The Optimist

Aussie sea snails travel 5,000 miles to China’s dining tables.

An obituary of Darrell Winfield, Marlboro Man.

Driverless mining trucks in Western Australia.

A somewhat long-winded but nonetheless interesting article on passwords.

McDonalds in India: cultural and culinary exchange.

3D printing clothes at home.

• Passing off McNuggets (successfully) as haute causine.
• The signature skills of big cities, based on LinkedIn data. Some interesting highlights – did you know that entertainment pips finance in London?
• Goldfish trivia.
• Wildlife Photographers of the Year.

Breaking a drought of non-fiction reading, I’ve started on Francis’ Fukuyama’s The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution (2011). This is part 1 of his history of the evolution of government – the second volume (released this year) extends his argument to the present day. So far, it’s readable and interesting: here is a summary of Fukuyama’s arguments, and here is a useful review.

In today’s links:

Around the world

• Landline, a weekly TV programme produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, offers a regular, fascinating insight into rural Australia. This week is no exception. For example, this 84-year-old’s home-made mill incorporates parts from almost everything, from old bomber parts to a steam engine. MacGyver (and Mad Max) have nothing on him.
• And speaking of which, these photos offer a striking look at outback Australia.
• Trade between emerging nations doesn’t receive anywhere near the press that it probably should. Here is a piece on Chinese business in Ethiopia.

Technology, affecting our lives

• Based on data, this consultant guarantees elite US tertiary admissions – for a fee.
• What data miners know – and publish – about you.
• And on a lighter note, computers and dating go back further than one might think.
• For a different kind of relationship, this piece discusses how Siri has become a friend to the writer’s autistic son.

Earning a living

• Here’s a great look at Amazon, which consistently reinvests its cash into growth.
• And this article breaks down why food in a restaurant (in this case, a lobster) costs so much more than at the farm gate. Spoiler: running a restaurant is expensive.

And finally

• A vet has removed a tumour from a goldfish. Dawww!