James Surowiecki: The Dating Game:

¶ … James Surowiecki: The Dating Game: Why do companies backdate?

They backdated stock option grants to make them more valuable. Stock options are only valuable if their value goes up after the date they are granted. The companies were freely backdating the options to a date when the stock price was lower, making them immediately more valuable. This was being done, apparently, to enrich the companys' executives.

Nick Paumgarten, Fresh Prince: You and Fiddy - it's a marriage of geniuses. Comment:

Robert Gottlieb A Lost Child Why was Minou so fond of the tree?

Jill Lepore Noah's Mark on what principle did Webster choose the words for his dictionary?

John Seabrook Game Mas-ter Describe Spore.

Spore is the newest video game developed by Will Wright, the inventor of Sim City. It is based on theory of natural selection, and tries to replicate evolution in the form of a game

Anthony Lane In Your Face a. What statement does the comedy of Sasha Baron Cohen make? B. Why is Volver a disappointment?

The statement that Borat makes is that it is funny how blind American culture is to its own shortcomings and inconsistencies.

Volver is a disappointment because it is imbalanced with a cast of women and no men. It is also not moving, and is a weak attempt at feminine solidarity.

7. Steven Shapin Sick City Why does cholera still persist?

Cholera only shows up in Third World countries, after war or natural disasters. It is due to inadequate "civilized amenities," meaning, that people are subjected to drinking water that is contaminated by feces. It can also be treated with lots of fluids and electrolytes, but these countries do not have the knowledge or resources to save people from dying from cholera.

8. John Updike Down the River In what respectis Uncle Tom's Cabin superior to Huckleberry Finn?

Because the black man, Jim, in Twain's story, is a more realistic person. He is responsible, and has dreams of buying his deaf daughter's freedom, while experiencing his freedom on the raft. Uncle Tom is not a genuine character.

9. Elizabeth Kolbert Dead Reckoning Why have the Turks refused to acknowledge the Armenian genocide?

The Turks are afraid of losing their identity as a nation. They do not want to admit that their existence as a nation is the result of war crimes.