Iran is ready to talk "Iran is more isolated than ever. The regional balance of power is shifting against Tehran, in no small part because of its ongoing support for the beleaguered government of Assad in Syria. (It) cannot do business with or obtain credit from any reputable international bank, nor can it easily insure its ships or find energy investors."
E-books can't burn "The e-book offers a more austere, direct engagement with the words appearing before us and disappearing behind us than the traditional paper book offers, giving no fetishistic gratification as we cover our walls with famous names." (Tim Parks)
Toys cannot hold protest because they are not citizens of Russia, officials rule "There hadn't been many - indeed any - rallies like it before in Russia. Last month saw dozens of toys, from teddy bears to Lego figurines, standing out in the snow of a Siberian city with banners complaining about corruption and electoral malpractice."
Sex education: far from decent "When it came to the students' anonymous questions though, a lot of their concerns were unexpected and sourced from what they'd picked up from p*rnography... Tellingly, none of them knew where the clit*ris was or had any idea what it looked like. Needless to say, classes went on for a while." (Benjamin Law)
Romance novels, the last great bastion of underground literature "It would be crazy to fail to pay close attention when that many people are devoted to something."
