* Today: ██████████████. * North Korea is doomed to fail under his brother, says exiled, "normal, intelligent human being" Kim Jong Nam. * As Tibet immolations continue, the causes become clearer. * Timekeepers ponder fate of leap second, whose destruction could leave Earth and time "several minutes apart." * A public-transit
* Scott Walker recall election filed with more than twice the amount of necessary signatures. * Mitt Romney: The whitest white man to run for president in recent memory. * Romney would be the first president "who belongs to a church that the U.S. government actually tried to crush." * John
* Illustrated explanation of how political candidates can boost their appeal by wearing Andrew Jackson's hair. * Silent discos spread in noise-averse Paris, where partiers wear synchronized headphones. * On the appeal of nightingale droppings as favored product for improving girls' skin in Japan. * Statistics on scientific misconduct in
* In the 11th winter of the Afghan war, less use of overpowering violence seen in soft air power. * Striking photos of soldiers before, during, and after their deployment to Afghanistan. * Searching for sustainable growth and facing dampened export demand, China's economy hits a lull. * China loves soccer, but
* Burma releases 651 high-profile political prisoners, U.S. rewards and praises the reforms. * Eight-year-old girl from isolated tribe burnt alive by Amazon loggers as warning to natives. * The case against assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists: It increases the chance of a nuclear Iran. * How food aid undermines Haitian
* Spate of self-immolations reported in Tunisia; at least 107 people set themselves ablaze in the first half of 2011. * Putin is too busy to debate; he is not too busy to pet leopards, curl, or sing jazz for Kevin Costner. * Pop business article says flux is the future; consumers
Every Friday we take a look back at the week’s headlines, centering on a theme we’ve singled out as particularly important. This week, when we weren’t trying to find ourselves, we were just getting lost; psychologists were having a field day. The words of Kevin Fanning came
* Advice to the U.S. as it works to increase the value of China's currency: Be careful what you wish for. * After his iPhone halted the New York Philharmonic this week, "Patron X" comes forward for an interview, apologizes. * In 1955, an all-black youth baseball
* Following protest where ultra-Orthodox Jews wore yellow stars, Israel to ban Third Reich symbols and "Nazi." * Danish school to Nordic-ize Masai diet of blood, blood-porridge, milk, and beer. * Signs of the ultimate sale in Osaka. * Labor and ingredient costs put Hostess cupcakes in the red.
* For the first time since 1965, last year homicide was not one of the nation's top 15 causes of death. * A new survey shows income inequality—more than racial friction—is now the greatest source of tension in the U.S. * Israel believed to be behind the covert
