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Laura Nyro's Lasting, Eclectic Musical Legacy
December 10, 2011 Most of the names announced for induction to the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame this week are familiar. The name Laura Nyro, however, may need some explaining. Her songs outlasted their times, and today, a range of artists call her an inspiration.
What's In A (Baby) Name?
December 3, 2011 A list of America's most popular baby names for 2011 has just come out. So many end-of-the-year lists detail something trivial. But sometimes those lists can help us appreciate something obvious.
What Black Friday Crowds Are Really Shopping For
November 26, 2011 It's hard not to look at Black Friday shoppers and see some kind of crass, mindless mob. Scott Simon thinks something else may be at work to explain the swarms at midnight sales and the intensity of bargain hunting.
America's Stake In A United Europe
November 5, 2011 It is always tempting for Americans to look at problems in Europe and ask, "What does that have to do with me?" It's not just the billions of dollars U.S. banks hold in Greek debt; the European Union was created in answer to history.
Pass The Cheese, Hold The Leader Appearance Jokes
October 29, 2011 While trying to convince European banks to reduce Greece's debt this week, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly had a row over a comment he made about her eating habits.
It's A Girl! The New iPhone Speaks
October 22, 2011 Siri is the name of a new talking virtual assistant feature on the latest iPhone that can tell you when you have an appointment, where to find a Thai restaurant, and what the pollen count will be. Why are the voices that emanate from our machines so often female?
Baseball's New Bling Is Made For Believers
October 15, 2011 If you watch this year's playoffs, you may notice many baseball players are wearing a certain necklace. It's actually a "metal-infused wellness product," but mostly it's a reminder that baseball is a superstitious enterprise.
Steve Jobs, Whose Imagination Invited Us To Play
October 8, 2011 You might see the insight that drove Steve Jobs' life when you watch a child with one of the products he designed, from a Mac laptop to an iPhone. It's playtime. Children — and adults — look, touch, try stuff and smile. Steve Jobs understood that creativity and play spring from the same source.
White House Visit No Happy Ending For '85 Bears
October 1, 2011 The 1985 Chicago Bears will finally be received at the White House — 26 years after their Super Bowl win. The years haven't all been kind to those of "Super Bowl Shuffle" fame, and some players have paid a price for our entertainment.
Canceling The School Play Won't Avoid 'Kismet'
September 24, 2011 This week a high school in western Pennsylvania canceled its production of Kismet, citing sensitivity over the Sept. 11 attacks. The musical was adapted from the Arabian Nights; might it not be good for students to learn a lesson about controversy?
Fatherhood, Not Testosterone, Makes The Man
September 17, 2011 A new study says that when men become fathers, our testosterone levels drop. Like a brick. I doubt that many fathers are surprised.
Thoughts On Sept. 11 From 'September 1, 1939'
September 10, 2011 On Sept. 11, 2001, a nation wailed, police officers cried, heroes prevailed and a poem from the dawn of World War II rang true: "Defenseless under the night Our world in stupor lies; Yet, dotted everywhere, Ironic points of light."
The Effect Of An Absent Clause On Dr. King's Cause
September 3, 2011 There are hazards in paraphrasing important quotes, as poet Maya Angelou pointed out when she criticized the new Martin Luther King Jr. memorial on the National Mall. Excerpts are often reduced to clips, bites and tweets, and quotes get transformed to fit — or get attention. But this is not new.
Canada Finds Hope In Instantly Famous Last Words
August 27, 2011 Jack Layton, head of Canada's New Democratic Party, died this week. His final letter illustrates why the mourning crosses party lines. "My friends," he wrote, "love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair." And Canada is better for Jack Layton's legacy.
Raw Jobs Numbers Mask The Pain Of Joblessness
August 6, 2011 News that Standard & Poor's has downgraded the US credit rating pales in comparison to the daily reality faced by millions of unemployed Americans. For them, the most important news everyday is that the jobs market is stagnant, and the prospect of finding work seems increasingly remote.
