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Culture Archive

Archives for April 2015

Technology
Grooveshark, the Free Music Service That Used to Scare the Big Labels, Gives UpGrooveshark, the Free Music Service That Used to Scare the Big Labels, Gives Up
Technology

As part of a court settlement: An apology, and a plug for legal services like Spotify.

By Peter Kafka
Books
How to get kids to read — let them pick their own damn booksHow to get kids to read — let them pick their own damn books
Books

Kids of all ages agree: they pick out their favorite books.

By Lauren Katz
Culture
How Scottish history (and Game of Thrones) explains this week’s best Mad Men gagHow Scottish history (and Game of Thrones) explains this week’s best Mad Men gag
Culture

“The king ordered it!”

By Dylan Matthews
Culture
Oprah just dumped Dr. Oz’s radio showOprah just dumped Dr. Oz’s radio show
Culture

The news comes just over a week after Oz faced heavy criticism for featuring pseudoscience on his show.

By Julia Belluz
Culture
Avengers: Age of Ultron is weird, sad — and the most thoughtful film Marvel’s ever madeAvengers: Age of Ultron is weird, sad — and the most thoughtful film Marvel’s ever made
Culture

The movie most resembles director Joss Whedon’s cult TV creation Firefly.

By Emily St. James
Sports
The big mistake lots of NFL teams make in the draft, according to economistsThe big mistake lots of NFL teams make in the draft, according to economists
Sports

The research is clear: never trade up. Always trade down.

By Joseph Stromberg
How wedding dresses got so expensive and roast chickens got so cheap
Features

Vox’s first Economic Naturalist column, in which an economist shows how economics applies to everyday life.

By Robert H. Frank
Big Bird, dogs with PTSD, and 13 other summer movies sans superheroes
Technology

Also starring Arnold Schwarzenegger’s zombie daughter and some of the biggest hits of Sundance.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Fictional Baltimores are often apocalyptic. What happens when the real one is, too?Fictional Baltimores are often apocalyptic. What happens when the real one is, too?
Culture

Too many of us only know the city through pop culture.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Just like our world, the Game of Thrones world has plenty of religious fundamentalistsJust like our world, the Game of Thrones world has plenty of religious fundamentalists
Culture

And Cersei uses them as useful distractions.

By Emily St. James
Culture
On Mad Men, the only death is having no escape route. Guess what Don just lost?On Mad Men, the only death is having no escape route. Guess what Don just lost?
Culture

He’s a dinosaur, watching his own extinction.

By Emily St. James
Sports
Why the NFL just gave up its nonprofit status: to escape scrutinyWhy the NFL just gave up its nonprofit status: to escape scrutiny
Sports

It’s a calculated move — and a very small price to pay.

By Joseph Stromberg
Culture
This week’s Game of Thrones, explained in 8 beheadingsThis week’s Game of Thrones, explained in 8 beheadings
Culture

How the series uses decapitations to draw links between characters, past and present.

By Andrew Prokop
Culture
The Tony Award nominations: everything you need to knowThe Tony Award nominations: everything you need to know
Culture

Who got the most nominations? And just what is a “featured role,” anyway?

By Emily St. James
Technology
Hulu Comes to Cable TV, Which Is Fine With Cable TVHulu Comes to Cable TV, Which Is Fine With Cable TV
Technology

Interesting, but not threatening.

By Peter Kafka