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"RAGTIME" AND THE AMERICAN DREAM

On the eve of an American holiday reserved for beer and fireworks, Daniel Arizona considers the nature of a national "spirit". E.L. Doctorow's novel "Ragtime" offers some guidance ...

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TAKING LIBERTIES: WE ARE BEING WATCHED

Britan has quietly become the  most  spied-upon nation in Europe. How? Why? And does it matter? Charles Nevin goes to Manchester, London, Berlin and Bucharest to compare, contrast and discuss ...

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ANNI MIRABILES: 1712

What was the most important year ever? Andrew Marr suggests it was probably 1776, but Robert Butler, a contributor to Intelligent Life, has tossed another hat into the ring ...

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THE SCEPTICAL SHOPPER: MEN'S TRAINERS

Men’s trainers can be good, bad or decidedly ugly. Our undercover expert sidesteps the silly ones and hunts down some modern classics ...

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