Headlines from May 2, 2013

Economist decides Tennessee’s Knoxville is America’s most perfectly average place.
Fact-checking Obama’s claim that 85-90 percent of Americans won’t notice anything but better health care due to the Affordable Care Act.
Five conspiracy theories actually believed by Texas senator Ted Cruz, who may run for president in 2016.
Study finds overweight doctors are seen as less credible than “normal weight” doctors, and patients are less likely to follow their medical advice.
Collins is the right man for the moment. The many reasons why erasing homophobia in American sports is important right now.
Because it’s that week again: Hunter S. Thompson’s “The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved.”
Related: “Tattooed Drunk Diamond-Dusted Kentucky Derby Fan.” #tmn
Dutch citizens and media react with fury over crowdsourced song meant to welcome the new king.
For anyone growing up Indian in suburban Ohio, go grab a sitar. #tmn
Flemish still-lifes composed of what famous musicians request to eat and drink backstage. #photography
For geeks, SWSX’s earnest hipness is scourge, salvation, and the ultimate Spring Break.
See also: “Parents of Reddit, what is the creepiest thing your young child has ever said to you?”
Tracking speech variations over time, researchers conclude the Philadelphia accent isn’t disappearing, only changing due to higher education rates.
Zagat ranks best Mexican restaurants in 15 American cities.
At the height of the 1992 riots in Los Angeles, the local NBC affiliate chose The Cosby Show over news coverage—and it was the right decision. #opinions
After nine years on NBC, The Office will finish with a reality-show-style reunion finale.
American citizen sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea—possibly to entice an American president to come free him.
Roots of Buddhists killing Muslims in Burma and Sri Lanka traced back to “a Faustian pact with state power.”
Chart weaves together economic growth in Africa with general wellbeing.
Christoph Niemann uses folded currency to show how hard it is to chase money.
With limits on car purchases in Shanghai, license plates cost more than cars.
Big pictures from the past month in Afghanistan, where evidence of significant progress “remains elusive.”
Leaked video of Turkmen President falling off his horse undermines Superman image.
Recent labor disputes between mountaineers and sherpas on Everest are part of a long, tense history.
We see hesitancy, trial, tentativeness. Physical anthropologist uses forensic analysis to confirm suspicions that Jamestown settlers resorted to cannibalism in 1609.
Former tobacco farmers in Virginia encouraged to grow chickpeas in order to meet America’s new appetite for hummus.
Eighty percent of Americans believe a conspiracy was involved in JFK’s death, and 1/3 believe the U.S. had a hand in 9/11.
Compared with infant mortality rates of other developed nations, the U.S. still ranks among the worst, especially its southern states.
See also: New York’s murder rate has been more than five times higher than London’s for 200 years. #tmn
Angry and opposed to New York’s new gun-control laws: Hollywood’s prop departments.
IBM scientists make world’s smallest stop-motion movie by animating individual atoms. via #video
Sno Cone Joe operator faces harassment and stalking charges after yelling “This is my town!” at Mr. Ding-A-Ling driver.