Longread #358 -- Must Cats Die So Birds Can Live? -- 7/31/13

I'm kind of at a loss in terms of introducing this article. While the overall issues involved can be seen as important, the way in which this "cats vs. birds" issue has developed is startling. I wish this were harder to believe, but this attitude of taking it to the extremes seems to have become pervasive in our culture whether it's politics, youth sports, or how we deal with feral cats.

"Must Cats Die So Birds Can Live?" by Jessica Pressler
Published in New York Magazine, June 9, 2013

Eric

Longread #357 -- Rise of the Shuttlecock -- 7/30/13

This article from Seattle's alternative weekly newspaper looks at the often-overlooked sport of badminton. The description of the game's history and the dynamics that are driving its recent growth make this an interesting and enjoyable read.

"The Rise of the Shuttlecock" by Brandon Kiley
Published in the Stranger, July 24, 2013

Eric

Longread #356 -- Rise of the Warrior Cop -- 7/29/13

This article exposes a growing reliance on paramilitary policing strategies by police forces throughout the U.S. and the detrimental effect that these strategies have on public safety, personal liberties, and political dissent. While it is important for police to be prepared and protected, it seems clear that there needs to a more involved discussion about the proper use of SWAT teams and similar tactics by local police forces.

"'Why did you shoot me? I was reading a book': The new warrior cop is out of control" by Radley Balko
Published on Salon.com, July 7, 2013

Eric

Longread #355 -- Scalping Tickets -- 7/25/13

This is pretty short for a longread, but given that I'm going to a concert this weekend, I feel it is an appropriate article to share. It looks at the dynamics of concert ticket pricing and scalpers and the ways in which the current market for concert tickets is seriously broken.

No longread tomorrow -- have a great weekend!

"How Much Is Michael Bolton Worth to You?" by Adam Davidson
Published in the New York Times, June 4, 2013

Eric

Longread #354 -- A Filthy History -- 7/24/13

I'll be out camping this weekend, and one of the worst parts of this is always the need to use honey buckets (aka porta-potties or porta-johns). Reading this article, though, reminds me not to take the sanitation that we have in daily life (or even the honey buckets) for granted. While this article focuses more on trash collection than human waste, it nonetheless is a reminder of how significant the challenges of managing waste can be.

"A Filthy History: When New Yorkers Lived Knee-Deep in Trash" by Hunter Oatman-Stanford
Published in Collectors Weekly, June 24, 2013

Eric

Longread #353 -- The Song Decoders -- 7/23/13

There are a lot of ways to listen to and appreciate music, and this longread highlights an especially unique approach taken by Pandora. Pandora uses extremely-refined classifications in order to automate the process of music recommendations and thus create the optimal internet radio. While most of us have probably used Pandora at some point, we probably haven't thought in-depth about the engines powering that program, and this article gives this interesting background.

"The Song Decoders" by Rob Walker
Published in the New York Times Magazine, October 14, 2009

Eric

Longread #352 -- I Trusted 'Em -- 7/22/13

The NCAA system of amateur athletes is broken. Usually, the primary reason cited for why this is the case is the gap between the revenue that college players deliver (millions to universities and other organizations) and the reward that they receive (college scholarships). This article highlights another flaw in the system regarding how player injuries are handled and the lack of obligations that schools have to their players.

"'I Trusted 'Em': When NCAA Schools Abandon Their Injured Athletes" by Meghan Walsh
Published in the Atlantic, May 1, 2013

Eric

Longread #351 -- The Business of Phish -- 7/19/13

Phish kicks off a huge run of shows tonight with the first of three concerts in Chicago before heading west to Washington, California, and Colorado. This article explains the band's unique rise and how its touring-oriented approach allowed it to maintain the artistic freedom that many musicians yearn for.

Enjoy the article and the shows! A belated thank you to reader MHE81 for sending along this article.

"The Business of Phish" by Rohin Dhar
Published on Pricenomics, April 17, 2013

Eric

Longread #350 -- Unconventional Innovation -- 7/18/13

A lot has been written about the way that businesses in the U.S. have had to adapt in order to take on foreign competition, especially Chinese competition, in manufacturing. This article looks at the unconventional strategies for innovation that one company has taken to gain and maintain a competitive edge. While these sorts of adaptations won't be possible for many businesses, it does show that creative thinking and quality work can help some companies survive and thrive.

"The Road to Resilience: How Unscientific Innovation Saved Marlin Steel" by Charles Fishman
Published in Fast Company, June 17, 2013

Eric

Longread #349 -- The Father of Civilization -- 7/17/13

Reading this article was really a blast from the past. Civ I and Civ II were a big deal for my sister and I growing up. I also enjoyed reading about Meier's creative style and his business approach. His focus on fun is perhaps partially a function of his industry, but it seems to permeate his entire organization.

"Sid Meier: The Father of Civilization" by Jason Schreier
Published on Kotaku, June 26, 2013

Eric

Longread #348 -- Goodbye, Miami -- 7/16/13

If you've been planning a trip to South Beach, you might want to take it sooner rather than later. This article looks at the tremendous risks that climate change poses for Miami and at the predominately piecemeal planning to address those risks.

"Goodbye, Miami" by Jeff Goodell
Published in Rolling Stone, June 20, 2013

Eric

Longread #347 -- The Llama Is In -- 7/15/13

File this article under the "I had no idea this was a thing" header. A fun look at the world of llama owners in the U.S.

And in honor of regular reader MHE81, who will be attending several Phish shows later this week, I offer this video as a compliment:




"The Llama Is In" by Jennifer Kingson
Published in the New York Times, July 3, 2013

Eric

Longread #346 -- I Can Die Now -- 7/10/13

Just about two weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court's struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Just a few days after, I had the honor of attending the wedding of two friends, both of whom are women. It was amazing to be a part of after such a historic ruling and only reaffirmed my belief that "love is love," and that opposition to gay marriage is ill-founded. While the wedding touched on the emotional side of this issue for me, this article struck a nerve with my practical side. It made me realize the true, life-altering importance of this ruling for many, many families.

And on a programming note, I'll be on vacation yet again tomorrow and Friday. Sorry about the lack of longreads!

"I Can Die Now" by Dan Savage
Published in the Stranger, July 3, 2013

Eric

Longread #345 -- The Last Mystery of the Financial Crisis -- 7/9/13

This longread is another great piece of investigative journalism into the mechanics of the global financial crisis. To anyone who believes in free markets, it should be incredibly troublesome that companies whose business model is tied to their integrity became so caught up in the short-term profit-taking of the housing bubble.

"The Last Mystery of the Financial Crisis" by Matt Taibbi
Published in Rolling Stone, June 19, 2013

Eric

Longread #344 -- Trader Joe's -- 7/3/13

More about the food business is in today's longread about Trader Joe's which is reshaping the landscape of grocery stores in the U.S. This article examines the Trader Joe's business model and how it has changed the shopping experience and how it continues to manage the challenges of scale.

"Inside the secret world of Trader Joe's" by Beth Kowitt
Published in Fortune, August 23, 2010

Eric

Longread #343 -- Tastes Like Chicken -- 7/2/13

On the heels of yesterday's food history article about mince pie, today's longread looks at how chicken came to play a pivotal role in cuisines around the world.

"How the Chicken Conquered the World" by Jerry Adler and Andrew Lawler
Published in Smithsonian Magazine, June 2012

Eric

Longread #342 -- The Real American Pie -- 7/1/13

I think the history of cultural items like certain foods or dishes is fascinating and provides an alternate lens to understanding history outside of the traditional look at politics and major events. This article looks at the mince pie and includes the author's valiant attempts to recreate it.

"The Real American Pie" by Cliff Doerksen
Published in the Chicago Reader, December 17, 2009

Eric