How stores ended up with too many (wrong) clothes

Plus, the things that are banned at Qatar's World Cup [View this email online]( [Best of NPR]( Nov. 27, 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------- Scott’s weekly weigh-in Abel Grau/CSIC A good weekend to you. Any room left for one more little bite of a food story? Neanderthals ate their veggies. A report in the journal [Antiquity]( says plant matter found at caves in northern Iraq and Greece reveals that, despite the way they’re depicted in paintings and museum exhibits, Neanderthals didn’t just chuck a spear at a wooly rhinoceros and chow down. They plucked wild nuts, peas, beans, lentils and wild mustard, then soaked, ground and mixed them to make what they ate more appealing. They cooked. They cared about flavor and ingredients. They had technique. They didn’t just wield clubs. Think Neanderthal haute cuisine. It reminds you of Faulkner’s observation, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” New discoveries and analysis can open the past to us in new ways. We look into the past, and can see the first traces of ourselves. I asked our friend Rick Bayless, the award-winning Chicago chef, what spicing he’d recommend for that Neanderthal repast. Rick points out, “It’s unlikely the spice trade from south Asia had started yet. Certainly, there wouldn’t have been any of the ‘New World’ chilis. But wild mustard is incredibly delicious — slightly bitter and a little spicy. Throw that into the pot and you’d have a delicious meal.” (Yet I’m sure my Neanderthal ancestors might have asked, “How many centuries do we have to wait for harissa?”) From our show this week: Maria Ressa, the dauntless Philippine journalist and Nobel winner, on her new book, [How to Stand Up to A Dictator]( a call to the world to combat disinformation. Jerzy Skowlimowski, the great Polish director (now 84) on his utterly moving and engaging film EO, [the story of a donkey]( passed between human hands. And my essay this week is really [a cry from the heart]( after more mass shootings. [Scott Simon]( Scott Simon is one of NPR's most renowned news anchors. He is the host of [Weekend Edition Saturday]( and one of the hosts of the morning news podcast Up First. Be sure to listen to him every Saturday on your local NPR station, and follow him [on Twitter](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Stories you may have missed [Clothes on hangers under a "Sale" sign]( Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Levi's has too many jeans, Gap has a glut of shirts and Kohl's is overflowing with fleece and pajamas. Oversupply problems are plaguing many clothing retailers. For shoppers, [this means discounts](. The Supreme Court has paved the way for a House panel to get former President [Donald Trump's tax returns](. Of particular concern to the committee were instances when Trump boasted about "a history of aggressive tax avoidance" and called IRS audits of his business activities "unfair." Alcohol is not the only thing banned at World Cup matches in Qatar. Among the actions that [could trigger an arrest]( speech that's deemed critical of the Qatari government, exposing too much skin and displaying [LGBTQ symbols](. And if a pregnant fan needs prenatal care, they should be prepared to show a marriage certificate. ➡️ Referees are adding extra time to games. [Lots of it](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before you go NPR - "Books We Love" is back with a brand-new batch of titles, hand-picked by NPR staff and critics. Here are 400+ of our [favorite reads from 2022](. - Avatar is returning, Will Smith stars in a Civil War epic and Bill Nighy is Living. Here are five big films NPR [can't wait to see](. - The "golden billion" conspiracy theory claims that global elites are plotting to hoard the world's wealth and resources, leaving the rest of the planet to starve. Russian President Putin has increasingly cited it — [and the narrative is feeding his wartime strategy.]( - Meet Winston, the "razzle dazzle" French bulldog that just won this year's [National Dog Show](. He’s a very good pup — but so are these three other breeds that[joined the show for the first time](. - As Twitter employees exit the company in droves, people are eulogizing [all that was good and bad]( about the platform before Elon Musk took over. --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! [They can sign up here.]( Looking for more great content? 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