Randy Pausch — Life Teacher

As a professor, he spent most of his life with students. But in 2007, the Internet widened his classroom — and his influence

Israel's Debate Over an Iran Strike

Mindful of political realities, Israel is likely to follow Washington's lead on the nuclear standoff. But that doesn't mean it's happy about Bush's change of heart

Beijing's Complaint-Free Protest Zones

The Chinese organizers have set aside three areas for demonstrations during the Games. But they're out of the way. And you'll likely need a permit

An Ominous Loss for Britain's Brown

A stinging defeat to Scottish Nationalists adds pressure on the prime minister to reverse his party's fortunes

America's Busiest Poet

Kay Ryan is the latest pick as the nation's top poet. If her predecessors are any guide, she'll have an exhausting year

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THE PAGE

L'AMOUR

Obama and French President Sarkozy showcase their chemistry during a bilateral presidential-like presser in Paris Friday. Get details and your 24/7 political news on The Page

Blogs

Swampland

When a Surge Is Not a Surge

McCain bet his entire campaign on that change in strategy and on his assertion of a more sophisticated understanding of the situation in Iraq, and that is the standard that critics are holding him to.

Looking Around

More on Guernica

The director of the Reina Sofia has stepped in to clarify that the painting is not in any danger — but it still can never go out the door of his museum again. (Translation: the Basques can forget about getting it.)

Tuned In

Anchors Away, Part 3

This week Obama executed a simple trade with the evening news shows: gravitas for ratings. They'll know soon if they got what they wanted; he'll have to wait until November.

POLL

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POSTCARD FROM...

Mexico City

A Den of Sin or a Beacon of Liberty?

Conservatives are up in arms over Mexico City legalizing abortion and same-sex unions. But leftist politicians believe the government's social conservatism could be its downfall

Dakar

Africa's Lions of the Scrabble Board

When it comes to the World Championship of the French-language version of the erudite board game, Senegal is the team to beat

QUOTES OF THE DAY

Open quoteTell the governor he just lost my vote.Close quote

  • CHRISTOPHER EMMETT,
  • right before his death by lethal injection. Emmett argued that Virginia's execution methods were unconstitutional and Gov. Tim Kaine declined to intervene

Q&A

10 Questions for John Madden

His eponymous Madden NFL video game turns 20 on Aug. 12. John Madden will now take your questions

U.S.

Miss. River Open to Traffic After Spill

The first of 200 ships idled by a massive oil spill began crawling down the Mississippi River Friday after the Coast Guard reopened the waterway to traffic

HEALTH & SCIENCE

The Myth of the Math Gender Gap

Despite the enduring stereotype that girls are less proficient with numbers than boys, a new study suggests there is no longer any such difference

WORLD

Beijing's Complaint-Free Protest Zones

The Chinese organizers have set aside three areas for demonstrations during the Games. But they're out of the way. And you'll likely need a permit