archive

In theory, a great idea

A new issue of Postcolonial Text is out. Taiki Takahashi (Hokkaido): Neuroeconomics of Suicide. From Wired, Benjamin Wallace on the rise and fall of Bitcoin. The notion that we can constantly make ourselves better is, in theory, a great idea — but when does it become too much? From Forbes, Steve Denning on the dumbest idea in the world: Maximizing shareholder value. From TED, Kevin Slavin on how algorithms shape our world. During economic hardship, we need to save less and spend more — and rethink our relationship to consumer culture: An excerpt from Against Thrift: Why Consumer Culture Is Good for the Economy, the Environment, and Your Soul by James Livington. A review of I'll Have What She's Having: Mapping Social Behavior by Alex Bentley, Mark Earls and Michael J. O'Brien. From Cato Unbound, Morgan Fox on public opinion, political disconnect, and the marijuana market. From The Village Voice, Jen Doll on How to Be a New Yorker. His Own Private Idaho: Last February, while buying hay, he was cornered by federal agents and arrested for violent crimes tied to the Boston Mob, and the town wondered — who the hell is Jay Shaw? From Fast Company, Neal Ungerleider on Google Earth, foreign wars, and the future of satellite imagery. Threesomes, fishnets, dirty talk, those are the vanilla sorts of fantasies we admit to — then there's the truly filthy porn we actually watch when we're alone. Advertising is a poison that demeans even love — and we're hooked on it. Think of me as evil: Guy Shrubsole on advertisers, ethics, and social engineering. New research confirms that social complexity enriches cognitive growth — could having more Facebook friends actually make you smarter? The 9/11 Truth Movement: Dave Thomas on the the top conspiracy theory, a decade later.