A sister for Bo. The Obamas introduce the newest member of the family: new pup Sunny.
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PRESIDENTIAL PUP
"Welcome to the family, Sunny," Barack Obama tweeted on Monday. The new addition is one year old and the same breed as big brother Bo – a Portuguese Water Dog. Michelle also tweeted a photo of the puppy on Monday.
NEITHER HERR NOR FRAU
This November, Germany will become the first European country to introduce a "third gender" option on birth certificates, allowing a neither "male" nor "female" distinction. The legislature's decision says a person should be able to choose how to legally identify themselves if they "deeply feel" they belong to a different gender. People have pointed out possible issues: Travelling abroad may be a problem as German passports only have male and female options; and same-sex marriages are still illegal in the country. Germany's Justice Minister said this move will require "comprehensive reform" of state-issued documents. The move is not the first of its kind: Australia introduced an "indeterminate" option on its passports in 2011, and earlier this year Nepal began offering third-gender citizenship certificates.
A HOUSE OF CARDS
When was the last time you got a birthday card? No, I don't mean the 100-plus wishes you got on Facebook or Twitter, or even via text. I mean a physical, opens and maybe pops-up card that you can prop on a shelf beside you bed. Nick Bilton of The New York Times wrote a piece about the changing greeting card industry. Is it dying? Well, sort of. He quotes a report from IbisWorld that shows traditional card sales have fallen by 60 per cent over the last 10 years. And Hallmark's card sales dropped by one billion from 2011 to 2012. Bilton notes the use of digital cards is rising. But as many know, the new and easier tradition is social media, which helpfully nudges people when the special occasions approach, as Bilton cheekily notes. "For me, I'm just grateful people remembered my birthday, though I probably have Facebook to thank for that, too."
QUOTED
I can't even take a pee now without getting 'bored.' - David Roberts
The energy and politics writer at environmental news site Grist explains why he is taking a year "off" the Internet. He won't be online at all so he can focus on getting in shape, and work on writing a novel. Goodness knows he'll have a lot to catch up on when he's back in 2014.