Random findings and notes. A combined link and noteblog about things that could enlighten, surprise or even create frustration.
The word Menem comes from my daughter as a mispronunciation for the Swedish word “Nämen” from when she was a kid. “Nämen” is a surprised “really?” or “I did not know that”. I thought it could be a suitable name for this section.
The Word from Wuhan – London Review of Books
A first hand perspective on China and the Corona virus, from a woman in quarantine in Wuhan. It is about disinformation, politics, panic and human behaviour. Well worth the read to get a first hand perspective for us far away from China and Wuhan and how things are happened when the virus was discovered and how life has been since.
Patagonia makes entire bag collection from recycled plastic bottles
Patagonia must be one of the worlds most honest and great companies. Now they makes bags from recycled plastic bottles. A 55l duffelbag requires 33 plastic bags. This reduces the amount of plastic laying around or used as landfills around the world. More companies should look into similar initiatives.
The Jungle Prince of Delhi – NYT
For 40 years, journalists chronicled the eccentric royal family of Oudh, deposed aristocrats who lived in a ruined palace in the Indian capital. It was a tragic, astonishing story. But was it true?
Ghost ships, crop circles, and soft gold: A GPS mystery in Shanghai – MIT Technology Review
Cargo ships in Shanghai are disappearing and popping up in strange locations forming circles. Is it criminal activity to avoid detection by Chinese government or military experiments interfering with the GPS-system. Warfare or criminal activity today is vastly different from what it is used to be. This is a great and scary example of how vulnerable we are when new infrastructure, like when the GPS-system is hacked or spoofed.
Max Martin, the powerhouse of pure pop – The Guardian
75 top 10 Billboard singles, 22 No1 singles, third best ever, only beaten by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. This story has been written many times, but can’t be told enough times. The impact Max Martin has had on modern music is impressive to say the least. A shy, non-diva that genuinely seem to be a nice guy.
What Mongolian Nomads Can Teach Us About the Digital Future – Wired
People who pack up and transport their house twice a year become choosy about their possessions. Kevin Kelly from the Wired recently traveled among the nomads of Mongolia for two weeks and had a chance to inspect their belongings. He was there to photograph their traditional practices, which were more intact than he expected.
The Complex situation in Syria – The New YorkerThe complexity of the war in Syria explained through the eyes of the citizens s in Saraqib close to (or part of) Idlib. How did the rebellion start? How come al-Qaida (Nusra) got its foothold? What about US, Russia, Turkey etc?
Russian disinformation: From Cold War to Kanye West – NYT
This three-part video is probably the best description I have seen about how disinformation, subversion, and propaganda (or as part of it is called today, Fake News) is forced upon us in today’s digital/cyber-environment. It is a long-play utilized by governments to influence and destabilize countries. Today boosted by speed and reach, all enabled by social media. When viewed from this historical perspective, it suddenly seems very obvious what has happened.
Predicting the future
12 interesting individuals are predicting the future. They are from different industries with different perspectives, highly enjoyable.
How Macklemore Tapped Major Label Muscle to Market an Indie Album – WSJ
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis won four Grammys Sunday night, including the coveted award for best rap album for 2012’s “The Heist.” Released independently through Macklemore’s own label, Macklemore LLC, the feel-good hip hop album has sold more than 1.2 million copies to date.
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