Russell Williams contemplated the seriousness of Satie; Marie Darrieussecq considered the nostalgia of a love affair; Gary Sheffield scrutinized the narrative of D-Day; Anna Girling revisited Una Marson’s editorial ventures; our contributors picked their summer books. Here are some highlights from the month: ‘A dear little genius’: Mark Twain and the making of an American […]
Underworld Turns
The Surgery That Reveals Everything That’s Wrong With Women’s Health Care
For decades, the default feminist position on hysterectomy has been skepticism—and with good reason: The history of gynecology is replete with stories of unethical doctors and gruesome experimentation, of deeply ingrained misogyny and horrific racism. But when Hunter College medical sociologist Andréa Becker started doing research on hysterectomies in 2019, she discovered that many women […]
Why Is Gov. Gavin Newsom Blocking Rooftop Solar in California?
By any measure, California’s green energy transition has been a wild success. Two-thirds of its energy needs are now met by a mixture of renewables like wind and solar, alongside nuclear and geothermal, while the national average is 20 percent. In the last two decades, the state’s green energy output has grown by 43 percent, […]
The Perseid Meteor Shower will peak in August. These are the best viewing spots in Southern California
Stargazers across Southern California are in for a cosmic treat as the annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak Aug. 12-13. Under clear, dark skies, stargazers could see up to 100 shooting stars per hour, according to NASA. The Perseids are famous for their vivid streaks of light, and even the occasional fireball, as […]
Voters Can’t Sue for Disability Discrimination, Court Rules
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Monday that private citizens have no standing to sue for disability-based violations of the Voting Rights Act of 1965—the landmark federal legislation which protects, among other things, the right to voting assistance for disabled people and voters with low English literacy. The Eighth Circuit’s jurisdiction covers Arkansas, […]
The Etan Patz case never ends for NYC & America
Last week the file was reopened on a 46-year-old murder case we all thought had finally been closed. Eight years after Pedro Hernandez was convicted of the 1979 kidnapping and murder of 6-year-old Etan Patz, a federal appeals panel ruled that a New York State jury got bad guidance from the judge, and improperly found Hernandez guilty.
Always being ready for a new emergency
Most Americans go about their daily lives with quiet confidence that someone has their back. That if the river rises, or a wall of flame approaches, or something is about to explode, there are people whose job it is to sound the alarm. That’s the unspoken promise of public safety.
Asking Eric: Niece excludes one branch of large family tree at wedding
Dear Eric: My husband is one of eight siblings. A few live on opposite sides of the country, but they do remain in contact, and we all get together occasionally. One of my brothers-in-law is married and has a stepdaughter. The stepdaughter became engaged, and we were told that since she was paying for her […]
Master musical satirist Tom Lehrer dies at age 97
Tom Lehrer, the musical satirist and onetime mathematical prodigy whose lampooning lyrics skewered racism, the Catholic Church, marriage and the Cold War, has died. He was 97. Friends told Variety that Lehrer had been found dead in his home on Saturday, and longtime friend David Herder confirmed to The Associated Press the retired performer and […]
Mets sweep Giants behind Ronny Mauricio’s first 4-hit game
It might have been Mauricio’s best game to date, with the rookie third baseman going 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and his fifth home run of the season. The 24-year-old was a triple away from the cycle, and logged the first four-hit game of his career.