Inside the Fall of Kabul
Against all predictions, the Taliban took the Afghan capital in a matter of hours. This is the story of why and what came after, by a reporter and photographer who witnessed it all.
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The 12.19.21 Issue
Highlights
Photo CreditJim Huylebroek for The New York Times Photo 
CreditArtwork by Amy Friend What if There’s No Such Thing as Closure?
Many of us are taught that if we work hard enough we’ll be able to get over our losses. The social scientist Pauline Boss sees it differently.
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CreditRafael Pavarotti for The New York Times Pedro Almodóvar Is Still Making Movies That Shock
He built his reputation with raunchy farces. But in his new film, “Parallel Mothers,” the 72-year-old dredges up his country’s most painful history.
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CreditMamadi Doumbouya for The New York Times Talk
Can We Have a Meaningful Life in a Virtual World?
“Am I dipping into the spiritual realm and the infinite game of life? Damn right I am.”
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The Ethicist
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CreditIllustration by Tomi Um Can We Make Our Granddaughter Give Up Her Scary Dog?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on what terms we can attach to our plans to help loved ones — and more.
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Screenland
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CreditPhoto illustration by Anthony Gerace What Can You Learn from a Celebrity Masterclass on Empathy?
Pharrell Williams is joined by a chorus of famous people whose lessons about feeling for others strangely highlight their personal achievements.
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Letter of Recommendation
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CreditPhotograph by Olivia Locher Why My Family Loves Giving Leftover Junk
If you’re looking for an antidote to the most expensive time of year, consider giving them the gift of laughter with a “rewrap.”
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Diagnosis
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CreditPhoto illustration by Ina Jang The Pain Was Squeezing His Head Like an Octopus. What Was It?
The diagnosis came from an unlikely source.
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Eat
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CreditLinda Xiao for The New York Times. Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero. Prop stylist: Sophia Pappas. What Stone Soup Means to a Seasoned Chef
For Gabrielle Hamilton’s final Eat column, she considers what it takes to feed a village.
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Tip
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CreditIllustration by Radio How to Hang a Gallery Wall
Start at the bottom, in the center, and work up and out. Don’t center the biggest piece of art.
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Poem
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CreditIllustration by R. O. Blechman Judge John Hodgman
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CreditIllustration by Louise Zergaeng Pomeroy Judge John Hodgman on Men and Maiden Names
A husband took his wife’s maiden name as his middle name — but did she uphold her part of the bargain?
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