"
Gordon’s work leads to another theory, one espoused by Cowen himself. Perhaps the Internet is just not as revolutionary as we think it is. Sure, people might derive endless pleasure from it—its tendency to improve people’s quality of life is undeniable. And sure, it might have revolutionized how we find, buy, and sell goods and services. But that still does not necessarily mean it is as transformative of an economy as, say, railroads were.
That is in part because the Internet and computers tend to push costs toward zero, and have the capacity to reduce the need for labor. You are, of course, currently reading this article for free on a Web site supported not by subscriptions, but by advertising. You probably read a lot of news articles online, every day, and you probably pay nothing for them. Because of the decline in subscriptions, increased competition for advertising dollars, and other Web-driven dynamics, journalism profits and employment have dwindled in the past decade. (That Cowen writes a freely distributed blog and published his ideas in a $4 e-book rather than a $25 glossy airport hardcover should not go unnoted here.) Moreover, the Web- and computer-dependent technology sector itself does not employ that many people. And it does not look set to add workers: The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment in information technology, for instance, will be lower in 2018 than it was in 1998.
"
— The productivity paradox: Why hasn’t the Internet helped the American economy grow more? - By Annie Lowrey - Slate Magazine
"I am an outlaw, a troubadour, a world traveler, a born again romantic. I am grounded yet prone to flights of fancy and / or midnight cupcake hunts. I am athletic yet like oysters and know how to eat them. I am easy-going yet firm in my beliefs (high fiber, good scotch, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days. Yes I liked that speech, too). I like to laugh at myself as often as I can and once cooked blue spaghetti for 12 people. I think that road trips can be a transcendental experience, if unplanned. When I say “let’s pack our bags and move to a farmhouse in Tuscany” I want someone who will reach for the closet and start packing. A friend and confidante, a partner in crime, a co-pilot in secret explorations. A thinker, a doer, a lover, a fighter, a laureate. Also, must love porridge and power-tools."
— Tom Shone explores the secret art of Online personal ads: Beware the “feisty” woman - Slate
"I’ve always thought the secret to Mad Men”s success is that it’s ultimately a very fannish show—it’s like science fiction in disguise. There’s the fetishistic attention to environmental detail—what sci-fi and fantasy readers refer to as “world-building”—and all the bits of hidden trivia that dedicated viewers take delight in spotting, collecting, and sharing. (Tell me again—what’s that dirty Japanese painting hanging in Bert Cooper’s office?)"
— Brow Beat : The Mystery of “Mad Men”
"As of 2010, the most-common Caps Lock users are enraged Internet commenters and the computer-illiterate elderly."
— Google’s decision to abandon Caps Lock.
(via nesbittslimesoda-deactivated201)
"O, by Thomas Friedman
The situation room was dark and shadowy. Five-star General Donald Patroclus was explaining the new Afghanistan strategy to O.
“Afghanistan is like a burrito,” he said. “When you bite one end, a little bean juice is gonna come out the other.”
O looked intrigued. “Go on.” “So you need two things. First, you need to make a better tortilla. Wheat instead of cornmeal. Then you gotta wrap it tight. And then, just in case, you need napkins—lots and lots of napkins.”
“That makes perfect sense,” said O.
“But really, it’s all about India. See, India’s like a giant bag of Funyuns …"
—
Barack Obama Anonymous Novel: What if Tom Friedman or Rahm Emanuel wrote it? - By Christopher Beam - Slate Magazine
These are hit or miss (with Palin and Biden being two of the misses), but the hits are pretty solid. This and Maureen Dowd in particular.
"Lennon and McCartney did, to use the precious phrase, complete each other. “Paul’s presence did serve to keep John from drifting too far into obscurity and self-indulgence,” said Pete Shotton, a Liverpool boy who stayed in the Beatles’ circle, “just as John’s influence held in check the more facile and sentimental aspects of Paul’s songwriting."
— Inside the Lennon/McCartney connection- By Joshua Wolf Shenk - Slate Magazine
