Saturday, September 15, 2012

The Browser daily newsletter [15 Sep 2012]

15 September 2012

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Best of the Moment

Take A Number

Grayson Schaffer | Outside | 12 September 2012

"In the 16 years since 'Into Thin Air', Mount Everest has become safer in many ways, with better storm forecasting and amazing high-altitude rescue helicopters. So why did 10 people die in 2012?" (h/t @joespring) Comments

Elon Musk, 21st Century Industrialist

Ashlee Vance | Businessweek | 13 September 2012

"Friends describe him as Steve Jobs, John D. Rockefeller, and Howard Hughes rolled into one." Founded PayPal. Made another fortune in solar power. Runs a private space programme. Makes electric cars. Ambition: To die on Mars Comments

Inside The Strange Hollywood Scam That Spread Chaos Across The Middle East

Max Blumenthal | Guardian | 13 September 2012

With the attacks on Western interests in the region, "a group of fringe extremists had proven that with a little bit of money and an unbelievably cynical scam, they could shape history to fit their apocalyptic vision" Comments

The Land That Time And Money Forgot

Mark Jacobson | New York | 9 September 2012

"The projects remain a mystery to most New Yorkers, a shadow city within the city, out of sight and mind, except when someone gets shot or falls down an elevator shaft — just these bad-news redbrick piles to whiz by" Comments

Correcting Creativity: The Struggle For Eminence

Sam McNerney | Scientific American | 10 September 2012

"Generating a good idea isn’t reading a 'top-ten ways to boost your creativity' article. Nor is it cherry picking from the latest cognitive psychology research. As Nietzsche described, it is like delivering and nurturing a child" Comments

The Unknown Story Of The Black Cyclone, The Cycling Champion Who Broke The Color Barrier

Gilbert King | Smithsonian | 12 September 2012

At the dawn of the 20th century, cycling was the most popular sport in America and Europe, and against all odds a young black man from Indianapolis named Marshall "Major" Taylor became world champion Comments

FiveBooks Interview

Max Mosley on Privacy

The former FIA president discusses privacy very openly, with candid views on the press and his own personal scandal. Recommends books on everything from media distortion to mind control

Featured Special Report

Population and Resources

Will humans run out of natural resources? Is population growth a danger to society? Or will human innovation conquer? You decide

Reader Recommendations

@polit2k "@pkedrosky: Tett: News -- Free for all, Read by none t.co/WdQCTfdZ" #gfc2 #browsings

Book of the Day

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré

Robert Baer says: “This is an example of the meticulously supreme thriller. It is an amazingly satisfying read and just a perfectly constructed book”

Video of the Day

60-Second Adventures In Economics

Part Five: The Impossible Trinity

Quote of the Day

Andrew Brown, on inner voices

"Spirituality is the voice I hear that tells me what to do. Religion is when someone else's voices tell me what to do"