Commonplace Reading - Issue #9
And here we are again, at the weekend, with another selection of fine reads.
What's that you say?
What happened to last week?
Ah, well, that.
I was in a field. Camping. With many 3 and 4 year olds. YOU try putting together a newsletter in those circumstances…
Unintended Consequences
Internet mapping turned a remote farm into a digital hell
A small problem for a tech business, solved with a hand-waving decision, has MASSIVE real world consequences.
The truth about Dan Bilzerian
A compelling (if repugnant) tale of a man who has carved out his own mythology on social media, from a small talent for poker. Not quite the "radical transparency" we once envisioned.
The Future of Design is Emotional
Interesting essay on the role of emotion in design, beyond the normal form/function axis.
When tech meets society
Intelligent machines might want to become biological again
Is machine intelligence our future - or our past…?
Those Entry-Level Startup Jobs? They’re Now Mostly Dead Ends in the Boondocks
Meet the new, digital economy. Looks a lot like the old, analogue one if you're not one of the coding elite…
Can a video game company tame toxic behaviour?
Fascinating look at the research the company behind League of Legends are doing into the anti-social behaviour of many of its players.
Food and sex and other pleasures
What it’s like to play Tinder in rural America
Rural Tindering isn't quite the same as in the city…
The sugar conspiracy
This is an absolutely riveting piece of long-form journalism on the long-term failures of the nutrition industry to keep up with scientific research. Read it.
The Voyeur’s Motel
A compelling and creepy piece of journalism, lifting the lid on a motel proprietor who designed his rooms so he could watch the occupants at "play"…
Real Purty, hur hur
Alternative office furniture by Rolf Hay and Lund University students
If I ever take a "proper" job again - this sort of furniture is non-negotiable.
16 Most Beautiful Trees in the World
Tree pr0n. Yummy.
And… watch.
Alone in Paris
Being alone in a big city is something rare, but what would happen if you could visit a totally empty version of Paris ? An eerie vision of the French capital, created not be shooting in the early hours, but by erasing everyone else…
Until next weekend - have a productive and thoughtful week.
