August 30, 2013: Morning
- Washington Post obtains the NSA's "black budget" from Snowden, showing precisely how the "espionage empire" spends its money.
- Everyone forgets that the "March on Washington" was the "March for Jobs and Freedom."
- White House and Congress work to end "energy poverty" in sub-Sahara Africa.
- Saudi Arabia passes its first law to protect women and domestic workers from psychological and/or physical abuse.
- Iconic Cairo bookstore owned by Swiss expat considers closing for the first time.
- Travelodge lists this year's 20 most frequently discarded books.
- Related: Passive-aggressive guestbook commentary on dubiously charming vacation rentals.
- NFL to spend $765 million to settle concussion lawsuits; if settlement holds, NFL won't have to say what it knew about concussion-linked brain problems.
- Artist with dermatographia creates work by scratching her skin.
- It's nice to see a neat, clear, well-formed, sensible English word on the shoulder of a Chinese person.
- Hollywood's China pandering becomes less lucrative as more audiences find its treatment of Asia patronizing.
- Scientists accidentally discover one of the world's largest canyons under an ice sheet in Greenland.
- Bruce C. Murray, planetary geologist who promoted and witnessed space exploration from the start, dies at 81.
- Telecommunications company in 1969 imagines what video-calling will look like in 1990.
- Academics uncover recipes for chocolate treats in the 1668 manuscripts of the Earl of Sandwich.
- Reporter spends three days on tour with foodie rapper and marijuana addict Action Bronson.
- Q&A with Colin Byfleet, President of the International Guild of Knot Tyers.