Longread #246 -- Look Out -- He's Got a Phone! -- 1/31/13

Technology is undoubtedly making our lives easier in many ways, but unfortunately, it also makes us more vulnerable. As phones become more and more powerful and as other devices become reliant on wireless networks, a slew of new security challenges are arising. This longread looks into what those changes might mean and the potential pitfalls of ubiquitous wireless technology.

"Look Out—He’s Got a Phone!" by Charles Mann
Published in Vanity Fair, December 19, 2012
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/12/microcomputers-weapons-smartphone?src=longreads

Eric

Longread #245 -- America's Real Criminal Element -- 1/30/13

This is a fascinating article that looks at the evidence that lead exposure is the key driver of violent crime in America. While it is clear that many factors affect crime rates, this article draws on compelling research to show that our current understanding of how to reduce crime may be completely off-the-mark.

"America's Real Criminal Element: Lead" by Kevin Drum
Published in Mother Jones, January/February 2013
http://www.motherjones.com/print/208586

Eric

Longread #244 -- Suds for Drugs -- 1/29/13

Remarkable things from this article:

1. The strength of the Tide brand
2. The resourcefulness of drug addicts
3. The complicity of people facilitate this type of black market by not asking questions

"Suds for Drugs" by Ben Paynter
Published in New York Magazine, January 6, 2013
http://nymag.com/news/features/tide-detergent-drugs-2013-1/?src=longreads#print

Eric

Longread #243 -- Public Influence -- 1/28/13

Today's longread is a troubling story of how a crowd mentality affected the way that a man's suicide unfolded in San Francisco. It's a tragic story and a reminder that sometimes bad situations can bring out the  the worst in people. It also raises difficult questions about issues like what it means to be a part of a community when so much of our social interaction is mediated through networks like Facebook or Twitter.

"Public Influence: The Immortalization of an Anonymous Death" by Albert Samaha
Published in SF Weekly, January 2, 2013
http://www.sfweekly.com/content/printVersion/3337625/

Eric

Longread #242 -- The Dawn of Bodybuilding -- 1/25/13

This article looks at how the sport of bodybuilding exploded from Venice Beach, California and also led to the creation of the Gold's Gym franchise. While only a few people go to the lengths that these bodybuilders did (and still do), it's interesting to me the way that this story influenced the way that people think about exercise and going to the gym. It's also crazy to me that Arnold ended up being the Governor of California, but that's another story altogether.

"The Dawn of Bodybuilding" by Paul Solotaroff
Published in Men's Journal, Feb 2012
http://www.mensjournal.com/magazine/print-view/the-dawn-of-bodybuilding-20121118

Eric

Longread #241 -- Are Babies Born Good? -- 1/24/13

There are few debates that have received as much ink as "nature vs. nurture," and it seems to me that over time most people have found that both play a critical role in shaping how people develop. A new wrinkle in this research, though, is looking at infants and their predispositions toward certain behaviors. As the article demonstrates, this can be an extremely tough group to study, but this young science has nevertheless raised some intriguing questions about "innate" human characteristics.

"Are Babies Born Good?" by Abigail Tucker
Published in Smithsonian Magazine, January 2013
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Are-Babies-Born-Good-183837741.html?c=y&story=fullstory&src=longreads&buffer_share=38bb4

Eric

Longread #240 -- Forgiveness and Criminal Justice -- 1/23/13

In Longread #222, we saw how powerful forgiveness could be for the people affected by violent crime. In that case, forgiveness was a means of coping with tragedy and channeling the emotional power of loss into efforst to prevent future violence. This article also looks at the role of forgiveness, but in this case, reconciliation became part of the criminal justice process. While I would never expect for this approach to become the norm (for many reasons, including some outlined in the article), I think it nevertheless shows that the criminal justice system can be more flexible, creative, and compassionate even in the case of murder.

"Can Forgiveness Play a Role in Criminal Justice?" by Paul Tullis

Published in the New York Times, January 4, 2013

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/06/magazine/can-forgiveness-play-a-role-in-criminal-justice.html?smid=fb-share&_r=1&pagewanted=all&

Eric

Longread #239 -- Killin' Zombies -- 1/22/13

At first blush, this article seems like a mostly-comedic profile of a man who has invented a special tool for killing zombies. In reality, though, it simply uses this man's story and his product to analyze the broader phenomenon of doomsday preppers. Perhaps the most important lesson? Even if the customers in your market are bizarre, it's still a market, and you can still make money by creating tools that fit their needs. The free market works, after all...

"The Man Who Sold the End of the World" by Chadwick Matlin
Published by BuzzFeed, December 2012
http://www.buzzfeed.com/chadwickmatlin/meet-the-entrepreneur-behind-the-apocalypses-must

Eric

Longread #238 -- Letter from Birmingham Jail -- 1/21/13

Though it's a holiday and technically not a work day, I want to post this longread in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It's been on my list of articles to post on the blog for a long time, and obviously today is an appropriate day (although, any day would be).

"Letter from a Birmingham Jail" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Accessed via the University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center, originally published April 16, 1963
http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

Eric

Longread #237 -- The Longest Hunger Strike -- 1/18/13

This is a fascinating story about the ethics of force-feeding prisoners who are on a hunger strike. The author provides a valuable insight into a topic that is complicated by the many competing imperatives of the state, individual freedom, religion, and the institution of medical practice. It's also a story that I find tremendously troublesome not only because of what happens to prisoners like the one in the story but also because this is an issue that I have virtually never heard raised before.

"The Longest Hunger Strike" by Ann Neumann
Published in Guernica Magazine, January 15, 2013
http://www.guernicamag.com/features/the-longest-hunger-strike/?src=longreads

Eric

Longread #236 -- Tupac Lane Welcomes You -- 1/17/13

This article documents a situation -- the assortment of riduclous Las Vegas street names -- that is simultaneously funny and depressing. Because of the free-for-all nature of the Las Vegas housing boom, developers often grasped at anything to formulate street names. While their decisions are comical, they ultimately reflect the broader nature of shoot-from-the-hip development that created so many problems for Las Vegas and the U.S. as a whole.

"Tupac Lane Welcomes You: The Street Names of Las Vegas" by Willy Staley
Published in the Awl, January 16, 2013
http://www.theawl.com/2013/01/the-street-names-of-las-vegas?src=longreads

Eric

Longread #235 -- Basketball Diaries -- 1/16/13

I've been thinking about sports a lot recently (in large part as a result of Longread #221), and as a result, I enjoyed reading this article about basketball in Afghanistan. I thought it used the first-person effectively and offered an important perspective on the way that sports gain meaning in different cultural contexts.

"Basketball Diaries, Afghanistan" by Peretz Partensky
Published in n+1, December 5, 2012
http://nplusonemag.com/basketball-diaries-afghanistan

Eric

Longread #234 -- Friday Night Tykes -- 1/15/13

In honor of playoff football, I'm posting this longread about youth football in Texas. The commitment of time, emotion, money, and infrastructure to football in Allen, Texas is truly astounding. I want to believe that it is all justified by the lessons of teamwork, discipline, and healthy competition that kids can learn playing this game, but the cynic in me recoils when hearing how football-crazed this town is.

"Friday Night Tykes" by Bryan Curtis
Published in Texas Monthly, January 2013
http://www.texasmonthly.com/cms/printthis.php?file=feature3.php&issue=2013-01-01%3Fsrc%3Dlongreads

Eric

Longread #233 -- Disaster Movie -- 1/14/13

Most people have probably heard of "The Innocence of Muslims," the inflammatory film that sparked protests from many Muslims in 2012. While the majority of coverage has focused on the impact of the reaction to the film, this article investigates the actors who were involved in the film's production. It is a story that is telling -- in a sad way -- about the state of the film industry for broke actors who are low on the totem pole.

"Disaster Movie" by Michael Joseph Gross
Published in Vanity Fair, December 27, 2012
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/12/making-of-innocence-of-muslims.print

Eric

Longread #232 -- Walmart in Mexico -- 1/11/13

This is one of a two-part story about corrupt business practices by Walmart in Mexico. It's unnerving not only because of the corruption itself but also because of the way that it has been handled internally by Walmart. Even though the company had promoted more robust ethical standards, key company leadership nevertheless failed to follow these standards when push came to shove.

I definitely recommend the companion piece to this article that goes into more detail about how Walmart peddled influence in Mexico.

"Vast Mexico Bribery Case Hushed Up by Wal-Mart After Top-Level Struggle" by David Barstow
Published in the New York Times, April 21, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/business/at-wal-mart-in-mexico-a-bribe-inquiry-silenced.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Eric

Longread #231 --Lawmakers Gone Wild -- 1/10/13

It's no secret that there's a lot of corruption in politics in Illinois. But while we usually assume this is happening as a result of winks, nods, and murky cash transactions, this article actually shows that much of the influence-peddling occurs legally and out in the open. Because of the vague nature of the state's campaign regulations, people in office have almost free reign to spend campaign funds even for items that seem remarkably extravagant or unnecessary.

"Lawmakers Gone Wild" by David Bernstein and the Better Government Association
Published in Chicago Magazine, January 2013
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-2013/Illinois-Lawmakers-Gone-Wild/index.php?cparticle=1&siarticle=0#artanc

Eric

Longread #230 -- The Island Where People Forget to Die -- 1/9/13

This whole article provides a cool lens into the research of the world's cultures with the longest lifespans. I found two things in this article to be especially interesting:

1. That Mr. Moraitis had his cancer spontaneously regress. This can happen with certain types of cancer, but it is very rare (even more so with lung cancer). It's hard to fathom an explanation for this based on our current understanding of cancer biology.

2. I love that while the article is about length of life, the people on Ikaria seem to have an enviable quality of life. While the lifestyle isn't necessarily the one that many in my generation (myself included) envision when thinking of quality of life, I have to admit...it sure sounds nice.

"The Island Where People Forget to Die" by Dan Buettner
Published in the New York Times, October 24, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/magazine/the-island-where-people-forget-to-die.html?pagewanted=all

Eric

Longread #229 -- Labor, Interrupted -- 1/8/12

Today's longread looks at how the nature of childbirth has changed in America reflecting a greater trend toward C-sections. It analyzes the benefits and risks of C-sections for mothers, babies, and for the healthcare system.

"Labor, Interrupted" by Nell Lake
Published in Harvard Magazine, November-December 2012
http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/11/labor-interrupted?src=longreads

Eric

Longread #228 -- Who Killed Knut? -- 1/7/13

Today's longread delves into a number of important ethical and practical questions about zoos and keeping animals in captivity. Based around the story of Knut, a polar bear in Germany, this article examines the competing viewpoints about whether zoos advance or hinder the goal of creating a more harmonious relationship between humans and our environment. While I would love to share the optimism of proponents of zoos -- and to some extent I do because I think there are people who are truly inspired by zoos -- on the whole, I think they may be flawed in ways that do more harm than good.

"Who Killed Knut?" by Stephen Cave
Published in Aeon Magazine, November 13, 2012
http://www.aeonmagazine.com/nature-and-cosmos/stephen-cave-zoos-conservation/

Eric

Longread #227 -- A Reddit Screenwriter -- 1/4/13

With so many avenues for user-generated content on the internet, it's kind of surprising that we don't hear more stories like this one. Nevertheless, it's interesting to read about the ways that traditional sources of entertainment media (like movie producers) are tapping into the power of online networks to create new productions.

"How One Response to a Reddit Query Became a Big-Budget Flick" by Jason Fagone
Published in Wired, March 20, 2012
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/03/ff_reddit/all/

Eric

Longread #226 -- The Cosmopolitan Condiment -- 1/3/13

Many years ago, I would empty bottles of Ketchup at an alarming rate. Ketchup went on everything -- hot dogs, burgers, and fries, of course. But also vegetables (green beans), bread (especially Challah), and probably a host of other unconventional pairings. I've broadened my palate a great deal since then, and now I barely ever use ketchup at home. Nevertheless, I found this article fascinating in explaining the origins of the condiment and its linkage to economic development in Asia.

"The Cosmopolitan Condiment" by Dan Jurafsky
Published on Slate, May 30, 2012
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2012/05/ketchup_s_chinese_origins_how_it_evolved_from_fish_sauce_to_today_s_tomato_condiment.single.html

Eric

Longread #225 -- Snow Fall -- 1/2/13

This longread tells a riveting and terrifying story, but that isn't why it has generated significant buzz on the internet. What really sets this article apart is not its content but its structure and delivery. The New York Times has published many excellent articles that have been featured on this blog, and with its growing focus on the digital realm, the Times has also looked for ways to make its content more appealing and more informative. With this "interactive" longread, they've hit a home run. The multimedia design of this story isn't just a nice layout; instead, it is an effective use of text, pictures, and graphics to help keep the reader engaged and deepen his or her understanding of the article. Reading through the entire piece takes awhile, but it's worth it for the story itself and for the glimpse it provides into what the direction of online longform journalism may look like in the near future.

"Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek" by John Branch
Published in the New York Times, December 20, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/#/?part=tunnel-creek

Eric

A Year of Longreads -- Looking Back and Looking Forward -- 1/1/13

After a handful of failed prior attempts at regular blogging, I finally found one that stuck. I've loved getting into longform journalism this year and thank all of you who have read along and have discussed (in person or in the comments) these articles with me.

Looking back, I tried to select my Top 20 favorite longreads that I read in 2012. I ranked them, but if you asked me again in a few days, I'd probably shuffle the rankings a lot. I openly acknowledge that my list of "favorites" is entirely subjective, but in general, the Top 20 is made up of great stories that for me helped to open my eyes to new perspectives on specific people, issues, and the world.

Top 20:
1. No Evidence of Disease (Longread #170)
2. Monopoly Is Theft (Longread #194) 
3. Bowling for Chumps (Longread #5)
4. The Lie Factory (Longread #174)

5. Raise the Crime Rate (Longread #100)
6. America's Warehouse Labor (Longread #23)
7. In Sickness and In Health (Longread #52)

8. Anarchy is Boring (Longread #70)

9. The Throwaways (Longread #153)
10. The Unspoken Jobs Problem (Longread #113)

11. A Murder Foretold (Longread #2)
12. The Fifty-Nine-Story Crisis (Longread #188)

13. The Grizzly Bear Criminal Justice System (Longread #65)
14. Apple, America, and a Squeezed Middle Class (Longread #16)
15. Is Sugar Toxic? (Longread #32)

16. The Thin Blue Lie (Longread #180)

17. Jonah Lehrer's Deceptions (Longread #125)

18. How Wall Street Killed Financial Reform (Longread #72)

19. The Stats of Life (Longread #59)

20. The Obliterated Place (Longread #114)

Looking forward, I expect the blog to take a somewhat different direction. I still plan on posting a daily longread; however, in many cases, I will simply post the details and link to an article that I enjoyed. I am going to focus on only doing article writeups/introductions when I feel that I have something important to say.

Happy New Year!

Eric