July 7, 2014

• Over 60 women and girls escape from Boko Haram in Nigeria; more than 200 girls remain kidnapped.
• Russia’s minister of culture urges Russians to shun other languages and study Russian more.
• Some Russians experience buyers’ remorse after being asked to personally subsidize Crimea.
• Frozen soundtrack is on course to be the bestselling album of the year.
• Linguist studies where band names start.
• At current rates of pollution, Beijing residents won’t be able to breathe clean air until 2030.
• Tensions cool and communication is up between Japan and North Korea.
• Since World War II, English has become by far the leading exporter of “loanwords," like "internet" and "hot yoga."
• Confessions of a crack-addicted Washington Post reporter.
• Nick Cave, on the origins of his sensibility: “I just had a genetic disposition toward things that were horrible.”
• See also: Rock stars' ex-lovers move beyond their historical footnotes.
• Many founding fathers were in their teens and early twenties on July 4, 1776.
• Fifty parting thoughts about this year's Wimbledon after Djokovic and Kvitova win the championship.
• Bathroom breaks during professional tennis matches have clear rules, but what happens inside the bathroom is unclear.
• American soccer fans shouldn't give up on the World Cup when rooting for Holland is so easy and fun.
• Not fun: The existence of turnspit dogs, now extinct.