Giraffe
The Browser

Writing worth reading

Sign in Subscribe Gift subscriptions

Prince Of This World Thought Pick of the day

Patrick Blanchfield | Revealer | 25th July 2017
Screen shot 2017 07 26 at 17.50.49 97x100

Conversation with philosopher and theologian Adam Kotsko, tracing the genealogy of the Devil from the Hebrew Bible to modern times. “In the early centuries of Christianity, there was a durable minority position to the effect that the Devil would be saved. Ultimately that view was condemned as heretical. And the argument, such as it is, always boils down to the same thing: if the Devil can be saved, that misses the whole point of having the Devil in the first place” (5,020 words)

Transformers: Superheroes Of Electrical Inventions Tech

Vaclav Smil | IEEE Spectrum | 25th July 2017
Screen shot 2017 07 26 at 17.16.06 100x100

In praise of the humble transformer, unsung hero of power transmission, on which our grids and our gadgets depend. The Stanley transformer of 1876 remains the standard design. “It puts to shame all mechanical attempts at regulation, it handles with ease, certainty, and economy vast loads of energy that are instantly given to or taken from it. It is reliable, strong, and certain. In this mingled steel and copper, extraordinary forces are so nicely balanced as to be almost unsuspected” (700 words)

The Greatest Poker Player Of All Time People

Liel Leibovitz | Tablet | 26th July 2017
Screen shot 2017 07 26 at 16.31.38 100x100

Born 1953 with a photographic memory, died 1998 broke. “Over the course of his short and thunderous life, Stu Ungar, the greatest poker player in history and one of two people to win the World Series three times, made more than $30 million, and blew it on drugs, cars he rarely drove, and meals he consumed quickly and furiously. His personal hygiene was questionable. His understanding of monogamy even more so. Before too long, he was divorced, addicted, and strung up on blow” (1,060 words)

Video of the Day: Franco Pascali

Portrait of a young magician specialising in card tricks, full of astonishing moments (3’51”
more videos
“

Every decision is liberating, even if it leads to disaster

Elias Canetti
More quotes
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
Blurred rec Blurred rec Blurred rec Blurred rec
© 2017 · About/Contact · Twitter · Facebook · Popular last week