“Hey, do you want a ticket to the debate?” When I got this text from a friend (a pal of his who works for one of the presidential campaigns had an extra seat), I shot a two-word response: “Um, yeah!” For a political junkie like me, being at the debate was the equivalent of – well, maybe not the Super Bowl, but a tightly contested playoff game. And… Read More >>

With yesterday marking the start of a solemn reflection on the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis—the infamous 13 day standoff began on October 16—The Atlanticpublished one of JFK's notes from the height of the crisis. This find is remarkable not only because it has survived all this time but also because it reveals a new side of Kennedy as President: he… Read More >>

A lot has changed over the past century. From bob cuts to bell bottoms, pet rocks to pop music, we've seen a lot of strange things come and go—all of which seemed like great ideas at the time. But when it comes to weird trends of the last 100 years, food takes the pineapple upside down cake. Sticking hard-boiled eggs in Jell-O and calling it a "salad"?… Read More >>

Americans recycle billions of cans every year—but do they make them art? Japanese sculptor Makaon does, turning aluminum cans into intricate figures like the model of Pokemon mascot Pikachu (left). There are many, many more of these detailed works over on his homepage. The text is in Japanese, but navigating the site is pretty simple: Just click the pictures to view his… Read More >>

I admit it: I've stood in line for each Lord of the Rings film, own most Harry Potter movies and even saw Twilight (and New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn—don't judge me!). The truth is I love it when fantasy characters and locations are made real, which is why I love this live-action Simpsons show opener. Advertising agency Devilfish created the 1-minute-long introusing real people and a startlingly accurate recreation of… Read More >>

As the number of cases of and deaths from fungal meningitis linked to spinal steroid injections grows, we’re learning more about the shockingly large role that compounding pharmacies may play in our health care. (The shots come from one such pharmacy: the Massachusetts-based New England Compounding Center). Here, some key things to know: 1. Compounding pharmacies are legal, but are not FDA-regulated.Unlike traditional pharmacies, which dispense drugs manufactured by drug companies, compounding pharmacies create and mix… Read More >>

If you’re one of the 12 people in the country who has yet to decide who to vote for in November, here’s one more way to choose (other than flipping a coin). Slate has compiled a list of television charactersand the presidential candidate they would likely support if (and this is a big if) they were real. The list is based on what issues characters have supported in… Read More >>

A bold, brilliant new series presents the Great Books as interpreted by critically acclaimed graphic artists. Last spring, we wrote in Reader's Digest about The Graphic Canon Vol. 1, which gave the early classics a facelift the Bard might well have smiled upon. Just out: The Graphic Canon Vol. 2: From "Kubla Khan" to the Bronte Sister to The Picture of Dorian Gray. This volume also includes Frankenstein, Moby-Dick, Les Misérables, Great Expectations, Middlemarch, Anna Karenina (are you paying attention, Keira Knightly?), Crime and Punishment…By turns playful and… Read More >>

If you're anything like me, your mind was thoroughly blown this weekend when Felix Baumgartner broke the sound barrier during his Red Bull-sponsored leap from 128,000 feet above ground. I get the jitters from watching his slow ride up—not to mention his death defying launch into the wild blue yonder. But as impressive as Baumgartner's feat is, I'm also floored by the so-called Stratos… Read More >>

Have you ever craved dessert—cake, cookies, ice cream, anything—only to realize you have nothing in the house and no energy for a grocery store run? This happens to me allthe time, but luckily, someone turned me onto cake in a mug, which is exactly what it sounds like. Assemble all the ingredients in a coffee mug, pop it in the microwave, and voila, a… Read More >>