August 16, 2012: Morning
- Europe lets Hezbollah operate openly as a political and social movement.
- Prize-winning 1987 essay by Hilary Mantel on women's domestic life in Saudi Arabia.
- Favorite new meme: "Ridiculously Photogenic Syrian Soldier."
- NBA officials didn't think black players looked good in black until Jay-Z persuaded them otherwise.
- Northern pols shouldn't say "y'all" unless they once ate fatback sandwiches from necessity.
- Spanish mayor stages robberies at supermarkets and gives stolen groceries to the poor.
- Unlike Romney, Obama drinks and even brews his own beer, and he's talking about it a lot.
- Devo to release “Don’t Roof Rack Me, Bro! (Remember Seamus)” in honor of Romney's dead dog.
- Fantastic analysis of international art English and the rise of the art-world press release.
- How to acquire a literary agent and why you may not have found one yet.
- Karl Lagerfeld finds muse and lingerie designer in former child prostitute "gifted" to famous French athlete.
- Jodie Foster defends Kristen Stewart, saying today's star culture is impossible to survive.
- Alicia Silverstone demands vegan meals for Pussy Riot in letter to Putin.
- Banker girl rates financial types for optimum dating.
- Thursday poem: "Difference," by Mark Doty.
- Ghettos remade from train-set props.