In my fantasy future, I live in California with my writer husband and our children, composing journalistic gems. I am the master of my schedule; I'm paid to cover stories I'm interested in; from time to time, my husband and I co-write a book.

So when the Thursday New...

David Parry started using Twitter with his University of Texas at Dallas students in 2007. A teacher at Hope Charter School in Philadelphia, PA taught his students to mark themselves present and record their in-class accomplishments on the site. Penn State professor Cole Camplese maintains a screen...

Chico Hamilton answered the door of his midtown east penthouse in a big blue sweater and grey sweatpants. The apartment -- equipped with drum sets and keyboards -- was cozy, unassuming, like Hamilton.

Unassuming, especially in light of his stature. A jazz drummer and composer, Hamilton became a band...

The No. Ladies' Detective Agency is to television as The Secret Life of Bees is to literature: it's palatable, and great for a beach vacation, but ultimately not stimulating enough to stick in your memory.

The six-episode series, which ran first on the BBC and then on HBO, is based...