Our Week In The Web: Feb. 21, 2014

With Olympic spoilers (Canada: we're watching you) and Ukrainian medics occupying our Twitter feeds this week, it's hard to know just what to highlight. Fortunately for us, we've covered a lot of ground online since last we typed, making this roundup far easier than our week in the news conversation on-air today.

A few notes worth pointing out this week from some interactions on Facebook, Twitter and in our comment sections. First, we're as sad as you are that Elaine Stritch wasn't able to join us for our Thursday broadcast. We were eager to have the comic Broadway legend for a freewheeling conversation on her life in the spotlight, but a last-minute personal issue forced Ms. Stritch to pull out. With a firm, live broadcast time of 10 am EST every weekday, sometimes we can't afford to wait.

Another thing we thought worth pulling out this week — our editorial choice to split the second hour of Tuesday's broadcast between an interview  with New Yorker staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert and a brief discussion of the death of Kentucky-based preacher Jamie Coots had everything to do with the immediacy of Mr. Coots' death and nothing to do with an editorial decision on Ms. Kolbert's very excellent book, "The Sixth Extinction." After the broadcast went off air, our production staff all voiced a strong desire to give each subject a full hour's worth of discussion — both Ms. Kolbert and religious expert W. Paul Williamson were fantastic guests who covered their respective topic areas with insight and grace. Some commenters complained about the truncated interview and "lack of purpose" in the split, but we think some of our engaged callers might disagree with that point. The nature of breaking news means we don't always get to pick the pairings when we have to split up broadcasts, and we're grateful to Ms. Kolbert for sharing her fantastic and important book with our staff and our audience.

1. Ross Douthat’s Conservative Vision (Feb. 18, 2014)

2. Recognizing And Dealing With A Parent’s Dementia (Feb. 19, 2014)

3. Making 'Big Food' Pay For Obesity (Feb. 17, 2014)

4. Big Solar And Renewable Energy In The Age Of Fracking (Feb. 19, 2014)

5. Stress And Consequences For American Teens (Feb. 13, 2014)

"No fair-minded or informed consumer would believe that the food industry doesn't bear some responsibility for obesity." Kelly Brownell

"My wife is no longer my wife. I began to let go." -- Gurney Williams

"We've already eliminated most competition. How is the solution to that to make even less?" — Aaron Craig

"The White House has to keep up this stiff line, but I'm not even sure they believe it." — Ben White

"I'm 21, and it's so weird to hear my mom say, 'Did you see Jimmy Fallon last night? He's so great'." — Caller Cole from Rock Hill, S.C.

"There are birds that perceive this field of mirrors as a lake...that's a fatal error." — Julie Cart

"My experiences with both providers have left me with a sort of rage I normally reserve for the DMV, I fear no good can come from this unholy merger." (Patrick Crooks)

"Do we need a 'boom'? I'd settle for modest and reliable. Surplus energy brings all kind of bad things - exponential population growth, sprawling suburbs, destroyed ecosystems, and delusions of grandeur." (Liz Smith)

"I make it a point to watch Jimmy Fallon. He reminds me that there are still wonderful people out there." (Jan Wopperer)

"My father loved Reece Cups and used to call them "cookies". He would ask me, "Any more cookies?" I still chuckle to think of it." (Charles Bowsher)

The 24-hour music video for Pharrell Williams' "Happy." (Iconoclast Interactive)