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When the Lights Go Out: History's Nine Biggest Blackouts

The pandemonium, parties, and politics behind history’s nine biggest blackouts

Alex Goldmark
By Alex GoldmarkJan 28, 2011
Alex Goldmark
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The pandemonium, parties, and politics behind history's nine biggest blackouts.

Every three months, GOOD releases our quarterly magazine, which examines a given theme through our unique lens. Recent editions have covered topics like the impending global water crisis, the future of transportation, and the amazing rebuilding of New Orleans. This quarter's issue is about energy, and we'll be rolling out a variety of stories all month. You can subscribe to GOOD here.

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Mom wears summer dress for years before finally noticing the risqué pattern in plain sight

Most people have that one go-to item in their closet. It might be a ratty old t-shirt from a concert, a perfectly worn-in pair of jeans, or a college sweatshirt that has seen better days. They're the pieces that feel comfortable, familiar, and just plain you.

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Astronaut makes the most of his last day on the ISS by capturing absolutely stunning shot of the pyramids

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Every parent has been there. You're frustrated, your child isn't listening, and you're just done. In that moment, it’s all too easy to let a "Because I said so!" slip out. But as child psychologists and parenting experts continually point out, the problem might not be that your kids aren't listening—it might be that the phrases we're using are completely ineffective.

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If you spend much time reading about music on the Internet, there’s a good chance you’ve learned about a supposed revival of the "butt rock" genre. It’s a slippery and loosely defined term—one thrown around in both derogatory and affectionate ways, depending on the source. But these days, it’s widely used to describe the crop of guitar-heavy bands, including Creed and Nickelback, that emerged during the post-grunge bloom of the late '90s and early 2000s. Now that this millennial-friendly music has reached a certain vintage, it’s officially entering "classic rock" territory—a depressing reminder of mortality for anyone who may have owned a pair of JNCO jeans or browsed the CD-singles section at FYE.

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