Headlines from July 12, 2013

Why black colleges might sue the Obama administration: The rhetoric and the policies don’t always match.
Toshi Seeger, who married Pete nearly 70 years ago, died this week at 91. #music
PBS’s Off Book explores the question of what happens to human brains in a world of artificial intelligence. #video
The most dangerous man in the world, in Berlin’s humble opinion, is he who thinks he has discovered the true meaning of life.
A study of island biology shows more than evolution is at play—often, it comes down to pure chance.
Millions of smart, inquisitive animals relegated to iron maidens. Ryan Gosling on the pork industry.
Sen. Blumenthal of Connecticut is the first elected official to write an op-ed about student loan rates, in GIFs.
Margaret Atwood’s success, boiled down to six key points.
A baseball fan will see 17 minutes and 58 seconds of action over the course of a three-hour game.
A new first-aid kit can be used with one hand—because that’s of course why you’re using it.
Shark attack expert on Sharknado: “Total bullshit. Quote me.” #tv
For your travel to, your time around, and your journey back from a body of water, a selection of our longreads. #tmn
Calvin and Hobbes remind you how much summer is left. via
The game was not his first invention, and far from his last. The inventor of “Twister” dies at 82. #obit
Grown Up 2 concerns “urine, feces, vomit, flatulence, and all the other beautiful colors of the excretory rainbow.”
Russia’s Federal Guard Service places large order for typewriters to steer clear of digital eavesdropping.
The Arab Spring will take decades to succeed; Egypt’s coup is no death knell.
On Marie Colvin, the difficulty of reporting in Syria, and why Sebastian Junger quit the war-news beat. #longreads
Japanese gangster syndicate publishes magazine for members, with fishing diaries and poetry.
Man interviewed about how he set up a web-connected house that talks to him via Twitter.
Related: In the future, your light bulbs will narrate their agonizing deaths. #tmn
Another sign of the future: Philip Roth and Mia Farrow live-tweeted about watching the Sharknado premiere.
For your Bastille Day celebrations, TMN’s Rosecrans Baldwin explains how to talk about books at French dinner parties.
Wimbledon exposed the sexism women face as players and girlfriends.
Related: Photographer reimagines romantic relationships—e.g., why not as sushi? #tmn
Study proves that mammalian species can “choose” their offspring’s sex in order to produce extra grandchildren.
Nearly half of all three- to six-year-old girls worry about being fat. When talking to little girls, talk about books.
Good fiscal policy depends on two questions: How rich is a state, and what percentage of its children live in poverty? #opinions
Gallery owners estimate there are maybe 100 people who will spend over $50 million on a piece of art.
In case you’re wondering: Six people are in space right now.
Man behind the playlists of Chipotle’s 1,400 locations discusses why some music disagrees with the architecture.