Headlines from January 11, 2013

How the UN created a cholera epidemic after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti—and then covered it up. #longreads
Tonight, Port-au-Prince is being invaded only by the well-intentioned. A week after leaving Haiti, Elizabeth Kiem felt the earthquake hit. #tmn
Every national anthem in the world played simultaneously. via #audio
Americans experience higher rates of disease and injury and die sooner than people in other high-income countries. #health
Santa Monica considers cracking down on the number of trainers using public areas to hold fitness classes.
When judging whether food is fit to eat, the smell test is rarely effective. #science
Roundup on scientific research trying to explain why pandas are cute. #animals
In case you were wondering: Humans have been clear on the baby-sex connection since the very beginning.
In England, McDonald’s will replace Happy Meal toys with books.
As YouTube-profiting companies fight for dominance, it’s the channel’s young stars who often bear the burden. #longreads
Popkey: “It’s only possible to make the foolish predictions I made when you’re a casual football fan because you haven’t become cynical.” #tmn
Obituary for Beate Gordon, the American woman who drafted Japan’s post-war constitution.
Streaming can’t kill the video store—at least ones that draw communities of film enthusiasts.
With George Saunders on every reader’s mind, it’s a good time to look back at our 2005 interview by Robert Birnbaum. #books
Extreme weather events increasing in intensity as well as frequency around the world.
Pictures of play and rescue during recent wintry weather in the Middle East. #photography
Iran pledges to produce its own version of Argo, “which lacks a proper view of historical events.”
In case you missed it: “Here Is What Happens When You Cast Lindsay Lohan in Your Movie.” #longreads
Most popular searches on the web find Australians looking to love, French people wanting to lose weight, Russians seeking to become nicer.
Spanish islanders communicate through whistling language that can travel up to two miles.
Honduran government officials attempt to fix their corrupt country by building a perfect city, from scratch. #audio
See also: How to listen to the radio by burning plants. via #video
We wanted flying cars, instead we got 140 characters. Besides the internet, there hasn’t been technological innovation for decades.
Grandchild of Holocaust survivors starts campaign to run subway ads countering anti-Muslim posters in New York.
The commodification of prisoners—allowing them to be traded on the market as shares in private prison companies—corrupts all those invested in the enterprise.
David Sedaris reads aloud a passage from 50 Shades of Grey. #video
Six delicious TMN stories about food to torture you while you struggle with your New Year’s diet.
Story of Facebook-generation families watching their tidy suburban neighborhood upset by divorce. #tmn
Details of daily life for a married pair of rock climbers who live entirely out of a van.
I thought I was all civilized, but the truth was that I was the rube. Life of an American hockey journalist in Russia.