Jaipur Literary Festival

Dispatch from Jaipur Literary Festival 2016: The Greatest Literary Show on Earth

The JLF brings together writers from all over the world for readings, lectures, discussions and celebration at the Diggi Palace in Jaipur, India. 
Prison Cell

The Return of Debtors’ Prisons

New lawsuits allege that court officials are jailing people who fall behind on payment of court fees and fines, leading to a resurgence of debtors' prisons.
Four young men in trendy clothes take a selfie while out partying

More Hipster Than Thou: Is Vintage Language Back in Vogue?

A look at the recent boon in archaic terms and its relationship to "hipster" culture.
A woman in a hospital gown sitting on a hospital bed with a doctor behind her

What Mid-20th Century Gynecologists Were Taught About Female Sexuality

Gynecologists of the past would be shocked by today's insights on female sexuality.
paper files

Population Studies for the Genealogist

Estimating the accuracy and depth of the records is just one insight genealogist's gain from population studies.
A college student with book in hand

The Value of Women’s Colleges: A View from the 1930s

Sweet Briar College's decision to shut its doors has put a spotlight on the decline of women's colleges.
A suspect handcuffed in an office

Why Do White-Collar Criminals Do It?

Former Tyco CEO and infamous white-collar criminal L. Dennis Kozlowski recently ended his parole
Table Flip

All the Feels: the Morphology of Reaction Gifs

From visual emojis depicting simple emotional states, it's a short step to emotion or reaction gifs, used to respond in playful ways to online discussions.
Sold sign on a mailbox post

How Real Estate Became a Global Commodity

A New York Times investigation is looking at the purchase of New York real estate by wealthy buyers from other countries.