Pieces
Spoiled Rotten
In this New Yorker article, the author reviews the book 'The Unnatural World: The Race to Remake Civilization in Earth's Newest Age' by Elizabeth Kolbert. The book explores the concept of the Anthropocene, a proposed new geological era in which human activity has become the dominant force shaping the planet. The reviewer discusses how Kolbert presents a compelling argument that humans have caused unprecedented changes in the environment and examines the consequences of these changes. The article highlights Kolbert's ability to approach complex scientific subjects in an accessible and engaging manner, making 'The Unnatural World' a thought-provoking and significant read.
Republicans
This article in Slate discusses how Fox News played a role in the Republican Party's failure in the 2012 election. It argues that Fox News contributed to the party's loss by promoting narratives and perspectives that were out of touch with reality. The article cites examples of misleading information and biased reporting from Fox News that influenced the Republican base and ultimately hindered the party's chances of winning the election. It suggests that the network's echo chamber effect and focus on appealing to a conservative audience prevented Republicans from accurately assessing the political landscape and reaching out to a broader voter base.
Beyond lies the wub
This article delves into the history and evolution of the music genre known as dubstep. It traces the origins of dubstep back to its roots in UK garage and drum and bass music in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The article explores how dubstep gained popularity and recognition through key artists and pioneering record labels. It also discusses how dubstep's unique sound, characterized by heavy basslines and chopped-up beats, influenced and inspired other genres of electronic music. Additionally, the article highlights the global spread of dubstep and its impact on popular culture. Overall, it provides an informative overview of the history and impact of dubstep beyond its initial origins.
Prisons, Colleges, and the Private-Sector Delusion
This New Yorker article examines the concept of privatization and its pitfalls. It highlights cases where privatization efforts, specifically in the areas of public infrastructure and services, have not delivered the promised benefits. The author discusses the impact of privatization on public transportation, prisons, and water management, citing examples where cost-cutting measures and profit-driven motives affected the quality and accessibility of these services. The article argues against the assumption that private companies always outperform public entities, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and evaluation when implementing privatization initiatives.
Don’t Mess With Big Bird
In this opinion piece from The New York Times, the author discusses the controversy surrounding Big Bird during the 2012 United States presidential campaign. The article explores how Big Bird, a character from the children's television show Sesame Street, became a symbol for the debate over government funding for public broadcasting. The author argues that attacking Big Bird was a distraction from more important issues and criticizes politicians for using the character as a political tool. The article emphasizes the importance of investing in education and cultural programs for children, and highlights the positive impact that Sesame Street has had on generations of viewers.
The crayola-fication of the world
In this follow-up article, the author continues the exploration of how color naming affects our perception and cognition. It delves into the concept of linguistic relativity, which suggests that language shapes the way we think. The article discusses experiments that demonstrate how the names we give to colors affect our ability to distinguish between them and perceive differences. It also examines the influence of culture and language on color perception and explains how the brain processes and categorizes colors. The author concludes that our understanding and experience of color are shaped by the language and culture in which we are immersed.
The crayola-fication of the world
This article on Empirical Zeal discusses the phenomenon of how naming colors can affect our perception and cognition. It delves into the introduction of a 120-crayon box by Crayola in 1998 and how it expanded our exposure to a wider range of colors. The author explores how naming specific shades of colors influenced how people categorized and perceived them. It also touches on how different languages have varying color vocabularies, which can impact how different cultures perceive and interpret colors. The article ultimately suggests that the act of naming colors can have a profound influence on our cognitive processes and how we understand the world.
