Monthly Archives: August 2013

An interesting and thought-provoking piece on the automation of work, then and now. Well worth the free registration. David Landes, economic historian, has died. I wrote about one of his (excellent) books here; and here is a great excerpt from … Continue reading →

Articles Great crop of articles this week: An evocative piece on the 72-year-old mailman who drives the US’ longest route. What we can learn from a sarcophagus found along the Silk Road. “Kevin Good thought there was an 80 percent chance … Continue reading →

Articles Chinese charity auctions to support dissidents’ families, a lengthy read and an extremely interesting one. The shops of Heathrow Airport. Did you know that the clothes shops at the airport put the ties near the front, the better to … Continue reading →

Articles A currency is anything that two people agree is a currency, a short but thought-provoking read. Are animals also getting fatter? The evidence is unclear, but as Alex Tabarrok points out, “this is intriguing and important research”. In the … Continue reading →

Articles “The global economy is now distinctly Victorian,” a very interesting read. UPS to trial 3D printing in several stores. The moon affects our sleep patterns, even when we can’t see it. An interesting profile of Machiavelli. Amazon is selling … Continue reading →

Articles The cultural syncretism behind a Texan girl’s fifteenth birthday party – this one is a really fascinating read. (Free reg’n may be required.) Traffic lights, lift doors, and buttons that don’t work. Why do comment threads erupt into flame … Continue reading →