Longread #104 -- Does All Wine Taste the Same? -- 6/29/12

Today's longread is controversial but for a slightly different reason than others this week. In this piece, Jonah Lehrer (who himself has been the subject of some controversy lately), argues that we are remarkably limited in our ability to taste differences in wines. Instead, our perception of a wine's taste is influenced by other factors such as its cost, lineage, or perceived social value.

I think this is an affront to a lot of the foodies or wine connoisseurs out there who see taste as a (largely) objective thing with clear winners and losers. What do you think? Can you taste the difference?

"Does All Wine Taste the Same?" by Jonah Lehrer
Published in the New Yorker, June 13, 2012
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/frontal-cortex/2012/06/wine-taste.html

Eric

Longread #103 -- America's Last POW -- 6/28/12

There are so many dimensions to this story that it is hard to know where to start discussing it. At its most basic level, it is a simple case of a POW being held hostage in Afghanista. But the backstory of how he wound up walking off the base in Afghanistan and the deliberations about getting him back bring up many larger issues of American military strategy, politics, and the War on Terrorism.

Thanks to Leanne for recommending this article!

"America's Last Prisoner of War" by Michael Hastings
Published in Rolling Stone, June 7, 2012
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/americas-last-prisoner-of-war-20120607

Eric

Longread #102 -- Liberals Are Ruining America -- 6/27/12

In American politics, perhaps the only thing that people can agree on is that political dialogue has become increasingly extreme and polarized. As a young, strongly-left-leaning person, I noticed that during the George W. Bush presidency, it became commonplace for people on the left to not just disagree with but openly mock conservative viewpoints. In most cases this seemed both funny and justified because the joke was on the extreme conservatives like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh who trumpet their views loudly.

Today's longread, though, calls this approach into question and argues that it is ultimately counterproductive toward actually changing society for the better. While I love the Daily Show and appreciate the wit of many liberal commentators, I tend to agree with the author. Jokes and derisive mocking certainly aren't improving political discourse, and they also don't seem to be doing anything to win over the hearts and minds of anyone not already aligned with the left. Let's stop giving the most radical conservatives the time of day and instead channel our creativity into more effective pursuits.

"Liberals Are Ruining America. I Know Because I Am One." by Steve Almond
Published in the New York Times, June 8, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/10/magazine/liberals-are-ruining-america-i-know-because-i-am-one.html?_r=2

Eric

Longread #101 -- Dirt Under the Rug -- 6/26/12

This longread comes from David Simon, the creator of HBO's The Wire. Simon looks at how the way that a particular statistic regarding homicide rates in Baltimore fundamentally changes how homicides are investigated, charged, and prosecuted, and he concludes that statistical manipulation on the part of powerful institutional figures dramatically reduces the well-being of the public. Simon's real point, though, is not about the statistic itself; instead, he argues that a well-paid and well-established news force (such as police beat writers) is essential to preventing this type of shenanigans by public institutions.

Some might argue that this article doesn't fit the blog's theme for the week because Simon's arguments aren't that controversial. I can understand where that thinking is coming from; however, I think this article retains controversy for a few reasons.

1. The tone that Simon takes is one that will undoubtedly ruffle feathers. It's Simon's style (as discussed in Longread #89) to be confrontational and not to pull punches, and this is apparent from the get-go. The criticism will be especially likely to stir disagreement from members of "new media" who don't see our society as reliant upon the type of press that Simon calls for.
2. While we might all nod our heads in agreement at Simon's conclusion that we need a strong, reliable media to serve as a "4th branch" of the government, how many people really commit to actions to help make that a reality. How many people are actually willing to buy a subscription to the local paper or to stop finding ways around the NY Times paywall? When the rubber hits the road, most people will opt for cheaper and more convenient news sources even if they sacrifice quality. The real controversy, then, is not Simon's argument itself, but rather why it so rarely influences people to change behavior.

"Dirt Under the Rug" by David Simon
Published at The Audacity of Despair, June 18, 2012
http://davidsimon.com/dirt-under-the-rug/

Longread #100 -- Raise the Crime Rate -- 6/25/12

Today marks Daily Longread #100! The blog has also surpassed 1000 pageviews! Neither of these are huge milestones, but hopefully the blog will keep growing and reaching new readers. Thanks to all the regular readers out there -- keep coming back!

I thought it would only be appropriate to pick something especially thought-provoking for the 100th longread, and in general this week I am going to post longreads that tend toward the controversial. I'm not sure I'll be able to top today's installment, which begins with a compelling indict of the American prison and criminal justice system. The author makes a number of bold statements and recommendations about how to confront this system. I'll post my thoughts in the comments later, but for now, I'll let you read for yourself and form your own opinions.

"Raise the Crime Rate" by Christopher Glazek
Published in n+1, January 26, 2012
http://nplusonemag.com/raise-the-crime-rate

Eric

Longread #99 -- Ready for the Fight -- 6/22/12

No matter how disillusioned that I get about U.S. politics, I almost always find Obama to be compelling as a speaker. I can fashion all sorts of criticism of his actions, but when I read interviews or watch him speak, it always brings me back to his good side. This interview with Rolling Stone is no exception. Not that there was any doubt about who I'd be voting for in November, but reading transcripts like this remind me about why I can be proud to vote for Obama and not just against Romney.

"Ready for the Fight: Rolling Stone Interview with Barack Obama" by Jann Wenner
Published in Rolling Stone, May 10, 2012
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/ready-for-the-fight-rolling-stone-interview-with-barack-obama-20120425?print=true

Eric

Longread #98 -- Obama's CEO -- 6/21/12

Today's longread looks at Jim Messina, the man heading up Obama's reelection campaign. Messina's philiosophy toward the campaign is to treat it like an emerging technology company that needs to harness emerging social trends to generate targeted and rapid growth. To achieve this, he toured the U.S. visiting with high-profile executives of major tech companies, including Google's Eric Schmidt. As opposed to in 2008, Obama is the underdog when it comes to fundraising, and as a result, an optimized campaign strategy may be the key to whether or not he achieves a second term.

"Obama's CEO: Jim Messina Has a President to Sell" by Joshua Green
Published in Business Week, June 14, 2012
http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-14/obamas-ceo-jim-messina-has-a-president-to-sell

Eric

Longread #97 -- What Would Obama Do With A Second Term -- 6/20

There are a lot of assumptions on both the left and the right about what a second term for Obama would look like. While we are still months away from what is likely to be a closely-fought election, this article draws on presidential history to understand what kinds of policy strategy that Obama might undertake if he is reelected.

"The Second Term" by Ryan Lizza
Published in the New Yorker, June 18, 2012
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/06/18/120618fa_fact_lizza?currentPage=all

Eric

Longread #96 -- Team of Mascots -- 6/19/12

It is often assumed that given the sheer scope of issues that the President has to manage that a Cabinet of well-chosen experts is integral to effective policymaking. As a result, presidential candidates often describe their philosophy for picking Cabinet members even if they are unwilling to mention specific names during the campaign. Obama stressed the importance of a "team of rivals" that would design optimal public policy through rational debate and deliberation. This article from Vanity Fair looks at Obama's Cabinet and argues that he failed to follow his stated philosophy of building a team of rivals. Nevertheless, the implications of this change in focus are limited as Cabinet members in modern politics play a role that is more symbolic than substantive. 

"Team of Mascots" by Todd Purdum

Published in Vanity Fair, July 2012

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2012/07/obama-cabinet-team-rivals-lincoln

Eric

Longread #95 -- A Young Obama in Love -- 6/18/12

I've read a handful of interesting articles about Obama recently, and so this week's longreads will focus on various aspects of Obama as a person and politician. This first installment tells the story of one of Obama's first serious relationships that began while he was in college. It includes notes from his and his girlfriend's letters and journals and paints an interesting picture of Obama as a young adult still struggling with his identity and ambitions.

"Becoming Obama" by David Maraniss

Published in Vanity Fair, June 2012

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2012/06/young-barack-obama-in-love-david-maraniss

Eric

Longread #94 -- The Neuroscience of Choking -- 6/15/12

The stakes weren't especially high, but when it came to getting a new post up on Friday, I choked. In my case, I put the blame on vacation, which occupied pretty much all of my time and focus for the day. In other cases, though, some of the most talented and well-trained experts choke when the stakes are highest. This article from Jonah Lehrer, who has recently joined the New Yorker as a staff writer, examines the neuroscience behind choking. It's not a Malcolm Gladwell piece itself, but this kind of research is very much in the field that Gladwell writes about in Blink, so I think it counts toward the Gladwell theme for the week.

"The New Neuroscience of Choking" by Jonah Lehrer

Published in the New Yorker, June 5, 2012

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/frontal-cortex/2012/06/the-new-neuroscience-of-choking.html

Longread #93 -- Troublemakers -- 6/14/12

Today's longread is another article from Malcolm Gladwell. In this piece, Gladwell starts to tackle the issue of how generalizations and stereotypes guide public policy, and he does so largely by juxtaposing bans on pitbulls with profiling of potential terrorists. Unfortunately, as with many social issues, when it comes to generalization, it is easier to identify problems than solutions. It seems to me that mindful cost-benefit analysis is vital when examining how generalizations affect public policy. Key questions include

• How accurate are our generalizations?
• At that level of accuracy, can they positively influence policy to improve the public good? If so, by how much?
• What are the risks of using the generalizations?
• Related to the risks -- is the generalization applied in such a way that it violates the rights or liberties of individuals?

In the case of pitbulls, generalizations may not be fully accurate, and people who want aggressive dogs could just switch to another breed. But is there really much harm in banning pitbull ownership (and possibly ownership of other dogs that are often aggressive)? To me, the risks are acceptable for the potential benefit to society. 

In the case of profiling, however, the risks involved do violate the rights of individuals and also provide support to what I consider to be racist categorizations of certain groups of people. As such, even if profiling could improve the public good in the aggregate, I think it would be ethically unacceptable as public policy. 

Nevertheless, it strikes me that part of Gladwell's point is that it is difficult to achieve the type of nuanced discussion of generalizations required to effectively analyze these costs and benefits. Sadly, I'm not sure that Gladwell offers any way out of this conundrum, perhaps because in his eyes there isn't one.

"Troublemakers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Published in the New Yorker, February 6, 2006

http://www.gladwell.com/2006/2006_02_06_a_pitbull.html

Eric

Longread #92 -- Is the Tipping Point Toast? -- 6/13/12

Malcolm Gladwell's bestseller "The Tipping Point" argued that a select group of people in society were able to turn small-scale trends into cascades of popularity. Citing numerous examples largely from the field of product marketing, Gladwell made a compelling point that has been widely accepted by marketing executives in fields of all kinds. This longread examines the counterpoint that there are no singularly important Influencers who can drive social trends. The implications of this debate about how to cause something to "go viral" has become critical for all sorts of organizations (including corporations but also nonprofits) trying to reach as many people as efficiently as possible.

"Is the Tipping Point Toast? by Clive Thompson
Published in Fast Company, January 28, 2008
http://www.fastcompany.com/node/641124/print

Eric

Longread #91 -- Drinking Games -- 6/12/12

After yesterday's post, I thought I'd post more interesting writing from Malcolm Gladwell. Today's longread is about how cultural norms around drinking influence the way that the effects of alcohol are understood in society. Gladwell discusses some of the traditional theories about how people are affected by alcohol and then analyzes how case studies of alcohol in different societies and cultures have influenced those theories.

"Drinking Games" by Malcolm Gladwell
Published in the New Yorker, February 15, 2010
http://www.gladwell.com/2010/2010_02_15_a_drinking.html

Eric

Longread #90 -- Gladwell vs. Simmons -- 6/11/12

When I first read this article, it didn't really stand out to me. I think three things caused me to initially underrate this piece. First, the style is strikingly different from most longreads and has a much less academic tone (although this isn't uncommon with Simmons or Grantland pieces). Second, a lot of the topics are ones that already resonate a lot with me, such as the criticism of the ridiculous nature of 24/7 sports coverage. Third, the article flows so smoothly that by the end, I was almost surprised that I had already finished reading.

Initially, I didn't think this was worthy of inclusion on the blog. But I do think that even though the subject matter isn't necessarily groundbreaking, they do approach it from new and interesting ways. An example is their discussion about Michael Jordan and how his career arc might have been different in today's sports environment. Through the course of the casual back-and-forth between Simmons and Gladwell, there is a lot of intriguing analysis about the intersections of sports and society.

Thanks to my friend and regular blog reader and commentator Mark Chaikin for forwarding this article to me. Suggestions for good reads are always welcome!

"The Exchange: Gladwell vs. Simmons IV" by Malcolm Gladwell and Bill Simmons
Published in Grantland, June 6, 2012
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8016432/view/full/watching-world-turn-upside-era-constant-information

Eric

Longread #89 -- The Angriest Man in Television -- 6/8/12

HBO's The Wire has been getting a lot of love this week as this month marks the show's 10-Year Anniversary, and a hilarious mock-musical version of The Wire video was posted online. This longread, published between the show's fourth and fifth seasons, profiles the show's creator, David Simon. There are a lot of great profile-style longreads out there, and what sets the best ones apart is an ability to use the profile to analyze something in a new way or to make a broader point. 

In this case, I think the author makes a number of interesting arguments about the contrasts between journalism and the "reality-driven" drama of a show like The Wire. Many people, including the author, have praised the show for its commitment to trying to faithfully represent Baltimore and cast a light on the range of social, economic, racial, and other challenges there. However, it does seem that people can get carried away with the belief in the show's authenticity and let the lines of fiction and reality blur. This contrast of journalism and drama is especially intriguing given Simon's background at The Baltimore Sun. I've always thought that The Wire had a weak final season, which, is much less surprising to me given the personal context for Simon explained in this profile. 

Simon clearly has remarkable talent, and this profile provides valuable context to understand and interpret his most well-known and celebrated work.

"The Angriest Man in Television" by Mark Bowden

Published in the Atlantic, January/February 2008

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/print/2008/01/the-angriest-man-in-television/6581/

Eric

Longread #88 -- TV in China -- 6/7/12

As an American TV viewer, I rarely think about what TV is like in other countries. While the nature of the industry here is remarkably dynamic (as documented by this week's earlier longreads), today's longread casts a light on TV in China, which is also going through growing pains. Rapid economic growth has brought significant changes to Chinese society and culture, and since television can both reflect and shape popular culture, it is becoming an increasingly important medium both culturally and economically. This article provides background about this evolving role for TV in China and how the Chinese government is attempting to manage it.

"China TV Grows Racy, and Gets a Chaperon" by Edward Wong

Published in the New York Times, December 31, 2011

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/world/asia/censors-pull-reins-as-china-tv-chasing-profit-gets-racy.html?_r=4&seid=auto&smid=tw-nytimes&pagewanted=all

Eric

Longread #88 -- The Gamble to Save Netflix -- 6/6/12

Like YouTube, Netflix is taking on an ambitious project to add value to its business through original content. After a handful of high-profile failed attempts to change the company's business model, Netflix has bet big on its ability to create high-quality programming that will be available exclusively through its subscriptions. Today's longread profiles Ted Sarandos, the executive responsible for orchestrating this initiative that many believe will make or break the company.

"Ted Sarandos’ High-Stakes Gamble to Save Netflix" by Nick Summers

Published in Newsweek (and the Daily Beast), May 14, 2012

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/05/13/ted-sarandos-high-stakes-gamble-to-save-netflix.html

Eric

Longread #87 -- Streaming Dreams -- 6/5/12

As yesterday's longread mentioned, this is a dynamic time for the television industry. Innovative entertainment video content is driven by advertising dollars, but the traditional model of building programs with huge popular appeal as a vehicle for mass ad buys is undergoing a sea change. YouTube and online streaming is one of the key catalysts of this change. This longread provides an insightful look into YouTube's creation as well as its attempt to evolve into something more than a clearinghouse of mostly unsophisticated user uploads. For anyone interested in how the landscape of online video may change over the coming months and years, this is definitely an interesting read.

"Streaming Dreams" by John Seabrook
Published in the New Yorker, January 16, 2012
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/01/16/120116fa_fact_seabrook?currentPage=all

Eric

Longread #86 -- The Changing World of TV -- 6/4/12

As a columnist for the NYT's Media Desk, which was initially formed largely to cover the newspaper industry, David Carr has dedicated boatloads of column inches to the way that major media industries are changing. The TV industry has always been based on building shows with huge ratings that can deliver advertising to the largest possible audiences. That foundation is shifting, though, as viewers have more and more control over how they take in programming, often allowing them to avoid ads altogether by using DVR or by streaming video online. With viewers turning away from  live TV watching, Carr argues that it is inevitable that advertising dollars will fall and fundamentally change the industry.

Stay tuned as I'll be posting TV-themed longreads each day this week...television rules the nation!

"A TV Schedule in the Hands of Whoever Holds the Remote" by David Carr
Published in the New York Times, May 13, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/business/media/audiences-now-rarely-drawn-to-live-television.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

Eric

Longread #85 -- Scamworld -- 6/1/12

This longread offers an in-depth look into the greasy sales practices that make up the world of "Internet Marketing." This cottage industry of snake-oil salespeople preys on people who are susceptible to "get rich quick" scams. It's fair to argue that people should see through this kind of swindling, but as the article indicates, they often focus on people who are likely to have their defenses lowered for one reason or another. As someone who used to be very fond of late-night infomercials, I can understand how someone gets sucked into this kind of bogus operation only to find enormous credit card charges.

"Scamworld" by Joseph L. Flatley
Published in the Verge, May 10, 2012
http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/10/2984893/scamworld-get-rich-quick-schemes-mutate-into-an-online-monster

Eric