Over the past few centuries, Western cultures have been very good at creating general prosperity for themselves. Historian Niall Ferguson asks: Why the West, and less so the rest? He suggests half a dozen big ideas from Western culture — call them the 6 killer apps — that promote wealth, stability and innovation. And in this new century, he says, these apps are all shareable.

History is a curious thing, and Niall Ferguson investigates not only what happened but why. (Hint: Politics and money explain a lot.)

My blog-sis Shamash sends us this wonderful poem from Taylor Mali.

I don’t think Allen offers any new information, but, like all purveyors of productivity porn, repackages basic truths discovered so far back in History that we have no way of assigning proper credit. This is not to suggest that Allen is a hack or in any way misappropriating others’ ideas. Basic truths must be reinterpreted [...]

There is a corruption at the heart of American politics, caused by the dependence of Congressional candidates on funding from the tiniest percentage of citizens. That’s the argument at the core of this blistering talk by legal scholar Lawrence Lessig. With rapid-fire visuals, he shows how the funding process weakens the Republic in the most fundamental way, and issues a rallying bipartisan cry that will resonate with many in the U.S. and beyond.

iO Tillett Wright thanks her parents for not asking her to define herself as a child. Her experience of growing up without having check boxes like “female,” “male,” “gay” or straight” thoroughly infuses her art.

iO’s photography can be seen regularly in two features in The New York Times: Notes from the Underground and The Lowdown. She is also the creator of Self Evident Truths—an ongoing project to document the wide variety of experiences in LGBTQ America. So far, she has photographed about 2,000 people for the project. Her goal: 10,000 portraits and a nationwide rethinking of discriminatory laws.

iO had her first solo show at Fuse gallery in New York City in 2010, and exhibited her latest work at The Hole Gallery in early summer of 2012. She has published three books of photographs; Lose My Number, KISSER, and Look Ma’, No Hands. She has directed several music videos, and spent nineteen years acting in films.

*That would be Reform Sex-Offender Laws…

What can they do to you? Whatever they want. …How can you stop them? Alone, you can fight, you can refuse, you can take what revenge you can but they roll over you. It goes on one at a time, it starts when you care to act, it starts when you do it again after [...]

When asked how I managed to shed 80 pounds in nine months my first response is always: I stop eating junk food. Watching Emily Bazelon’s presentation on girls with Autism lead me to this quote from Clifford Nass: Our research shows a link between face-to-face contact and good relationships because that’s the best way to [...]

I watched last night’s episode on line this morning and I think The Lesson may be the best Criminal Minds ever, not the least of which for the homage to Being John Malcovich.

There is no American politician, hell no living politician on the planet, whom I respect more than President Jimmy Carter. What he says here, and what The New York Times published yesterday, goes to the heart of why, as someone who speaks out for social justice, as an American, as a Jew, I do not [...]

People aren’t just cooking anymore — they’re cooking, texting, talking on the phone, watching YouTube and uploading photos of the awesome meal they just made. Designer Paolo Cardini questions the efficiency of our multitasking world and makes the case for — gasp — “monotasking.” His charming 3D-printed smartphone covers just might help.

Pretty feckin’ whacko: President Obama is using a Cold War-era mind-control technique known as “Delphi” to coerce Americans into accepting his plan for a United Nations-run communist dictatorship in which suburbanites will be forcibly relocated to cities. That’s according to a four-hour briefing delivered to Republican state senators at the Georgia state Capitol last month. [...]

Scahill’s advice beginning at the 11:15 mark is awesome!