Newsletter 419

[1]The Browser
    Links:
      1. http://thebrowser.com

[5]Nato Must Help Us!
    Links:
      5. http://b.rw/qkHFUP

Wolfgang Bauer | Zeit | 31 August 2011

Extraordinary report by German journalist of secret travels in Syria and
  meetings with protest leaders. Even hospitals aren't safe for dissidents:
  “You come in with a bullet in your leg. And you come out with a bullet in
  your head" [6]Comments
    Links:
      6. http://thebrowser.com/articles/nato-must-help-us

[7]The God Clause
    Links:
      7. http://b.rw/r9DHB5

Brendan Greeley | Businessweek | 1 September 2011

Detailed report on the reinsurance industry. Interesting throughout. Unlike
  politicians, think-tanks and activists, reinsurers "have no incentive to
  mislead. Their choices on risk are necessarily aligned with the pursuit of
  truth" [8]Comments
    Links:
      8. http://thebrowser.com/articles/god-clause

[9]A Radical New Deal For Britain And Europe
    Links:
      9. http://b.rw/rk2T3A

Charles Crawford | Commentator | 31 August 2011

Wonderful, imaginary version of the speech David Cameron would never give on
  Europe. "Europe used to export its wars. Now it exports its incompetence.
  The time has come to redefine the UK’s relationship with the European Union"
  [10]Comments
    Links:
      10. http://thebrowser.com/articles/radical-new-deal-britain-and-europe

[11]Why China Can’t Quit Smoking
    Links:
      11. http://b.rw/oZmAJ2

Mike Frick | Danwei | 30 August 2011

Notes from the tobacco harvest around Gejiu city in Yunnan province, where
  the lung cancer rate is the highest in China. Lively and informative
  throughout. Tobacco industry is strong and smart, farmers and regulation are
  weak [12]Comments
    Links:
      12. http://thebrowser.com/articles/why-china-can’t-quit-smoking

[13]How Football Helped Me To Live With Depression
    Links:
      13. http://b.rw/nWNXNw

John Crace | Guardian | 31 August 2011

It's a game of two halves, and so is this compelling piece. Half about the
  masochistic satisfaction of supporting a team where glory is glimpsed,
  rarely attained. And half about the author's experience of dealing with
  depression [14]Comments
    Links:
      14. http://thebrowser.com/articles/how-football-helped-me-live-depression

[15]What Is Time?
    Links:
      15. http://b.rw/mXQ06o

Marianne Freiberger | +Plus | 23 August 2011

Useful backgrounder for non-physicists. What it is, why it isn't the same
  for everyone, what can distort it, why it has a direction and how you can
  argue it doesn't exist at all. Featuring Newton, Einstein, quantum mechanics
  [16]Comments
    Links:
      16. http://thebrowser.com/articles/what-time

FiveBooks Interview

[17]Simon Pirani on Putin’s Russia
    Links:
      17. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/simon-pirani-on-putin’s-russia

Vladimir Putin has crafted a careful narrative about his rise to power and
  rescuing of Russia. The trouble, says author and academic Simon Pirani, is
  it isn’t true [18]Read on
    Links:
      18. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/simon-pirani-on-putin’s-russia

Featured Topic

[19]Steve Jobs's Legacy
    Links:
      19. http://thebrowser.com/topics/steve-jobss-legacy

The great man has retired. Here's what we should remember him for and what
  his departure means for Apple [20]Read on
    Links:
      20. http://thebrowser.com/topics/steve-jobss-legacy

Reader Recommendations

_@abe_kei_  RT  _@prospect_uk_: The difference between a Coke bottle and a
  Botticelli?  A  guide  to  _#icons_  by  Roger  Scruton [21]t.co/TMtK2R9
  _#longreads_ [22]#browsings [23]More like this
    Links:
      21. http://t.co/TMtK2R9
      22. https://twitter.com/search?q=#browsings
      23. http://thebrowser.com/browsings

Book of the Day

[24]Book of the Day
    Links:
      24. http://thebrowser.com/recommended/war-by-general-carl-von-clausewitz

[25]On War by General Carl von Clausewitz
    Links:
      25. http://thebrowser.com/recommended/war-by-general-carl-von-clausewitz

[26]Andrew Exum says: “If you’re trying to understand any conflict you have
  to start with the dead Prussian. There’s still no other book that’s as
  significant” [27]FiveBooks Archive
    Links:
      26. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/andrew-exum-on-understanding-war-afghanistan
      27. http://thebrowser.com/fivebooks/archive

Video of the Day

[28]Dan Ariely: Beware Conflicts Of Interest
    Links:
      28. http://thebrowser.com/videos/dan-ariely-beware-conflicts-interest

Particularly when it involves someone wanting to tattoo your face. Typically
  engaging, 5-1/2 minute talk
  [29]More videos
    Links:
      29. http://thebrowser.com/videos

Quote of the Day

[30]Robert Gates, on North Korea
    Links:
      30. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_us_north_korea;_ylt=AomqTT03DkTyOrBQ11LN53qs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNoazFsdTZmBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAxMTI0L3VzX3VzX25vcnRoX2tvcmVhBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMgRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDb2JhbWFwbGVkZ2Vz

I don't know the answer to any question about North Korea that begins with
    the word "why"

[31]More quotes
    Links:
      31. http://thebrowser.com/quotations