Shortlisted: This week’s best links, #98
A stunning set of photos, a brilliant speech on our flawed expectations of the rich and powerful, a look inside BuzzFeed’s video strategy, and more
Arts and Culture
The Children Of Strangers
Larissa MacFarquhar / The New Yorker / 44 mins
Profile of a couple that felt called upon by God to adopt 20 children, in addition to having two of their own. If you think that sounds like the premise of a lowbrow reality show, this story will challenge and confound you. A complex, moving, and beautifully written piece.
Traveler Photo Contest 2015: Winners
National Geographic
Stunning.
Pull Quotes
H&Co
63 quotes, set in 63 different typefaces. (This is a clever way to sell fonts…)
Politics and World Affairs
The Thriving World, The Wilting World, And You (Top pick)
Anand Giridharadas / Medium / 14 mins
“The Aspen Consensus, in a nutshell, is this: the winners of our age must be challenged to do more good. But never, ever tell them to do less harm.” A brilliant and bracing speech on how we have come to expect generosity and not justice from our system and its most successful citizens. Essential reading.
Against All Odds
T. A. Frank / National Journal / 23 mins
Starts out as an acid-tongued account of the many humiliations of George Pataki’s hopeless presidential candidacy. He is called, among other things, a “politician of breathtaking mediocrity” who “campaigns in prose and governs in emoji.” Then, halfway through, the tone breaks and the article shifts from “why Pataki?” to “why not?” Excellent.
The Ferguson Protests Worked
Julia Craven, Ryan J. Reilly, and Mariah Stewart / The Huffington Post / 15 mins
One year after Michael Brown’s death, it’s remarkable to see how much has changed, not just in terms of our national conversation, but in terms of specific actions: Missouri alone has enacted over 40 measures regarding police tactics and the use of force. It’s also interesting to contrast the success of the #BlackLivesMatter movement with the failure of Occupy Wall Street.
The Greek Warrior
Ian Parker / The New Yorker / 46 mins
I’ve been trying not to link to so many long New Yorker articles, but they’re making it hard. This profile of former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis is compelling reading, and full of great quotes and behind-the-scenes details.
Business and Economics
Parents Try Very Hard To Describe What Their Kids Do
Slack Variety Pack / SoundCloud / 3 mins
A short clip from a podcast, with attempts like: “He posts stuff on Facebook or iPods or something…”
BuzzFeed Motion Pictures’ Winning Strategy: Fast, Cheap, And Viral
David Pierson / Los Angeles Times / 8 mins
Apropos the previous article: BuzzFeed’s viral videos turn out to be part of a staggeringly effective strategy. Inside the booming business of BuzzFeed’s video team.
Science and Technology
The Data Drive (Top pick)
Daniel Kolitz
“The year is 2016. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has absconded to parts unknown, making off with the data of Facebook’s millions of users. Texas mattress mogul Buck Calhoun has purchased the gutted social network in a fire sale and has now launched a data drive to replenish its depleted stores of valuable personal information.” I love everything about this, from the absurd premise to the samizdat aesthetic to the chatty Chipotle pop-up.
Remembering When Driverless Elevators Drew Skepticism
Steve Henn / NPR / 3 mins
How long will it take for driverless cars to become widely accepted? If the historical example of automated elevators is any indication, it may be a matter of decades and not years.
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