Read — 2014/09/23

Today’s selection of articles includes:

1. “Markets tremble on new China worries“, by Ese Erheriene, Matthew Cowley, & Ira Iosebashvili (Wall Street Journal).
2. “HealthCare.gov is given an overhall“, by Robert Pear (NY Times).
3. “The benefits of getting rid of cash” (The Economist).
4. “Can one student’s refusal change education in China“, by Chi-Chi Zhang (OZY).

And an article I read a month ago but apparently didn’t post:

1. “Computer programming is a trade; let’s act like it“, by Christopher Mims (Wall Street Journal).

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Read — 2014/09/21

Today’s selection of articles includes:

1. “Chinese tourists find a movable feast best left behind“, by Dan Bilefsky (NY Times). France fears wilting tourism numbers — and, perhaps more pressingly, a corresponding plummet in revenue — as cultural differences and the effects of Paris Syndrome hit home to Chinese vacationers.
2. “Why federal college ratings won’t rein in tuition“, by Susan Dynarski (NY Times). An overview of how colleges collect revenue, and why President Obama’s proposed rating system won’t (entirely) solve soaring tuition.
3. “Too young to die, too old to worry“, by Jason Karlawish (NY Times). Balancing prevention and pleasure during the aging process.

Read — 2014/09/19

Today’s selection of articles includes:

1. “This man’s job: make Bill Gates richer“, by Anupreeta Das & Craig Karmin (Wall Street Journal). Meet Michael Larson, money manager of Bill Gates.
2. “Pew survey exposes cultural parenting divide: religion v tolerance” (BBC). The subtitle is sensationalized. Still, the article points out a few “fundamental differences” between America’s right and left.
3. “Scottish referendum: Scotland votes ‘No’ to independence” (BBC).
4. “Scottish independence: the results tracker” (The Telegraph). The “No’s” have it, 2,001,926 v 1,617,989 (55% v 45%). Breakdown by local authority.
5. “Rush to invest in Alibaba, but concerns linger about company’s future“, by Peter Eavis (NY Times).
6. “Xi who must be obeyed” (The Economist). How will President Xi Jinping use the power he has amassed?
7. “Too reliant on the few” (The Economist). To improve the tax code, broaden the base and remove exemptions.
8. “Piketty airways” (The Economist). And you thought your last flight was cramped…

Read — 2014/09/16

Today’s selection of articles includes:

1. “Read slowly to benefit your brain and cut stress“, by Jeanne Whalen (NY Times). Silent reading parties, “with comfortable chairs, wine and classical music”? Now that’s some kind (my kind?) of party.
2. “If you buy Alibaba, be ready for a rough ride“, by Jason Zweig (NY Times).
3. “Landing site chosen for spacecraft’s daring rendezvous with comet“, by Nadia Drake (National Geographic).
4. “Cinq choses inutiles à savoir sur les gauchers“, par Camille Drouet (Le monde).

Read — 2014/09/14

Today’s selection of articles includes:

1. “Why the economic gender gap will eventually close“, by Tyler Cowen (NY Times).
2. “Andris Nelsons gets ready to lead the Boston Symphony“, by James R. Oestreich (NY Times).
3. “The death of adulthood in American culture“, by A.O. Scott (NY Times).
4. “Against YA“, by Ruth Graham (Slate). Inveighing against escapism and the surrender of adults’ time to the instant gratification, predigested plots, and simplified worlds of young-adult fiction.
   

   Read whatever you want. But you should feel embarrassed when what you’re reading was written for children.

5. “Vogue editors share their favorite breakup movies of all time“, by Patricia Garcia (Vogue).

Read — 2014/09/07

Today’s selection of articles includes:

1. “Scotland’s decision“, by Allan Little (BBC News). An historical look at the road to the Scottish independence referendum, to be held Thursday, 18 September 2014. (In addition to learning about Scottish devolution and other politics, the reader is also treated to fun words like “kith” and “scunnered”, and video clips featuring outfits from the 70’s. For more, visit the Scottish and English sites for the referendum.)
2. “Outlook: gloomy“, by Jacob Burak (Aeon). An exploration of humans’ negativity bias, how it affects modern life, and how we might control it.
3. “Why are today’s concert pianists so boring?“, by Martin Kettle (The Guardian, 2002 Sep 05). Kettle argues that the piano’s heydey is over, its artists disconnected from the past, its repertoire starved from modern infusions.