Long Reads #24 Special Edition: Understanding Media through Google

Hey, if you read my review yesterday (or follow me on Google+), you'd know that I'm taking this course called Understanding Media by Understanding Google. It's a really interesting course, and since this is the last week, I thought I'd share some of the readings that we were given. Click on the titles to get to the different articles(:

Pay to play: Can YouTube succeed with its paid channel subscriptions? by Janko Roettgers - I haven't had to pay for anything on Youtube, but I know of shows I will be willing to pay for. For example, if Toggle decides to charge to watch Phua Chu Kang (local Singapore comedy - I watch it whenever I'm feeling homesick) on Youtube, I would. Especially since Toggle doesn't stream it outside of Singapore. But, as a past Crunchyroll view who stopped once they started paying, I can say this much: If it's free somewhere online, I may not want to pay for it.

Is Google Making Us Stupid?: This paper talks about whether the Internet is changing how our brains work. For example, does it decrease our ability to absorb long essays and novels? Well, judging by the number of book blogs, I would say not. But what if we're an anomaly? I'd actually like to see some data for this, the statistical calculations would be fun to do.

The Freight Train That Is Android: What is Google's business model? This paper argues that not only does Google use a castle-and-moats strategy (castle = great business, moat = defence), they also scorch the earth, making it impossible, or at least very difficult, for others to compete with it. If you're into business, you'll want to read this paper.

Google+ Won (Or Why Google Never Needed a Social Network) - This is a short article, but it looks as Google+ not as a competitor to facebook, but as "the connective tissue between all of Google’s formerly scattered services." If you look at it this way, then despite all the complaints, yes, Google+ is a success.

Minus its leader, what's left at Google+ - After Vic Gundotra left, there was a lot of speculation about what would happen to Google+. One of the speculations in this article is that the Google+ stream would disappear. Say it isn't so!

This is really just a small selection of the readings. There are also quite a few books to read (I got my hands on two, the second review will come soon! The rest, I will find when I go back to Singapore). If you're interested in Google and/or Social Media, you should definitely take this course the next time it's available.

Long Reads #23

It has been ages since I did a long reads post. I haven't been reading much essays lately, and my Saturday nights (where I normally type and post this) have been taken up with various stuff. So here's a hodgepodge of long for essays that caught my eye.


Who Killed Lois Duncan's Daughter? - Louise Duncan wrote the book (turned movie) "I Know What You Did Last Summer". Sadly, her daughter was murdered, and they haven't been able to find out what happened to her.

Buzzfeed's Founder used to write Marxist theory and it explains Buzzfeed perfectly - Funnily enough, the piece above was from Buzzfeed. But, this piece is talking about those never ending lists "25 signs that...." that supposedly have link to marxism in making a collective identity.

Funworld by Kevin Moffett - The author didn't intend to end up working at a magazine targeted at amusement parks, but he did. I'm not sure if I'll ever want to read the magazine (it sounds really technical), but his description of his work was fascinating. It just goes to show that not all magazine jobs are alike (comparing his description to descriptions about fashion magazines)

Cinema Tarantino: The Making of Pulp Fiction by Mark Seal, Annie Leibovitz - I'm not sure why I picked this up, since I can't recall a single film by Tarantino that I've watched, but this article made me want to watch Pulp Fiction. It's a look at how the movie came to be, how the actors were cast, and how it was promoted when it came out.

How To Not Be The Biggest Asshole In Media by Deadspin.com - The actual title was really long (it contains a colon followed by "4 lessons I learned from meeting Jay Mariotti and reading his awful book"), but the piece is entertaining. I don't watch ESPN, so as an outsider, I found this to be interesting. I'm not sure what ESPN fans would thing though.

Royal Bodies by Hilary Mantel - Did you read Wolfhall? I did and I quite liked it (it seems like I didn't do a review - time for a re-read!). Hilary Mantel tackles the modern day royalty in this piece, and her disapproval of what Princess Kate is like (too perfect and not human enough). I personally quite like Princess Kate, although I don't follow news about her fanatically. So hmm.... I'm not sure where I stand on this piece.

Have you been reading any long form essays lately?

Long Reads #22

After so long! I'm back with another Long Reads post! It's book-themed and I hope you enjoy it!

'Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride': or WTF YAlitchat by April (Good Books & Wine)- This is really just a blogpost/rant, but it's awesome! I may be a small blogger without much influence, but I know there are blogs whose reviews can sell books. And as a reader that does buy book, bloggers do play a part - if it's a blogger I admire and that I've agreed with before, I tend to give more weight to their reviews. Even if it's a blogger with whom I differ (in terms of taste), their review matters too - sometimes, I'll like something someone else doesn't and vice versa.

Book Bloggers Are People, Too by Amanda Hocking - This is a response to the above post, and it's by an author that support book bloggers. If you weren't convinced by April, you should be convinced by an author right? She even tells you straight out that book bloggers do sell books.

Ten Questions on Jane Austen by John Mullan - You know, I think I read a book like this before. And after a bit of searching, I realised that I've reviewed the book from which this came before: What Matters In Jane Austen by John Mullan. So if you don't know about this book, you could read my review ^, read the article and then buy the book ;D

Diary: Fanfic by Katherine Arcement - I used to read a lot of fanfic. I still do actually, and contrary to the author's experience, not all of it is erotica. I remember reading one moving Teen Titans fanfic about Bulimia, and well, now I read those heart-warming (mafia)family fics for KHR. The article is an interesting look at the world of fanfiction - and it's something that I think does not get enough credit.

I actually have more book-related essays that I haven't read, but I think I'll save that for a later post.

If you need the links to any of these essays (none of them are behind a firewall), let me know!

Long Reads #21

I really wanted to do a book-centered long-reads post, but I ended up reading a bunch of different articles. They're all really interesting though, and I think my opinion the first article may get me reviled.

Death in Singapore by Raymond Bonner and Christine Spolar - Basically, Shane Todd was murdered, the Singapore police is incompetent and we want the FBI to lead the investigation despite the fact that this isn't America. Oh please. I actually have faith in the Singapore police force. And Singapore is no lackey of China and there's no way we would interfere with an investigation and move it in China's favour. And we aren't the lackey of the USA either - Why should we let the FBI in? We're a sovereign nation. I understand that you may not want to accept that your son killed himself (as a Christian, I understand the implications), but the way to go is not to blame another country. And yes, I know as a Christian, all this anger is un-Christianlike, but really, I can't stay calm while my country is insulted. (Although what convinced me that he wasn't murdered was when I learnt that the much vaulted thumbdrive was handed to the Todd Family in the presence of US embassy staff rather than being found by them, as they claimed.)

Mad Men - And the Women Who Love Them by Sarah-Jane Collins - Boy, am I glad that I wasn't born in the time of Mad Men. And while I haven't actually seen the show (whoops), I really do want to watch it now. I'm not sure if I can take the sexism though (I know it's an accurate portrayal, but I can't help but think that my blood pressure would be raised anyway).

If You Call It Art, Is It Still A Crime? by Mike Bowers - This was really interesting. But ultimately, I think that if you didn't take the image yourself, but only edited it, you have to cite the original photographer. I don't really care if you made it 100 times better, it's still someone else's work. It's like the difference between Homage and Plagiarism.

She stole another's identity, and she took her secret to the grave. Who was she? by Maureen O'Hagan - This was a really interesting read. It's about Jane Doe, a woman who stole the identity of another women called Lori Ruff and lived a lie for many many years. Well, her life with a stolen identity wasn't happy and her death was quite tragic. But I really am curious, who is she, and why did she feel the need for a fresh start?

What have you been reading recently?

Long Reads #20

Oh my, I haven't reviewed my long reads in such a long time! HAHAHAHA, I crack myself up. Whoops, was I the only one laughing? Well, I shouldn't, because some of the essays I want to share today are extremely serious.

It's 2013, And They're Burning 'Witches' by Jo Chandler - I came across this on Facebook (strange right? Normally it's Google+). A friend had shared this, and well, it was something that sparked my re-interest in long-form essays. It covers the witchhunt going on right now in Papua New Guinea and it's heartbreaking. I can't believe that people would take out their frustrations on a helpless person. And this person is mostly women. It's just sad.

Activists allege forced abortions, sterilizations in China by Ashely Hayes - ok, this is more of a news article than an essay, but seriously, this is, I don't know. Why did I end up reading stuff that picks on my gender? This is just sad. (Also, the title speaks for itself, so I don't think I really need to summarise this horrific piece).

The global world order after oil by Barry Desker - I think energy is an issue that concerns all of us, but the science behind it, well, I don't understand most of it. Thankfully, this piece was more on how oil (and the alternative energy) influences global politics, a subject that I find interesting - especially as a former MUN-er. Definitely worth a read.

Are You 'the Polite Little Girl in the Room'? by Joan Williams - This short piece deals with how women don't assert themselves in the workplace. It really reminds me of how each gender is viewed in a different light, i.e. an assertive guy is a good, but an assertive women just gets a lot of names. Well, I'm not that polite, but I still struggle to volunteer criticism - it's something I definitely have to work on.

Alright, that's all I have so far - but, I did find a bunch of really interesting looking articles to read! I hope I can find the time to do so(:

Long Reads #19

How Crazy Is Too Crazy to Be Executed by Marc Brookman - This long, engrossing, occasionally disturbing piece follows a murderer called Andre Thomas. It traces through his family background, to his crime, and finally, to him in death row. After reading this, I just find it sad that Andre Thomas has never gotten the help he needs. And please, when a guy gouges out his own eye, it's a clear sign that he needs medical help, not that he's trying to gain the pity of the jury.

The Princess and the Trolls: The Heartrending Legend of Adalia Rose, the Most Hated Six-Year-Old Girl on the Internet by Camille Dodero - The (really long) title basically sums it up. This is a piece about how Adalia Rose became famous, and then trolled. Adalia suffers from progeria, a disease whose carriers tend to have an average lifespan of 13 years old. That means Adalia is at middle-age. I do understand some trolling (as in the Alvin, Yuki and Zoe Raymond affair - Why on earth did Zoe Raymond intentionally break up an engaged couple?), but this? To a poor little six-year-old girl? That's just sad.

Kiki Kannibal: The Girl Who Played With Fire by Sabrina Rubin Erdely - I've never heard of Kiki Kannibal, but apparently she's an Internet sensation and also the target of some serious web attacks. But the my main reactions was one of pity. It's so sad that she feels that relationships with people she doesn't know (and I doubt it's the kind of relationships built on common interests) are the deepest she has. And also, what were her parents thinking? Creativity does not mean immodesty.

The Web Shatters Focus, Rewires Brains by Nicholas Carr - In a nutshell, we can't multitask. Also, the more hyperlinks a text has, the less content we remember. Now, what does that mean about going to Wikipedia? Hmm.... somehow, this reminds me of ebooks. I wonder if I should do a post about my feelings on ebooks. It might be nice to rant.

A Chinese Hacker's Identity Unmasked by Dune Lawrence and Michael Riley  - Some people think China sends hackers after people/the US. China says they don't. In this article, the former view is taken, and the reader is shown how they track down hackers. Why can't we all just get along?

The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food by Michael Moss - Ever wondered why once you start eating snacks you can't stop? (In my case, I may have no appetite, but if you give me a cheesy snack/salt-and-vinegar flavoured snack, I can polish of the whole bag) Well, this article explains why they're so addictive. But looking at the first photo - I want some cheesy Doritos!

A Loaded Gun by Patrick Radden Keefe - Well, looking at this story, I see a protective mom, who kept protecting her (possibly mentally unstable) daughter, who ended up pulling a gun. I wonder, if she was given treatment and medication, would this have happened?

I realised I have more articles than I realised. What have you been reading?

Long Reads #18

I'm finally back with another Long Reads post! Hisashiburi desu ne~ (It's been a long time). This time, I'm focusing on book-ish essays:

My Father's "Eviscerated" Work by Raphaëlle Rérolle - This is actually a really good essay about Tolkien's legacy, and a little of what his family thought about it. For example, the Lord of the Ring film studios didn't want to pay royalties to the estate. That's not very fair. And sadly, the estate has no way to make sure that the films are true to the books (so if you don't like the films, just blame the producers).

It Matters if You're Black or White: The Racism of YA Book Covers by Annie Schutte - This is actually a really thought provoking covers. Even though I buy books based on whether the cover is attractive, I don't normally think much about the cover afterwards. She does make a compelling case for a bias towards Caucasian characters though.

YA Book Post - Whitewashing Covers by Diana Peterfreund - And here, one of the authors featured in the above article to say that her cover was accurate (surprise!). And yes, it does seem as though her protagonist is white, even though the word "brown" was used at one point. I think the point to take back from the two articles is: some covers are accurate, and some are not. Let's do all we can to change the inaccurate ones.

Royal Bodies by Hilary Mantel - I'm including this under the "books" category because Hilary Mantel is an awesome writer. Yes, this is the article that had everyone in shock because she said some bad things about Kate Middleton, but the real focus of this article is really how women like Marie Antionette and Anne Boleyn have been portrayed. A really good look if you're into historical fiction.

On Travelogues by Ian Manley - If you were to read only one article from here, read this one. It's so awesome that clicking the title will link you to the page (It's that good!). I may even subscribe to their RSS feed(; And this isn't in the article (but appeared when I saved to readability), but there's also a list of "enduring Travelogues in the Public Domain". This is a really great introduction to the history of the travelogue (also bemoaning how most travel blogs nowadays are awful - oops! I think my other blog falls under this!), and I think I'm going to read more travelogues as a result. Any reccomendations?

What about you? What have you been reading?

Long Reads #17

New Year, new articles to read! I didn't have a particular reading theme this time, but I suspect I'll focus on books for my next post ^^

The Rise of the New Global Elite by Chrystia Freelan - Do you know about the super rich? They're known as "plutocrats" and they're way above what you or me imagine in terms of income. Think 10, 20 million a year. This article (it's about 13 pages long in pdf format) is a good introduction to this super-rich, including the difference between them and the traditionally rich, and how they're affecting the economy. Frankly, I'm intruiged, and I want to find out more. If you know of any such articles, send them my way please~

How to Survive a Stepfamily by Anstey Spraggan - To be honest, the title caught my eye. I think it's an interesting article, although it's really more for parents of stepfamilies than anyone else. The message is: Don't feel guilty for the negative emotions you might face.

The New Old Way of Learning Languages by Ernest Blum- I've never heard of this method of learning a language, called Hamiltonian System (basically, by reading interlinear translations). I do agree on the need for students to read widely for texts, but I do wonder, is a good compromise what my school is doing now? First learn grammar, then learn from a variety of texts (vocabulary and new grammar points).

The Omnivore by Brad Stone - So bascially, Amazon.com is achieving dominance, and now with the kindle fire.... It's an interesting read, but I don't think I've quite figured out where I stand on the Amazon issue. I do like the indie bookshops, but I quite like Amazon too.

"Brainwashed" Foreigners in Japan by Japan Probe - Yeah, I'm not the "Japan is awesome" -insert hearts in eyes-, but I'm not the "Japan is terrible" camp either. I'm a realist. And this is what I'm going to give to people who tell me how terrible Japan is. If you think I came here with unrealistic expectations, you're wrong. And just because I'm mostly positive about Japan doesn't mean I don't know/ignore/am in denial about the negative aspects.

So, what have you been reading since the new year?

Long Reads #16

This time, I've been reading mainly book-ish articles.

Don't Support Your Local Bookstore by Farhad Manjoo - It makes a very interesting case of why you should not shop at an Independent Bookstore. Personally, I like the limited selection, because it's a very good way to browse and find something completely new. Something that rarely happens on Amazon (I may find something different from what I intended, but it all starts with a search term)

Amazon's Jungle Logic by Richard Russo - This is actually the article that sparked Don't Support Your Local Bookstore as a response. So you can tell, it's a defense of the bookstore. Or rather, the defense of the reputation of the bookstore, as more than merely a place for buying books.

They Cracked This 250 Year-Old Code, And Found a Secret Society Inside by Noah Schatman - It's a really interesting article on how computers can be useful. And of course, teamwork too. It's also a really indirect case for inter-disciplinary coorperation - there's no one expert who has the definitive word.

Don't Look for e-Literature in Novels by Dan Holloway - I will be the first to admit, I don't understand most modern Literature. Or Modern Art. Personally, I prefer the times when (to quote Clarice) "pictures showed people or even things" (approximate quote). The same goes for novels, I like the narrative to be understandable. I still haven't mastered Ulesyss by James Joyce. It took me very long to read Mrs Dalloway, and I still don't understand it. In fact, one of my favourite authors to study is Shakespeare. But if you like the new styles of writing, give this article a go.

The Story Behind a Non-Fiction Novel  by George Plimpton - Can Nonfiction be Literature? Well, I studied The Art of Travel for Literature so I'm guessing yes. And if you think about it, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, is an awesome autobiography that utilises fiction techniques. So the answer is definitely yes. The article gave me another book to look up: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

My 6,1288 Favourite Books by Joe Queenan - If you remembered, I reviewed One For The Books by the same author some time back. And after I posted it, Yvonne from Fiction Books posted a comment alerting me to this article. If you haven't read One For The Books (and you should), go look up this article. You can treat it as a teaser for the book.

What articles have you been reading?

Long Reads #15

It's not just because it's NaNo now, but I've been saving articles on reading. Because reading about reading is awesome~ (Admit it, that sentence made you smile). So this week, I read:

Reading in a Whole New Way by Kevin Kelly- A look at how the rise in e-readers change our reading habits. Personally, I prefer paper, but when you can't get the books that way, you'll change to a screen. I do think, however, that it has affected my reading habits. I'm actually reading more than one book at a time now (it did take a year or so to happen though, so it helps).

Your E-Book is Reading You by Alexandra Alter - It's kind of scary, how companies will take your data and analyse it. Part of the fun for me, is finding a book you didn't think you'd like. I doubt an algorithm could do that. It almost makes me reconsider getting a kindle. Almost. I'm waiting till it starts selling to see the reviews, so I have quite some time to think about it.

Bound for Posterity by Joseph Connolly - Ok, the Folio Society is my latest craze. I'm really a sucker for pretty books. Pretty physical books. I just wish I have the money to buy it. And a way to buy it. This article though, kind of satisfies my curiosity of the Society by giving a really interesting look at it, from the kind of members to the employees.

How Not To Write a Novel: A Step by Step Guide to Failure by Anita Sethi- This is not an essay, but it's a very hilarious list of things you shouldn't do if you want to finish writing a novel. Highly recommended, especially since NaNo is ending.

The Library of Utopia by Nicholas Carr- Is it possible to have the ultimate library online? This article sums up the controversy and provides what I think is a balanced look at both sides - Google and those against Google.

What have you been reading?

Long Reads #14

This week, I just read a random collection of articles. I hope you enjoy them! (Although really, I found the crime articles a little bit disturbing.

Tokyo Hooters Girls by Paige Ferrari - American things are really popular in Japan, and this article explores what is really famous in America (but unknown in Asia). I thought the article was a pretty interesting description of how certain cultural aspects have to change in order to appeal to the Japanese. But the ending of the virtual girlfriend, I don't quite understand how that ties in with the article. This is if, of course, you assume as I do that this article is about importing business between cultures, rather than being a comment about Japanese culture (which wouldn't fit anyway).

Inside the Sex-Offender Cluster of One Long Island Town by Jennifer Gonnerman - What happens to Sex Offenders (or other criminals for that matter) when they're released? Well, they group together, not because they're planning another crime, but because there are only so many places that will rent to them. The most common worry is - are they really reformed?

The Truck Stop Killer by Vanessa Veselka - When the author was a teengaer, she was almost killed by a trucker that she hitch-hiked from. Many years later, she tries to find out if her would-be murderer is the same sick serial killer. Through this, we see how there's a whole subculture, where a women is seen as next to nothing, and can go missing for weeks without being noticed. And into this, a truly sick human being choose to take advantage of them. I have never hitchhiked, and now, I never will.

How Our Brains Stop Us From Achieving Our Goals (and How to Fight Back) by Lifehacker.com - Not technically a long essay, but it's a useful article. I mean, everyone has their own goals right? That we fail at? (Or is that only me?). So, this article should help.

Land of the Rising Fun by John Bradley - Japan sounds really fun! And this guide focuses on the nature-y things to do. Among them (like skiing! I want to learn to ski!), there are some that aren't mentioned, like this scary sounding rope bridge that you can walk across. Seriously, it's in Tokushima, and I want to walk across that bridge one day (Ok, I want to see someone walk across. I may not make it :p)

What did you read this week?

Long Reads #13

This week, it's just a collection of random stories. I've been reading less and less long essays though...

How Mormon's Make Money by Caroline Winter - After reading The Moroni Deception (link to review), I realised that I saved this article. To be honest, I'm still confused on how earning megabucks counts as spiritual. I understand how doing everything for God is holy (listen to Do Everything by Steven Curtis Chapman!), but for mere profit? Way to keep your eyes on Heaven.

Cat People by Louse Menand - It's on Dr Seuss and ... um, I think the cold war. I was really more interested in Dr Seuss than the political interpretations of his work. I mean, I have friends who still love Cat in The Hat, and I love Oh The Places You'll Go while almost leaving our teen years.

Cradle to Grave by Stephen Fried - This one's a crime article, along the lines of did they do it? If 10 babies all die mysteriously (supposedly due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), does that make the mother a cold-hearted murderer, or a pitiful woman? Add in the suspicions of the forensic department and well, you have a cold case that's heating up.

Can Tumblr's David Karp Embrace Ads Without Selling Out? by Rob Walker - Personally, my use of Tumblr is on-off. Sometimes I reblog a lot, sometimes I don't. I don't find it as intuitive as many people though, so I suppose it may just be me and my lack of technology know-how.

In Plain View by Malcolm Gladwell - To be honest, I only read this article because it was written by Malcolm Gladwell. But like his other articles, this brings a whole new light on a topic that you thought you knew. It's true that I tend to think of child molesters as perverted old men, but this article shows how they can be popular young people - and that's how they get away with it. I recommend reading this article so that you know when it's too much (if you already don't), and to stop yourself from being fooled.

Long Reads #12

Thanks to a spotlight by Byliner, these week(s) articles are focused on relationships (mainly online dating :p)

Love in the time of no time by Jennifer Egan - Even if I didn't see the published date of 2003, it's easy to tell this article is a little dated; after all, it speaks of Friendster as "recent". Which means that what this article depicts may be really different from what's going on now. But basically, the message is: online dating is getting less and less stigma-lised. And I suppose that it has continued to do so. I can't tell though, I've never used any of those sites.

How Do I Love Thee by Lori Gottlieb - This article takes an in-depth look at dating sites. From what I see, they all emphasize on being scientific. What I'm wondering at this point of time is - doesn't anyone have any hobbies? Or do they just go out to work, go to drink and then go home. Maybe they should join a club or something.

Is Online Dating Destroying Love? by Stuart Deffries - A recent article (published in Feb) looking at a negative effect of the rise in online dating - the rise in casual sex. Enough reason for me not to go onto any online sites, no matter how desperate I may get in the future. And this is unrelated, but I thought the humour in the article was appropriate and a nice touch.

Casting the Net from The Caravan - This article focuses on online dating in India. It was quite interesting, especially looking at how firms had to greatly adapt their model to this new market. Hmm.... apart from India, what about Japan? I haven't met any, but I've heard about hikikomori, people who just stay in their room and don't go out. But then again, most people here seem really sociable....

Adventurous SWF Seeking Soul Mate Gets Hottie (And Bothered) by Rachel Lehmann-Haupt - This last article is a personal account of the author's attempt to find love through online dating. It doesn't look good for technology, seeing as that by the end of the article, she met her boyfriend with absolutely no help from the online dating site. And by the way, what does SWF mean?

So, what interesting articles did you read this week?

Long Reads #11

I'm trying a new way of writing, in hopes that it means that I can read more articles and write more about them too! This time, I focused on Singapore. Yes, I'm homesick.

Disneyland with the Death Penalty by William Gibson - I'm assuming that this piece was written a long long time ago because it feels dated. And honestly, how is Singapore like Disneyland? We only just got a USS. Apparently, Singapore is too boring, except for the death penalty. Well.... when I went to America, it was, interesting (if you count seeing a lady walk a man with a leash and collar interesting) but still, it just made me decide that I didn't not want to live there. I think there's something under appreciated about peace and quiet (and a healthcare system that is somewhat affordable).

Singapore by Ian Burma - Again, something written really long ago. If anyone knows long-form essays written about Singapore published recently, please tell me. These articles seem to value journalistic freedom very highly, without considering if the papers sued by the goverment/ Lee family really did commit libel. I don't know the facts so I can't say much, but that's why I read articles like that.

The Place to Disappear by Susan Orlean - I forgot that the Singapore Sling is a famous drink (don't ask me why). This article is actually about one particular road in Thailand that's the destination for back-packing tourists. It's an interesting article and reads like a travel article.

The Singapore Solution by Mark Jacobson - The article is fairly recent, published only two years ago. And I think out of all the articles I read, this was the most balanced article. Yes, he does talk about Singapore's censorship, but he also mentions that it's a trade-off for peace and prosperity. And I thought he made some good points about the internet. Plus, he got to interview the (ex)MM Lee Kuan Yew, which yielded interesting insights. If you're going to read about Singapore, this is the article to read.

What about you?

Long Reads #10

I'm back! I still haven't been able to get much reading done, but it's better than nothing~

Beat Boutique by Lindsay Zoladz - This essay was about something called a music library. I've never heard of it before, but apparently, that's where a lot of the jingles in the commercials come from. It's quite an interesting look, because it uses music libraries and explores the whole commercialism in art idea.

When S'mores aren't enough: the New Economics of Summer Camp by Natasha Singer - I wish I could go to summer camp. It sounds really fun. But then again, I'm not a fan of nature. I don't dislike it, but I prefer to appreciate nature from the comfort of an air-conditioned room, away from bugs. If more and more kids are like me, than it might explain why summer camp is struggling. To be honest, I've never thought of this before, the biggest impression summer camp has left on me was that it was in The Parent Trap. But it does sound like a viable idea, and it'll be nice to see if the business model could be tweaked without changing the essence of summer camp.

The Worst Marriage in Georgetown by Franklin Foer - This is a look into how naive Washington can be sometime, and at an unscrupulous guy who, well, I'm not sure what his motives are. But apart from trying to fool the elite in Washington, he also abused (and killed) his wife, who's about forty years older than him (if I remember correctly).

The People Own Ideas by Lawrence Lessig - A look as to how the open source economy works. Personally, I'm all in favour of open source, but then again, I don't exactly have the cash to spend. But I suppose that if I was an author or something, I'd want people to pay for my books. But as a counter-example, Paulo Coehlo actually calls on his readers to pirate his books, because he believes that this increases demand and ultimately book sales.

Let's Try to Think This iPad Mini Thing All The Way Through by John Gruber - an iPad mini? Personally, I just want an iPad 3 with retina graphics (and 3G access, I want Internet on my iPad). But if an iPad mini is really affordable, I might be tempted into buying it, especially for reading and such. But in that case, wouldn't the kindle (or the kobo) be a better choice?

And on an unrelated but important note, Happy Teachers Day to all teachers! I've had many teachers and most of you have always encouraged me to read and explore (and I'm sorry for always reading under my desk during lessons).

Long Reads #9

Woah, I've been cutting down on the number of essays I've been reading lately. Maybe it's because I don't have wifi, so I can't update.... :/ Anyway, the (relatively few) essays I've read:

My Father and Me: A Spy Story by Yudhijit Bhattacharjee - Contrary to what it's title might suggest, this isn't a work of fiction. It actually details how a Benedict turncoat got his son to betray his country as well. It's actually really sad because at it's very core, it's a tale of how petty revenge led to the destruction of another innocent life. I really have no sympathy for the father, while I find the son quite pitiable.

Vanishing Voices by Russ Rymer - I'm either unlucky or lucky to be the heir of two very widely spoken languages - English and Chinese (Mandarin and Hokkien). Which is why, I never knew that there were languages that were endangered or even about to be extinct (if not extinct). It's really a pity, because I think there are words in every language that are untranslatable, and that we should preserve languages if only to hold on to that special way of viewing the world. And speaking of language, as I start to finish books in Japanese (I need to finish them....), I will be introducing bilingual reviews (English and Japanese, not Chinese!).

Does Meritocracy Work? by Ross Douthat - To me, it's natural that I should go to university. And I dare say that it's the norm for a lot of you. But I never knew that universities could be so unfair in their admissions. (Ok, this is about US universities, but I worry on behalf of my friends). But I don't know how we can improve on their process, or to even give a critique because I'm not well-informed enough. Still, this is an article everyone should read, because it's food for thought.

Well, three articles this week. But I did write more about each article. So I guess the ideal number would be between three and seven, to strike a balance between quantity and depth.

So, what did you read this week?

Longreads #7

Woohoo! I've actually made it to week 7 of this project. I can't believe I went for so long without reading a few long articles a week. Especially since I don't have access to the newspaper everyday, these are what allow me to connect to the outside world. So this week, in preparation for my trip to Hokkaido, I focused on Japan-related articles.

Japan After the Earthquake and Tsunami by Evan Osnos: This article, like it's title, explains the immediate situation after 3/11. I watched the news broadcasts on that fateful day, but more than a year later, it's starting to fade. This is a timely reminder that the after-effects are still being felt today.

Graduation Day by Chris Heath: Probably the saddest article of the whole group. After reading this, I felt like crying. It poignantly describes one school's reaction to the earthquake and the fates of a few, unlucky students. The article is a good reminder that while it's easy to look back and criticise, making the right decision in the present is a much harder (and very different) task.

If You Knew Sushi by Nick Tosches: You'd think that you know all about sushi. But you're wrong. This long but entertaining article talks about the history of sushi (particularly in America) and the author's experience with the slightly strange sushi you can get. Strangely, I don't remember reading about the American-created sushi like the California roll or Spam musubi...

Uniqlones by Bryant Urstadt: When Uniqlo came to Singapore, it became an instant hit. Now that I'm in Japan, one of my favourite stores is Uniqlo (I was very excited to find a store near Tobitakyu today ^^). This article takes a look at how Uniqlo works and attempts to find out why it's so successful.

Cheap, Chic, and Made for All: How Uniqlo Plans To Take Over Casual Fashion by Jeff Chu: This article is similar to Uniqlones, but here, the author has managed to interview the man himself - Yanai-san. Plus, this article also looks at Uniqlo's history (which is actually really interesting), as well as it's retail operations.

I Sing The Body Electric by Margaret Wappler: This article is about vocaloids. Specifically, Hatsune Miku. Just up till recently, I didn't listen to vocaloid music. Thanks to my friend Becks. who introduced me to the Evilious Chronicles by Mothy, I am hooked. One great thing about vocaloid music that the article didn't really discuss was how the user-generated songs have really great story lines (really, just listen to any song in the Evilious Chronicles). But why didn't the article mention the other vocaloids like Rin and Len?

Let's Die Together by David Samuels: In Japan, the suicide rate is scarily high. Really really scarily high. This article takes an in-depth look at this phenomenon and even interviews people on the suicide websites.

Love in 2D by Lisa Katayama: This is the Japan that is most frequently seen on websites. The weird Japan where people fall in love with characters that don't exist. But this article doesn't treat them like some freakshow, rather, it examines it as a trend.

Japan, Ink: Inside the Manga Industrial Complex by Daniel H. Pink: A look at the manga industry (the other famous product of Japan). Personally, it doesn't say anything new to the manga fan (well, this is if you define fan as someone who reads beyond the super popular manga and considers the industry as well). This article will explain to you why the tightening IP laws are actually a cause for worry (and really, you could just read The Knockoff Economy and use this as a case study).

Well, even though I'm living in Japan, these articles have made me even more excited for the upcoming trip! I won't be posting during that period (I refuse to lug my laptop around), but hopefully, I can prepare some posts ahead of time(:

What did you read this week?

Longform Reads #5

This has been a fairly slow week, reading-wise, for me. I didn't finish many books, but thankfully, there were periods of times where I needed to read (and tada~ something of the right length). And I didn't have a "theme" that I read, but rather, a bunch of assorted articles.

School 'Reform' by Diane Ravitch - This essay looks at two aspects of school reform, one aiming to pull up a student's scores and the other aimed at their emotional adjustment. There's something in the article that mentioned that America has never tested well. Well, they made it sound like it wasn't important, but is that because the wrong kind of tests were given?

Autistic and Seeking a Place in an Adult World by Amy Harmon - I have a bias/vested interest in reading this article. One of my cousins is mildly autistic, and since he's the same age as my brother, I have always wondered what will happen to him when he grows up. Sadly, Singapore doesn't have a good support network for those with disabilities. I really pray though, that one day, my cousin can live as an independent adult. The article looks at one young man's case, which made it fascinating and personal.

Honors Track by Molly Patterson - The first longform fiction I read, and it was actually really good. It's about the pressures of the 'honours track' (I assume it's some form of advanced education) and what may lead a group of bright students to cheat. I can empathise with the pressures faced, but (ok, I'm very biased here), I think the schools in Singapore are much worse. There was a slight mention about how being the 'vice-president' of clubs were important and such for college. Here, it's not just being in a leadership position, you have to win a few awards, preferably international (the number of friends I know who have won an international award -normally first- is way too scary). Still, there's no excuse to cheat.

The Virtues of Day-dreaming and How to be Creative by Jonah Lehrerh - These two articles feel familiar (well, I used to read stuff like 'how to be smarter' just before exams :p). But it's a good reminder that the whole stressed-out-multitasking may not be the best thing to do if you really want to be productive.

The Comfort Zone by Jonathan Franzen - I'm very embarrassed to say that I haven't read anything by Jonathan Franzen. But now, after reading The Comfort Zone, which is his experience of growing up with snoopy, I really want to read something that he wrote. He writes in such a wonderful style that this is my favourite article of the week.

The Original Sin by Lapham's Quaterly - A look at the origin of misogyny and why it endures. Well, I can't speak for the other religions, since this isn't my field, but I think there were some interpretation problems. And interestingly, the quote by Paul was also used in the movie Agora. But anyway, the last line, about Eve being the first woman to question what she was told was so wrong. She didn't question, she believed the devil and sinned. Nope, she didn't question anything. And I say this as someone who used to go around telling the boys in Church that girls were superior (I got into quite a lot of fights when I was younger).

What did you read this week?

Longform Reads #4

Sorry for the really late post. I just came back from a kendo nomikai (it was to celebrate the last practice of the term). It was so fun even though I didn't drink :D

Ok, so this week, I focused on "Sleep" (thanks to the Byliner Spotlight). So, here are the articles I read:

Deep Into Sleep by Craig Lambert: Probably my favourite article of the bunch. It gave me enough arguments to convince me that more sleep is a good thing. Now, I can say with absolutely no guilt that I need to prepare for my exams by sleeping more :D

Can a Lack of Sleep Set Back Your Child's Cognitive Abilities? by Po Bronson: In a similar vein to Deep Into Sleep, well, I suppose that when you really don't want to study, you'll try other methods (like sleeping more and hoping your brain is awake during class).

In the Dreamscape of Nightmares, Clues to Why We Dream at All by Natalie Angier: A fairly interesting article, it looked at the types of nightmares, (and briefly, in one paragraph, how cultural norms can affect the most common type of nightmares).

On Insomnia by Elizabeth Gumport: Very, I don't know how to say, lyrical? It was the article that resembled the kind of (^_^)/~~~~ dreamy kind of feeling associated with deep books and books trying to sound deep. It almost makes insomnia appealing, only that as someone who used to wake up at 3 a.m. on the dot, I'd take as much sleep as possible.

The Stubborn Scientist Who Unraveled A Mystery of the Night by Chip Brown: This is about REM and how it's discovery came about. I'm not sure who the stubborn scientist is though, seeing as there were two of them. I felt like out of the bunch of articles, this was the least interesting of the lot (I'd rather read about REM than it's history).

The "miscellaneous" articles are:

The Sugar Mama of Anti-Muslim Hate by Max Blumenthal: Looking at a heiress who is bankrolling all the anti-Muslim causes. What I want to know though, is why? Are there any reasons why she supports this? Is she mistaken or did she have a bad experience of something? The article would have been so much better if it addressed this as well, instead of merely telling me her actions.

French Women Worry About Getting Fat, Too by Susan Dominus: A very interesting article, covering weight-loss in France. Apparently, there's a perception that French women are all thin (I remember a book with the title French Women Don't Get Fat so there you go) and this article shows the challenges of working around this perception (and how the French feel towards food) to introduce weight-loss methods.

Don't by Jonah Lehrer: Since this was looking at how/whether people can delay their responses (like not eating a treat in front of them), I found this really interesting. Apparently, there's a link between people who can wait and successful people. Hmm.... I think I'm not very patient. Oh dear...

What did you read this week?

Longform Reads #3

This week, I focused on Ray Bradbury and when I finished, some other articles. If you didn't know, Ray Bradbury passed away recently, and after I saw the "spotlight" on him by Byliner, I decided to read as many longform essays by/about him as possible. So here they are:

The Machine Tooled Happyland by Ray Bradbury - here, Ray Bradbury talks about the importance of Disneyland. To put it simply, Disneyland is what happens when technology is used correctly. It inspires the mind. I kinda had a reflex at a slight mention about evolution, but it's not like the whole article was about it. Makes me want to go to Tokyo Disneyland soon (thereby visiting every single Disneyland park :D)

Take Me Home by Ray Bradbury - Ray Bradbury on his childhood, and here, I got to see what inspired him so much. It's not very long, but it's good way to see the source of his inspiration (and especially The Fire Balloons). Plus, the writing style is really fabulous.

Ray Bradbury, Pulp God by Bryan Curtis - Here, Bryan Curtis argues that Ray Bradbury has been taken over by the literary establishment, something that should be reversed if possible. He makes an interesting case about why Ray Bradbury doesn't write literary fiction, although I don't understand why Science Fiction cannot be Literary Fiction at the same time. If anything, doesn't Fahrenheit 451 fit those two molds?

A Man Who Won't Forget Ray Bradbury by Neil Gaiman - One of my favourite writers talking about another one of my favourite writers. It's a touching tribute and it should convince you to read both writers (more so if you've read and like one of them). The article isn't very long, but you get to see Neil Gaiman's writing style, as well as get an introduction to Ray Bradbury (^_^)v

Ray Bradbury, The Art of Fiction No. 203 Interviewed by Sam Weller - This is the longest article about Ray Bradbury I read, mostly because it's an interview. You can to hear (from the horse's mouth no less), the inspiration behind the books as well as various other things about Ray Bradbury.

And now, on to the non-Ray Bradbury related articles, and oddly, two out of three of them are related to crime:

Bath Salts: Deep in the Heart of America's New Drug Nightmare by Natasha Vargas-Cooper - Before I read this article, I heard a few things about Bath Salts, but I always assumed they were talking about the normal type that you put in the bath. Now, I know better and this sounds like a scary drug (especially if it's possible that it induced a man to cannibalism)

Prep-School Predators by Amos Kamil - Showing that even elite schools are full of paedophiles, and how they groom these children to become victims. I'm thankful to say that none of my schools have this problem, and I wonder just how wide-spread it really was/is. It made me really scared with regard to the education system in America if it allows such abuses.

My Father's Fashion Tips by Tom Junod - I'm not sure why I picked up this to read, but it was quite interesting if completely irrelevant to me. It reads more like a tribute to the dad, something very appropriate considering Father's Day was just over. But, there were (completely unnecessary) swearwords in the article so if you're sensitive to these kind of things, you were warned.

So, what have you read this week?