Culture & Religion — November 6, 2010

A ‘Frisco’ State of Mind

The city that kept out the Republicans and banned Happy Meals has a long history of doing things its own way. The Independent on the history of San Fran.

bigthinkeditor

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

The US midterms were a sobering rejection of what Republicans like to call the ‘Nancy Pelosi San Francisco Democrats’. But the city’s legislative machine responded to the nation’s lurch rightwards with a classic piece of Pelosi-style left-wingery: banning McDonald’s Happy Meals from its restaurants. … ‘Don’t get me wrong, San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the country,’ says Christopher Ruddy, who runs the right-leaning news outlet Newsmax. ‘But people there seem to have lost their political minds. … California is careering towards bankruptcy, and here they are saying not to eat French fries!’

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Culture & Religion

McDonald’s changes its Happy Meal. Here’s why my kids still won’t get them.

600 calories or less for each Happy Meal? Well, it’s a start.

A detailed, colorful brain visualization with intricate patterns of green, blue, and yellow on a dark background.

Neuropsych

The most detailed brain map ever

Scientists have created a magnificent portrait of every connection among neurons in a fruit fly’s brain.

Animated characters observe a family walking in a snowy scene through a viewing screen, inside a control room.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Is there such a thing as a “negative emotion”?

There’s little more infuriating in the world than being told to “calm down” when you’re in the midst of a simmering grump.

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: Is antigravity even possible?

Humans, when we consider space travel, recognize the need for gravity. Without our planet, is artificial or antigravity even possible?

World map highlighting the Brandt Line, dividing the Global North and Global South across continents.

Strange Maps

The Brandt Line gave us the Global North and South. It needs an update.

In 1980, Willy Brandt drew a line across the map that still influences how we think about the world.

Up Next

Guest Thinkers

Engineering a Better Climate

Research into the possibility of engineering a better climate is progressing at an impressive rate—and meeting strong opposition. The Economist reports.