Newsletter 309
[1]We Are Inattentive Superheroes
Links:
1. http://b.rw/iyBM3Y
Bradley Voytek | Oscillatory Thoughts | 9 May 2011
A young, healthy person can see a candle flame from 30 miles. The human ear
can hear down to the threshold of Brownian motion, which is atoms moving.
Our senses would amaze us, if only we gave them our full attention, as
animals do [2]Comments
Links:
2. http://thebrowser.com/articles/we-are-inattentive-superheroes
[3]The Tragedy Of Sarah Palin
Links:
3. http://b.rw/lqjjLx
Joshua Green | Atlantic | 10 May 2011
The tragedy being, on this counter-intuitive reading, that she could
actually have been a pretty good national leader, based on her record in
Alaska, where she co-operated with Democrats to reform state finances. What
changed her? [4]Comments
Links:
4. http://thebrowser.com/articles/tragedy-sarah-palin
[5]Why Skype? Microsoft Confirms $8.5bn Purchase, Clarifies Nothing
Links:
5. http://b.rw/kApKFI
Peter Bright | Ars Technica | 10 May 2011
Skype will integrate with Kinect, Xbox and Windows Mobile, says Ballmer. But
Windows Live Messenger is already twice the size of Skype and basically does
the same thing. So why pay billions? Smart analysis raises a lot of
questions [6]Comments
Links:
6. http://thebrowser.com/articles/why-skype-microsoft-confirms-85-billion-purchase-clarifies-nothing
[7]NATO And Libya
Links:
7. http://b.rw/lr5jJA
Stephen Saideman | Current Intelligence | 9 May 2011
On intervention. "If you make extreme demands, such as surrendering
territory or political office, the other side is not going to give up
easily. This is especially true when the threats are made by a coalition of
the ambivalent" [8]Comments
Links:
8. http://thebrowser.com/articles/nato-and-libya
[9]Four Thousand Words, Ten Years of Waiting
Links:
9. http://b.rw/kJQGWt
Lauren Kirchner | CJR | 5 May 2011
Short history of the NYT obituary of Osama bin Laden. Written in November
2001, when it seemed likely he might be captured or killed within days. Kept
warm for 10 years. And, actually, not updated all that much in the meantime
[10]Comments
Links:
10. http://thebrowser.com/articles/four-thousand-words-ten-years-waiting
[11]Home In Capital Letters
Links:
11. http://b.rw/kTLmy6
Joe Posnanski | Joe Blogs | 10 May 2011
Glorious piece, laugh out loud in parts, in which sportswriter reflects on
meaning of home. And prepares to leave Kansas City, the place that has come
to mean so much to him. Despite its misfiring golf tournaments and sports
teams [12]Comments
Links:
12. http://thebrowser.com/articles/home-capital-letters
FiveBooks Interview
[13]Danny Dorling on Modern Britain
Links:
13. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/danny-dorling-on-modern-britain
From the North-South divide to middle-class insecurity and the correlation
of petrol use and obesity, five books on what makes Britain British
Featured Topic
[14]Moral Philosophy
Links:
14. http://thebrowser.com/topics/moral-philosophy
Do babies have morals? Does surveillance make us better? Is free will an
illusion or not? Is there such a thing as evil? Get to grips with the big
questions of right and wrong
Reader Recommendations
_@[15]polit2k_ The Full Brady by Barry Eichengreen - Project Syndicate
- [16]goo.gl/P45B5 #browsings
Links:
15. http://twitter.com/polit2k
16. http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/eichengreen30/English
Book of the Day
[17]The Sparrow by Maria Doria Russell
Links:
17. http://thebrowser.com/recommended/sparrow-by-maria-doria-russell
_[18]Ellah Allfrey says:_ "A Jesuit in space. It's a science-fiction
retelling of a misunderstanding of cultures and the tragic consequences."
Links:
18. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/ellah-allfrey-on-diaspora
Video of the Day
[19]Land Rover: Pathological Liar
Links:
19. http://thebrowser.com/videos/land-rover-pathological-liar
So here's the pitch. Whatever you are doing—and that includes betraying a
lover—you will feel safer in a Land Rover
Quote of the Day
[20]Danny Dorling, on obesity
Links:
20. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/danny-dorling-on-modern-britain
"Obesity within Mexico increases the nearer you get to the border with the
US"