A Memorial For Three Mysterious Sailors

This story is part of an ongoing series called Honey, Stop The Car: Monuments That Move You, which checks out memorials across the country that inspire drivers to pull over. I close my eyes, and I can see the stone monument I’d passed countless times on my short walk to the ocean. How could I [...]

Could Gang Of Six Plan End Debt-Ceiling Stalemate?

The House spent all day Wednesday debating GOP legislation requiring a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution before the debt ceiling could be raised. Republicans passed the bill knowing it has little chance of going anywhere in the Democratic-run Senate and also faces a veto threat. But a new development on the Senate side of the [...]

When You Call A Locksmith, Will A Con Man Answer?

Hard economic times often give rise to swindlers, people hoping to make a quick buck by misleading hapless consumers. It’s not easy to catch these conmen, who often go door-to-door. But there’s one scam out there that’s mobilized an army of angry people. The scam has locksmiths up in arms. Bill Roberts has been a [...]

Senate Panel To Consider End Of Gay Marriage Ban

There has been a lot for supporters of gay marriage to celebrate this year, including a new law that permits same-sex nuptials in New York. Back in February, the Justice Department said it would no longer defend the federal law that restricts marriage to heterosexual couples, citing doubts about its constitutionality. This week, the White [...]

Gay Divorce A Higher Hurdle Than Marriage

As thousands of gay and lesbian couples are planning weddings in New York — and celebrating their hard-fought right to marry — others around the nation are fighting for the right to divorce. Since most states, and the federal government, don’t recognize gay marriages, many same-sex couples are left with no way to officially split. [...]

The Lighter Side Of Traditional Soviet Summer Fare

When you picture the food of the former Soviet empire, it’s probably a fairly heavy image: steaming bowls of borscht, long-baked stuffed cabbage and all manner of savory, meaty dumplings. You’re not far off. This hefty, stick-to-your-ribs menu is fairly representative of Soviet cuisine. It’s not the whole picture, though. There’s also a strong tradition [...]

Second Senate Debt-Ceiling Effort Raises Pressure On House GOP

House Republicans arguably found themselves under even more pressure Tuesday as a renewed bipartisan effort emerged in the Senate to reach a debt-ceiling agreement to avoid a U.S. government default on its obligations. The Gang of Six, a group of Democratic and Republican senators trying to bridge Congress’ fiscal disagreements, came forward with a package [...]

Oscar Pistorius Qualifies To Run At Track World Championships

Oscar Pistorius, the sprinter who runs on prosthetics made from carbon fiber, has officially qualified for the World Championships in Athletics, which will be held in Daegu, South Korea. Needing to run the 400-meter race in 45.25 seconds or quicker, Pistorius set a new personal best, at 45.07. It’s been a good month for Pistorious [...]

Medical Panel Recommends No-Cost Birth Control

Will all health insurance plans soon have to offer all FDA-approved forms of prescription contraception at no upfront cost to women? They will if Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius accepts the recommendations released today from an expert panel of the Institute of Medicine. The study — released a day early due to an [...]

Surviving To Conquer Dostoevsky’s ’5 Elephants’

Puttering around her old-fashioned home, translator Svetlana Geier compares the intricacy of Dostoevsky’s writing to what used be to termed “women’s work,” like cooking and lace-making. “Text” and “textile” have the same root, she notes. But the huge novels that give The Woman with the Five Elephants its title aren’t just intricately crafted. They’re also [...]