From what I gather, the current unrest in the Middle East is being followed for three major reasons: 1) Concern about oil/safety/foreign relations (they’re all intertwined) 2) The growing power and role of social media (a little blue bird is toppling autocratic regimes) 3) When was the last time any of us (i.e. Americans) actually [...]
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The birthplace of Simone de Beauvoir and Brigitte Bardot may look Scandinavian in employment statistics, but it remains Latin in attitude. French women appear to worry about being feminine, not feminist, and French men often display a form of gallantry predating the 1789 revolution. Indeed, the liberation of French women can seem almost accidental — a [...]
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If you haven’t called your mother yet, shame on you. I can’t withdraw $20 from an ATM without being asked to “confirm my request” so how does that option not exist when someone is trying to trade $15 billion million? Dear Newsweek, I used to race home to read your “Conventional Wisdom” but then you [...]
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There was a car bomb in Times Square last night. Greece officially asked for a €110 billion loan. On Tuesday and Wednesday there was snow; today it’s 84º. If your head hasn’t exploded yet from one of these malfunctions…then congratulations! you can read these: Krugman is now a Euro-skeptic. Would he be as critical if the map of Europe [...]
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I view the eruprtion of Iceland’s volcano and the ensuing chaos as a metaphor for all things difficult this week. Here are a few of them: If only solving the problem of the ash cloud over Europe were as easy as learning how to pronounce Eyjafjallajokull. If you’re going to Israel in the near future, don’t take your [...]
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People lined up in droves yesterday for a chance to be one of the first 700,000 people to own Apple’s new little contraption, the iPad. 3 months ago the masses were dubious. Now, the same people say it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread and that it will be a media changer. Here are a few other of this [...]
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Everyone seems to have taken one step forward and two steps back this week. It’s like studying for midterms: you muster all your energy to study all weekend only to discover there is so much you have yet to learn. It’s like finally meeting your dining hall crush: you now know their name but realize [...]
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The production and subsequent popularity of the “Midd Kid” song shows there is an interest in unraveling the layers, peeking behind closed doors and glossy magazine pages to catch a glimpse of what life is really like. Here are a few articles worth reading this week that peer deeper into issues like poverty, big business [...]
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Why does Middlebury’s Dating Game never cease to be amusing (even if it is ineffective–I speak from experience)? The loaded questions and nervous laughter are always a hilarious form of Saturday night entertainment, as well as a painful reminder of how sexually repressed this college is. The fact that it occured on the 13th this [...]
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