP bill would force Amtrak to rethink its insane boarding process
Transportation

New legislation would direct Amtrak to study how commuter trains and foreign intercity trains work, and explain to Congress why Amtrak doesn’t do the same thing at its biggest stations.

By Matthew Yglesias
Immigration
Report: deportations way down during Obama’s second termReport: deportations way down during Obama’s second term
Immigration

New stats say 23 percent fewer immigrants are getting deported than in 2012. Here’s why that might be happening — and how much to trust the stats

By Dara Lind
Climate
Chart: Which countries are decarbonizing the fastest?Chart: Which countries are decarbonizing the fastest?
Climate

A very simple, concise illustration of how the world is failing at its climate goals.

By Brad Plumer