World
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London Olympics: To foreign eyes, NBC is all about U-S-A, U-S-A
I am a German following the London Olympics from Boston. Or trying to, anyway.
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Syrian opposition's volunteer medics keep working, despite death threats
The Syrian regime made an example of three volunteer medics by torturing and killing them. But its attempt to intimidate has only emboldened the ranks of Aleppo's opposition.
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Afghan governance: more Judge Dredd than Jefferson
More than a decade into the US-led war in Afghanistan, local strongmen still undermine US and NATO efforts to establish a strong democratic culture in Kandahar.
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Egypt's beleaguered Christians worry about persecution, neglect under Morsi
The past 18 months have been particularly trying for Egypt's Christians, who have clashed with Muslims and lost a religious leader. Now they wonder what life will be like under an Islamist president.
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London 2012: Artistic gymnastics men's rings aren't the only thing to celebrate today
London 2012 artistic gymnastics men's rings: Google celebrates artistic gymnastics today with a Doodle on men's rings. The US women also have something to celebrate, taking the team gold medal easily in Tuesday's competition.
USA
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Higher taxes for a smoother commute? Metro Atlanta votes today.
Voters in metro Atlanta, where traffic congestion is notorious, go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to tax themselves for a major infrastructure upgrade. Some say city's future is at stake, but tea partyers distrust money will be wisely spent.
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Elizabeth Warren: What will Obama's 'you didn't build that' ally say to DNC?
Elizabeth Warren may fill two roles at the DNC: a champion of the little guy who fires up the base and someone who presents Democrats as the mainstream alternative to the party of the rich.
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Why so many Americans are riveted by the Drew Peterson case
The former police sergeant is the lone defendant in the first-degree murder trial for his third wife, while his fourth wife is missing. Opening arguments in the Drew Peterson case started Tuesday.
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What foreign trip revealed about Mitt Romney's world view, gaffes aside
Mitt Romney wraps up a seven-day trip overseas. His immediate audience was abroad, but his message – self-reliance and private enterprise build better countries – was for American voters.
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Romney denies criticism of Palestinian culture at Israel fundraiser
Palestinian officials accused Romney of racism for suggesting that culture helps explain the economic disparity between Israelis and Palestinians.
Commentary
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Republican references to 'real Americans' incite division and fear
America is changing in ways Sarah Palin's 'real Americans' don't like. As the US diversifies, to remain relevant, the GOP must abandon divisive language that Michelle Bachmann and others have used recently and instead embrace a more unifying message.
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When half of India loses electricity, time for lessons on going local
India's electricity grid went out for 600 million people Tuesday. The historic blackout shows how nations must reconsider big, complex infrastructure like centralized electric utilities.
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Iran's new quest for nuclear submarines: dangerous and needless
Iran recently announced plans to develop nuclear-powered submarines, requiring enough highly enriched uranium for two nuclear weapons. Tehran's ambition seems to be more than just a bargaining chip. Upping the ante on its questionable nuclear program is dangerous and needless.
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An opening for gun control after Colorado shooting and charges on James Holmes
Even as Colorado shooting suspect James Holmes faces 24 murder charges, a conservative Supreme Court justice speaks out on gun control and legal limits on gun rights.
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Readers Write: How to eliminate tax breaks (and the deficit); Wake up, 99 percent
Letters to the Editor for the July 30, 2012 weekly print issue: Look at effective tax rates, cap deductions, put an expiration date on tax breaks; With the US meritocracy now based on nepotism and cronyism, the '99 percent' had better wake up and demand better.
Business
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How are value managers predicting global markets?
The economy is slowing and the stock market is wildly unpredictable. Here's how one world-class value manager is weathering the storm.
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Cost per use: The concept that will save your checkbook
'Cost per use' is the idea that the value of an item is directly related to how much use you get out of it. The more use you get from an item, the more you should expect to pay for it. The 'sweet spot' of a purchase, then, is the one that has the most uses for the cost.
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How much does US oil contribute to carbon emissions? Not as much as you think.
Environmentalists tend to overestimate the contribution of oil to global emissions. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't cut down on our fossil fuel use.
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Geithner meets eurozone leaders: a step toward taming debt crisis?
In Europe, US Treasury Secretary Geithner backs the European Central Bank's pledge to do 'whatever it takes' to save the eurozone from a potential breakup and boost economic growth.
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Empty seats at the Olympics: Bad price control to blame?
British Olympic organizers restricted ticket prices and rewarded bulk corporate purchases (but not use). They shouldn't be surprised to see so many empty seats.
Environment
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New breed of ranchers shapes a sustainable West
These green cowboys try to marry good stewardship of the land with making money.
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How summer thunderstorms could be punching new holes in the ozone layer (+video)
A study looking at conditions in the lower stratosphere, where the ozone layer resides, suggests a link between climate change and the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching Earth's surface.
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Thanks to North Dakota, US waste of natural gas grows rapidly
The United States is posting rapid growth in the waste of natural gas in new oil fields where the fuel is either burned or vented into the atmosphere. Experts say the process damages the environment and fails to maximize the return to investors.
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Rising sea levels: Is global warming making the US East Coast a 'hot spot?' (+video)
The pace of sea-level rise along much of the East Coast is accelerating three to four times faster than the worldwide average, a US Geological Survey study says. Global warming is the chief suspect.
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West Coast sea levels: New report estimates greater rise by 2100
The estimates from the National Research Council, taking advantage of more recent research, range from 19 to 55 inches. The study is expected to become a common frame of reference that coastal communities can use in planning.
Innovation
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How Twitter is shaping the London Olympics, for better or worse
The London Olympics is awash in Twitter. Already, tweets have led to arrests and athletes getting kicked out of their events.
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iPhone 5 set for late Sept. launch: report
The iPhone 5 is coming at the end of September, according to one blog. Meanwhile, a range of purported photos of the next Apple smartphone have cropped up on Chinese and Japanese tech sites.
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Mountain Lion roars off to record start
Mountain Lion, the latest iteration of the Apple desktop OS, has been downloaded more than a million times, Apple reported today.
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Apple, Samsung to face off in trial over control of US smartphone market
Apple Inc. filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Co. last year alleging the world's largest technology company's smartphones and computer tablets are illegal knockoffs of its popular iPhone and iPad products.
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Samsung Galaxy phones v. Apple iPhones? In court, advantage Apple.
Samsung Galaxy phones and Apple iPhones and iPads will be exhibits A and B in a US patent case that begins July 30. Despite Samsung Galaxy phones' lead in the marketplace, Apple has the upper hand in court.
Science
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'Star Trek' actors star in new Mars rover landing videos (+video)
William Shatner and Wil Wheaton, the 'Star Trek' icons who portrayed Captain Kirk and Wesley Crusher, appear in two new NASA videos promoting the Curiosity Mars rover, which is scheduled to land on Mars on Aug. 5.
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How livable is the Red Planet? NASA's Curiosity Mars rover seeks to find out. (+video)
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover, scheduled to touch down on the Red Planet on Saturday night, will look for water molecules, measure radiation levels, and seek other signs of habitability.
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Unmanned Russian cargo ship undocks from space station
After its automated docking system failed the first time, the Russian Progress 47 cargo ship successfully passed its second test on Saturday. Now it has un-docked, and is scheduled to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.
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Five essential facts about NASA's Mars Curiosity rover (+video)
NASA's Mars Curiosity rover is the most sophisticated robot ever sent to another world. Here are five facts about NASA's most audacious robotic mission yet.
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When did modern culture begin?
Researchers have found new evidence of modern culture's beginnings in a cave in South Africa. These findings may indicate that 'modern behavior as we know it' has existed for longer than previously thought.
The Culture
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2012 Olympics: Chess should be included – for players and parents
Chess isn't included in the list of events for the 2012 Olympics, though as an officially-recognized sport, it should be. Like other sports, chess attracts driven players and supportive parents to world competitions.
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'Dexter' stars preview the new season
'Dexter' actors Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, and others discuss their upcoming season.
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'Ruby Sparks' brings life to a predictable story
'Ruby Sparks' demands suspension of disbelief, but the film is worth it.
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Foster care: Overall population drops, states have mixed results
Foster care populations dropped for the sixth straight year, reports the Department of Health and Human Services, due to state policies shifting toward shortening foster care stays, expediting adoptions, and increasing prevention support.
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Cajun stewed corn and tomatoes
Maque choux is a Cajun dish that combines sweet summer corn and tomatoes with the salty smokiness of bacon.
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Peace, safety, and the Olympic ideal
A Christian Science perspective.
Books
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Reader recommendation: The Sojourn
Monitor readers share their favorite book picks.
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Jonah Lehrer: some blame media adoration for his fabrications
'Imagine' author Jonah Lehrer admitted in a statement that he made up remarks attributed to Bob Dylan.
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Olympics + 'Hunger Games' = a big boost for archery
Olympic athlete Khatuna Lorig, who trained 'Hunger Games' star Jennifer Lawrence, said that she's seen a huge spike in the popularity of archery.
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Maeve Binchy is remembered by Ireland's leaders, fellow writers
Irish author Maeve Binchy died at the age of 72.
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How Jonah Lehrer was caught inventing Bob Dylan quotes
Jonah Lehrer resigned from The New Yorker after Tablet Magazine discovered Lehrer had fabricated quotes by Bob Dylan in Lehrer's latest book "Imagine: How Creativity Works."