Planet Money Betty Boop, Excel Olympics, Penny-isms: Our 2026 Valentines
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Feb 13, 2026 A classic cartoon finally enters the public domain and sparks playful art and pun ideas. Competitive spreadsheeting gets sportslike coverage and curious behind-the-scenes details. A love letter to the penny explores its language and cultural life. Smart reporting tracks government use of powerful surveillance tech and how procurement records reveal who buys what.
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Public Domain Revival
- Jennifer Jenkins' Public Domain Day list tracks major works entering public domain each year.
- After a 20-year freeze, many 1923-era works began entering the public domain starting in 2019.
College Excel Championship Coverage
- Jess Jang praises Jesse Dougherty's Washington Post piece on the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Competition.
- The article treats Excel competitors with sports-level excitement and respect.
Excel's Broad Reach
- Excel is used across many industries and especially in manufacturing, not just finance.
- The program is accessible and powerful, making it a lingua franca for data work.
