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Ojibwa tribe members gather 50,000 pounds of wild rice each fall on the White Earth Indian Reservation in Minnesota (Ryan Stevens "knocks" grains into a canoe while James Frederick poles).

Going With the Grain

On Minnesota lakes, Native Americans satisfy a growing hunger for “slow food” by harvesting authentically wild rice the old-fashioned way

Kerouac (with the author in Greenwich Village in 1957) was as unprepared as anyone else for his novel's surprise impact.

Remembering Jack Kerouac

A friend of the author of “On the Road,” published 50 years ago this month, tells why the novel still matters

"The Places in Between," by Rory Stewart

The New Civil Service

An excerpt from Rory Stewart’s “The Places in Between”

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The Real Frida Kahlo

A new exhibition offers insights into the Mexican painter’s private life

Louis Castro (bottom row, left) played 42 games as a second baseman for the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1902 season. Because his birthplace is questioned by baseball historians, he may or may not have been the first Hispanic player in the Major Leagues.

Debating Louis Castro

Was he the first foreign-born Hispanic in the Major Leagues?

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What’s Up

Jim Henson, photojournalist Lola Alvarez Bravo and the heaviest bird that can fly

Because of Portugal's explorations, Europeans were also made aware of exotic animals ("The Rhinoceros," by Albrecht Dürer, 1515).

When Portugal Ruled the Seas

The country’s global adventurism in the 16th century linked continents and cultures as never before, as a new exhibition makes clear

Against the British, both Washington and Lafayette (left and right, at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78) had to learn how to lead citizen-soldiers rather than mercenaries, motivating their men through affection and idealism rather than through fear.

Washington & Lafayette

Almost inseparable in wartime, the two generals split over a vital question: Should revolutionary ideals be imposed on others?

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War Correspondence

Letters between George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette

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Outlaw Hunters

The Pinkerton Detective Agency chased down some of America’s most notorious criminals

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From the Castle

Object Lessons

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Wild Things: Life As We Know It

Icebergs, ice age wolves and honeybee queens

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Masters of the Storm

Kennedy Warne, author of “The Amazing Albatrosses,” talks about dangerous waters and albatross love

Of the 21 albatross species, 19 are threatened or endangered. The Chatham albatross is critically endangered, with only about 11,000 of the birds remaining.

The Amazing Albatrosses

They fly 50 miles per hour. Go years without touching land. Predict the weather. And they’re among the world’s most endangered birds

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Kiwi Ingenuity

A fleet of inventions aims to protect albatrosses from harm

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Richard Lerner

The Tufts University developmental scientist challenges the myth of the troubled adolescent in his new book, “The Good Teen”

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Flying North to Fly South

Preparing the critically endangered whooping crane for migration could save the flock

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Seeking Friendlier Skies

Can radar networks eliminate airplane turbulence?

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Points of Interest

This month’s guide to notable American destinations and happenings

Building on the past is one of Singapore's strengths. Bathers at the Fullerton Hotel—a former British post office—enjoy a view befitting the nation's prosperity.

Singapore Swing

Peaceful and prosperous, Southeast Asia’s famously uptight nation has let its hair down

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