via 3quarksdaily by Azra Raza on 10 June from The New York Review of Books
Alexander defeated the Persian armies in three great pitched battles, and the unfortunate Persian king was murdered by his own people. Alexander married an exotic Eastern princess, became King of Kings, and died, not quite thirty-three years old, in Babylon (323 BCE). There is nothing like an early death for creating legends, and Richard Stoneman gives a great many of them learned but lively treatment in his new book.
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here. Spokeo via Phil Bradley's weblog (a long time ago)
Spokeo could easily be renamed as 'Spookio' because it's one of those 'omg' resources. What it does is gathers details on all your friends from your various networks into one easy to find place. I started by adding my Gmail details. It then went off and found a dozen or so contacts which it then displayed for me. I dipped in and looked at the information on one contact. This included:
Just go and read it for yourself and you'll probably say "OMG" or similar phraseology since it is, as Phil says, SPOOKY. If you love Stephen's writing then read this essay -- again if necessary since once through is probably not enough.
And, since I realise that Mr Fry is someone about whom there appears to be no half measure, you are, of course, free to move on to the next item selected for your delectation!
What's the best way to beat afternoon sleepiness? (drumroll) Go to sleep! Loughborough University researchers compared three methods to beat normal daytime sleepiness: more sleep at night, an afternoon nap earlier that day, or caffeine.
Clean water video from WorldVision
WorldVision's new PSA for action on providing clean water in the developing world is really effective and sobering.
A word that jumps incessantly out of newspapers, magazines, and the mouths of political pundits these days is some form of pander.
Copyright by Daily Writing Tips Pander Code
OK, so I wouldn't normally bring you something from DWT (one of my all-time favourites but then I like words) but this one struck a chord when I read about the original meaning coming from the name of a pimp called Pandare. That puts a whole new context onto some of those headlines, doesn't it?
Neuroeconomics via Poverty & Growth - Building Capacity to Reduce Poverty by Raj on 2 July
In classical economic theory, the consumer is assumed to be a rational decision maker ... and that they are equipped with immutable logic to further their best interests.
neuroeconomics suggests that the interplay between the various centers of the brain play a part in the financial decisions that people make.
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Completely fascinating. A "scientific" explanation of impulse buying, loan decision etc.
via Arts & Letters Daily - ideas, criticism, debate on 9 July
Shoppers at farmers markets have ten times as many conversations with other people as those at supermarkets. And as for the food... more
via Arts & Letters Daily - ideas, criticism, debate on 6 July
Feminists were thin on the ground in 19th-century Egypt. But in 1899, there appeared a citizen who held outlandishly modern opinions on the subject of women... more
via Arts & Letters Daily - ideas, criticism, debate on 14 July
So what has the feminist revolution really given women? Sisterhood, empowerment, and eight hours a day in a cubicle... more
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