Now this looks to be just a beta version, but Slate has come up with a lyrically beautiful way to follow the news while also helping us to understand how the f*ck all of these people, places and things are connected. It's called the News Dots Network, and it is a fantastic way to waste untold hours looking up all of the articles in major newsfeeds that mention both Obabma and, say, Congress.

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So instead of figuring out what to get your mother-in-law for Christmas, go spend some time learning about the relationships between Michaele Salahi and the Pentagon. It's so much more fun, and you'll have so much more to talk about at the next family event!