Segregation Academies & Behind the Pageantry

Featured Articles

In a Town Full of Segregation Academies, One Black Family Grapples With the Best School Choice for Their Daughter

ProPublica • 22 Aug 2024 • ~4000 words

In Macon, Georgia, the legacy of school segregation continues to shape the choices Black families face today. This story follows Zo’e Johnson as her family navigates the complexities of education in a city still marked by racial divides, revealing the tough decisions many parents make in pursuing opportunities for their children. It’s a personal story that reflects broader societal challenges and the ongoing impact of history on today’s students.

The guidance counselor was the worst, with her pursed lips, pearls and horn-rimmed glasses. When Cookie told the counselor she wanted to apply at Mercer University, the woman replied with a sneer and an insult . . . “Go to your own school,” the woman said. In other words, a college for Black students.

Behind the Pageantry of Shen Yun, Untreated Injuries and Emotional Abuse

New York Times • 15 Aug 2024 • ~5100 words • Archive Link

Shen Yun is known for its stunning performances, but behind the dazzling facade lies a troubling reality for many of its young performers. In this piece by The New York Times, former dancers and musicians share their experiences, showing the physical and emotional toll of life in the dance company. It's a compelling look at the sacrifices made in the name of art and belief.

But many of the former dancers and musicians said they pushed themselves to their physical and mental limits because they were taught that performing a flawless Shen Yun show would save their audiences from an approaching apocalypse. It was a message that was constantly reinforced in lessons that instilled a fierce sense of obligation, as well as mistrust of the outside world, they said.

Recommended Articles

“That’s the Way Life Is”

The Ringer • 22 Aug 2024 • ~5200 words • Archive Link

I previously featured an article on BoJack Horseman, and you can rely on me to recommend whatever new long-form content comes out about it. This piece explores the show's impact and legacy, highlighting its unique blend of humor and serious themes, particularly around mental health and personal struggles. It delves into the show's creation, character development, and how it resonated with both its creators and its audience.

BoJack tapped into an eternal truth: When you’re drowning, sometimes the only thing you can do to stay afloat is laugh at your predicament.

How Costco Hacked the American Shopping Psyche

New York Times • 20 Aug 2024 • ~3200 words • Archive Link

Costco has transformed how Americans approach shopping, turning bulk buying into a cultural norm. This piece from The New York Times explores how the retailer has cleverly tapped into consumer psychology, balancing the allure of savings with a desire for indulgence. Discover how Costco has built a loyal following while redefining the shopping experience.

For all its piety, the last thing Costco wants is for shoppers to stick to a budget. On the contrary, it wants them to return to the parking lot balancing a wobbly heap of products they had no intention of buying — a strategy known as “the Costco effect.”

The Silicon Valley Canon: On the Paıdeía of the American Tech Elite

The Scholar's Stage • 21 Aug 2024 • ~2750 words

This piece explores Silicon Valley's distinct intellectual culture, contrasting it with the political elite of Washington, D.C. By examining the books that resonate within the tech community, it highlights how a shared literary canon shapes the mindset of tech innovators and thinkers.

I do not think the average Silicon Valley founder has read all of these titles. But enough of them have read, say, Chernow’s Titan, or Rhodes’ Making of the Atomic Bomb, that the rest of them might be expected to have something intelligent to say about John Rockefeller or Robert Oppenheimer if the topic comes up over the dinner table.

Electricity in South Africa: Postcard from a Dystopian Future

American Affairs Journal • 20 Aug 2024 • ~4650 words

This review essay takes us inside the struggling South African utility, Eskom, once a model of efficiency but now synonymous with chronic power outages. As the country grapples with the reality of load-shedding and the widening gap between those who can afford backup power and those who cannot, this piece sheds light on the complex interplay of politics, corruption, and infrastructure that has led to this situation. This is an interesting read for anyone interested in the challenges of modern utilities and the social implications of energy access.

Done well, a public utility levels up a citizenry. But in South Africa, the utility is a prominent symbol of the class divide that puts the lie to the ANC’s grand promises of a transformed and modern South African republic for all people. After a long period of invulnerability and complacency, it was load-shedding perhaps more than anything else that has finally spurred an electoral feedback loop that put the ANC on its heels.

How to Build a 50,000 Ton Forging Press

construction-physics.com • 21 Aug 2024 • ~2950 words

Do you know how massive components for military aircraft and commercial jets are made? This piece dives into the history and engineering behind the construction of 50,000-ton forging presses, exploring how these monumental machines transformed the aerospace industry and enabled the production of lighter, stronger parts for various applications.

The heavy presses were built specifically for military purposes — making lighter and stronger parts for supersonic aircraft — but once they were built, they proved useful for all sorts of other things, from spacecraft to power systems to commercial aircraft. The U.S. has accrued the benefits of the presses for 70 years and counting, and at least part of America’s success in commercial aircraft manufacturing can be attributed to their existence.

The Insidious Elitist Upshot of Behavioral Economics

jacobin.com • 20 Aug 2024 • ~3450 words

In this thought-provoking piece from Jacobin, the author explores the complex legacy of behavioral economics and its surprising ties to corporate interests. Delving into Daniel Kahneman's influential research, the article reveals how his ideas about human irrationality have been manipulated by elites to undermine jury decisions and protect corporate power. It's a deep dive into how psychology intersects with law and business, raising important questions about the nature of rationality in our society.

Furthermore, the corporate-funded articles were twenty-five times more influential in real court cases. Corporate-funded research was cited in twenty-five separate cases, whereas ordinary university-funded research was only cited in one.

Armed conflict is stressing the bones of the global economy

Vox • 19 Aug 2024 • ~3200 words • Archive Link

As armed conflicts escalate around the globe, our interconnected infrastructure faces unprecedented strain. This article explores how geopolitical tensions disrupt vital shipping routes and air travel, highlighting the unexpected consequences on global trade—from drone attacks in the Red Sea to airspace closures over Ukraine. Read to discover the fragility of our modern logistics networks and the implications for globalization.

But more than merely increasing the cost and the time of shipping, the Houthi attacks have disrupted one of the foundations of the current era of globalization: the certainty of the sea lanes.

The Trouble with Friends

The New Yorker • 17 Aug 2024 • ~4250 words • Archive Link

Friendships can be complicated, especially as we get older. In this thought-provoking essay, the author explores the challenges of maintaining close friendships over time, from the impact of marriage and parenthood to the delicate balance of give-and-take in relationships. But maybe, despite these difficulties, some long-lasting friendships can grow stronger with effort and shared experiences.

It seemed that no one’s parents had friends, and my students couldn’t fathom this, couldn’t fathom it when I admitted (foolishly) to having fewer friends in my thirties than I’d had in my twenties. Horror. Pity. I tried to defend myself. More horror. More pity. How could this happen to a person? How could a person let it happen? No, it would not happen to them.