a poetic view of existence insists that one embrace the sorrow that comes at the end of things. The times have bestowed on us a shuffle to the graveside of our culture, and, we, like members of a New Orleans-style, second line, funeral procession, must allow our hearts to be saturated by sorrowful songs. Yet when the service is complete, the march away from the boneyard should shake the air with the ebullient noise borne of insistent brass .. In this way, we are nourished by the ineffable, whereby unseen components of consciousness provide us the strength to carry the weight of darkness. Therefore, to those who demand this of poets: that all ideas, notions, flights of imagination, revelries, swoons of intuition, Rabelaisian rancor, metaphysical overreach, unnerving apprehensions, and inspired misapprehensions be tamed, rendered practical, and only considered fit to be broached in reputable company when these things bring “concrete” answers to polite dialog–I ask you this, if the defining aspects of our existence were constructed of concrete, would not the world be made of the material of a prison? Moreover, is this not the building material and psychic criteria comprising the neoliberal paradigm? Is it any wonder that the concept of freedom is under siege?

a beautiful essay – mab .. read more

Romney Wins Big in Florida Primary, Regaining Momentum

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/nyregion/bill-to-expand-dna-database-fuels-fight-in-albany.html?scp=4&sq=albany&st=cse

Albany Bill to Expand DNA Database Fuels a Political Fight

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http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/31/barnes-noble-says-it-wont-sell-books-published-by-amazon/?scp=2&sq=barnes&st=cse

Barnes & Noble Won’t Sell Books From Amazon Publishing

Hundreds Held in Oakland Occupy Protest

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/30/nyregion/albany-bill-would-raise-the-new-york-state-minimum-wage-to-8-50.html?scp=1&sq=wage&st=cse

With Focus on Income Inequality, Albany Bill Will Seek $8.50 Minimum Wage

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/30/books/strategic-vision-by-zbigniew-brzezinski.html?scp=1&sq=surveying&st=cse

Surveying a Global Power Shift

Occupy Protesters and Police Clash in Oakland

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/business/mortgage-task-force-has-fancy-name-but-will-it-get-tough.html?scp=1&sq=fancy&st=cse

It Has a Fancy Name, but Will It Get Tough?

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/us/new-data-not-so-sunny-on-us-natural-gas-supply.html?scp=2&sq=natural%20gas&st=cse

New Report by Agency Lowers Estimates of Natural Gas in U.S.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/us/slow-freedom-of-information-responses-cloud-a-window-into-washington.html?scp=1&sq=foia&st=cse

Slow Responses Cloud a Window Into Washington

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/business/barnes-noble-taking-on-amazon-in-the-fight-of-its-life.html?scp=1&sq=bookstore&st=cse

The Bookstore’s Last Stand

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/books/review/i-know-who-you-are-and-i-saw-what-you-did-social-networks-and-the-death-of-privacy-by-lori-andrews-book-review.html?scp=1&sq=morozov&st=cse

I Know Who You Are And I Saw What You Did: Social Networks and the Death of Privacy, by Lori Andrews

Will Israel Attack Iran?

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/world/middleeast/arab-league-suspends-its-monitoring-in-syria.html?scp=1&sq=arab&st=cse

Sharp Rise in Violence Halts Monitoring by League in Syria

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/world/middleeast/us-lobbyists-drop-egypts-government-as-client.html?scp=3&sq=beltway&st=cse

Beltway Lobbyists Drop Egypt’s Government as Client

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/world/europe/5-are-arrested-in-british-tabloid-scandal.html?scp=1&sq=arrested&st=cse

5 Are Arrested in British Tabloid Scandal

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/books/review/wanted-women-the-lives-of-ayaan-hirsi-ali-and-aafia-siddiqui-by-deborah-scroggins-book-review.html?scp=1&sq=firebrands&st=cse

Wanted Women: Faith, Lies, and the War on Terror: The Lives of Ayaan Hirsi and Aafia Siddiqui, by Deborah Scroggins

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/books/review/gods-jury-the-inquisition-and-the-making-of-the-modern-world-by-cullen-murphy-book-review.html?scp=1&sq=jury&st=cse

God’s Jury: The Inquisition and the Making of the Modern World, by Cullen Murphy

Court Keeps Hitler’s Work From German Newsstands

Across the World, Leaders Brace for Discontent and Upheaval

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/world/middleeast/egyptians-mark-anniversary-of-revolt-in-tahrir-square.html?scp=1&sq=revolt&st=cse

Egyptians Gather on First Anniversary of Revolt

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/world/middleeast/iran-steps-up-arrests-of-journalists-and-bloggers.html?scp=3&sq=pattern&st=cse

Pattern of Intimidation Is Seen in Arrests of Iranian Journalists and Bloggers

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/world/europe/scots-launch-bid-for-vote-on-independence.html?scp=2&sq=scottish&st=cse

Scots Begin Bid for Vote on Independence

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/world/europe/cameron-calls-for-european-court-to-limit-its-reach.html?scp=2&sq=cameron&st=cse

Cameron Calls for European Court to Limit Its Reach

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/world/europe/court-keeps-adolf-hitler-mein-kampf-from-german-newsstands.html?scp=1&sq=german&st=cse

Court Keeps Hitler’s Work From German Newsstands

In Address, Obama Makes Pitch for Economic Fairness

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/us/indiana-democrats-flee-vote-on-anti-union-bill.html?scp=2&sq=indiana&st=cse

Democrats Flee an Indiana Vote on Union Bill

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/nyregion/police-commissioner-kelly-helped-with-anti-islam-film-and-regrets-it.html?scp=7&sq=police&st=cse

In Shift, Police Say Leader Helped With Anti-Islam Film and Now Regrets It

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/business/obama-urges-tougher-laws-on-financial-fraud.html?scp=1&sq=fraud&st=cse

Obama Urges Tougher Laws on Financial Fraud

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/nyregion/christie-wants-new-jersey-voters-to-decide-on-gay-marriage.html?scp=2&sq=christie&st=cse

Christie Wants Voters to Decide on Gay Marriage

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http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/oscars-2012-nominations/?hpw

Nine Films Vie for Best Picture

The Money Traps in U.S. Health Care

“Americans continue to spend more on health care than patients anywhere else.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/opinion/sunday/do-drones-undermine-democracy.html?ref=opinion

Do Drones Undermine Democracy?, by Peter W. Singer

“With robots doing the fighting, Congress no longer plays a role in authorizing war.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/opinion/sunday/friedman-american-voters-still-up-for-grabs.html?ref=opinion

American Voters: Still Up For Grabs, by Thomas L. Friedman

“Here’s a sure path to presidential victory.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/opinion/sunday/nocera-in-porgy-and-bess-variations-on-an-explosive-theme.html?ref=opinion

Variations on An Explosive Theme, by Joe Nocera

“In the 60s, black singers found it distasteful to perform in ‘Porgy and Bess.’ [Now], ‘Porgy’ supplies a prism through which African-Americans…view their own history.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/opinion/sunday/saudi-women-break-a-barrier-the-right-to-sell-lingerie.html?ref=opinion

Saudi Women Shatter the Lingerie Ceiling, by Thomas W. Lippman

“No longer will men be allowed to sell a bra to a woman clothed head-to-toe in an abaya.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/opinion/sunday/dowd-showtime-at-the-apollo.html?ref=opinion

Showtime At the Apollo, by Maureen Dowd

“The victims’ brigade, striving to be lonely at the top.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/opinion/sunday/douthat-a-good-candidate-is-hard-to-find.html?ref=opinion

A Good Candidate Is Hard to Find, by Ross Douthat

“In both parties, a long tradition of underwhelming nominees.”

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http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/what-we-give-up-for-health-care/?ref=opinion

What We Give Up for Health Care, by Ezekiel J. Emanuel

“To protect education and workers’ pay, liberals must start to care about costs.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/opinion/sunday/bruni-paula-deens-revelation.html?ref=opinion

Of Mouselike Bityes and Marathons, by Frank Bruni

“Paula Deen linked food and consequences in a manner often ignored.”

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http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/needed-more-political-dimensions/?ref=opinion

Needed: More Political Dimensions, by John Perry

“One dimension — left to right — doesn’t suffice to deal with today’s political reality.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/opinion/sunday/sunday-dialogue-state-laws-on-unions.html?ref=opinion

Sunday Dialogue: State Laws on Unions

Gingrich Wins South Carolina Primary, Upending G.O.P. Race

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/in-antipiracy-debate-media-worlds-and-generations-clash.html?scp=9&sq=chozick&st=cse

A Clash of Media Worlds (and Generations)

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/magazine/adam-davidson-mobile-class.html?scp=7&sq=stuck&st=cse

A Mess on the Ladder of Success

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/us/politics/obama-to-draw-an-economic-line-in-state-of-union.html?scp=10&sq=union&st=cse

Obama to Draw an Economic Line in State of the Union

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/books/review/the-age-of-austerity-how-scarcity-will-remake-american-politics-by-thomas-byrne-edsall-book-review.html?scp=1&sq=austerity&st=cse

The Age of Austerity: How Scarcity Will Remake American Politics, by Thomas Byrne Edsall

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/books/review/justice-and-the-enemy-nuremberg-9-11-and-the-trial-of-khalid-sheikh-mohammed-by-william-shawcross-book-review.html?scp=1&sq=enemy&st=cse

Justice and the Enemy: Nuremberg, 9/11, and the Trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, by William Shawcross

Government’s Case Against File-Sharing Site Overreaches, Attorney Says

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http://www.alternet.org/drugs/153809/will_2012_be_the_year_of_state-required_drug_tests_for_public_benefits/

Will 2012 be the Year of State-Required Drug Tests for Public Benefits?

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http://www.alternet.org/story/153379/13_great_new_political_movies_you_should_watch_for/

13 Great New Political Movies You Should Watch For

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http://money.msn.com/saving-money-tips/post.aspx?post=bf7180a3-db55-4b15-9ccc-dc07c519d2ac

Sneaky Pizza Fees Are Here To Stay

Moralizing’s High Cost

“Newt Gingrich seeks forgiveness for his past sins, while still condemning the acts of others.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/opinion/krugman-taxes-at-the-top.html?ref=opinion

Taxes At the Top, by Paul Krugman

“Do they have to be this low?”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/opinion/who-owns-my-ticket.html?ref=opinion

Who Owns My Ticket?, by Albert A. Foer

“How Ticketmaster is restricting basic consumer freedoms.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/opinion/brooks-the-wealth-issue.html?ref=opinion

The Wealth Issue, by David Brooks

“Money didn’t make Mitt Romney.”

Bills to Stop Web Piracy Invite a Protracted Battle

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http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/16/wikipedia-plans-to-go-dark-on-wednesday-to-protest-sopa/?scp=2&sq=wikipedia&st=cse

Wikipedia to Go Dark on Wednesday to Protest Bills on Web Piracy

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/16/us/scott-walker-recall-drive-is-closely-watched.html?scp=6&sq=wisconsin&st=cse

Governor Who Took On Unions May Face a Closely Watched Recall Election

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/health/policy/us-to-tell-drug-makers-to-disclose-payments-to-doctors.html?scp=2&sq=doctors&st=cse

U.S. to Force Drug Firms to Report Money Paid to Doctors

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/16/business/media/romney-film-shows-hollywood-techniques-at-play-in-politics.html?scp=1&sq=hollywood&st=cse

Hollywood Techniques at Play in Politics

Oscar Rule Will Cull Nonfiction Contenders

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/nyregion/stringer-girds-for-a-run-for-mayor.html?scp=4&sq=manhattan&st=cse

Manhattan Borough President Is Still Aiming High

Latest Hacking Scandal Arrest Suggests Focus on Cover-Up

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/world/asia/south-korean-law-casts-wide-net-snaring-satirists-in-a-hunt-for-spies.html?scp=1&sq=korean&st=cse

South Korean Law Casts Wide Net, Snaring Satirists in a Hunt for Spies

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/books/review/books-about-heinrich-himmler-and-reinhard-heydrich-review.html?scp=1&sq=pathological&st=cse

Heinrich Himmler, by Peter Longreich

Hitler’s Hangman: The Life of Heydrich, by Robert Gerwarth

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/books/review/the-sounding-of-the-whale-by-d-graham-burnett-book-review.html?scp=1&sq=whale&st=cse

How Scientists Came to Love the Whale

Al B

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peteroborne/100127372/in-every-area-of-our-public-life-the-left-is-losing-the-argument/

The Whale … If you read a recent front page story of the San Francisco Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso and a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farallon Islands (outside the Golden Gate ) and radioed an environmental group for help.

Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around as she was thanking them.Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eyes were following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.

May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude. I pass this on to you, my friends, in the same spirit.

Overtures to Egypt’s Islamists Reverse Longtime U.S. Policy

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/world/middleeast/iran-warns-the-united-states-over-aircraft-carrier.html?scp=2&sq=iran&st=cse

Iran Warns U.S. Aircraft Carrier Not to Return to Gulf

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/world/europe/presidents-loan-scandal-adds-pressure-on-merkel.html?scp=10&sq=germany&st=cse

President’s Loan Scandal Adds Pressure on Merkel

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/world/asia/chinas-president-pushes-back-against-western-culture.html?scp=4&sq=china&st=cse

China’s President Lashes Out at Western Culture

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/world/africa/youssou-ndour-senegal-singer-runs-for-president.html?scp=2&sq=senegal&st=cse

Singer Responds to ‘Patriotic Duty’ to Enter Senegal’s Presidential Race

Disposal Halted at Well After New Quake in Ohio

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/business/from-6-economists-6-ways-to-face-2012-economic-view.html?scp=1&sq=economists&st=cse

I Just Got Here, but I Know Trouble When I See It

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/02/business/energy-environment/after-three-decades-federal-tax-credit-for-ethanol-expires.html?scp=2&sq=ethanol&st=cse

After Three Decades, Tax Credit for Ethanol Expires

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http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/01/nyregion/01a-year-ahead-in-new-york.html?ref=nyregion

What to Expect in New York in 2012

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/books/review/roger-williams-and-the-creation-of-the-american-soul-church-state-and-the-birth-of-liberty-by-john-m-barry-book-review.html?ref=books

Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul: Church, State, and the Birth of Liberty, by John M. Barry

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/books/review/the-partnership-five-cold-warriors-and-their-quest-to-ban-the-bomb-by-philip-taubman-book-review.html?ref=books

The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb, by Philip Taubman

The Damage of 2011

“It could have been worse, but Republicans weakened programs that Americans need.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/31/opinion/egypts-real-revolution.html?ref=opinion

This Revolution Isn’t Being Televised, by Jon B. Alterman

“Egypt’s real revolt is happening now.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/12/30/opinion/2011-year-in-op-art.html?ref=opinion

Notable Op-Ed Art of 2011

Occupy the Caucus Is Ready to Go in Iowa

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/us/politics/ben-nelson-nebraska-senator-will-not-seek-re-election.html?scp=1&sq=nelson&st=cse

Nelson to Quit the Senate, Giving G.O.P. an Advantage

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/us/for-bishops-a-battle-over-whose-rights-prevail.html?hp

For Bishops, a Battle Over Whose Rights Prevail

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/us/battling-anew-over-the-place-of-religion-in-public-schools.html?scp=3&sq=religion&st=cse

Battling Anew Over the Place of Religion in Public Schools

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/nyregion/hydrofracking-gives-chemung-county-ny-economic-boost.html?scp=8&sq=gas&st=cse

With Gas Drilling Next Door, County in New York Gets an Economic Lift

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http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/12/27/after-weak-holiday-sears-to-shut-120-stores/?scp=2&sq=sears&st=cse

After Weak Holiday, Sears to Shut 120 Stores

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/arts/music/woody-guthrie-gets-a-belated-honor-in-oklahoma.html?scp=1&sq=guthrie&st=cse

Bound for Local Glory at Last

Vast Rally in Moscow Is a Challenge to Putin’s Power

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/world/middleeast/forces-loyal-to-yemens-president-fire-on-protesters.html?scp=2&sq=yemen&st=cse

Forces Loyal to Yemeni President Fire on Protesters

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/books/review/democratic-enlightenment-by-jonathan-i-israel-book-review.html?scp=2&sq=democratic&st=cse

Democratic Enlightenment: Philosophy, Revolution, and Human Rights 1750-1790, by Jonathan I. Israel

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/world/asia/local-chinese-officials-seek-to-end-village-revolt.html?scp=3&sq=chinese&st=cse

Provincial Chinese Officials Seek to End Village Revolt

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/world/europe/putin-answers-questions-on-television-on-russian-election.html?scp=4&sq=putin&st=cse

On TV, Putin Is Dismissive of Critics Far and Near

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/world/europe/italys-leader-monti-offers-tax-increases-not-deep-reform.html?scp=3&sq=italy&st=cse

Italy’s Leader Offers Tax Increases, but No Deep Reforms

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/world/asia/christian-bale-attacked-by-chinese-guards.html?scp=1&sq=bale&st=cse

Christian Bale Attacked by Chinese Guards

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/business/energy-environment/coca-cola-and-pepsico-race-for-greener-bottles.html?scp=1&sq=greener&st=cse

The Race to Greener Bottles Could Be Long

Targeting the Unemployed

“The latest Republican plan would inflict needless pain on vulnerable Americans.”

—

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/opinion/keystone-claptrap.html?ref=opinion

Keystone Claptrap

“Republican lawmkers are spinning fantasies about an oil pipeline from Canada.”

—

http://loyalopposition.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/want-unemployment-benefits-well-need-a-urine-sample/?ref=opinion

Want Unemployment Benefits? We’ll Need a Urine Sample, by Andrew Rosenthal

“If you follow Congress, it’s important to look out for normal-seeming bills that are, in fact, filled with poisonous little bits of legislative mischief making.”

—

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/opinion/guantanamo-forever.html?ref=opinion

Guantanamo Forever?, by Charles C. Krulak and Joseph P. Hoar

“President Obama must veto the National Defense Authorization Act that Congress is expected to pass this week.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/opinion/amazons-jungle-logic.html?ref=opinion

Amazon’s Jungle Logic, by Richard Russo

“Writers defend books from the Internet giant’s latest tactic.”