Popular Culture
How Capitalism Made the Christmas Tree Better
Originally intended as an antidote to commercialism, the Christmas tree soon had the opposite impact.
Don't Believe the Hype About "Dangerous" Christmas Toys
Welcome to the season of bogus scare stories.
In Defense of Black Friday Shopping
Like Thanksgiving and Christmas, Black Friday celebrates bounty and benevolence.
How Steven Spielberg's Lincoln Benefited from Crony Capitalism
Virginia taxpayers helped foot the bill for the Hollywood blockbuster.
Disney Buys Lucasfilm, Plans New Star Wars Movie
Disney now officially owns everybody's childhood
Back to Columbine
Looking back at the baseless speculation and scapegoating that followed a tragedy.
New York Court Determines When a Gyrating Ass May Be Taxed
The stripper's pole is a slippery slope, or something like that
Britain's High-Tech Thought Police
British authorities target bloggers, tweeters, and t-shirt wearers for speech crimes.
Why the Pussy Riot Case Still Matters
The punk feminists protest the abuses of Russia's authoritarian state.
Intelligence at Work
Neal Stephenson's new book explores science fiction, underseas cables, Hong Kong, and the art of storytelling.
Privacy for Sale
Welcome to the brave new world of encryption apps, real-time marketing, and using your face to shop.
Cosmopolis
David Cronenberg's delightfully strange riff on sex, technology, capitalism, and the quest for a good haircut.
Shenanigans!
A worm's-eye view of what it takes to get someone I can stand elected president.
Bloodthirsty Cineastes Tear Orson Welles from His Throne
A film magazine releases its decennial selections of the world's greatest movies.
Goodbye to Gore Vidal, America's Biographer and Champion
Remembering one of my favorite writers
Half-Assed Media Speculation About the Batman Shooter
News outlets are rushing to speculative judgment about the accused Batman murderer
Turning Comic Books Into Art
The world of high art celebrates pioneering comics creator Daniel Clowes.
5 Other Fake Indians Besides Elizabeth Warren
The Massachusetts Democrat is hardly alone in passing herself off as having Indian blood.
