Black Women Reign at Beauty Pageants

When Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa was named Miss Universe on Sunday, her crowning signified a milestone: the first year that four of the major beauty pageants had simultaneously awarded the top prize to a black woman. Pageants have long been criticized for their antiquated beauty standards and, in many cases, outright racism or gender…

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The Most-Read Food Stories of 2019

Julia Moskin, Melissa Clark and Pete Wells try the new fake meats. The Impossible Burger bested the competition in a blind tasting of six national brands. The taste test replicated the experience of a home cook: Each burger was seared in canola oil and served in a potato bun. People complaining about the health implications…

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The I.R.S. Sent a Letter to 3.9 Million People. It Saved Some of Their Lives.

Three years ago, 3.9 million Americans received a plain-looking envelope from the Internal Revenue Service. Inside was a letter stating that they had recently paid a fine for not carrying health insurance and suggesting possible ways to enroll in coverage. New research concludes that the bureaucratic mailing saved lives. Three Treasury Department economists have published…

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Top 10 New York Dishes of 2019

This annual list is an exercise in selective memory: The trick is to remember every impressive snack, sandwich, pastry, main course and cocktail I ate over the past year without ever thinking about how much food it all adds up to. It helps to eliminate, right off the bat, anything I consumed in a restaurant…

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