Big Featured Discussions 261 items | updated Mar 28 2011

The Oxford English Dictionary is turning into alphabet soup. New additions for the March release were announced Thursday, and they include LOL, OMG and FYI. Also, ♥.

Of course, the OED couldn't help but pummel the fun out of these once-playful texter favorites, explaining that "initialisms are quicker to type than the full forms, and (in the case of text messages, or Twitter, for example) they help to say more in media where there is a limit to a number of characters one may use in a single message."

The new "words" join the likes of IMHO, TMI and BFF, among others that have already found their places the dictionary.

Are these new entries a step toward recognizing the modern era of communication, or do they signal the downfall of society? Or is it just kind of annoying, like when your parents got on Facebook?

Actress Elizabeth Taylor died at the age of 79 on Wednesday. She’s being remembered not just for her beauty and talent, but her charity work for AIDS awareness.

What will you remember most about Elizabeth Taylor? Is she a true icon? What makes anyone an icon?

Tensions continue to grow between allies debating who should command the effort to enforce a no-fly zone and protect civilians in Libya. The United States wants to take a backseat role in the mission, based on recent statements by President Barack Obama.

Will the US be able to take a step back? Or are we heading toward prolonged involvement in Libya?

This week, The Washington Post released details on USDA plans to put $60 million toward “three major studies on the effects of climate change on crops and forests to help ensure farmers and foresters can continue producing food and timber while trying to limit the impact of a changing environment.”

One of the studies will focus on corn, a crop that’s become integral to food production, particularly in the United States. This vegetable is one of the key components of today’s typical American diet. Corn may be a popular summer staple, but it’s also used in many other forms, from high fructose corn syrup used as a sweetener in many prepackaged products to feeding the cattle United States citizens consume every day.

Beyond showing various hunting and slaughter practices, “Kill It, Cook It, Eat It,” has shown how several parts of the food chain are connected. From rearing to packaging, from what animals eat to what we eventually cook, the show has helped support the concerns that environmental shifts can also significantly change what whole nations are fed and how consistently.

How has “Kill It, Cook It, Eat It” shed more light on food production alternatives? Can we sustain the amount of livestock raised if the production of produce staples like corn change? What are some of the most interesting facts you’ve learned from “Kill It, Cook It, Eat It” this season?

Relive the journey in the series wrap-up! An all new episode of “Kill It, Cook It, Eat It” premieres tonight at 10/9c.

Discussions about poverty and illness often focus on social factors like insurance, access and education. But new research suggests the connection could go much deeper, with stressful situations in childhood creating long-lasting changes to a patient’s brain and body that increase the chances of illness as an adult.

Can a stressful childhood influence adult health? If so, how does this change how we look at health care?

On this week’s episode of Glee, Kurt and Blaine finally kissed – and fans went wild. It’s not unusual to see tweens so invested in a fictional romance (see: Twilight), but it’s much more unusual to see a romance between two men on TV.

Are same-sex kisses on TV still a big deal? Or is it all about the characters and the fan reaction – regardless of the gender of the participants?

Ongoing news of the nuclear situation and radiation concerns in Japan is sparking fears for many around the globe, with pharmacies on the West Coast seeing a rush on potassium iodine pills.

Officials say there is no need for those in the US to be concerned about radiation, but that hasn't stopped misinformation from circulating online, including maps purporting to show nuclear fallout reaching the US. (This map has since been proven false and has been disclaimed by the organization that purportedly produced it). Others have advised taking potassium iodine as a precautionary measure. However, while potassium iodine will protect the thyroid in true cases of radiation exposure, it can pose serious health risks for those not exposed.

What other misinformation have you seen in the wake of this disaster? How can we best combat it?

In the wake of last week’s earthquake, tsunami, and continuing nuclear catastrophe, Japan is not only digging out from the rubble but facing a sudden lack of modern conveniences. Food, power, and other things we take for granted are no longer certain there.

Does this change your perspective on how society relies on certain technologies and time savers? Are we adequately prepared to do without those conveniences in the wake of natural disasters or other hardships?

The volunteers on “Kill It, Cook It, Eat It” have learned to hunt a number of animals throughout the season. One of the most popular and most controversial birds hunted is the pheasant. Since it’s a hunter favorite, thousands of pheasants are raised released for the fall hunting season each year specifically to accommodate those who enjoy the sport. This decades-old tradition is known as “pheasant stocking.” However, according to wildlife conservationists like Pheasants Forever, the practice has been ineffective for decades.

What kind of survival rate can be expected from pheasants stocked in the summer or fall at 8-14 weeks of age? On average, only 60 percent will survive the initial week of release. After one month, roughly 25 percent will remain. Over-winter survival has been documented as high as 10 percent but seldom exceeds 5 percent of birds released.

That being the case, shouldn't we close the hunting season to protect the newly-stocked birds? For the most part, hunting has little to do with poor survival. Predators take the real toll, accounting for more than 90 percent of all deaths. The reason: pen-reared birds never had a chance to learn predator avoidance behavior. Starvation can also be a problem. Some newly-released pheasants take up to three weeks to develop optimal foraging patters essential to survival in the wild.

The Human Society also notes that releasing these birds from pens and crates “violates the fair chase principle that animals must have a reasonable chance to escape.” Here’s a snapshot of which states allowed pen-stocking in the U.S. and about how many birds were released each season during in the first half of last decade:

Is there a better way to accommodate hunters who prefer pheasant? Should we crack down on pheasant stocking to make it more regulated? If so, should it remain a state-level decision or should guidelines be enforced on a federal level?

Watch as six volunteers hunt birds tonight and debate its necessity! A new episode of “Kill It, Cook It, Eat It” premieres tonight at 10/9c.

Congressman Peter King, R-N.Y. has begun holding hearings to investigate radical Islam in the United States, the first of which was last Thursday. Critics say the hearings will stoke anti-Islam hysteria; King has responded that critics are in denial about the threats facing America.

What do you think will come out of these hearings?

A recent poll asked Americans what superpower they would most want to have. The results revealed that the ability to read minds was at the top of the list along with time travel, while invisibility ranked at the bottom of the list.

If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?

Worldwide, there are far more men than women, and the gender gap is most pronounced in Asia, where the men outnumber women by 100 million. Scholars have linked populations with an excess of young males to imperialist expansion in Europe and Asia, as well as civil wars and extremism.

What consequences could we expect to see as a result of this?

This sponsored BFD is brought to you by Battle: Los Angeles, in theaters Friday.  Get Tickets and Showtimes at BattleLA.com.

For years, there have been documented cases of UFO sightings around the world -- Buenos Aires, Seoul, France, Germany, and China.

In this sci-fi action thriller starring Aaron Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez, what were once just sightings will become a terrifying reality when Earth is attacked by unknown forces.

What's the first thing you would do during a UFO invasion? Share your observations in the comments!

Many diet plans, food justice articles, animal justice studies note that there are endless issues that consumers are faced with when deciding what to eat. What types of meat to nclude is one of the biggest questions -- from picking red meat or white, right down to monitoring how livestock is raised.

According to Sustainable Table, factory farm systems are heavily reliant on cheap grain. It’s been estimated that these farms get 7-10% on their operating cost.

“This allows our meat and dairy prices to be low but it also results in lower nutritional content.”

One alleged benefit in raising animals on pasture is that these products are healthier for consumers. For instance, compared with feedlot meat, meat from grass-fed beef, bison, lamb and goats, have less total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and calories.

"When the animals aren’t being treated like factory assembly line that creates a better quality of beef," said Dr. Patti Whisnant.

However, consuming more carefuly grown also means accepting higher-priced product. Have you encountered other studies that support eating grass-fed meats over corn-fed meats? Do you believe that eating meat, eggs and dairy products from animals raised on pasture is worth the expense to consumers?

See six volunteers judge the importance of freshly slaughtered meat tonight! A new episode of "Kill It, Cook It, Eat It" premieres at 10/9c.

On Friday, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker began the process to lay off 1,500 state employees. This escalation comes two weeks after Democratic Senators left to block a vote on a bill that would curtail collective bargaining rights for public employees. Ongoing protests have attracted attention and protestors from other states as well.

What will it take for the situation to be resolved? Will this attempt to force a vote work?

This sponsored BFD is brought to you by The Economist Film Project, a collaborative initiative with PBS NewsHour to showcase the work of independent documentary filmmakers from around the world. Documentary shorts and feature-length films will be accepted monthly on a rolling basis through December 2011.

2010 was a great year for documentaries. Last year’s releases covered everything from graffiti culture; to the lives of soldiers; to garbage pickers in Brazil.
 
Exit through the Gift Shop, Gasland, Inside Job, Restrepo, and Waste Land all received Oscar nominations, but was there another film that made an even bigger impression on you?
 
What is your favorite documentary of all time?

Do you have a completed short or feature-length documentary that you’d like to see air on PBS NewsHour? Submit your creation to The Economist Film Project. The project will feature films whose new ideas, perspectives, and insights not only help make sense of the world, but also take a stand and provoke debate.

The Economist will also provide filmmakers whose films are chosen with a grant of $4,000 to produce six to eight minutes of footage from the film (or footage captured during the making of the film) for airing on PBS NewsHour as part of a news segment.

For more information, visit http://film.economist.com.

Congress has passed a bill and avoided a government shutdown – but that doesn’t mean that there’s a final budget in Washington. House Republicans want to cut $60 billion from the budget, and proposed changes include cuts to health care, Wall Street reform, the EPA, and public broadcasting, among others.

Are these the best places to cut spending? Where should the government be looking when it comes time to trim costs?

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned that Libya could be facing a state of civil war, and said that the US would not be taking any options off the table when it comes to dealing with the country.

Should the US be considering involvement in Libya? If so, to what extent?

Last week, the British media dissected everything about the lunch Prince William’s fiancé, Kate Middleton, had with her future stepmother-in-law Camilla. The story then got a rise out of some animal rights activists when the Daily Mail reported that Kate had ordered foie gras as a starter.

It’s hardly the first time foie gras has caused alarm. The dish has been hotly debated for years, called a range of things from politically incorrect to downright cruel. Often considered a gourmet dish, foie gras ducks are specially fattened in a way that activists have deemed animal torture. Many object to the way tubes are inserted into the ducks' throats to feed them and fatten them, but others have noted that despite the implication, ducks don’t actually have gag reflexes anyway.

In 2006, the city of Chicago banned foie gras, deciding that the preparation of the ducks was animal cruelty. In 2004, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation that would have the entire state of California ban the dish by 2012.

What do you think? Have you ever eaten foie gras? Do you think the fact that it’s considered a delicacy outweighs the cruelty gray area? Is foie gras inhumane?

See six volunteers give duck hunting their best shot. A new episode of “Kill It, Cook It, Eat It” premieres at 10/9c.