At the height of the housing crisis, one woman’s bureaucratic odyssey to discover who really owns her home leads her to startling revelations about the housing market.
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How the GI Bill Became Law in Spite of Some Veterans’ Groups
The true story of the G.I. Bill of Rights, which initially faced some opposition from veterans’ groups. “Roosevelt envisioned long-term benefits for the country. ‘The money invested in this training and schooling program will reap rich dividends in higher productivity, more intelligent leadership, and greater human happiness. … We have taught our youth how to […]
The Art of Humorous Nonfiction: A Beer in Brooklyn with the King of the A-Heds
Former Wall Street Journal reporter Barry Newman reflects on 43 years of feature stories that explore the eccentric humanity of our world.
The True Story of the G.I. Bill
Three months later, on October 27, 1943, Roosevelt turned his idea into a concrete proposal, formally asking Congress to enact legislation that would finance one year of educational or vocational training for all who served in World War II. Those deemed to have academic potential would be eligible for support for four years. “For many, […]
Relearning How to Talk in the Age of Smartphone Addiction
Sherry Turkle studies how we relate to our devices, and thinks it’s high time we start talking to each other again.
A Brief History of Solitary Confinement
Dickens, Tocqueville, and the U.N. all agree about this American invention: It’s torture.
David Carr: 1956-2015
David Carr, the acclaimed journalist, media columnist for The New York Times, and author of the bestselling Night of the Gun, died February 2015 in New York at the age of 58. Here is a brief reading list of stories by and about Carr, his life and work. It doesn’t even begin to cover it. […]
The Last Living Recipient of VA Benefits from the Civil War
Ms. Triplett’s pension, small as it is, stands as a reminder that war’s bills don’t stop coming when the guns fall silent. The VA is still paying benefits to 16 widows and children of veterans from the 1898 Spanish-American War. The last U.S. World War I veteran died in 2011. But 4,038 widows, sons and […]
The History of ‘Boy’ and ‘Girl’ Toys: A Veteran Toy Designer Wrestles With the Industry’s Gender Divide
An interview with Stefanie Eskander, who has worked as a toy designer for more than 30 years, for companies including Mattel and Hasbro—and now works as the Design Manager for girls’ toys at Toys ‘R’ Us: Pink is a funny thing. In the early days of the 20th century, pink was not necessarily a girl […]
Graves of the Dead
The story of a mysterious mound, and what was inside.
