online archive
5:00PM
JUN 25 2008
Pressure brings the best results
From Scientific American, an article on the neuroscience of illusion: How tricking the eye reveals the inner workings of the brain. More and more on Kluge: The Haphazard Construction of the Human Mind by Gary Marcus. A review of American Nerd: The Story of My People by Benjamin Nugent (and more and more and more and more). Pimp Daddies: Radar salutes Hollywood's creepiest father figures. Guatemala's Francisco Marroquin University is a bastion of libertarianism, drawing potshots from both sides of the political spectrum. An interview with David Sedaris, an iconoclast with a sense of humor. Chris Hedges on what it means when the US goes to war. Perceived wisdom may tell us to slow down our lives but maybe pressure brings the best results. Ross Benjamin reviews How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone by Sasa Stanisic. A review of Music, Philosophy, and Modernity by Andrew Bowie. Why care about Tibet? The absolutism of China's stance has stifled debate; but Tibetan culture produces its own leadership. A review of I Have Fun Everywhere I Go: Savage Tales of Pot, Porn, Punk Rock, Pro Wrestling, Talking Apes, Evil Bosses, Dirty Blues, American Heroes, and the Most Notorious Magazines in the World by Mike Edison. A review of Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It by Elizabeth Royte.
1:00PM
JUN 25 2008
In defense of insiders
From The Moscow Times, a review of Cars for Comrades: The Life of the Soviet Automobile by Lewis H. Siegelbaum. The Man for a New Sudan: Roger Winter has spent two decades fighting for peace in one of the world’s most war-torn places — what there is, and isn’t, to show for it. In defense of insiders: A knowledge of how Washington works can be helpful if you work in Washington. A review of Habits of Empire: A History of American Expansion by Walter Nugent. An article on how the old-school yearbook struggles to stay relevant in mySpace age. Open borders, global future: The worldwide movement of people across borders demands imaginative and radical new thinking on migration. A review of Republicanism and Political Theory. What does it mean to be “civilized”? Tzvetan Todorov investigates. Stefanie Sobelle reviews A Chronicle of the Madness of Small Worlds by Mac Wellman. Reflections on 180 commencements: Milton Greenberg offers some thoughts on speakers, honorary degrees, protests and the joy of the day. A review of Badiou, Balibar, Ranciere: Rethinking Emancipation by Nick Hewlett. A review of The Philosophy of Philosophy by Timothy Williamson. Making no waves: A new swimsuit is shattering records—and unleashing debate. A review of The Art of Theater by James Hamilton. From TED, Julie Taymor on theater and the imagination.
9:00AM
JUN 25 2008
The shared point of view
Christopher Hitchens reviews Salman Rushdie's The Enchantress of Florence (and more and more). Religious leaders, scholars and business people are meeting all over the world to argue about free speech and Islamic sensibilities — how much does this achieve? The Novelist and the Murderers: Francisco Goldman's The Art of Political Murder sparks calls for accountability in Central America's "kingdom of impunity". An article on convention cash as the biggest loophole in American politics. Sleeping around Craigslist: Two middle-aged women discover that casual sex is anything but casual. Bills, catalogs, invitations and the occasional love note lie in stacks across cities; why can’t people deal with their mail? Ian Buruma on the empire of human rights: Are Europeans and Americans simply more compassionate than Asians? A review of The Philosophy of Sociality: The Shared Point of View by Raimo Tuomela. A review of Making the Cut: How Cosmetic Surgery Is Transforming Our Lives by Anthony Elliot. From The Root, after threats of a "girlcott," race and gender still battle for the title of king. A review of How to Do Biography: A Primer by Nigel Hamilton. An interview with Mark Changizi, author of The Vision R(evolution): How the Latest Research Overturns Everything We Thought We Knew About Human Vision.
