Longread #463 -- Ronald Reagan's Benghazi -- 5/16/14

This isn't a true longread, but it offers an excellent perspective on the Benghazi obsession and what it means with regard to American politics.

"Ronald Reagan's Benghazi" by Jane Mayer
Published in the New Yorker, May 6, 2014

Eric

Longread #462 -- Billionaires With Big Ideas Are Privatizing American Science -- 4/9/14

"Billionaires With Big Ideas Are Privatizing American Science" by William J. Broad
Published in the New York Times, March 15, 2014

Eric

Longread #461 -- Is it OK to make art? -- 4/3/14

Lots to think about with this one...

"Is it OK to make art?" by Rhys Southan
Published in Aeon Magazine, March 20, 2014

Eric

Longread #460 -- Is the Wolf a Real American Hero? -- 4/1/14

No April Fool's joke here...just a good article about wolves and conservation.

"Is the Wolf a Real American Hero?" by Arthur Middleton
Published in the New York Times, March 9, 2014

Eric

Longread #459 -- Echo Chambers in Myanmar -- 3/25/14

My friend Matt recently published this excellent piece about the rise of social media and what it may mean for Myanmar. As someone who lives in a country where social media is already ubiquitous (especially among my demographic), it is easy to just assume that it has already taken hold in other countries or that its rise in other countries may simply parallel its development here in the U.S. But the story is not so simple, and the rise of social media in complex sociopolitical contexts like Myanmar raises a host of concerns. Check out Matt's article for a concise, intriguing, and well-argued look at the future of media in Myanmar.

"Echo Chambers in Myanmar: Social media and the ideological justifications for mass violence" by Matt Schissler
Published for the Australian National University Department of Political & Social Change Research Colloquium, “Communal Conflict in Myanmar: Characteristics, Causes, Consequences,” March 2018

Eric

Longread #458 -- The Dark Power of Fraternities -- 3/24/14

I was worried at first that this would be a standard hit-piece on fraternities. While those stories are often warranted by the facts, they often follow similar incidents without looking at any bigger picture. On the other hand, this investigative piece takes a much deeper look into the role of fraternities in campus life, how they are organized, and many of the risks that arise from their growth.

"The Dark Power of Fraternities" by Caitlin Flanagan
Published in the Atlantic, February 19, 2014

Eric

Longread #457 -- The Exotic Animal Trade -- 3/19/14

An eye-opening look at a lucrative part of the black market that is probably not on the radar for most people.

"The Exotic Animal Trade" by Alex Mayyasi
Published on Pricenomics, February 20, 2014

Eric