First Sighting of Adorable Red-Crested Tree Rat in 113 Years
If only its name was half as cute as its little, furry, endangered face.
Katy Steinmetz
Katy Steinmetz is a reporter in TIME's Washington bureau. In addition to working on features for TIME and TIME.com, she contributes to TIME's Swampland, Healthland and NewsFeed blogs. She pens a weekly column on language called Wednesday Words, and acts as impresario for political columnist Joe Klein's annual road trips.
Articles from Contributor
Wednesday Words: Why Dominique Strauss-Kahn Is a ‘Chaud Lapin’ and More
Welcome to NewsFeed’s weekly highlight of the vocabulary of our lives — including useful, new, hilarious and surprising words (as well as some that are just fun to roll off the old tongue).
Ridiculously Pointy-Toed Boots: So Hot in Mexico Right Now
It started with one man walking into a cobbler’s shop in northeastern Mexico (as so many stories do). He asked for custom-made boots with curled toes so long that the most flamboyant genie would have writhed with envy. Then he …
Texas House Passes TSA Anti-’Groping’ Bill
In another bout of tough press for TSA, the Texas House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill on Friday that prohibits “intrusive touching” when people are seeking access to public buildings and forms of transportation.
Headmaster Reverses Decision: James Tate Can Go To Prom
James Tate was suspended—and thus banned from prom—for posting an elaborate prom invitation on his high school’s building. But the world rallied behind him and his headmaster, sticking firmly to her decision as recently as …
Heroes, Villains and Harry Potter: Why James Tate’s Banning From Prom Resonates With Us
The story of James Tate, the boy banned from prom for plastering an invitation on his school building, has spread virally across America—much like ridiculously choreographed dance moves spread across gym floors in prom movies.
What Makes People Choose A Mate? God and Politics
You might have thought the answer to this question would be pheromones, but according to a new study, you’d be wrong.
Adorable Prom Invitation Gets High Schooler Banned From Prom
James Tate, a senior at Shelton High School in Connecticut, worked through the night posting 12-inch letters on his school building to grandly ask his friend to prom. She said yes. But his school said no, suspending him for bad …
Transportation Secretary Unsure of What a Hipster Is. NewsFeed Helps Him Out
In an interview with the Huffington Post, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood expressed solidarity with bicyclists. Told ” his heartfelt defense of bikers came off like the musings of a run-of-the-mill hipster,” his response was, …
Library of Congress: Your Station for (Really) Old-School Tunes
The Library of Congress has put out a “National Jukebox,” where music geeks can revel in original old-timey recordings. And yes, there is an entire category for yodeling.
Wednesday Words: Governator’s New Name, Flood Fluency, Osama Cocktail and More
Welcome to NewsFeed’s weekly highlight of the vocabulary of our lives — including useful, new, hilarious and surprising words (as well as some that are just fun to roll off the old tongue).
Congressman Bares His Abs — Because of High Health Care Costs? Sure, Why Not
The youngest member of Congress, 29-year-old Aaron Schock, represents Illinois. This month, he’s also representing on the cover of Men’s Health as “America’s Fittest Congressman.” And if the stomach he’s flashing is any …
