Archives

China's Marlboro Country


Posted Tuesday, June 30, 2009 - 9:14am

from SlateWhile nicotine remains one of the few legal drugs in the world, the counterfeit cigarette industry is a booming business. Te-Ping Chen explored the world of Chinese counterfeit cigs in this Slate piece:

The Fantastic Firefox


Posted Monday, June 29, 2009 - 4:43pm

from SlateThis week, Mozilla will release Firefox 3.5, a long-awaited update to its browser. The new version seems strong enough to keep the company competitive:

 

  • Farhad Manjoo is Slate's technology columnist and the author of True Enough: Learning To Live in a Post-Fact Society.

How McDonald's Conquered France


Posted Friday, June 26, 2009 - 9:40am

from SlateMike Steinberger's new book, "Au Revoir to All That: Food, Wine, and the End of France," includes a look at how a Parisian executive led McDonald's (MCD) to an unlikely victory over the French market.

  • Mike Steinberger is Slate's wine columnist. He can be reached at slatewine@gmail.com. His book, Au Revoir to All That, about the rise, fall, and future of French cuisine, will be published in June.

Buy Cool Things, Support Worthy Causes


Posted Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - 9:03am

from SlateShopping for so-called "humanitarian" products can elicit confusion and frustration. Sure, one company might say it supports breast cancer research. But is it supporting the cause by donating a hefty portion of its proceeds or is it supporting the cause by thinking happy thoughts? Slate's "My Goodness" columnist Sandy Stonesifer explained how you can find companies with the best charitable outlook:

will.i.shill


Posted Monday, June 22, 2009 - 1:39pm

from SlateIn the latest "Ad Report Card," Seth Stevenson takes aim at the Black Eyed Peas' promo for their new album, which also happens to be a promo for discount-retailer Target (TGT). Is the era of popular outrage over sell-out artists over, he wonders?

  • Seth Stevenson is a frequent contributor to Slate.

Tax Breaks Under the Microscope


Posted Monday, June 22, 2009 - 12:41pm

from SlateNew health care reform proposals include tighter restrictions for nonprofit hospitals. They're meant to make sure that the charitable institutions aren't being greedy:

 

Power Play

Posted Friday, June 19, 2009 - 10:03am

from SlateThe new regulations may appear to give the feds more power than they had before. That might not necessarily be true:

  • Eliot Spitzer is the former governor of the state of New York.

The Newspaper Isn't Dead Yet

Posted Friday, June 19, 2009 - 9:58am

from SlateFarhad Manjoo reviews the Kindle DX news experience. What's His verdict? Some features are superior to reading a newspaper, but others are subpar; this rendition of the e-reader is unlikely to sink newsprint.

  • Farhad Manjoo is Slate's technology columnist and the author of True Enough: Learning To Live in a Post-Fact Society.

Charity Fat Cats?


Posted Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 10:03am

from SlateHow much is too much when it comes to nonprofit CEO compensation? Slate's gurus of doing good, Patty and Sandy Stonesifer, tackled the issue:

The Death of Windows


Posted Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 9:44am

from SlateBrowser tabs make multi-tasking online a cinch, and they may also make operating systems, like Windows, useless:

 

The Strange Allure Of Tearing Apart New Gadgets


Posted Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 9:40am

from SlatePurchasing a new iPhone can be divine. But, to some, tearing one apart is even better. Gadget fans have taken to documenting their prized pieces in various stages of disasembly, from excavated electronics to those that are simply "unboxed":

  • Farhad Manjoo is Slate's technology columnist and the author of True Enough: Learning To Live in a Post-Fact Society.

How the Recession Is Wrecking Friendships


Posted Friday, June 12, 2009 - 1:59pm

from SlateFor those of you whose friendships are strained by the bad economy, you're not alone. The recession is taking its toll on many companions, says Slate's Emily Bazelon:

  • Emily Bazelon is a Slate senior editor.

Trying To Make a Living At Etsy? Think Again.


Posted Thursday, June 11, 2009 - 1:33pm

Drawing a salary by peddling your craft projects—sounds quaint, right? Too bad most Etsy.com users can't make enough to quite their day jobs. Double X's Sara Mosle explains:

  • Sara Mosle is a writer for the New York Times, The New Yorker, Slate, and others, frequently about education. Sara lives in Dallas, Texas, where she grew up, with her young daughter and family, and is writing about the DIY movement for Double X.

A Toke and a Tax


Posted Thursday, June 11, 2009 - 10:01am

from SlateJeremy Singer-Vine examines the debate over legalizing and taxing marijuana to bolster struggling state budgets. California and Illinois are warming up to the idea, and marijuana reform advocates agree that taxation is fine, but the details of how exactly such a revenue stream could and would function remain hazy:

  • Jeremy Singer-Vine is a Slate intern.

As the Globe Turns


Posted Thursday, June 11, 2009 - 9:55am

from slateThere may be a way to save regional newspapers, like the Boston Globe, but no one wants to talk about it.

  • Jack Shafer is Slate's editor at large.

The Real Reason That Ann Taylor Hates Plus Sizes


Posted Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 10:10am

Some retailers are slashing their plus-size offerings because of dropping demand. But is this really a smart business move? Double X explores the issue:

Are the Two Dudes in the New Progressive Ad Gay?


Posted Monday, June 8, 2009 - 9:15am

from slateToday's "Ad Report Card" from Slate examines the latest in a series of ads from Progressive (PGR) insurace. The ads typically show befuddled shoppers discussing their coverage needs with a perky saleswoman, who cheerfully espouses Progressive's virtues. This latest ad sparked unforeseen debate, however, over just how progressive this Progressive ad is:

  • Seth Stevenson is a frequent contributor to Slate.

Greenspan Shrugged


Posted Monday, June 8, 2009 - 9:13am

from slateThe former Fed chairman has strong opinions on the current financial crisis. However, no one is really listening to him.

 

  • Timothy Noah is a senior writer at Slate.

Big Food Under Fire


Posted Thursday, June 4, 2009 - 8:57am

from slateIndustrial agriculture should worry less about government policies and more about Mother Nature:

 

About a Bing


Posted Wednesday, June 3, 2009 - 8:30am

from slateBing might be not be a better search engine than Google (GOOG), but it could prove to be just as good:

 

  • Farhad Manjoo is Slate's technology columnist and the author of True Enough: Learning To Live in a Post-Fact Society.

Green Shoots, Red Ink, Black Hole


Posted Wednesday, June 3, 2009 - 8:15am

from slateEveryone's excited about green shoots in the economy. Don't be too optimistic, says Eliot Spitzer, because those might just be dandelions:

  • Eliot Spitzer is the former governor of the state of New York.

Crazy Eddie's House Sale


Posted Tuesday, June 2, 2009 - 9:18am

from slateSome would-be homebuyers are holding out until real estate prices stop falling. If sellers get creative, they can make buying now more appealing:

How Your Pedicure Could End The Recession


Posted Monday, June 1, 2009 - 11:35am

Ever feel guilty for spending on frivolous things like pedicures and facials?  Don't—you're killing the recession. Spending on personal services, rather than material goods, is among the best ways to help the economy, according to this story from Double X:

Recent Sister Sites Posts