Obituaries & Pencils

Featured Articles

What will the world remember us by?

Washington Post • 17 Oct 2024 • ~2400 words • Archive Link

Ann Wroe, the obituaries editor of The Economist, reflects on the art of capturing lives through the lens of her two decades of writing obituaries. In this poignant piece, she shares insights on how seemingly mundane details—like a favorite mug or a cherished jacket—can reveal profound truths about a person’s essence. The author ponders what will ultimately be remembered about us and how we can best preserve the "quickness of life" in the face of mortality.

Life quivers, therefore, even in objects that seem still. “Still life” is an oxymoron. In delineating my subjects’ lives, I find that the tiniest detail adds a flicker of color to the whole. Yet add too many, and you can start to lose the essential quickness of life, its unpredictability and randomness. That, too, has to be caught.

Thoreau’s Pencils

The American Scholar • 17 Oct 2024 • ~6400 words • Archive Link

The article explores Henry Thoreau's involvement in his family's pencil-making business and how it intersected with the history of slavery and the American economy in the 19th century. It delves into the complex sourcing of the key raw material, red cedar, and the ethical dilemmas Thoreau faced as an antislavery activist profiting from a business reliant on slave labor.

And yet, for all their technical complexity, the manufacturing solutions that Henry came up with didn’t address the greatest challenge of pencil making—one that scholars of Thoreau’s life and work have long overlooked. Making high-quality pencils in the middle of the 19th century required a special kind of wood from a tree that grew in the southern states, especially in Florida and around the Gulf of Mexico, where it was harvested and prepared by enslaved workers.

Recommended Articles

Big Data for the Leviathan

London Review of Books • 12 Oct 2024 • ~3550 words

This book review takes us on a brief journey through the evolution of numerical understanding in early modern England. It traces the shift from hands-on, object-based counting methods like tally sticks to the rise of abstract, paper-based arithmetic and the growing role of quantification in governance and commerce. The article examines how this "quantitative transformation" shaped the development of modern bureaucracy and the cultural attitudes towards numbers and their uses.

In early modern England, numbers were something you could touch. On tally-sticks and abacuses, counting boards and jettons, arithmetic was a feat of hand-eye co-ordination. The word ‘calculus’ is derived from the Latin for ‘little pebble’: thinking numerically was a matter for the fingers as much as the mind. John Cannon, an 18th-century diarist, recalled his grandfather keeping his accounts with beans. Daniel Defoe claimed to know a shopkeeper who ‘knew nothing of figures, but he kept six spoons in a place on purpose, near his counter, which he took out when he had occasion to cast up any sum’.

Why Americans Are Buying Underground Bunkers

New Lines Magazine • 17 Oct 2024 • ~3750 words

As fears about the future escalate, a surprising trend is emerging in America: the rise of underground bunkers. This piece explores the growing trend of Americans purchasing fortified, blast-proof homes and underground bunkers. It delves into the motivations behind this phenomenon and the experiences of individuals who have already taken up residence in these secure, self-sufficient living spaces.

She takes me into the house, where two oak-paneled doors inside the entryway open to reveal a steel elevator. Lewis leads me into it. A sensation like claustrophobia comes over me as we sink 30 feet down, below the desert floor. When the doors open, I step out into a subterranean yard. Thousands of hidden lights cast a dawn-like aura over fake grass that leads to a putting green, a pool and a hot tub. In the center of the yard stands a mansion. Through its grand window, I can see frilly curtains and a twinkling chandelier.

The Art of Turning a Tree Into a Dog

The New Yorker • 17 Oct 2024 • ~3950 words • Archive Link

The article explores the art of topiary, the practice of meticulously shaping plants, often trees and shrubs, into intricate and whimsical forms. It delves into the history and resurgence of topiary in the UK, highlighting the dedication and creativity of both professional and amateur topiarists.

A topiary is not made overnight. The plant, typically boxwood or yew, can be shaped year after year as it grows. The topiarist will use sharp long-handled or electric clippers, or, for the specialist, lethal Japanese shears. For topiary enthusiasts, the obsessional commitment and long-term vision that the practice demands is part of its appeal. Yew can live for a thousand years or more: topiaries, like children, often outlive their creators.

Pau Cin Hau dreamt of an alphabet for a language that had never been written down. So began the religion of Laipianism

Aeon • 17 Oct 2024 • ~3500 words

In a remote village of Myanmar, the unique religion of Laipianism emerged under the guidance of Pau Cin Hau, who created an alphabet for a previously unwritten language. This fascinating exploration delves into how his dreams and teachings transformed the spiritual landscape of the Chin people, and how the new script became a central symbol and practice within the religion.

Perhaps what makes Laipianism truly unusual (and sets it apart from many other religions – including Christianity – in a peculiar way) is the emphasis placed on the Pau Cin Hau script both as an icon and an index: the script would not only be used to write its scriptures, but pictures or inscriptions of letters from the script would adorn the sect’s places of worship and homes of the followers, just as the Holy Cross adorns Christian churches. In Siang Sawn, as I left Kam Suan Mang’s place on that warm afternoon and walked along the pebbled street in the middle of the village, I noticed that each house had pictures of the script hanging above the door, often accompanied by a picture of Pau Cin Hau.

Executives From a Bank Charged With “Predatory Lending” Moved to a New Lender. Regulators Did Little to Stop Them.

ProPublica • 17 Oct 2024 • ~2800 words

The article examines how executives from Santander, a bank accused of "predatory lending," moved to a new lender called Exeter Finance, and how despite a significant settlement against Santander for high-interest loans, many borrowers now find themselves facing similar deceptive tactics at Exeter, often without adequate oversight. This piece highlights the loopholes in consumer protection and the cycle of harm perpetuated by these financial institutions.

The parallels were more than coincidence. The company was being run by former Santander executives who had left that bank amid the investigation. By 2020, most of Exeter’s corporate leadership — including its CEO and its operations chief — was composed of people who had overseen Santander during the period that the state attorneys general said it was “misleading, failing to disclose material information, or otherwise confusing consumers.”

The President Who Never Picked a Side

Foreign Affairs • 17 Oct 2024 • ~2550 words • Archive Link

As Joko Widodo, Indonesia's president, prepares to leave office, his time in office offers a compelling case study in pragmatic foreign policy. Rather than adhering to traditional ideological divides, Jokowi has taken a pragmatic, transactional stance in navigating Indonesia's relationships with global powers like China and the United States. It explores how Widodo's focus on economic interests over ideological alignment has set him apart from previous Indonesian leaders and may represent a broader shift in how countries approach foreign policy.

Influenced by his experience as a furniture manufacturer and then the mayor of a midsize Indonesian city, Jokowi pivoted from his predecessors’ more rigid style and made a different approach—a uniquely practical and transactional one—his lodestar. He reframed Indonesia’s foreign policy as the art of the deal, bucking the expectation that developing countries must signal their choice between China and the United States. Polls of Asian policymakers and business elites often pose the question: “If your country were forced to align itself with one of these strategic rivals, which should it choose?” Jokowi consistently refused to make or account for such a binary choice, openly partnering with China to build up Indonesia’s infrastructure and industrial base, cutting business deals with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and engaging Iran and Russia in trade talks—all while continuing to maintain strong relations with the United States and Europe.

The year of the music licensing legal wars

The Verge • 16 Oct 2024 • ~4500 words • Archive Link

The Verge is publishing some stories that look back at 2004 in their "2004 Week”. One pivotal moment in 2004 for digital copyright was the Supreme Court's decision in the Grokster case, one that reshaped the landscape of the internet. Sarah Jeong explores the tensions between the tech and music industries during the early 2000s, revealing how the court's ruling created a new legal doctrine that still influences technology today. This reflection on the past highlights the ongoing struggle between innovation and intellectual property rights, showing how far we've come—and how much has changed in our relationship with music.

But von Lohmann would hear about all that later. In the moment, he was focused on what he thought was the moment that the internet was going to get a clear rule. The Ninth Circuit had interpreted Betamax to protect the file-sharing companies. The RIAA and MPAA were never going to leave that precedent alone; the technology industry and the EFF and Mark Cuban, too, were not going to leave this issue alone, either. No matter who won or lost, the Supreme Court had to settle the principle once and for all.

How Streaming Elevated (and Ruined) Documentaries: A Statistical Analysis

Stat Significant • 16 Oct 2024 • ~2250 words

The evolution of documentaries in the streaming age has been a double-edged sword. While platforms like Netflix have democratized access to non-fiction storytelling, they've also shifted the focus from in-depth, prestige projects to more commercial, easily digestible content. This statistical analysis explores how the industry's transformation is affecting the quality and diversity of documentary filmmaking, raising questions about what we've gained and what we've lost in the process.

. . . all this funding came with a catch, as renewed investment began changing the artform, transforming two-hour movies (traditionally released in theaters) into four-part docuseries (only released on streaming), with subject matter increasingly oriented around uncomplicated, pre-digested stories with name-brand recognition. In 2022, Netflix reported subscriber declines for the first time in ten years, prompting the streamer (and its competitors) to overhaul its content strategy and scale back costs. Prestige projects (like Edelman's Prince epic) were deprioritized in favor of true crime and sports series.

Race Science Inc

HOPE not hate • 16 Oct 2024 • ~6350 words

An undercover investigation by HOPE not hate reveals the resurgence of the Pioneer Fund, now operating under the guise of the Human Diversity Foundation (HDF). This piece takes us inside Scandza Forum, where far-right activists gather to discuss race science and eugenics, unveiling the connections between tech money and extremist ideologies. With insights from clandestine meetings, the article exposes the slick strategies being employed to mainstream racist ideas while hiding behind a veneer of scientific credibility. It’s a chilling look at how old prejudices are being repackaged for a new generation.

At the time our undercover reporter first met Matthew Frost, Aporia shied away from antisemitism, conspiracism and vulgar expressions of racism. Instead, the publication adopted a strategy perfected by the scientific racism movement. It hid its racist ideas under layers of statistics and jargon to give the semblance of academic rigour — but were in fact misinterpretations, misrepresentations, and manipulations of science.

We Were Wrong To Panic About Secondhand Smoke

Reason • 16 Oct 2024 • ~2300 words

This piece discusses a 2003 study by the authors that found no significant association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and increased mortality, which contradicted the prevailing view at the time. It also highlights a recent study by the American Cancer Society that suggests the cancer risk posed by secondhand smoke is likely negligible. Beyond the specifics, though, Kabat details the criticisms they received, which they attribute to political bias, exploring how we can lose scientific objectivity when debating on issues we feel strongly about.

Humans are not good at conceptualizing the very large or the very small. Think of the billions of galaxies composed of trillions of stars or the size of an atomic nucleus. When it comes to evaluating potential hazards like passive smoking, we need to realize just how small and uncertain the risk suggested by these two studies is, which is consistent with the risk found by all studies of the question.

Shoplifters Gone Wild

The Atlantic • 16 Oct 2024 • ~4550 words • Archive Link

The article explores the surge in shoplifting across the United States, examining the potential causes, societal attitudes, and the retail industry's attempts to combat the issue. Through the lens of personal stories and industry insights, it highlights how the pandemic, social media, and shifting societal attitudes have transformed what was once seen as a petty crime into a retail crisis. With big-box stores locking up everyday items and grappling with significant losses, the piece invites us to consider the broader implications of this trend on consumer behavior and community dynamics.

Big corporate retailers, mom-and-pop shops, cops, prosecutors, and lawmakers have tried everything to stop the thefts: get tough, be gentle, invest in new surveillance technology, turn pharmacies into fortresses. Nothing seems to work. At my Target in Washington, D.C., I counted 21 aisles of goods locked behind plastic, including toothpaste, body wash, underwear, earbuds, and air fresheners - all items that impulse thieves and organized criminals alike find desirable and easiest to resell, on the street or, more often these days, online.

The View From The Way, Way Back Of The Berlin Inline Skating Marathon

Defector • 14 Oct 2024 • ~2550 words

Emily Bice takes us on a ride through the Berlin Inline Skating Marathon, where she grapples with both the physical challenges of rollerblading and her own self-doubt. As she learns to navigate not just the course but her fears, Bice's journey is filled with humor, friendships, and a determination to finish.

Sweat pours down my brow and my breath hitches as my entourage and I round the corner. Finally—FINALLY—the Brandenburg Gate gleams in the distance. My face hurts from grinning as I race towards the iconic monument.

The Texan Doctor and the Disappeared Saudi Princesses

The New Yorker • 10 Oct 2024 • ~5000 words • Archive Link

This piece tells the story of Dwight Burdick, a private physician to the Saudi royal family, who became involved in the case of four Saudi princesses - Hala, Sahar, Maha, and Jawaher - who were allegedly imprisoned and drugged by their father, the late King Abdullah. The article explores the ethical dilemmas Burdick faced in caring for the princesses, the efforts to free them, and the tragic outcomes of their confinement. It raises questions about the treatment of women in the Saudi royal family and the broader human rights issues within the kingdom.

Back at the royal clinic, Burdick reviewed the princesses’ charts and was dismayed to learn that they were being regularly dosed with a combination of Valium, Ativan, Xanax, and Ambien. “They’re chemically immobilizing them,” he recalled thinking. He learned that he would now be required to write the medical orders for these drugs. “I felt between a rock and a hard place,” he wrote. If he refused, he reasoned, he would likely be replaced by someone more pliable, and, even if he could stop the drugs, an abrupt withdrawal after years of chronic use would have dire consequences. “With the intention of buying time to learn more about the difficult situation these young ladies faced, I set aside my ethics,” he wrote.

It’s the Most Hated Airline in America. You’ll Miss It When It’s Gone.

Slate Magazine • 15 Oct 2024 • ~2950 words • Archive Link

Spirit Airlines may be one of the most loathed names in air travel, but this piece explores the reasons why we might miss it if it were to disappear. As the airline faces financial turmoil and potential bankruptcy, the article delves into how its ultra-low-cost model has inadvertently kept ticket prices down for all travelers.

So wait: If Spirit’s passengers are miserable—and if onlookers at neighboring gates are smirking stupidly, safe in the knowledge that they don’t have the misfortune of flying that dreaded airline, as I swear I experienced in Florida—what makes it so good for people? Why should those Delta flyers with shit-eating grins be grateful for pathetic little Spirit? As I boarded the plane that day, I wanted to know if Young had been onto something. As it turned out, almost every expert on air travel I spoke to agreed: If Spirit does perish, you will miss it. You just don’t know how much it’s already done for you.