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Friday, February 17, 2012

The Browser daily newsletter [17 Feb 2012]

17 February 2012

 Best of the Moment

The Doom Loop

Andrew Haldane | LRB | 16 February 2012

Masterful essay on history of equity, leverage, risk-taking incentives in the banking system. From 19th century to present day. "In evolutionary terms, we have had survival not of the fittest but the fattest." It's time for change Comments

The Boy Who Played With Fusion

Tom Clynes | Pop Science | 14 February 2012

"Someone like him comes along maybe once in a generation. He’s not just smart; he’s cool, articulate. I think he may be the most amazing kid I’ve ever met." Indeed. For at the tender age of 14, Taylor Wilson achieved nuclear fusion Comments

How Companies Learn Your Secrets

Charles Duhigg | NYT | 16 February 2012

In-depth look at how retailers collect, analyse a myriad of customer data and use it to maximise sales. “We’re living through a golden age of behavioral research. It’s amazing how much we can figure out about how people think now" Comments

As Long As They Both Shall Live

Brian Mockenhaupt | Outside | 25 January 2012

Opposites attract? Not for Rex and Melissa. Two base jumping adventurers who risk life and limb for fun. “Our lifestyles are so out there, it’s hard to imagine finding someone else who would be OK with that and understand it" Comments

Burden Of Proof: Should Evidence Determine Policy?

Richard Wilson | New Humanist | 9 January 2012

How did we miss this last month? Wonderful essay on potential for, and issues with, evidence-based policy making. It certainly sounds better than “policy-based evidence-making” but is it a practical goal? What's the catch? Comments

King Of Pain

Algis Valiunas | Claremont Institute | 10 February 2012

Fine, detailed evaluation of troubled life, and works of David Foster Wallace. "With the benefit of time, it will be recognised that Wallace had less in common with Eggers and Franzen than he did with Dostoevsky and Joyce" Comments

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