Newsletter 890

31 Dec 2012 • 2 min read

Best of the Moment

A Pickpocket's Tale

Adam Green | New Yorker | 31 December 2012

Apollo Robbins is a pickpocket of almost supernatural ability, except that he entertains crowds rather than steals for real. "When Apollo walks onstage, he takes a low crime and turns it into an art form." Here's how he does it Comments (http://thebrowser.com/articles/pickpockets-tale-0)

Let's Call It Failure

John Lanchester | London Review Of Books | 21 December 2012

"Saying ‘I told you so’ is supposed to be near unbeatable fun, so it’s disappointing to report that, in the case of the government’s handling of the British economy, speaking for myself, no fun is being had" Comments (http://thebrowser.com/articles/lets-call-it-failure)

British Institutions: Livery Companies

Matthew Engel | FT | 21 December 2012

Engel peers into a world of quasi-masonic fellowship, entrenched wealth and good works. "They are the kind of clubs where an application to join would render you immediately unsuitable: the process is more subtle, more British" Comments (http://thebrowser.com/articles/british-institutions-livery-companies)

Embodied Cognition

Benjamin Bergen | Scientific American | 28 December 2012

Scientists pitch into age-old philosophical debate about language, meaning and thought: "Maybe we understand language by simulating in our minds what it would be like to experience the things that the language describes" Comments (http://thebrowser.com/articles/embodied-cognition)

Turn Right At Machu Picchu

Mark Adams | Global Mail | 26 December 2012

Have you ever seen Mr Travel Guy? He’s the fellow who strides through international airports dressed in drip-dry clothes with more pockets than anyone needs. That was Adams, though he didn't know about the two pairs of socks rule Comments (http://thebrowser.com/articles/turn-right-machu-picchu)

Will A Robot Take Your Job?

Gary Marcus | New Yorker | 29 December 2012

The time between the invention of a job and its automated replacement is getting shorter. One projection says 70% of today's occupations will be replaced by automation by the end of the century. Should we be worried? Comments (http://thebrowser.com/articles/will-robot-take-your-job)
(http://www.amazon.com/Best-of-FiveBooks-2011-ebook/dp/B007GAM6RC?tag=thebro-21)

FiveBooks Interview

(http://thebrowser.com/interviews/giles-coren-on-food-writing)

Giles Coren on Food Writing

The London Times award-winning food columnist takes an irreverent look at the world of food writing, from restaurant critics to celebrity chefs
Read on (http://thebrowser.com/interviews/giles-coren-on-food-writing)

Featured Special Report

(http://thebrowser.com/reports/syria-revolts)

Conflict in Syria

The Syrian conflict is causing terrible destruction and loss of life. This report charts how protests against the Assad regime descended into a bitter war Read on (http://thebrowser.com/reports/syria-revolts)

Reader Recommendations

@henrylf (http://twitter.com/henrylf) Factory Of Life: Synthetic biology. The next tech frontier, and the new Silicon Valley #browsings (https://twitter.com/search?q=#browsings) (http://thebrowser.com/browsings) t.co/TuWMcutQMore like this

Book of the Day

Book of the Day (http://thebrowser.com/recommended/river-cottage-meat-book-by-hugh-fearnley-whittingstall-0)

The River Cottage Meat Book by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall

Giles Coren says (http://thebrowser.com/interviews/giles-coren-on-food-writing) : “This book is crucial because it ties together the ethics of food production with what you put in your mouth” FiveBooks Archive (http://thebrowser.com/fivebooks/archive)