Headlines from December 14, 2012

Think of the world before the first oil shock of 1973. In eight years the U.S. will be a major energy exporter. #opinions
Researchers believe Olympian lifespans—2.8 years longer on average—could be possible for mere mortals.
Abu Dhabi takes on its burgeoning obesity and diabetes epidemic.
What’s wrong with the wheat you’re eating: It’s not edible anymore. #food
It’s good that more Americans are eating breakfast; it’s bad that what they’re eating is all bacon and muffins.
An experiment to add blueberries to its oatmeal will not be repeated next year. McDonald’s attempts nutrition.
This year the average New Yorker made nearly three pounds of garbage a day—the lowest since at least 2000.
Why New Zealand has become Middle Earth: Successful movies can put a country on the international map.
Price: “Not sure why but Mr. Clark seemed 2 genuinely like me, and Eye liked him also.” #music
They loved him without qualification, no matter what he dumped on them they loyally lapped it up. Lester Bangs on Elvis’s death. via
Anti-jihad group plans a new round of inflammatory ads in subway stations, this time out of vandals’ reach.
It’s almost impossible to overstate the level of misogyny and hypersexualization present in the marketing of products to girls.
Use curved brackets for thinking without conscious words. The editorial style sheet for the new George Saunders story collection.
A pilgrimage to E.B. White’s home in Maine.
Notre Dame turns 850 years old next year.
What people are buying at auction today: locks of hair.
With more than 26,000 petitioners, White House will address a request for construction of a Death Star. via
Acronym of the week: the FUKUS coalition—France, UK, and U.S. together recognizing Syrian rebels.
Next year should be one of great progress in the “steady, slow boring stuff” of anti-corruption efforts.
Climate change will drastically alter America’s ski industry, killing off many resorts by 2040.
After office-party death, middle-aged men warned not to attempt “Gangnam Style” dancing.
RIP, Norman Joseph Woodland, atomic bomb scientist who invented the barcode.
Museum of Mathematics opened last night in New York City.
Tattoo archivist says sailors got tattoos of Christ’s head on their backs to prevent excessive lashing.
I admit that I treed a rheumatic grandfather of mine in the winter of 1850. Mark Twain’s 1879 bid for president.
An easy, overdue fix to the nation’s fiscal crisis: End sports welfare. #opinions
Wozniacki’s imitation of Serena’s body draws negative attention from beyond the tennis community.
Today is the day: If you want to be this year’s Reader Judge in the ninth annual Tournament of Books, your application is due by midnight.
Vintage photographs of holiday displays in stores. #tmn
A useful trick is to link your story to something your kid loves, like a unicorn or a robot or a placekicker. Lies to tell children when talking about Santa Claus.
Round-up of the 25 best book jackets from 2012.
University of Chicago receives incredible package for Dr. Indiana Jones and would like to identify its sender.
Photographs of a surfing road trip from Santa Barbara to Tofino.
Seamless audio supercut of an entire year of the Grateful Dead tuning their instruments.
See also: Nick Paumgarten on the Grateful Dead’s afterlife in archival storage. #longreads