Larry Alexander (USD): Can Self-Defense Justify Punishment? From Technology Review, an interview with Fred Wilson on why the collapse of venture capital is good. Doctor Who? Terry Allen on the corporations behind WebMD’s friendly, free advice. Beyond a joke: Robert Provine on the truth about why we laugh. From gentrification to occupation: Martha Rosler on the artistic mode of revolution. Kim Atkins reviews The Virtues of Our Vices: A Modest Defense of Gossip, Rudeness, and Other Bad Habits by Emrys Westacott. A mathematical look at the Electoral College: John Allen Paulos on how one candidate could become president with only 11 votes. Former CIA Chief Michael Hayden says Obama’s War on Terror is the same as Bush’s, but with more killing. Getting it on: Hunter Oatman-Stanford on the covert history of the American condom. From Foreign Policy, Thomas Ricks on how Iraq is still more violent than Afghanistan and David Kenner on how Syria is more violent than Iraq at its worst. From PopMatters, Karen Zarker interviews Harry Shearer on his new book Can't Take a Hint. Gary Belsky on how gamification will soon rule the business world.
