Headlines from September 5, 2012

These climate talks have not produced much meaningful action. Questionable claims in the Democratic Party’s foreign policy platform.
About that organics study: Nutrition aside, there are many reasons to be aware of what you’re buying. #food
California’s landmark 1970 environmental law has become a legislative barrier to today’s green effort.
After cooperating as a government informer in Hollywood, Reagan turned to the FBI to solve family crises.
Every year, hundreds of children in Texas are abducted by a parent and taken to Mexico.
Since 2004, a NASA astrobiologist has fielded the internet’s concerns about the world ending on Dec. 21, 2012. #profiles
Hospital reports show giving heart-attack patients CPR for nine more minutes improves their survival chances.
After a string of rare amoeba infections in Louisiana, FDA warns against using tap water in neti pots.
Legendary b-movie studio Troma Entertainment releases 150 films on YouTube. via #video
Japan to buy disputed islands in the East China Sea.
People of small Norwegian town finally open a package sealed for nearly 100 years.
Study: People are more relaxed when unplugged from email, but the stress returns when they log in again.
Now we watch the sky from my sister’s backyard. I wonder: Does risk assessment apply to funnel clouds?
Commercials for Broadway musicals from the ‘70s and ‘80s. #video
Presidential campaign TV ads since 1952. via #video
Last night, the First Lady garnered nearly double the tweets-per-minute during her speech than Romney.
Shooting brings chaos to an election victory rally in Quebec province.
I’ve not heard a single person say it’s too bad that John Edwards is still not around.
Teens’ natural bedtime is 1 a.m.; schools should ring their opening bell later. #opinions
Cathay Pacific will no longer carry shark fins on cargo flights.
Profile of a man who has milked up to 1,000 snakes in a single day.
Neurosurgeon explains why surgery is “mountaineering for cowards.”
Vanity Fair‘s notes on Scientology’s secret wife-auditioning process for Tom Cruise prior to Katie Holmes.
Bethan Jinkinson on the tricky business of verifying intellectual disability in the Paralympics.
Tyler Hamilton’s book is “a historic, definitive indictment of cycling’s culture of doping during the Armstrong era.”
Words that are edited out of Chinese books: “system,” “law,” “government,” “Chinese people.”
Terms used in restaurant computers to track regulars: PX (person extraordinaire), NR (never refuse), LOL (little old lady).
Regional guide to American sandwiches in photographs.
See also: International sandwich guide.
This summer, 100 million fewer movie tickets were sold compared to 10 years ago.
Round-up of attractive car fonts. #tmn
The only proposal a man is to make is to the father. Lessons from Egyptian marriage counseling.
Michael Lewis explains why success is often based on luck, not because the successful are special.